Indiana

Paul Hill to be Honored with 2026 Saddle & Sirloin Portrait Award

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 00:20:25 GMT

Paul H. Hill has been named the 2026 inductee of the prestigious Saddle & Sirloin Portrait Gallery . Hill will become the 381st member of this historic gallery and his portrait will be unveiled at an induction banquet to be hosted Nov. 15 during the North American International Livestock Exposition and the National Angus Convention in Louisville, Ky.

Hill’s record-breaking success with leading Angus seedstock operations throughout the past half century is well documented. He was managing partner of Champion Hill, Bidwell, Ohio, from 1990 to 2017, and previously led Northcote Farm, Cobble Pond Farm, Hayes Star Ranch, South Fork Angus Ranch and Briarhill Angus Farm. In his youth he was herdsman for Malloy Polled Herefords and was involved in 4-H and FFA livestock judging and land evaluation. He has not only bred and developed many leading Angus cattle but also positively influenced the cattle business through interactions with partners, customers, employees, competitors, industry professionals and, of course, his favorite — Angus youth.

Hill’s work ethic, wisdom and personality have always distinguished him as a unique leader throughout his life. This Florida native served in the U .S. Army from 1968 to 1970, and received the Army Commendation Medal for Exceptionally Meritorious Service in 1970 and was twice Battalion Soldier of the Month in 1968 to 1969. He was both student and instructor at the American Herdsman Institute from 1966 to 1968.

As a skillful breeder and exhibitor of Angus cattle, his lifelong record of awards is unsurpassed with hundreds of national champions yet his key to success is perhaps in his slogan “Where winning is only the beginning.” He exhibited at the All-American every year since 1966 except during military service of 1968-1969, and every year at the Atlantic National since its founding in 1987. He attended the North American International every year since it was founded in 1974 and the National Western nearly every year for approximately 50 years, most years of which he was a competitive exhibitor. His experience, enthusiasm and mentorship has helped build generations of future Angus leaders.

His leadership roles with the American Angus Association include serving as president from 2007 to 2008 and on its board of directors from 2000 to 2008. During that time, he was instrumental on the cabinet for the Vision of Value Campaign for Angus Leadership from 2006 to 2011, and served as chairman of the Angus Foundation board from 2004-2007 and as chairman of the Angus Productions Inc. board from 2006 to 2007. He co-founded the Atlantic National Angus Show in 1987 and has served as the chairman of the board since 2002, as well as being member of the board of directors of the All-American Angus Breeders Futurity since 1977.

Widely renowned as an astute judge of livestock, he accepted livestock evaluation assignments at the All-American, North American International, Atlantic National, National Western, American Royal, Canadian Royal, Argentina National Angus Show & Sale and the Brazil National Angus & Livestock Shows along with numerous state and regional livestock shows and conferences.

Paul and his wife, Lynn, reside in Martinsville, Ind., and have two adult daughters, both of whom were active as Angus juniors, Dr. Sarah Hill Schaffer, private practice pediatrician, and Neenah Hill Jain, partner and CFO of Armory Square Ventures. They also have three grandchildren.

Derecho Packs Punch of 100 MPH Winds, Flattens Cornfields and Crushes Grain Bins Across the Midwest

Fri, 30 Jun 2023 21:00:54 GMT

Hurricane-force winds swept through northern Missouri and Iowa and all the way east to Illinois and Indiana on Thursday. The derecho brought wind gusts up to 100 mph in places, flattening cornfields. The storm system also brought crucial rains. While it might not be enough to cure the drought, the rains could help rescue some of the drought-ravaged crops.

According to Accuweather, a derecho is a storm that brings a punch of at least 58 mph winds over the span of at least 400 miles. The storm on Thursday barreled across the Midwest, with some of hardest-hit states being Iowa, Illinois and Indiana. The storm then turned and went south, hitting Tennessee.

Yesterday, @NOAA's #GOESEast 🛰️ tracked a destructive #derecho as it raced across the Midwest, causing widespread damage across several states. This visible imagery shows the bubbling clouds, and the satellite's Geostationary Lightning Mapper allowed us to see the frequent… pic.twitter.com/SvYbnuf5em
— NOAA Satellites (@NOAASatellites) June 30, 2023

Ken Ferrie , owner of Crop-Tech Consulting, was in the middle of the storm. He spoke to AgWeb’s Rhonda Brooks about potential damage, estimating the derecho crossed at least two-thirds of Illinois.

“It’s pretty widespread,” says Ferrie who lives in Heyworth, Ill., just south of Bloomington. “It hit between 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. yesterday.”

The storm also brought more than an inch of much-needed rain, which may have saved many of the Illinois corn and soybean crops. Ferrie says there is quite a bit of cleanup that will need to take place with down trees and other damage, and he’s still trying to assess the impact on the crops.

“I have not seen any corn snapped like the derecho in Iowa where crops were just snapped and flat, but there’s a lot of corn laying over,” says Ferrie.

(Farm Journal)

USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says the storm was widespread, impacting an area from the Central Great Plains and northern Missouri, all the way to the Tennessee River Valley.

“The derecho on June 29th was oddly reminiscent of the massive derecho that struck the Midwest on August 10, 2020,” he says. “Now the aerial extent was not quite as large as the August 2020 events and the winds were not quite as high. But nevertheless, we did see widespread 60 to 100 mph winds emerging early in the day on the 29th.”

Brad Rippey discusses the scope and possible scale of damage caused by the derecho this week.

Rippey says the timing of the storm could also be a key factor in determining how much damage it caused to crops.

“We’re not expecting to see the large scale impact that we saw compared to August 2020, partly because it’s earlier in the growing season crops are not as high and susceptible to damage,” says Rippey. “And also just the fact that winds weren’t quite as high and the areal extent wasn’t as great. Still, though, another blow for producers already reeling from drought now contending with the effects of a significant windstorm that blew through the area on June 29th.”

Earlier Planted Corn Hit the Hardest

Ferrie drove across parts of Illinois and into Iowa on Friday, and says he thinks the earlier planted corn is what will be impacted the most from the powerful storm this week.

“April-planted corn is pushing tassels and trying to pollinate, so unfortunately, it’ll get hit the hardest because it’s hard for tasseled corn to stand back up; it’ll just curve at the top,” says Ferrie. “And that down corn creates pollination problems. So, from a yield problem that’ll be the tough spot, and that’ll be the tougher stuff to harvest because it just won’t stand back up.”

First time in my life I’ve pulled up to my parents place and not seen the grain leg standing. The storm hit hard today, but it’s wild in that the corn didn’t get mangled any worse than it did. No one got hurt which is the main thing. pic.twitter.com/Kg0hVyKi5V
— Matthew Bennett (@chief321) June 29, 2023

He says the May-planted corn will still have time to stand back up and recover, but he also points out the later planted corn is seeing more impacts from the drought in Illinois. The corn that farmers planted later didn’t establish good roots as it has seen little to no rain since planting. That made the corn more vulnerable to wind damage.

“We have a lot of acres that are getting what I call restless corn syndrome and struggling to get crown roots made. And that stuff isn’t pollinating. It’s the later planted crop that’s probably some of the worst,” says Ferrie.

Storm damage in Illinois from today. Any damage to your farm? pic.twitter.com/RWOHDjPQ2U
— IL Corn (@ilcorn) June 29, 2023

While the wind may impact yields and create harvest issues for some of the crops, the water came at a crucial time, especially in Illinois.

“That inch of water, many farmers would probably take the wind in the corn to get the water, because it looked like we weren’t going to get any of it, and suddenly our forecast has rain for the next five out of six days,” says Ferrie. “So, it kind of broke that bubble that was holding us in the drought.”

(Farm Journal)

Soybeans weren’t spared from damage either, but Ferrie says the drink of water will also be a boost for those fields. He reports there are even soybean fields laid over from the derecho winds on Thursday.

Indiana also reported high winds, with gusts reaching 70 mph at Indianapolis International Airport. Indiana farm fields were dealt with derecho damage this week, too. Photos show corn blown over by the wind, with the later planted corn holding up better than what was planted earlier in the season this year.

Photo Courtesy: Joelle Orem, Russiaville, Indiana

Crop Comments: How do crops look in your area? Post a comment or photo in Crop Comments.

Farmer Survives COVID-19, Hopes His Farm Will Too

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:55:48 GMT

Calving and planting season has been anything but typical for Matthew Raver and his family in Greensburg, Indiana. “I want to say it was March 26 that I got a fever,” said Raver. Raver can now reflect on his battle with COVID-19 and the fever that stuck with him for most of the next 12 days. “I lost 35 pounds while I was sick just because, I mean, I couldn’t really eat,” said Raver. His story started a couple of days earlier while trying to bottle feed a newborn calf. “Mama took a very negative view of that and she sent me flying about five feet,” said Raver. The protective cow’s head struck him squarely in the chest. The pain and soreness from that moment would mask the development of his Coronavirus symptoms for multiple days which, as he said, first presented itself as fever on March 26. “I had been around five different people that had type-A flu and so the assumption was I had the flu,” said Raver. Given his proximity to other confirmed flu cases, he hoped a round of Tamiflu and a few days rest would get him back out with the herd. Coronavirus wasn’t a mystery to his family. Raver started following the COVID-19 story in January and by February he hit his local grocery store hard in hopes of avoiding the panicked rush of shoppers. It turns out, even though he and his family were cautious they weren’t out of its reach. Greensburg%20IN%20Map.jpgBy Monday, March 30 Raver was still feeling poorly and his chest wouldn’t quit hurting. He stopped by a clinic in Shelbyville, Indiana. His flu test came back negative although he did test positive for strep throat and double pneumonia. “They gave me a healthy shot, and they sent me home with a Z-Pack,” said Raver. The next day, he felt better. By day three Matthew says he started to feel downright rotten and by Friday he was weak, dehydrated and headed for the hospital. “They gave me an IV and they said, you can still breathe and you’re way better than most of the people upstairs,” said Raver. “I went home and I felt pretty bad for another three or four days before my fever broke and I have been recovering since.” The battle wasn’t over. His wife Britney, pregnant and expecting their third child in August, also contracted the virus. “We were pretty worried about her and she had a fever for about three or four days,” said Raver. “Then she was fine.” He shares his experience as a cautionary tale. His 6’1” robust frame is proof it doesn’t just attack the fragile and frail.

“I got so weak that when I went to the hospital they had to push me in a wheelchair and they had to bring me out in a wheelchair because I didn’t have the strength to walk out of the building,” said Raver. “I lost 35 pounds while I was sick just because, I mean, I couldn’t really eat,” said Raver. The dehydration attacked his kidneys and his back ached so intensely he couldn’t get comfortable for days.

“The biggest thing we both had is you couldn’t taste anything,” said Raver. “You go to eat food and you couldn’t taste it.” Luckily his two kids remained healthy and symptom-free. He and his wife are both recovering and past the point of quarantine. They’re just ready to get their focus back on the farm. “The other day when I went out and did some physical work helping my dad for about an hour it wiped me out,” said Raver. “With having pneumonia, I got out of breath pretty quickly.” As calving season ends and planting arrives, Matthew can revel in the thought that COVID-19 didn’t take him or his loved ones. He now hopes it doesn’t claim their more than 150 year family legacy. “My only hope is the farm pays for itself and pays for the equipment,” said Raver.

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Iowa Town Coping with Loss of Beef Plant and its 400 Jobs

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:44:31 GMT

Officials are working to help Denison, Iowa cope with the closing of a Tyson Foods plant there that employed about 400 people.

Mayor Brad Bonner tells the Daily Nonpareil that Tyson’s announcement Friday was a surprise, and the city is doing its best to help people who are losing their jobs.

“I understand they need to make business decisions based on economics,” Bonner said of Tyson. “What we’re focusing on is how we’re going to take care of their employees.”

Tyson has said workers could apply for jobs at the company’s other plants. Economic development officials will try to help workers find other jobs if they want to stay in the area.

State workforce development officials plan to meet with affected workers Tuesday at the Western Iowa Tech Community College to explain what help is available.

“I believe we have jobs for these people,” Bonner said. “We can keep them here in the community.”

Bonner said it’s sad to see the plant close because it has a long history in Denison. It opened in 1961 as the first plant run by Iowa Beef Packers. That company grew into a major player in the industry before Tyson acquired it in 2001.

Tyson officials said Friday that the plant was closing because it had too much beef production capacity in the region.

The company still plans to buy cattle from local producers. Those cattle will likely then be trucked to Tyson’s Dakota City, Nebraska, plant.

Indiana Regional Beef Meetings Will Offer Farmers Industry Updates

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:37:44 GMT

Source: Purdue Extension

The Indiana Beef Cattle Association and Purdue Extension will host 10 meetings around the state in December and January to give cattle producers the latest industry information.

The annual meetings will feature updates on the manure application rule, farm legislation and the use of farm plates when traveling out of state.

“This is an opportunity for farmers to get updates on new rules and regulations, and recommendations to improve compliance and profitability,” said Ron Lemenager, Purdue Extension beef specialist.

The IBCA will discuss how dues and beef checkoff dollars are used to help producers remain profitable and sustainable. The Indiana Board of Animal Health also will provide an update for producers.

Lemenager said the meetings could be more geographically valuable this year because representatives from the areas were also able to select an informational topic from a list of options that included mega-trends facing the industry, land use and forage production, new reproductive efficiency research results, and value-added marketing.

Meeting dates, times and locations:

* Area 1: Dec. 12, 6:30 p.m., Southeast Purdue Agricultural Center, Butlerville. Register by Dec. 9 to Kris Medic at 812-379-1665. Counties in this area are Bartholomew, Brown, Dearborn, Decatur, Jackson, Jefferson, Jennings, Ohio, Ripley and Switzerland.

* Area 2: Jan. 11, 11 a.m., Southern Hills Church, Salem. Register by Jan. 4 to Danielle Walker at 812-883-4601 or dhowellw@purdue.edu. Counties: Clark, Crawford, Floyd, Harrison, Lawrence, Orange, Scott and Washington.

* Area 3: Jan. 6, 6:30 p.m., Haubstadt Park Restaurant, Haubstadt. Register by Jan. 3 to the Purdue Extension Gibson County office at 812-385-3491. Counties: Daviess, Dubois, Gibson, Knox, Martin, Perry, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Vanderburgh and Warrick.

* Area 5: Jan. 13, 6:30 p.m., Exhibit Hall, Clay County Fairgrounds, Brazil. Register by Jan. 9 to Jenna Smith at 812-448-9041 or smith535@purdue.edu. Counties: Clay, Greene, Monroe, Owen, Parke, Putnam, Sullivan, Vermillon and Vigo.

* Area 6: Dec. 11, 6:30 p.m., Morgan County Administration Building, Martinsville. Register by Dec. 6 to Chris Parker at 765-342-1010. Counties: Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Johnson, Marion, Morgan and Shelby.

* Area 7: Jan. 9, 6:30 p.m., Smith’s Family Farm, Pendleton. Register by Jan. 4 to Jill Dorff at 765-641-9514 or jdorff@purdue.edu. Counties: Blackford, Delaware, Fayette, Franklin, Henry, Jay, Madison, Randolph, Rush, Union and Wayne.

* Area 8: Jan. 7, 6 p.m., Cass County Fairgrounds. Register by Jan. 3 to the Purdue Extension Cass County office at 574-753-7750 or cassces@purdue.edu. Counties: Carroll, Cass, Clinton, Fulton, Grant, Howard, Miami, Tipton and Wabash.

* Area 9: Dec. 16, 6:30 p.m., McGraw’s Steakhouse, West Lafayette. Register by Dec. 11 to Jeff Phillips, 765-474-0793 or jphilli1@purdue.edu. Counties: Benton, Fountain, Jasper, Montgomery, Newton, Pulaski, Tippecanoe, Warren and White.

* Area 10: Dec. 12, 6 p.m. (CST), Christos’ Banquet Center, Plymouth. Register by Dec. 7 to Kelly Heckaman at 574-372-2340 or kheckaman@purdue.edu. Counties: Elkhart, Kosciusko, Lake, LaPorte, Marshall, Porter, St. Joseph and Starke.

* Area 11: Jan. 7, 6:30 p.m., Eagles Nest, Columbia City. Register by Jan. 3 to Ed Farris at 260-358-4826 or emfarris@purdue.edu. Counties: Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Huntington, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, Wells and Whitley.

IBCA elections will be held at meetings in areas 2, 8, 6 and 11. More information is available by contacting the IBCA at 317-293-2333 or http://www.indianabeef.org .

Veggie Burger Plant Slated For Indiana

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 05:23:45 GMT

A new $310 million plant-based protein manufacturing facility will be built in Shelbyville, IN. Chicago-based Greenleaf Foods SPC announced it will produce 60 million pounds of plant-based protein foods at a 57-acre site near Interstate 74. Maple Leaf Foods of Canada is the parent company of Greeleaf Foods.

GreenLeaf Foods makes vegetarian burgers, hot dogs and other products. The Shelbyville plant is slated to be operational late next year and is expected to generate 460 jobs, the company said.

Greenleaf Foods is touting the planned 230,000-square-foot facility as the largest plant-based protein facility in North America, adding that the plant will allow it to more than double its production. Greenleaf Foods also has facilities in Seattle and Turners Falls, Massachusetts.

“Our new facility will be a center of plant-based protein excellence that helps accelerate our company’s growth. This will support our rich pipeline of innovative products that both satisfy increasing consumer demand and drive our continued leadership of this dynamic category in the U.S. and Canada into the future,” Greenleaf President Dan Curtin said in a news release.

Related :

Why ‘Veggie Meat’ Won’t Replace Beef

Plastic Found in Ground Beef Forces JBS to Recall 35,000 lb. of Meat

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 02:24:25 GMT

JBS USA has recalled approximately 35,464 lb. of raw ground beef following the finding of hard plastic in contaminated beef. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) made the announcement on May 2 following the discovery.

The ground beef was produced at the JBS USA case ready fresh meat processing facility in Lenoir, NC, on March 22.

JBS was made aware of the problem following the complaint of a consumer who found pieces of hard, blue colored plastic in some ground beef.

Products included in the recall were primarily Kroger branded products along with All Natural Laura’s Lean Beef and some Angus branded products.

The beef in the recall bears the establishment number “EST. 34176” inside the USDA mark of inspection. Beef was shipped from distribution centers in Virginia and Indiana.

No other problems have been reported and there have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions from eating the products.

However, FSIS is concerned that possibly contaminated ground beef might have been frozen after purchase. If any products bear the following labels it should be thrown out or returned to the store it was purchased at:

3-lb. tray packages containing “Kroger GROUND BEEF 73% LEAN - 27% FAT” with product code 95051, UPC: 011110975645, and a Sell By date of 4/9/2018.
1-lb. tray packages containing “Kroger GROUND BEEF 80% LEAN - 20% FAT” with product code 95052, UPC: 011110969729, and a Sell By date of 4/9/2018.
3-lb. tray packages containing “Kroger GROUND BEEF 80% LEAN – 20% FAT” with product code 95053, UPC of 011110969705, and a Sell By date of 4/9/2018.
1-lb. tray packages containing “PRIVATE SELECTION ANGUS BEEF 80% LEAN - 20% FAT GROUND CHUCK” with product code 95054, UPC: 011110971395, and a Sell By date of 4/9/2018.
1-lb. tray packages containing “Kroger GROUND BEEF 85% LEAN – 15% FAT” with product code 95055, UPC: 011110969682, and a Sell By date of 4/9/2018.
1-lb. tray packages containing “Kroger GROUND SIRLOIN 90% LEAN – 10% FAT GROUND BEEF” and product code 95056, UPC: 011110975638, and a Sell By date of 4/9/2018.
1-lb. tray packages containing “ALL NATURAL LAURA’S LEAN BEEF 92% LEAN 8% FAT GROUND BEEF” with product code 95057, UPC: 612669316714, and a Sell By date of 4/9/2018.
1-lb. tray packages containing “ALL NATURAL LAURA’S LEAN BEEF 96% LEAN 4% FAT GROUND BEEF” with product code 95058, UPC: 612669317063, and a Sell By date of 4/9/2018.
1-lb. tray packages containing “PRIVATE SELECTION ANGUS BEEF 90% LEAN – 10% FAT GROUND SIRLOIN” with product code 95063, UPC: 011110969637 and a Sell By date of 4/9/2018.
1-lb. tray packages containing “Kroger GROUND BEEF 93% LEAN – 7% FAT” with product code 95064, UPC: 01111096920, and a Sell By date of 4/9/2018.
15-lb. cases containing “JBS Ground Beef Angus Chuck 80% Lean 20% Fat Service Case” with Case UPC: 0040404800632 and a “Sell By: 9.APRIL.”
15-lb. cases containing “Ground Beef Angus Sirloin 90% Lean 10% Fat Service Case” Case UPC: 0040404800634, and a “Sell By: 9.APRIL.”

The recall is being categorized as a “Class II” recall by FSIS meaning it poses a health hazard with remote probability of adverse health consequences should the product be consumed.

Iowa Experts Warn of Water Contamination

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 02:19:31 GMT

Fremont, Neb. area water utilities appear prepared to handle any contamination from a proposed Costco chicken plant, but water experts urge residents not to let their guard down.

The Omaha World-Herald reports Costco is looking to create a slaughterhouse in Fremont and develop a regional poultry farming network to provide chicken to its stores. The retail giant plans to contract with farms to raise around 17 million chickens at a time.

Opponents of the project have warned about possible resulting water contamination. They point to areas in southeastern United States with similar projects, where chicken manure gets into waterways, killing marine life and threatening businesses.

Des Moines Water Works CEO Bill Stowe says there should be a balance of economic growth and environmental issues “because the water is precious.”

State Beef Checkoff Vote Passes in Iowa

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 02:19:14 GMT

A majority of cattle producers in Iowa voted to reinstate a $0.50 per head checkoff.

On Nov. 30, a referendum vote was held with 56% of cattlemen voting in favor of the checkoff, according to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. The Department of Ag still has to certify the results by Dec. 30.

“We look forward to the opportunity with additional funding to build beef demand both domestically and globally. We work on behalf of Iowa’s cattle producers for the long-term sustained growth of the Iowa beef industry,” says Scott Heater, Chairman of the Iowa Beef Industry Council.

State checkoff funds can be used for the following:

Marketing & promoting Iowa’s beef and beef products
Enhancing Iowa’s beef industry image
Production research
Expanding international trade relationships
Providing producer, consumer, and youth educational opportunities

Iowa’s checkoff is mandatory, but producers can get refunds if they send in a request. The federal $1 per head beef checkoff is not impacted by this program.

“We are very pleased with the results of the referendum. Reinstating our state checkoff has been a priority mission for the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association over the last year and we’ve been encouraged at each step in the process by the input and support of producers around the state,” says Phil Reemtsma, veterinarian and president of the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association.

Collection of the checkoff begins on March 1, 2017.

Carcasses, Neglected Cattle Found in Iowa

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 02:18:22 GMT

Authorities have seized 36 head of neglected cattle from a farm near Winterset in Madison County, Iowa.

The cattle were seized Sunday night and taken away for food, water and medical care. Authorities also found cattle carcasses on the property.

No arrests have been reported. The Sheriff’s Office says charges are pending.

Town Says Tyson Hampers Finding New Use for Closed Plant

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 02:17:51 GMT

Leaders in the northwest Iowa town of Cherokee want to see another company make use of the former Tyson Foods meat-processing plant just outside town, but they say the food company is making it hard to find a new tenant.

The Des Moines Register reports that Tyson continues paying $130,000 annually in rent on the building and holds a clause in the lease allowing it to refuse bids from competitors.

Tyson spokeswoman Caroline Ahn said the company has been in talks with three food companies about the plant. Those deals fell apart, but she said it was not because of competitive concerns.

“We would be willing to entertain an offer from another company, including another food company, that is also consented to by the building owner,” Ahn said in a statement. “To date, we have not received a fair offer to take over the lease or purchase the assets that were in the facility.”

Cherokee City Councilman Chad Brown said it seems as if Tyson is holding the town hostage. “We want to fill that building, and we want to use the resources that we have out there,” Brown said.

The city extended water and sewer services to the plant, which can handle up to 2.5 million gallons of water a day and treat 1 million gallons of wastewater.

City officials say several companies have expressed interest in the facility, which closed nearly two years ago, but Springdale, Arkansas-based Tyson’s restrictions have made it more difficult to find a new tenant.

Tyson operates several other processing plants in the region. It employs 1,150 workers at a hog-processing plant in Perry, more than 1,500 at pork and turkey plants in Storm Lake, and more than 4,000 in Dakota City, Nebraska.

That has some local officials wondering if Tyson’s opposition to a new company in Cherokee has to do with limiting competition for workers.

“It appears they’re making their decision based on concerns about the labor pool. . That means they’re intentionally working to keep wages low,” City Administrator Sam Kooiker said.

New York real estate investor Mark Langfan’s family owns the building. Langfan said he can’t force Tyson to relinquish control of the site as long as it continues paying rent and keeping up on maintenance and upkeep of the plant.

“The issue is of corporate responsibility when they leave a community. . I just don’t understand how a company in America could take the kind of roughshod position that they’re taking here,” he said.

The current lease extends to 2020, and Tyson said it will continue working to market the plant.

“We share the community’s interest in finding another business to use the plant,” Ahn said.

Cowboy College Approaching

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 02:17:17 GMT

Drovers Cowboy College tailored to cow-calf operators will be held June 20-21, at the Sheraton in West Des Moines, Iowa.

The lineup of experts includes our host, Dan Thomson, DVM, Kansas State University, and host of DocTalk TV. He’s accompanied by Mike Apley, DVM, a member of the Presidential Advisory Council on Antibiotic Resistance, and Tom Noffsinger, DVM, whose presentation on low-stress animal handling draws rave reviews. Chris Reinhardt, PhD, will deliver a presentation on nutrition.

A special guest is Iowa seedstock pioneer Dave Nichols, whose wit and wisdom on cattle genetics is not to be missed.

For more information or to register call 877-482-7203 or click here .

Cow-Calf Cowboy College Early Registration Deadline Coming Up

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 02:17:13 GMT

Time is running out to get the early bird rate for the Drovers Cow-Calf Cowboy College in Des Moines, Iowa. Make sure you register by May 23 to save some money on this valuable learning opportunity taking place June 20-21.

We have a great lineup of speakers who will be discussing topics important to cow-calf producers. Areas of interest to cattlemen and women that will be addressed include: antibiotic use, vaccination programs, genetics, nutrition and biosecurity.

Speaking at Cowboy College will be:

Dan Thomson, DVM, Ph.D., Kansas State University
Mike Apley, DVM, Ph.D., DACVCP, Kansas State University
Tom Noffsinger, DVM
Dr. Chris Reinhardt, Kansas State University
Dave Nichols, Nichols Farms

Last year close to 150 producers from throughout the U.S. attended our event in Denver. Make sure you’re one of them in Des Moines by registering here or call 877-482-7203.

Again, early registration ends on May 23 and the event will be held at the Sheraton West Des Moines. You can still register for the full rate after May 23 all the way up to Cowboy College on June 20-21. Walk-in registration is accepted the day of Cowboy College, too.

Defense Claims Proof of Misconduct in Kosher Executive Case

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 02:16:12 GMT

Attorneys for imprisoned kosher meatpacking executive Sholom Rubashkin say they have found “overwhelming evidence” of prosecutorial misconduct that proves his 27-year prison sentence for money laundering is too harsh.

Rubashkin’s attorneys filed newly obtained notes from a key meeting of government officials and legal affidavits Monday alleging prosecutors improperly interfered with the sale of Agriprocessors in Postville, Iowa, which was the nation’s biggest kosher meat plant. Representatives of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Cedar Rapids threatened potential buyers that they would use forfeiture proceedings to seize the company’s assets if Rubashkin’s father, Aaron, or other relatives had a role operating the plant, several bidders said in affidavits.

Those threats depressed the sale price by millions because Aaron Rubashkin and other relatives were considered key figures in the kosher meat industry whose expertise was needed to operate the company, bidders said.

Agriprocessors sold for $8.5 million in 2009, even though its assets had been valued at $68 million. An investor had proposed a $40 million purchase but the bankruptcy trustee declined the offer, concluding that it could get more at auction. Potential buyers said they were scared off by the prosecutors’ warnings about the Rubashkins, which the trustee had predicted would hurt the sale price.

The drop in value is significant because it left Agriprocessors’ bank — the victim of Sholom Rubashkin’s money laudering scheme — with a $27 million loss. That figure was used to calculate Rubashkin’s sentence under federal guidelines. Had the plant sold for $40 million, Rubashkin would have faced a roughly three-year term under the guidelines, the filing claims.

Rubashkin, 56, has served nearly seven years behind bars after he was convicted in 2009 of financial fraud for bilking the plant’s bank by submitting fake invoices that made the company’s finances appear healthier than they were so that it could borrow more. His prosecution came after federal authorities raided the plant and arrested 389 illegal immigrants in 2008. Agriprocessors then filed for bankruptcy.

Prosecutors presented testimony at Rubashkin’s sentencing that they had not imposed restrictions on the family’s involvement in any business that purchased Agriprocessors.

Paula Roby, a lawyer for the bankruptcy trustee, testified that claims by bidders of a no-Rubashkins policy were false rumors, adding: “The grapevine can be a very unreliable thing.” U.S. District Judge Linda Reade accepted Roby’s testimony for purposes of calculating the loss, saying it discredited claims by defense witnesses that prosecutors’ interference hurt the sale price.

But the new notes from a 2008 meeting between prosecutors and bankruptcy trustee representatives appear to bolster the defense’s claim and undercut Roby, who was at the meeting.

“No Rubashkins is very important to us — non-negotiable,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Murphy said, according to handwritten notes taken by one of the trustee’s lawyers, James Reiland. Asked by Roby whether there were any other non-negotiables, Murphy reiterated: “No involvement of Rubashkins from any standpoint (control, benefit),” the notes show.

The new evidence “proves the government knowingly presented false and misleading testimony and withheld exculpatory evidence,” Rubashkin’s attorneys wrote.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Tuesday it’s reviewing the filing, which is the latest attempt by Rubashkin’s attorneys to seek his freedom.

The U.S. Supreme Court refused in 2012 to consider arguments that Rubashkin’s sentence was too long for a nonviolent offender and that Reade should have recused herself because she met with investigators to plan the immigration raid. In January, Reade ruled that she would also hear Rubashkin’s request for post-conviction relief, saying she had no conflict of interest.

Iowa Cattle Producers Supportive of Proposed State Checkoff

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 02:15:31 GMT

For the past few years, Iowa’s cattle industry has shown interest in increasing funding for vital needs, such as promotion of our beef industry and production research specific to Iowa. One potential source of funding that has surfaced during this same time period is reinstating the Iowa beef checkoff.

Prior to the national beef checkoff, Iowa had it’s own checkoff through the Iowa code chapter 181. While the code remained intact, the assessment was repealed following authorization of the 1985 Farm Bill and eventual producer referendum which led to the collection of the $1/head national beef checkoff. And from that time to the current, national beef checkoff dollars have been used to increase demand for beef and beef products in the US and internationally.

Several directives and resolutions have been approved by ICA members that support reinstating the state assessment. If reinstated by referendum, the proposed state checkoff would be a mandatory collection, with a voluntary refund provision. While the state checkoff would provide funding for industry needs in Iowa, the more important aspect is the ability to utilize funds more flexibly and more comprehensively outside the scope of the National Beef Checkoff. For instance, Iowa’s beef community would have more versatility to fund Iowa beef industry need-based production research while also funding issue based beef responses without the oversight of USDA.

ICA Members Surveyed

In late 2015, all ICA producer members received a survey to gauge interest in a state checkoff initiative. Over 900 survey results were tabulated and showed that 80% of those surveyed support reinstating the 50 cent state checkoff. Survey respondents represented all sectors of the industry and every county in Iowa.

“With a softening cattle market, we wondered if our producers would look at the long-term impacts of this initiative. We wanted to make sure we had a clear picture of where Iowa cattle producers stand on this issue. They have shown support for a state checkoff and our producers and board voted to move forward with the initiative,” said Matt Deppe, ICA executive director.

Priorities Identified

Not only did the survey gauge interest of ICA members to reinstate the Iowa beef checkoff, but more importantly it asked members to prioritize investment resources collected through the state assessment. Survey results revealed that the national beef checkoff, due to federal code constraints, is not fully meeting the needs of the Iowa cattle industry. Those that participated in the survey ranked the importance of the following priorities for potential state dollars/additional investments:

Marketing and promoting Iowa beef and beef products.
Enhancing Iowa’s beef industry Image by marketing our Iowa producer image and communicating transparency.
Production research focused on the state’s weather, feedstuffs, and management practices.
Expanding international trade relationships.
Providing educational opportunities to Iowa cattlemen and Iowa youth.

Iowa is not the only state looking at ways to increase checkoff investments in order to further promote, enhance and market their beef industries. Fourteen states have an additional state beef checkoff assessment. Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio and Texas, currently have a $1 per head state checkoff. Seven other states, including Idaho, Illinois, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah and Washington, have a 50 cent state checkoff. Missouri is currently moving forward to approve a 50 cent state checkoff.

Next Steps

The next step for ICA is to continue communication with cattlemen across the state regarding the proposal. We will continue to accept feedback as ICA staff work with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship develop a referendum to reinstate the Iowa checkoff. Because each producer has the ability to vote yes or no to support the referendum, it is imperative that non-members are aware of the checkoff initiative.

When reviewing Chapter 181 of Iowa Code, portions of the law were outdated, confusing, and irrelevant to to the state’s current beef cattle industry. Therefore, during the 2016 Iowa legislative session, the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association will be lobbying for amendments to chapter 181 that better align with cattle producer’s vision for the Iowa beef checkoff.

Amendments will include:

Provide the refund request for the state checkoff online.
Re-define uses for the state checkoff dollars.
Strike cattle feeding contests and demonstrations.
Add research on beef production and evaluation of Iowa beef production needs.
Add education materials and opportunities for consumers, producers, and youth.
Streamline engagement of the decision makers for the state checkoff.

The changes have been included in House Study Bill 561, sponsored by Rep. Hein (Chairman of the Ag Committee) and Senate Study Bill 3131 Sen. Seng (Chairman of the Ag Committee).

The Iowa Cattlemen’s Association will continue to lobby these progressive changes through the duration of the legislative session. If members are interested in talking with their legislator on these amendments, please contact our office.

ICA anticipates a referendum vote later in 2016. ICA will educate cattle producers on when, where and how the vote will take place.

If you did not complete a survey and would like to do so at this point, please contact the ICA office 515-296-2266. Your input is important to us!

Source: Iowa Cattlemen’s Association

USDA says Iowa has About 1.22M Cattle on Feed (VIDEO)

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 02:14:29 GMT

A new U.S. Department of Agriculture report says the number of cattle and calves in large Iowa feedlots is unchanged from last year.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture says the number of cattle and calves in Iowa feedlots with capacities of 1,000 or more head totaled about 1.22 million on Jan. 1 — the same total as Jan. 1, 2015. However, the total is up 3 percent from December.

Cattle placements during December totaled 185,000 head, a decrease of 16 percent from November and down 8 percent from December 2014. About 142,000 fed cattle were marketed for the month of December, up 14 percent from the previous year.

Watch the Cattle on Feed Report from AgDay:

Iowa Farmer to Sell Beef Directly to Consumers

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 02:13:46 GMT

An Iowa farmer has found a niche market for his beef.
By: Jim Offner, Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier

Phil Vossberg makes no bones about his passion for the beef business.

Now, he wants to start bringing that passion, and beef, to consumers, one cow at a time.

Vossberg, who grew up on a farm near Janesville, Iowa, is bringing a beef component to his dad’s hog farm. He’ll be selling beef directly to consumers -- with his buyers choosing the cuts themselves, even if it’s an entire side of beef.

The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports that his business is called Roaming Ribeye, which focuses on raising “naturally fed cattle to be sold as a healthy safe beef product to local Iowa residents,” he said.

Vossberg is starting slowly -- he currently has 29 head, which he purchased in August. The first 10 of those will be butchered in mid-March, he said.

It’s not a full-time occupation yet, Vossberg says. He has a full-time job as a welder at Unverferth Manufacturing Co. in Shell Rock. His wife, Meaghin, is a certified nurse’s assistant at Windsor Nursing Home in Cedar Falls.

The couple has a son, Logan, and a daughter, Lily.

“My kids are just as important in our business as my wife is and I am,” Vossberg said. “They help with chores. My daughter tells me all the time if I’m feeding (the cattle) wrong.”

Vossberg says Roaming Ribeye takes a concept other farmers have toyed with and expands it -- selling direct to consumers.

“There’s a few guys that do it, but it’s more they do it for family and friends; nobody’s really trying to make it a legitimate business,” Vossberg said. “It’s more on the fun side than the business side of it.”

That’s where Roaming Ribeye stands out, Vossberg said.

“We’re looking at making a long-term, viable household name,” he said. “We want, if we go to the mall, and they see our jackets with our logo, they have an idea of who we are and what we do.”

The business will cater to “the middle class, the working class, the families,” Vossberg said.

Already, Vossberg’s idea is getting some traction, he said.

“I’ve already had guys ask if they can buy gift cards,” he said.

He said gift cards will be available in January.

Vossberg said there’s a market for the beef he’s raising.

“We feed grain and hay mix,” he said. “There’s no antibiotics, no hormones, nothing in feed other than grain, vitamins and some minerals because every animal needs that.”

Any antibiotics used are done so as a last resort, and the cows are culled from the herd, to be sold elsewhere, with a complete record of their treatments, Vossberg said.

The company has launched a Facebook page that enables customers to track the progress of the animals, Vossberg said.

“You can see the cattle growing and follow on Facebook,” he said. “It’s not a live feed, but we try to update it at least every two weeks, so people can feel at least a part of it.”

A website will be up and running soon, Vossberg said.

Purchases will be made online, starting with a $100 deposit, he said.

“They will actually, at that point, go through where a drop-down menu asks how you want hamburger done and steaks cut, whether you want T-bones and how many per package,” he said. “You can specify whether you want the heart, tongue or liver or soup bones -- stuff that you don’t get in the store that come out of these cattle.”

The Vossbergs are charging $3.50 per pound, “hanging weight,” or $3.25 a pound for whole butchered cow or calf. Customers can order as much or as little as they prefer, Vossberg said.

“You can buy a half of a half, front and back, because you get different steaks and cuts from front and back,” he said.

A customer who wants to buy more can do so, Vossberg said, noting that several orders have come in for whole calves.

The cost includes all necessary processing at Janesville Locker, Vossberg said.

“My wife and I were not specifically trying to make it cheaper than buying it piece by piece, but it is very comparable, if you weight out everything you get,” he said.

Rising Temperatures a Concern for Beef Producers

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 02:10:37 GMT

The dog days of summer apply to cattle, as well as people.
By: Jim Offner, Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier

Indeed, bovine experts at Iowa State University recently sent out a warning to producers to keep cool heads during the Iowa hot spells, the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reported .

With continuing weather forecasts of temperatures in the mid- to upper 90s and heat index recently eclipsing 100 degrees in Iowa, ISU Extension and Outreach beef veterinarian Grant Dewell sent out a reminder to beef cattle producers that properly preparing for such extreme weather conditions is vital to maintaining herd health.

Heat stress is always a concern, said Jim Thoma, who runs a 1,200-head operation near Jesup.

“In open pens in the sun, it gets pretty bad; it’s better to provide shade, especially for cattle that are along in the finishing period,” Thoma said. “They have more mega-cals and higher energy rations and are carrying more body fat and there’s more to deal with.”

Dewell recommended a five-step approach to side-stepping heat stress in a herd: Plan ahead, because after cattle get hot, it’s too late for preventative measures. Don’t work cattle when it is hot. Provide plenty of fresh clean water. Feed 70 percent of ration in the afternoon. Provide ventilation, shade and/or sprinklers.

“Some guys provide sprinklers,” Thoma said. “These newer confinement buildings work probably quite a bit better because cattle are in the shade and if there’s a summer breeze it helps a lot. If it’s hot, it’s going to be hot; you can’t control that, but you can kind of control the environment, especially if you have these newer confinement buildings.”

Thoma said he has “a couple” of controlled-environment buildings.

Dewell consuming water is the only way cattle can cool down in hot, humid conditions.

“Make sure the water flow is sufficient to keep tanks full, and ensure there’s enough space at water tanks — 3 inches linear space per head,” he said. “Introduce new water tanks before a heat event occurs so cattle know where they are.”

“Heat from fermentation in the rumen is primary source of heat for cattle,” Dewell said. “When cattle are fed in the morning, peak rumen temperature production occurs during the heat of day when they can’t get rid of it. By feeding 70 percent of the ration in late afternoon, rumen heat production occurs when it is cooler.”

“Environmental temperatures compound the heat load for cattle during a heat wave. Remove objects that are obstructing natural air movement. Indoor cattle will benefit from shade provided by the building as long as ventilation is good. Outdoor cattle will benefit from sprinklers to cool them off. Make sure cattle are used to sprinklers before employing them during a heat wave.”

Under current management practices, beef cattle and particularly feedlot cattle are most at risk for heat stress, Dewell said.

Cattle deal with stress all summer, anyway, once the temperature rises above 75 degrees, and they have to actively try to dissipate heat, Dewell said.

“When temperature get up in the mid-90s, they have difficulty maintaining their heat balance,” he said.

Dewell noted other livestock species — pigs in ventilated buildings and dairy cows in barns with fans or misters, for example — are in more controlled environments.

“Fortunately we don’t have heat waves every year,” he said, noting Iowa’s last major extended heat wave that killed cattle occurred in 2012.

Producers have to protect their herds in winter, but summer can be even more dangerous, Dewell said.

“Typically cattle in Iowa — especially southern Iowa — deal with heat stress more than cold stress,” he said.

Thoma said summer is tougher on cattle.

“Other than the way-extremes, like the blizzards, I think the cold is easier to deal with,” he said. “Cattle actually like a cold climate. They have quite a winter coat there, and if you keep them out of the wind and the wet in the winter, mostly the wet, you can understand that.”

Dave Epley, a cattle farmer near Shell Rock, who has 115 head, plus calves, agreed with Thoma.

“I’d say heat is harder on them, because cold, basically, they just eat more feed and compensate for the extra energy it takes,” Epley said.

Epley said cattle will show some signs of heat stress.

“When it gets to the point where the cows are hanging their tongues out and panting like a dog, that’s tough,” he said.

So far this year, that hasn’t happened, Epley said.

Generally, several factors combine to put cattle at risk from heat stress, Dewell said. Among them are temperatures in the upper 90s, with heat indices over 100, with two or three consecutive nights with relatively warm temperatures.

“Normally cattle build up a heat load during the day when it is hot and then dissipate that heat at night when it cools off,” he said. “If it does not get below 70 at night they can’t dissipate all of the heat so they start the next day with an increased heat load. By the second or third day, some cattle are unable to survive.”

The risks are minimized considerably if cattle can cool themselves, Dewell said, noting the biggest issue is decreased performance.

Extra heat typically causes cattle to reduce their intake of feed, and weight gain suffers, Dewell said.

“If the diet is not managed properly, we can sometimes see some ruminal acidosis problems after a heat event,” he said. “Cattle have not eaten much for a couple of days, then it cools off and if their return to feed is not managed properly, they can overeat leading to acidosis.”

There isn’t much that can be done to treat cattle, other than to keep them cool, Dewell said.

“The newer confined barns (monoslopes or hoop buildings) have less of a problem because shade of the roof reduces solar radiation which adversely affects cattle,” he said. “If shade is not possible, we recommend using a sprinkler system to keep cattle cool during heat events.”

Younger calves are less affected by heat, Dewell said.

“The biggest risk is heavy cattle that are close to the end of the feeding period,” he said. “These cattle have more body mass to keep cool and a heavy fat cover that does not allow them to expel heat, as well. Pasture cattle normally do OK; they are freer to find shelter under a tree, stand in pond, etc.”

Thoma said size and energy in calves helps them fend off the heat of summer.

“They can deal with it a whole lot better, like your kids,” Thoma said. “It’s hot for them, too, but they don’t have the problems you have with older people, even though they might fuss more.”

Attend Greenhorn Grazing Workshops to Sharpen Grazing Skills

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 02:09:38 GMT

Livestock producers wanting to maximize benefits from their grazing practices should attend Greenhorn Grazing workshops in northeast Iowa. Producers of all skill levels are welcome to the five-part workshop series, according to Denise Schwab, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach beef specialist.

“Greenhorn Grazing is designed for graziers interested in a more controlled or management-intensive grazing system,” Schwab said. “Producers who want to optimize forage and livestock production, increase market access and conserve natural resources will find the modules very informative.”

The series content will cover concepts relevant to producers of all grass-based livestock, whether it is beef, dairy, sheep or other animals, she said.

“The Greenhorn Grazing program is designed to help livestock producers evaluate their own pasture management and implement steps to increase their grazing efficiency,” Schwab said. “This training features experienced graziers sharing their knowledge and learning from each other. It’s the best combination of academics with real-world experience.”

Greenhorn Grazing will be held in the Clayton, Delaware and Dubuque county area, but is open to all producers in northeast Iowa. Each workshop will have a classroom component led by experienced instructors and a hands-on field component.

The workshops are scheduled for 9:30 a.m. to mid-afternoon on the following dates with topics and speakers as described:

June 10. Brian Lang, ISU Extension agronomist - soil conditions, fertility and plant productivity. Pat Schaefers, Clayton County NRCS - pasture condition scoring and CSP opportunities. Schwab - forage planning and species identification. The pasture component will be at the John Schupbach farm near Elgin featuring new seeding establishment, rotational paddocks, above ground waterline system, wildlife protection systems and custom grazing.
July 21. Larry Tranel, ISU Extension dairy specialist - dairy grazing. A fencing demonstration will be part of the pasture portion at the Eric Gaul pasture.
Aug. 24. Dan Morrical, ISU sheep specialist - animal grazing behavior, forage requirements and supplementing on pasture. ISU Extension ag engineer Greg Brenneman - watering systems. The Cameron Schulte pasture segment features buried water lines to tanks and a spring water development.
Sept. 9. ISU Extension field agronomist Meghan Anderson - weed management. Fall and winter forage management practices such as fall interseeding with Jim Welter; hay field grazing, and planning for winter feeding. Dan, Tom and Mark Welter will host this session.
Nov. 10. Cover crop grazing and companionship of cattle to row crops to be held at the Jack Smith farm near Epworth.

Support from the Clayton, Delaware and Dubuque County Extension districts, Theisen’s Home-Farm-Auto, Arrow Cattlequip, Innovative Ag Services and Welter Seed & Honey Co. help offset the cost of the short course. The $75 per person fee is for all five sessions in the series. It includes a resource notebook and lunches, and assists in covering speaker travel.

For more information on specific locations or details contact Schwab by phone at 319-721-9624 or email at dschwab@iastate.edu . To register, contact the Delaware County Extension Office at 563-927-4201.

Source: Iowa State University Extension and Outreach

New Grazing Program for Young and Beginning Graziers

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 02:09:38 GMT

A new grazing education and networking program intended for young and beginning graziers will be offered this summer and fall by the Iowa Beef Center at Iowa State University. ISU Extension and Outreach beef specialist Joe Sellers said Grassroots Grazing is a three-part series that will be held in five locations.

“This is designed to fit the busy schedules of young and beginning producers and involves a shorter time commitment than IBC’s Greenhorn Grazing or Certified Grazier programs,” he said. “Each location has its own schedule of three evening discussions and pasture walks.”

The series is sponsored by the Beginning and Young Livestock Producers Network initiative of ISU Extension and Outreach and the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and sessions will be led by local ISU Extension and Outreach beef specialists with assistance from county extension staff.

“There is no fee to attend, but we strongly encourage preregistration to ensure adequate materials for everyone,” Sellers said. “Participants will receive an in-depth grazing resource guide and join discussions with other producers from their region and with extension specialists.”

The date, start time and address for the initial session at each location are listed below, along with the contact person for each site. The program flyer has more information .

June 8, 6 p.m., Blairstown — Brian Kreutner pasture, across from 7980 22nd Ave. Dr, Blairstown. Conversion of CRP to pasture including paddock division, fencing off the stream, adding an above-ground gravity flow watering system and expansion of the initial grazing plan. Contact Denise Schwab, 319-472-4739, dschwab@iastate.edu.

June 22, 6 p.m., Cascade — Nathan Manternach pasture at 23476 Hwy 136, Cascade. Pasture development including paddock division, in-paddock watering system, EQIP opportunities and use of annual crops to extend the grazing season. Contact Denise Schwab, 319-472-4739, dschwab@iastate.edu.

June 22, 6:30 p.m., Osecola — Darrell Mateer farm, 1963 205th Ave, Osceola. Setting objectives for the grazing plan, pros and cons of various grazing systems, and how to develop more diverse and productive pastures. Contact Jennifer Pollard, 641-342-3316, jpollard@iastate.edu, or Joe Sellers, 641-203-1270, sellers@iastate.edu.

June 25, 6 p.m., ISU Extension and Outreach, Mahaska County Office — 212 North I St., Oskaloosa. EQIP funding and young producer programs, matching beef cattle genetics with grazing management, developing a grazing plan, and pasture productivity. Contact Pat Wall, 515-450-7665, patwall@iastate.edu.

June 30, 6 p.m., ISU Extension and Outreach, Cass County Office/Community Building — 805 West 10th St., Atlantic. Setting objectives for the grazing plan, pros and cons of various grazing systems, and how to develop more diverse and productive pastures. Contact Chris Clark, 712-769-2650, caclark@iastate.edu.

Source: Iowa State University Extension and Outreach

Feedlot Facility Workshops Coming in February and March

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 02:06:05 GMT

The Iowa Beef Center at Iowa State University will offer several workshops focusing on choices in feedlot facilities in February and March 2015. Russ Euken, ISU Extension and Outreach beef program specialist, said the workshops, set in various locations throughout the state, will offer an overview of facility types, advantages and disadvantages, and review research on these types.

“Using several scenarios, workshop participants will work on making appropriate choices for an operation including financing decisions, cost benefit measurements, and production and environmental risk management,” Euken said. “Tools and decision aids to help producers analyze the choices of facility type and cost will be used and available to participants.”

He said the intent of the workshops is to involve producers in working through the decision-making process for their specific operations.

“We believe they will leave the workshop with more knowledge and tools to make facility decisions for their operation,” Euken said. “Those who are considering investing in or upgrading feedlot facilities should benefit from attending.”

The workshops are supported by a grant from the North Central Risk Management Education Center. The Iowa Cattlemen’s Association and the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers are collaborators for the grant and this workshop series. The series brochure is available on the IBC website. Attendance is limited to 30 per site, so early registration is encouraged.

Producers can reserve their spot and meal by contacting their ISU Extension and Outreach beef program specialist. The registration fee of $20 per person will be collected at the door.

All workshops will run from 9:45 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the following dates at the listed locations.

Feb. 18, Nashua - Borlaug Center meeting room, Northeast Research Farm
Feb. 24, Manchester - Delaware County Extension office
Feb. 25, Dewitt - Clinton County Extension office
Feb. 26, Ames - Hansen Ag Student Learning Center, Iowa State University
March 3, Emmetsburg - Iowa Lakes Community College
March 4, Cherokee - Western Iowa Tech
March 4, Osceola - Clarke County fairgrounds
March 6, Oskaloosa - Mahaska County Extension office
March 9, Tama - Tama County Extension office
March 18, Lewis - Wallace Foundation Learning Center, Armstrong Farm
March 25, Carroll - Carroll County Extension office

Source: Iowa State University Extension

3 Omaha Residents Suspected in Iowa, Nebraska Cattle Thefts

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 02:06:05 GMT

Three Omaha residents are suspected of raiding cattle under the cover of night from farm pens in western Iowa and northeast Nebraska, authorities said.

Ervin Jacob, 57, who was arrested last week, is being held on three Iowa theft counts. James Brunzo, 49, is charged in two of the Iowa thefts and is being held in Pottawattamie County, Iowa. Amy Springer, 42, is charged in a search warrant with one Iowa theft. She remains at large. Online court records don’t list attorneys for any of them.

Sheriff Darby McLaren in Cass County, Iowa, said the three have been linked to May and June thefts from two farms in his county.

“They just literally, in the middle of the night, backed up with a trailer, loaded three or four cattle and took off,” McLaren told the Omaha World-Herald .

In Nebraska, Sgt. Dave Brown of the Cuming County Sheriff’s Office said the three are “people of interest” in the thefts of the trailer and nine animals. Court records don’t show that they’ve been charged in Nebraska.

Investigators believe the thefts began in Nebraska on May 4, Brown said, when the trailer and two head of cattle were taken from a farm near West Point. Five head were reported stolen from Wisner Feedlots six days later.

Then two farms operated by the Freund family near Lewis, Iowa, were hit by rustlers in late May and in June.

The stolen cattle were unloaded to unsuspecting buyers at various Iowa and Nebraska sale barns.

Iowa Beef Center Offers Grazing Events

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 02:02:47 GMT

There is no more critical factor impacting beef cow-calf profits than controlling feed costs, and one part of that is extending grazing days and improving performance on grass. The latest U.S. Census of Agriculture indicates that pasture acres were reduced by 660,000 acres (21 percent) in Iowa between 2007 and 2012. At the same time acres in CRP, WRP, CREP and other conservation uses went down 744,000 (37 percent). There are huge soil and water conservation impacts of these land use changes, and good management of available pasture is more important than ever.

That’s why the Iowa Beef Center and its grazing partners will host numerous grazing events in 2014, ranging from courses for beginning to experienced graziers to a specific series of workshops around Iowa led by Jim Gerrish, grazing consultant from Idaho and former grazing specialist at the University of Missouri.

Gerrish Grazing Series
The Gerrish series features five workshops and seven pasture walks Aug. 18-22. See the 2014 Gerrish Series flyer for details on the session content, dates, times and locations.

Greenhorn Grazing
This popular course continues in 2014 at the Iowa State University McNay Research Farm southwest of Chariton and local farm sites. Designed for beginning graziers and those producers wanting to upgrade their grazing systems, one of the five sessions will be part of the Gerrish series. Topics include basics of grass management, soil types and choosing forage species for the site, water systems, using annual forage crop, fescue management, fencing, weed and brush management, getting more plant diversity and extending the grazing season.

Each class will include discussion both in the meeting room and out in the pasture. Dates are June 18, July 15, Aug. 18 or 19 or 20 (this is the Gerrish series session), Oct. 23 and Nov. 18, with all Greenhorn Grazing sessions running from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The Gerrish session time varies by date and location. The $80 fee covers a meal at all five sessions and reference materials. For more information or to sign up, contact Joe Sellers by phone at 641-203-1270 or by email at sellers@iastate.edu. The Greenhorn Grazing 2014 brochure lists specific session topics and sponsors.

Iowa Certified Grazier
This grazing course is intended for more advanced graziers who want to fine-tune and advance their grazing management systems. Interactive classes will include an agenda defined by participants. Participants will gain skills to help themselves and other producers make informed grazing management decisions, by working on a detailed grazing plan for their farm during the class.

Topics to be covered include looking at different grazing systems, using Web Soil Survey to improved paddock design and management, incorporating annual cover crops in a system, soil fertility, maximizing pasture diversity, reducing cow wintering costs with extended grazing and cornstalk grazing, and beef nutrition using BRANDs.

The Certified Grazier series will be held this year in two locations: Winterset at the Madison County Extension Office and Maquoketa at the Jackson County Extension Office.

In Winterset, this six-session class is set for June 11, July 9, Aug. 18 or 19 or 20 (Gerrish class), Sept. 10, Oct. 15, and Nov. 12. See the south central Iowa Certified Grazier brochure for details and registration information, or contact Sellers by phone at 641-203-1270 or email at sellers@iastate.edu
In Maquoketa, dates are June 12, July 8, Aug. 21 (Gerrish), Sept. 9, Nov. 13 and Dec. 9. See the northeast Iowa Certified Grazier brochure for details and registration information, or contact Denise Schwab by phone at 319-472-4739 or email at dschwab@iastate.edu

All regular sessions run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Gerrish session time varies by date and location. Cost is $100 per participant with registrations due by June 6 for both locations.

Source: Iowa State University Extension

Iowa: Tour Planned for Young Beef Producers

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 02:02:39 GMT

A two-day bus trip to various locations in Nebraska in early September will offer beginning and young Iowa beef producers unique networking and educational opportunities. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach beef program specialist Chris Clark said the trip is an organized activity of the Beginning and Young Livestock Producer Network (BYLPN) and includes visits to several operations to provide a wide variety of information, experiences, and discussions.

“We’ll have stops at several different beef operations, a packing facility and the USDA Meat Animal Research Center in Clay Center, Nebraska,” Clark said. “Our tour guide, Jacob Mayer of Settje Agri-Services & Engineering, Inc. has been very helpful in identifying and scheduling places with different approaches and strengths, and he’ll be able to help facilitate some good discussions on the trip.”

The trip is set for Thursday and Friday, Sept. 4 and 5, with the bus departing from the Cass County Extension Office in Atlantic at 7 a.m. on Sept. 4. Additional pick-up locations may be added as necessary. The group will overnight at the Fairfield Inn & Suites, 805 Allen Dr., Grand Island, Nebraska, and return the evening of Sept. 5. A block of rooms has been reserved for Sept. 4 at the Fairfield Inn.

“Participants are responsible for their own hotel room fee and can make reservations at the Fairfield Inn & Suites by calling 308-381-8980 and asking for the group rate for Young Producers Group Block no later than Aug. 8,” Clark said. “After that date, rooms will be on an availability basis only.”

The BYLPN is a strategic initiative of ISU Extension and Outreach, with primary goals of creating regional peer groups of young and beginning livestock producers; and offering education, mentorship, and networking opportunities to participants.

“This bus trip is a fitting activity for those already involved in a BYLPN group, but people don’t need to be members of an existing group to participate,” Clark said. “We would love to see some new faces and get more people involved.”

Preregistration by Aug. 20 is required in order to ensure adequate transportation. For more information or to preregister, contact Clark by phone at 712-769-2200 or by email at caclark@iastate.edu or email Leann Plowman-Tibken at leann@iastate.edu.

Regent Defends Iowa State Study at his Cattle Farm

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 02:02:32 GMT

A three-year study by Iowa State University on cattle performance at a confinement owned by Board of Regents President Bruce Rastetter will be beneficial to all beef producers, Rastetter and the researchers say.

ISU researchers have been working with Rastetter’s company, Summit Farms LLC, to study whether cattle grow bigger and healthier with less feed when they stand on rubber mats instead of concrete, as the mat manufacturers claim. Preliminary findings published in an industry newsletter last year suggested mats may be beneficial but were inconclusive, and more detailed data is expected to be released in coming months.

Summit Farms manager Eric Peterson said the Alden-based corporation is awaiting the findings before deciding whether to install more rubber mats for the 8,000 cattle that it feeds. He and Rastetter said the results will be public, helping all producers make similar decisions.

Still, the study is another example of the entanglement between Rastetter’s business and one of the universities that he governs as a regent. He disclosed the study on a conflict of interest form, which the regents have started posting online.

The Iowa Energy Center, administered by Iowa State, confirmed last week that it has awarded Summit Farms $480,000 in no-interest loans to install three wind turbines. ISU withdrew from a project in 2012 to develop farmland in Tanzania with an investment group headed by Rastetter, after critics called it a land grab.

Rastetter, a former hog production and ethanol executive who has more recently invested in beef operations, called the cattle study an example of the routine but valuable collaboration between Iowa State and farmers.

“Summit Farms could have done that mat trial on their own and kept that information proprietary. We did it with Iowa State and shared the numbers because all Iowa producers are going to benefit from that information,” he said.

The study started in 2011, months after Gov. Terry Branstad appointed Rastetter to the board. Summit Farms had asked ISU for advice on whether to install mats at a new confinement. Little research had been done on the impact of mats. The ISU Extension and the school’s Iowa Beef Center offered to help study the performance of cattle standing on three kinds of mats against those without a mat.

ISU researchers said they were interested in the project because Summit Farms was a large enough operation to allow for comparisons that would yield meaningful data.

“We’d work with others, too” in a similar situation, ISU Extension beef field specialist Russ Euken said.

In response to a records request, ISU attorney Paula DeAngelo said last month the school didn’t have an agreement with Summit Farms for the study. But the school later released an undated, unsigned document spelling out how ISU and Summit Farms would conduct the research.

ISU Extension agreed to analyze data collected, write a public report with the findings, perform “an estimate on potential economic return” and pursue available research funding. Summit Farms agreed to supply the pens, mats and cattle and collect and share data.

Such informal agreements aren’t unheard of in studies in which no money changes hands, Euken said.

“I wouldn’t say we do it all the time, but it’s fairly routine,” said Euken, who received a grant from the Iowa Beef Center for the project.