A group of 38,000 wheat and cattle producers recently filed suit against former MF Global executives after $1.2 billion in customer funds were discovered missing from the now bankrupt firm. The U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, led by Senator Debbie Stabenow, has requested input from financial stakeholders, market participants and consumer advocacy groups on policies that could help recover missing customer money as well as protect customer collateral and prevent similar situations.
Last week South Korea agreed to lift the ban on Canadian beef under 30 months of age, a decision which could generate up to $29.7 million per year for the Canadian beef industry. The ban was instated after the discovery of mad-cow disease in Canada in 2003.
Researchers at the Mississippi State University Insect Rearing Center in the Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology are currently developing a system for rearing black soldier flies, an insect with potential to make a big impact in the agriculture industry. According to MSU’s John Schneider, the black soldier species is neither a pest to humans nor a known disease carrier, but will eagerly consume almost any type of agricultural byproduct – including manure and carcasses. The insect larvae can also be dry-milled for use as a protein in livestock, poultry and aquaculture meal.
- by Loretta Sorenson
- Photo by Malloree Barnes
Injecting vaccine into a calf doesn’t necessarily mean the animal receives maximum protection from disease. At numerous points between when the vaccine leaves the supplier and when it enters the animal, quality and effectiveness of the shot can be reduced if it’s not handled carefully. Terry Todd, licensed veterinarian and Cohagen, MT, rancher says compromised vaccine can’t stimulate the necessary level of antigens in an animal.
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- by Dr. Arn Anderson, DVM
At the end of the summer our health insurance company decided that it was time for me to take another physical exam and a set of screening tests. After my required procrastination, denial and good intentions to make an appointment, my wife took over and arranged a physical exam at our local human clinic.
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- Photo by Jeffrey Banke / Dreamstime
Effective soil management is key to producing high quality alfalfa. That’s the message long-time journalist and researcher Harold Willis brings out in the booklet he authored, How to Grow Great Alfalfa. The 47-page, 6x9 booklet contains a number of black and white photos and outlines the steps involved in establishing a highly nutritious and productive alfalfa stand.
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Love That New Cattleguard
- by Jennifer Showalter
Photo from Powder River Livestock Handling Equipment
Powder River cattleguards are designed to meet the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO) specifications. The strongest models are built to handle up to 30 tons per axle.
Opening and closing a gate from time to time is no sweat off any rancher’s back. It’s when the same gate has to be gone through over and over that it becomes more trouble than it’s worth. With this in mind, every rancher has a cow or two that seems to be able to smell an open gate and won’t let anyone slide by without closing the gate each and every time.
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Process Verified Program, that is
- by Merridee Wells
- Photo by Sage Pool
Process Verified Programs, or PVP’s as they are commonly called, are another of the many new-fangled phrases which are becoming commonplace in our cattle industry today. Breed associations draw them like a gun while marketing programs dazzle you with their PVP requirements and the auction companies brag on their value-added benefits.
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Make sure your cows are nutritionally ready
- by Gilda V. Bryant
- photo by Lucie Wiese
Minerals are important for herd health, reproduction and efficiency during winter. However, that is only part of the picture. Extra protein and energy are vital during cold, wet weather. Producers should also be aware of forage and by-product supplementation quality, as well as body condition scores.
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