Agriculture must become more proactive in telling it's story. That's the recommendation of agricultural advocate and dairy producer Michele Payn-Knoper. In speaking at the Angus Means Business Convention in Overland Park, Kansas, she said producers need to be talking about issues before they "hit the frying pan".


"It's all about proactive response, rather than defensive response, which we seem to excel at in agriculture," Payn-Knoper said. "I absolutely know that we are doing the right thing, but the reality is, we can't wait til tomorrow to tell our story."


Agriculture's major hot button issues right now include antibiotics, hormones and biotechnology. Payn-Knoper said producers need to be prepared to talk about why they use antibiotics or grow biotech crops and keep the message simple. In talking with others, she often relates to people as a mom, instead of as a farmer. She encourages ag producers to be relatable to consumers.


In telling their story, Payn-Knoper recommends farmers talk about what they love with who they love.


This lady understands the art of communicating what we do in farming and ranching with those who use what is produced down on the farm- our customers. That's why I always enjoy talking with her when our paths cross. In the last few weeks- that has been twice- at the Naitonal FFA and then again this last Wednesday at the Angus Means Business Convention in the KC area. Click or tap here to listen to our full conversation.
 

When you meet your spouse to be in a dairy barn- it can leave a lasting impression in your mind.  In the case of Larry and Kayleen Ferguson- it was beginning of their life together that included several moves, a lot of success and a decision forty years later to give back to that Dairy Barn and the University that helped bring them together- Oklahoma State.

This past Friday, that decision to give back was made public- and the Fergusons made known they are committing two million dollars for a major upgrade and renewal of the Dairy facilities at OSU. 

According to the news release from the Division of Ag on Friday afternoon, "The Ferguson Family Foundation has committed $2 million to construct a state-of-the-art, free-stall barn that will include space for new Insentec individual cattle-feeding equipment. This will enhance research undertaken by faculty, staff and students relative to daily feed and water intake, resulting in improved management and cost-efficiency recommendations to dairy producers."

"Our dairy program attracts students from 41 states and three foreign countries because of the affordable tuition and hands-on learning experiences with high-quality animals on a variety of modern farms," said Burns Hargis, OSU president. "This gift empowers the program to do even more to bring in the brightest students and most highly skilled personnel. We are so grateful to the Fergusons for their generous support."


Read more about this gift by clicking here.

 

Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Val Dolcini announced this past week that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will begin mailing ballots to eligible farmers and ranchers across the country for the 2015 FSA County Committee elections on today- November 9th. Producers must return ballots to their local FSA offices by December 7, 2015, to ensure that their vote is counted.


"County committee members represent the farmers and ranchers in their communities," said Dolcini. "Producers elected to these committees have always played a vital role in local agricultural decisions. They are essential to the daily operation of nearly 2,200 offices across the country. It is a valued partnership that helps us better understand the needs of the farmers and ranchers we serve."


Nearly 7,700 FSA County Committee members serve FSA offices nationwide. Each committee has three to 11 elected members who serve three-year terms of office. One-third of county committee seats are up for election each year. County committee members apply their knowledge and judgment to help FSA make important decisions on its commodity support programs; conservation programs; indemnity and disaster programs; emergency programs and eligibility.


Producers must participate or cooperate in an FSA program to be eligible to vote in the county committee election. Approximately 1.9 million producers are currently eligible to vote. Farmers and ranchers who supervise and conduct the farming operations of an entire farm, but are not of legal voting age, also may be eligible to vote.  Click here to read more about county FSA elections.

Even with the flash drought of 2015, it appears the U.S. cattle industry is set to have another great year of herd rebuilding nationwide and in the Southern Great Plains. That's the opinion of  Lance Zimmerman, who is with the CattleFax organization, the market analysis arm of the cattle industry. The U.S. last year added 600,000 cows to the U.S. cattle herd. CattleFax believes herd expansion will be even larger in 2015.


"I think people need to prepare themselves for a number that's fully over a million as we look at what we added to the herd this year," Zimmerman said.


CattleFax is watching the fall livestock auctions for indications of herd expansion. With 70 to 80 percent of calves selling during the fall run, Zimmerman said the percentage of heifers being sold at auction markets has been smaller than last year. He believes this trend will carry over into 2016.


Herd expansion will need to continue in order to make up for the decline in cattle numbers, especially because of the devastating drought that faced the Southern Plains. Zimmerman said three to four million head of cows were taken out of beef production during the drought. The beef industry will recover the first two to three million head fairly quickly, but levels beyond that will depend on domestic and international demand.

Zimmerman also talks about the outlook for U.S. beef exports.  I caught up with Zimmerman at the Angus Means Business Convention in Overland Park, Kansas. Click or tap here to listen to today's Beef Buzz.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Friday awarded more than $4.5 million to 49 American veterinarians to help repay a portion of their veterinary school loans in return for serving in areas lacking sufficient veterinary resources. The awards, made through the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP) administered by USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), will help fill shortages in 26 states.


"Rural America is challenged with recruiting veterinarians", said Dr. John Clifford, Chief Veterinary Officer for the USDA. "These professionals often face high student loan debt, leading them to work in locations with larger populations and higher pay. This program offers loan-repayment assistance to veterinarians, allowing them to fill shortages and work in rural areas, ultimately improving the well-being of livestock and providing an abundant and safe food supply for America."


Veterinarians are critical to America's food safety and food security and to the health and well-being of both animals and humans. Studies indicate there are significant shortages of food animal veterinarians in certain areas of the country, and in high-priority specialty sectors that require advanced training, such as food safety, epidemiology, diagnostic medicine and public health. A leading cause for this shortage is the heavy cost of four years of professional veterinary medical training which leaves current graduates of veterinary colleges with a mean debt burden of $135,283.  Click here to read more about this program.

The American Farm Bureau Federation, the National Corn Growers and a coalition of other agricultural and builder groups Friday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review a lower court ruling that allows the Environmental Protection Agency to micromanage local land use and development decisions under the guise of implementing the federal Clean Water Act. The lower court's ruling, according to the petition, "opens the door for a dramatic expansion of federal power" and must be overturned.

"The EPA has consistently pushed the legal limits of the Clean Water Act, with the Chesapeake Bay blueprint and the Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule being two of the most recent examples," said NCGA President Chip Bowling, who farms on the Chesapeake Bay watershed in southern Maryland. Bowling's comments are available here- and NCGA has also provided a link to the petition.

The lawsuit arose in the context of EPA's so-called "blueprint" for restoring the Chesapeake Bay, but Farm Bureau points out that the issue at stake is national in scope.

"It's about whether EPA has the power to override local decisions on what land can be farmed, where homes can be built, and where schools, hospitals, roads and communities can be developed," said AFBF President Bob Stallman. "This is nothing less than federal super-zoning authority. As much as we all support the goal of achieving a healthy Chesapeake Bay, we have to fight this particular process for getting there."

Twenty-one states, 39 members of Congress and a group of counties within the Bay watershed supported AFBF's legal challenge in the lower courts.  Click here to read more from Farm Bureau about this court filing.

The members of the Texas Farm Bureau are very pleased Kevin Brady is set to become chairman of the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee. Congressman Brady has played a key role in tax policy. He has a well-deserved reputation as a hard-working and effective public servant.


"As a senior member of Ways and Means, he has been a leader on tax issues. He has worked on health care, trade, energy and every important assignment of the committee.


"We appreciate that he has regularly discussed these issues with Texas Farm Bureau leaders and staff over his 19 years of Congressional service. Texas Farm Bureau AGFUND supported him in his first race for the Texas House in 1990 and in every election since."

Click here to read more from Texas Farm Bureau.