For the first time since 2006, new Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) sign ups will be held this upcoming spring. There are about 4.4 millions acres of CRP whose contracts are set to expire in September 2010. The states that will have the biggest acres expiring will be Montana, North Dakota, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. The sign up being held to help replace those acres that are expiring and the help push the total acres of CRP to 32 million acres. As it stands right now, there is about 31.4 acres of CRP ground.
Is this Good? Bad? Or Otherwise?
You can read the full article here. Let me know what you think.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Ag Secretary to Visit Montana
Actually headline should read 'Ag Secretary to Visit Western Montana'. Ag Secretary Vilsak has plans to visit Deer Lodge, Bozeman and Helena this Saturday.
His plans include meeting up with Senator Tester in Deer Lodge and taking a plane ride to get a view of the beetle infested forests. Mr. Vilsak oversees the Forest Jobs and Recreation Act. I did not know that. I also don't know what that is!
His time in Bozeman will spent discussing the Child Nutrition Act and Farm-to-School efforts in Montana.
Ag Secretary Vilsak's time in Helena is going to be spent meeting with Montana Ag Producers.
I appreciate the gesture he is giving. But is it enough?
His plans include meeting up with Senator Tester in Deer Lodge and taking a plane ride to get a view of the beetle infested forests. Mr. Vilsak oversees the Forest Jobs and Recreation Act. I did not know that. I also don't know what that is!
His time in Bozeman will spent discussing the Child Nutrition Act and Farm-to-School efforts in Montana.
Ag Secretary Vilsak's time in Helena is going to be spent meeting with Montana Ag Producers.
I appreciate the gesture he is giving. But is it enough?
My Favorite Season
One of my favorite seasons is fast approaching.
*It brings Hope
*Laughing even harder because many times it was yourself getting knocked on their ass
Calving Season
*It brings Hope
*It brings New Life
*Supplies us with some new stories to tell
*Cracking the good ol' dependable horse out
*Cracking the 'we got a ways to go' horse out
*Taking bets on which horse is gonna buck with you first
*Taking bets on which horse is gonna buck with you first
*Slopping around in the mud. snow. rain. dust.
*Pulling a calf to save its life
*The smile on a little kid when they get to love a baby calf
*Getting up in the middle of the night to check one heifer
*Jumping fences and swearing that this is the year she gets sold
*Fresh Air
I just can't wait for Calving Season!
After after Calving Season comes another favorite season.
Branding.
*Catching up with neighbors
*Enjoying good food
*Shaking the cobwebs off your rope
*Teaching the rookies how to flip a calf
*Observing the result of you sleepless hours during calving
*Cold Beer
*Listening to the Calving Stories being told*Playing the gambling game of 'which bull calves not to cut'
*Accomplishing a big task with the help of your neighbors and friends
*Watching that cowkid finally get a chance in the roping pen after years of begging
*Seeing the ol' timer make his way in to brand at least one calf
*Listening to that same ol' timer tell his version of 'back in my day' stories
*Watching a parent pass on knowledge to the next generation
*Watching a parent teach a new skill to the next generation
*Laughing the next generation get knocked on their ass, because some things can't be taught.
*Laughing even harder because many times it was yourself getting knocked on their ass
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Netflix & Temple Grandin
If I had my way, we wouldn't have TV in our house. I would not be paying for Dish Network or DirecTV or whatever else there is. But I don't get my way. We have TV. A few weeks ago I was wishing that we had HBO in our TV package. But Big D did start Netflix here recently. Which I am not too thrilled about.
Yep, I went from one end of the stick to the other. From no TV to wanting HBO. To clarify, I just wanted HBO for the weekend. Not all the time.
I was wanting to watch the movie Temple Grandin. Most everyone in Agriculture has heard of Dr. Temple Grandin and the lucky ones have got too sit in on one of her presentations. I am one of the lucky ones. I saw her speak several times in college. My husband is not. He wasn't even sure who she was. Really? I thought he knew everything, or so he tells me!
I have decided to not belly ache too much about Netflix. I also have quit walking around in disbelief and repeating the phrase "how could you not know....". Why you ask?
Well, because Big D informed me that he added Temple Grandin to his Netflix list, so when HBO releases it, it will arrive in my mailbox.
Yep, I went from one end of the stick to the other. From no TV to wanting HBO. To clarify, I just wanted HBO for the weekend. Not all the time.
I was wanting to watch the movie Temple Grandin. Most everyone in Agriculture has heard of Dr. Temple Grandin and the lucky ones have got too sit in on one of her presentations. I am one of the lucky ones. I saw her speak several times in college. My husband is not. He wasn't even sure who she was. Really? I thought he knew everything, or so he tells me!
I have decided to not belly ache too much about Netflix. I also have quit walking around in disbelief and repeating the phrase "how could you not know....". Why you ask?
Well, because Big D informed me that he added Temple Grandin to his Netflix list, so when HBO releases it, it will arrive in my mailbox.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Rerecord Brands in North Dakota
They're rerecording everywhere! Rerecord in Montana. Rerecord in North Dakota. Below is a press release from the ND Stockmens' about their process and you can read again about rerecording your brand in Montana.
For Immediate Release
Feb. 12, 2010
Contact:
Julie Ellingson, executive vice president
jellingson@ndstockmen.org
Keely Spilde, brand recorder
brands@ndstockmen.org
Sheyna Strommen, communications director
sstrommen@ndstockmen.org
North Dakota brand renewal period begins in August 2010
Brandowners asked to provide current address to recording office
North Dakota requires brands to be renewed every five years, and, by law, brands will expire after Dec. 31, 2010.
Now, registered brandowners have a new tool to ensure their renewal paperwork gets mailed to their current address. The re-designed North Dakota Stockmen’s Association (NDSA) website, www.ndstockmen.org, offers an online brand book that is searchable by letters, symbols or numbers. Its listings include the brand, the brandowner, his or her address on file, and the registered placement of the brand on livestock, similar to the printed version.
The new tool will help brandowners determine if their correct address is on file at the NDSA. "If a brandowner has moved or if his or her address has changed within the last five years, chances are the address on file is no longer valid," said NDSA Brand Recorder Keely Spilde.
It is the brandowner’s responsibility to update address information with the brand recording department.
Brands that are not renewed within the brand renewal period, Aug. 1, 2010 to Dec. 31, 2010, may not be eligible for renewal due to potential conflicts with other recorded brands. "That is why it is so imperative that the renewal paperwork gets mailed to the brandowner’s correct address – to give North Dakota brandowners the opportunity to renew their brands as they wish," she said.
Spilde said if a brandowner’s address has changed since 2005, he or she should call the NDSA at (701) 223-2522 or e-mail brands@ndstockmen.org to update it.
Registered brandowners should watch for their renewal applications to arrive in mid-August 2010.
*****
For Immediate Release
Feb. 12, 2010
Contact:
Julie Ellingson, executive vice president
jellingson@ndstockmen.org
Keely Spilde, brand recorder
brands@ndstockmen.org
Sheyna Strommen, communications director
sstrommen@ndstockmen.org
North Dakota brand renewal period begins in August 2010
Brandowners asked to provide current address to recording office
North Dakota requires brands to be renewed every five years, and, by law, brands will expire after Dec. 31, 2010.
Now, registered brandowners have a new tool to ensure their renewal paperwork gets mailed to their current address. The re-designed North Dakota Stockmen’s Association (NDSA) website, www.ndstockmen.org, offers an online brand book that is searchable by letters, symbols or numbers. Its listings include the brand, the brandowner, his or her address on file, and the registered placement of the brand on livestock, similar to the printed version.
The new tool will help brandowners determine if their correct address is on file at the NDSA. "If a brandowner has moved or if his or her address has changed within the last five years, chances are the address on file is no longer valid," said NDSA Brand Recorder Keely Spilde.
It is the brandowner’s responsibility to update address information with the brand recording department.
Brands that are not renewed within the brand renewal period, Aug. 1, 2010 to Dec. 31, 2010, may not be eligible for renewal due to potential conflicts with other recorded brands. "That is why it is so imperative that the renewal paperwork gets mailed to the brandowner’s correct address – to give North Dakota brandowners the opportunity to renew their brands as they wish," she said.
Spilde said if a brandowner’s address has changed since 2005, he or she should call the NDSA at (701) 223-2522 or e-mail brands@ndstockmen.org to update it.
Registered brandowners should watch for their renewal applications to arrive in mid-August 2010.
Currently, more than 22,000 brands are registered in North Dakota.
# # #
# # #
MCA Press Release on NAIS
Ag Secretary Vilsak says he is committed to working with the states, tribal officials and the industry to revise the dead NAIS. I maybe skeptic, but we shall see. I found the following press release at MCA website.
Montana Cattlemen's Association
Press Release
Release Date: February 5, 2010
Contact person: Sharon McDonald, Secretary
(406) 537-2333
Email: mca@montanacattlemen.org
Montana Catlemen’s Asociation Pleased With USDA’s New Framework for Animal Disease Tracehback
MCA (February 5, 2010) - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced a new framework for animal disease traceability and Montana Cattlemen’s Association (MCA) says it welcomes the news. MCA has been a vocal opponent of the previously proposed National Animal Identification System (NAIS).
In a public statement and subsequent conference call with industry groups on February 5, the Secretary said the agency intends to be responsive to producer concerns and will work towards a program that allows state and tribal animal health officials to drive a system that will work for them. A cornerstone of the program will be enhanced protections against the introduction and spread of animal diseases.
“I’ve decided to revise the prior policy and offer a new approach to animal disease traceability with changes that respond directly to the feedback we have heard,” said Vilsack. “We are committed to working in partnership with states, tribal nations and the industry in the coming months to address many of the details of this framework,” said Vilsack. The rule-making process is scheduled to begin in mid-March when animal health officials from states and tribes will meet in Kansas City to begin dialogue on the program.
Secretary Vilsack said USDA will work towards a system that will provide the following basic tenets of improved animal disease traceability capabilities:
• The program will be administered by states and tribal nations to provide more flexibility.
• The program will apply only to animals moved in interstate commerce.
• The program will encourage the use of lower-cost technology.
• The program will be implemented transparently and through federal regulations coupled with a full rulemaking process, allowing for public comment.
MCA Vice President and Animal ID Chairman Hugh Broadus, Forsyth, MT said, “This reversal of policy is refreshing. Putting control of animal disease prevention and traceback into the hands of state and tribal animal health officials puts producers closer to the development of the system as well as the end product that will emerge. For a variety of reasons, states have different needs regarding animal health issues. Animal disease traceback cannot be a one-size-fits-all system, and that’s been a fundamental problem with the previous approach. Montana Cattlemen look forward to working with state and national officials to develop a system that will work without unnecessary burdens or risk. We appreciate Secretary Vilsack’s attention and responsiveness on this issue.”
###
Montana Cattlemen's Association
Press Release
Release Date: February 5, 2010
Contact person: Sharon McDonald, Secretary
(406) 537-2333
Email: mca@montanacattlemen.org
Montana Catlemen’s Asociation Pleased With USDA’s New Framework for Animal Disease Tracehback
MCA (February 5, 2010) - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced a new framework for animal disease traceability and Montana Cattlemen’s Association (MCA) says it welcomes the news. MCA has been a vocal opponent of the previously proposed National Animal Identification System (NAIS).
In a public statement and subsequent conference call with industry groups on February 5, the Secretary said the agency intends to be responsive to producer concerns and will work towards a program that allows state and tribal animal health officials to drive a system that will work for them. A cornerstone of the program will be enhanced protections against the introduction and spread of animal diseases.
“I’ve decided to revise the prior policy and offer a new approach to animal disease traceability with changes that respond directly to the feedback we have heard,” said Vilsack. “We are committed to working in partnership with states, tribal nations and the industry in the coming months to address many of the details of this framework,” said Vilsack. The rule-making process is scheduled to begin in mid-March when animal health officials from states and tribes will meet in Kansas City to begin dialogue on the program.
Secretary Vilsack said USDA will work towards a system that will provide the following basic tenets of improved animal disease traceability capabilities:
• The program will be administered by states and tribal nations to provide more flexibility.
• The program will apply only to animals moved in interstate commerce.
• The program will encourage the use of lower-cost technology.
• The program will be implemented transparently and through federal regulations coupled with a full rulemaking process, allowing for public comment.
MCA Vice President and Animal ID Chairman Hugh Broadus, Forsyth, MT said, “This reversal of policy is refreshing. Putting control of animal disease prevention and traceback into the hands of state and tribal animal health officials puts producers closer to the development of the system as well as the end product that will emerge. For a variety of reasons, states have different needs regarding animal health issues. Animal disease traceback cannot be a one-size-fits-all system, and that’s been a fundamental problem with the previous approach. Montana Cattlemen look forward to working with state and national officials to develop a system that will work without unnecessary burdens or risk. We appreciate Secretary Vilsack’s attention and responsiveness on this issue.”
###
Food For Thought
An article out of Time was emailed to me recently. It discusses how known vegans are now raising cattle to save the planet. Sounds interesting, doesn't it? Because I am not quite sure how to blog my comments on this story, why don't you just check it out and weigh in the article.
How Cows (Grass-Fed Only) Can Save the Planet
How Cows (Grass-Fed Only) Can Save the Planet
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