John Deere is about ready to kick off its series of events throughout much of the eastern part of the U S to promote its new line of tractors and equipment for specialty crops. The first four events are “previews” that will be held in Florida in early December, where growers and customers will have a hands-on chance to “Drive Green” with various models, and discuss some of the special closeout deals and financing opportunities on last year’s models too.
Stay tuned to Southeast AgNet for details as “Drive Green” makes its debut in here in the “Deep Southeast”. There will be valuable prizes for producers attending these events, and some other special promotional tie ins that will offer opportunities for our region’s producers. The Florida events are Dec 3, GreenSouth Equipment, Middleburg, FL; Dec 4 Greensouth Equip, Gainesville, FL; Dec 5 Everglades Farm Equipment, Belle Glade, FL; and Dec 6 sponsored by Highland Tractor, to be held at Tampa State Fairgrounds…To hear lots more about these events, and about what Deere is doing to better serve specialty crop producers CLICK HERE.
With many concerned about global warming, the issue of warmer climates with livestock has been researched proving climate does make a difference in production.
Dr. Tony Frazier, Alabama State Veterinarian, is still encouraging livestock producers across the state who have yet to register their premises, to do so.
The renewal of the Agricultural Air Quality Task Force will mean various experts in the fields of agriculture and air quality will be working together to look further into quality issues which have entered discussions across the U.S.
The U.S. Meat Export Federation will hold their annual Strategic Planning Conference this week as USMEF President and CEO Philip Seng talks about some of the issues they will be discussing.
To learn more about this week’s USMEF Strategic Planning Conference click Here
The University of Georgia and other colleges have programs in place to help with the fact there is a shortage of food animal veterinarians across the country.
Trying to cut costs right now is a chore for everyone, but when it comes to feeding cattle, University of Florida’s Matt Hersom says it’s important to make sure you compare the dollars spent on feed to what your returns are.
USDA ANNOUNCES COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS WITH FOUR TRIBAL ORGANIZATIONS FOR NATIONAL ANIMAL IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM EDUCATION AND OUTREACH
WASHINGTON, Oct. 20, 2008–The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) today announced a partnership with four tribal organizations for National Animal Identification System (NAIS) education and outreach. The four tribal organizations are Intertribal Agriculture Council, Indian Nations Conservation Alliance, Intertribal Council of Nevada and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Nation. Read the rest of this entry »
As the state of Florida looks for ways to make ends meet, we’ve gotten word that the state’s Livestock Market News Service staff could be cut out altogether come next budget season in Tallahassee unless the industry makes waves enough to prevent it. The word we get is that four positions for Livestock Market News will appear on the Governor’s recommended position cuts for fiscal year 2009/2010. This is the entire Market News staff.
At a time when the cattle industry has been hit hard by the drop in the economy(feeder calf prices have dropped 20 to 30 cents per pound over the last month), the industry needs all the help it can get. History has shown that removing market news from a state will produce a 5 to 10 cent drop in the price of cattle. A 5 cent drop on a 400 pound steer mean a $20.00 loss. Multiply that over approximately 600,000 head of feeder calves, and you get a loss of 12 million dollars to the industry. All that loss to save the state $250,000.
It is a critical time for all farmers and ranchers to be making plans to be very active in the coming months when it comes to state budgeting issues. This is one good example of something that can only be saved by strong input and activity on the part of agricuturalists to protect what it needs to keep one of Florida’s most productive industries viable.
The Georgia Milk Producers are out at Sunbelt Expo with information for both the producer and consumer. Producers can stop by for dairy seminars that will be conducted throughout the show including the cow whisperer discussing different handling practices. Kids can learn about the importance of dairy and even see a cow being milked. The dairy exhibit is located in the livestock area.
The annual Ag Commissioner’s Cow Milking Contest took place today at Sunbelt Ag Expo, as pictured right is Glen Zorn, Deputy Commissioner from Alabama
and then to the left, Florida Ag Commissioner Charles Bronson,
When it was all over, the winner was South Carolina Ag Commissioner Hugh Weathers. Also pictured is University of Tennessee’s Warren Gill representing Tennessee.
The 31st Annual Sunbelt Ag Expo kicks off today in Moultrie, Georgia as there will be exhibits and events that most anyone will enjoy during the 3-day event.
Sunbelt’s Executive Director Chip Blalock invites everyone to attend.
In Sarasota, Florida this week John Deere officials displayed hundreds of tractors, many of them new models to become available in 2009, many of them geared toward the ‘lifestyle’ rural crowd and folks involved in things like citrus, nursery, vineyards and other agriculture operations. According to John Deere representatives on hand for the event, the new models coupled with the more traditional larger models target today’s farm equipment consumer no matter what size of the operation. Whether it be for the very large ag operations or the very small, and all in between, John Deere seems to be making a real effort to serve all market segments when it comes to farm and lawn care equipment. In this post herein you can listen to interviews and view documents we received from the John Deere folks this week in Sarasota, as they hosted agriculture media along with John Deere dealer representatives from throughout North America. Just click to see the rest of this post and you’ll find links to the interviews and other materials. Read the rest of this entry »
University of Georgia’s Dr. John Bernard talks about forages and the importance of staying on top of the latest genetics in order to choose the ones which best fit your dairy herd.
The fact that TB has been found in three dairy operations in California have many in that state worried as to how it will affect the industry there. Report (:30 mp3)
Many in animal agriculture may not realize it but there is a group out there watching your back everyday when it comes to threats from activists. Report (1:15 mp3) To learn more log on to www.consumerfreedom.com
We are now less than 3 months from the implementation of Country of Origin Labeling, and while many are worried about being ready for the September 30th start date, Ag Secretary Ed Schafer says there will be a six-month grace period once it starts. Report (1:00 mp3)
The Cattle Industry Summer Conference will be held July 15-19 in Denver, and again this year beef and dairy will team together for an educational session. Report (:45 mp3)
Livestock producers are really feeling the pinch when it comes in input costs as prices for fuel, feed, and fertilizer continue to rise. We’ve talked before about how many are having to update their management stratgies, and University of Florida’s Dr. Matt Hersom said many of those changes will need to be more than just temporary. Report (1:00 mp3)
Due to rising feed, fuel, and fertilizer costs, University of Georgia’s Dr. John Bernard says many producers have been working to update their management strategies in order to cope with the rising prices. Report (1:00mp3)
The Alabama Department of Agriculture’s Homeland Security & Emergency Prepardeness Section will be conducting a foreign animal disease training excerise to evaluate their response should a disease outbreak occur in the state. Report (1:00mp3)
A good crowd made it a day at the UF/IFAS Plant Science and Education Research Unit in Citra, FL. Rotating classroom sessions allowed the large crowd to split, so some could do the classroom sessions while others did the field trip around the facility. A good group of exhibiting sponsors were on hand to mingle before lunch, and we were able to get some good interviews with a couple of the key presenters, including Dr John Bernard from the University of Georgia (photo left) and University of Florida’s Dr Matt Hersom (photo right). Hear more details about how livestock producers can mitigate some of their fertilizer and feeding costs in the reports herein and more reports yet to come in the days ahead. Report 1 (1:00 mp3) Report 2 (1:00 mp3)
The first four events are “previews” that will be held in Florida in early December, where growers and customers will have a hands-on chance to “Drive Green” with various models, and discuss some of the special closeout deals and financing opportunities on last year’s models too. 
The renewal of the Agricultural Air Quality Task Force will mean various experts in the fields of agriculture and air quality will be working together to look further into quality issues which have entered discussions across the U.S.
The U.S. Meat Export Federation will hold their annual Strategic Planning Conference this week as USMEF President and CEO Philip Seng talks about some of the issues they will be discussing.
USDA’s monthly Cattle on Feed report was issued this afternoon and it shows another month of fewer numbers of head on feed right now.
The Georgia Milk Producers are out at Sunbelt Expo with information for both the producer and consumer. Producers can stop by for dairy seminars that will be conducted throughout the show including the cow whisperer discussing different handling practices. Kids can learn about the importance of dairy and even see a cow being milked. The dairy exhibit is located in the livestock area. 
The annual Ag Commissioner’s Cow Milking Contest took place today at Sunbelt Ag Expo, as pictured right is Glen Zorn, Deputy Commissioner from Alabama
The 31st Annual Sunbelt Ag Expo kicks off today in Moultrie, Georgia as there will be exhibits and events that most anyone will enjoy during the 3-day event.
University of Georgia’s Dr. John Bernard talks about forages and the importance of staying on top of the latest genetics in order to choose the ones which best fit your dairy herd.
We are now less than 3 months from the implementation of Country of Origin Labeling, and while many are worried about being ready for the September 30th start date, Ag Secretary Ed Schafer says there will be a six-month grace period once it starts. 
Citra, FL. Rotating classroom sessions allowed the large crowd to split, so some could do the classroom sessions while others did the field trip around the facility. A good group of exhibiting sponsors were on hand to mingle before lunch, and we were able to get some good interviews with a couple of the 
key presenters, including Dr John Bernard from the University of Georgia (photo left) and University of Florida’s Dr Matt Hersom (photo right). Hear more details about how livestock producers can mitigate some of their fertilizer and feeding costs in the reports herein and more reports yet to come in the days ahead. 
