Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Certification Now Offered Online
Have you ever heard of BQA or Beef Quality Assurance. Well if you haven’t BQA is part of the the Texas Beef Quality Producer Program (TBQP) and is designed to promote good management practices for cattle producers in an effort to strengthen consumer confidence in beef as a wholesome food product. The TBQP management strategies "prevent" problems related to quality and safety from ever occurring - rather than correcting them. The main focus of the program is food safety. Eliminating residues, blemishes and foreign objects is critical to maintaining consumer confidence and acceptance of beef as the protein of choice in their diet. Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) is a national effort with 47 states involved. It has now become easier than ever to get BQA certification. Now training is available online at http://www.bqaonline.org/
Producers an go thru this in-home training at their own pace and receive essentially the same information as presented in Level I classroom training. This online course also acts as a great refresher or as a tool to educate new ranch employees. Check it out and improve your beef operation today.
Friday, January 9, 2009
TTU Computer Program to Compare ACRE and CCP Effect on Texas Cotton
Texas Tech University's Cotton Economics Research Institute (CERI)has developed a computer calculator that compares the ACRE program to the historical payments from Counter-Cyclical Payments for cotton. According to the Volume 11. No. 2 Edition of the CERI Newsletter, "The website based calculator allows Texas row crop producers to enter their own individual farm data and compare their historical outcomes under the existing counter-cyclical payment (CCP) program and the Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) program alternative. The results of calculations are based on historical data and are not projections of future outcomes". This tool should be extremely handy for cotton producers who will be trying to make a decision about going into the new ACRE program or remaining in the CCP.
To find the calculator online go to http://www.aaec.ttu.edu/webapps/acre/index.htm and register. Information is confidential.
Picture by Derek Scasta
Texas Tech University's Cotton Economics Research Institute (CERI)has developed a computer calculator that compares the ACRE program to the historical payments from Counter-Cyclical Payments for cotton. According to the Volume 11. No. 2 Edition of the CERI Newsletter, "The website based calculator allows Texas row crop producers to enter their own individual farm data and compare their historical outcomes under the existing counter-cyclical payment (CCP) program and the Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) program alternative. The results of calculations are based on historical data and are not projections of future outcomes". This tool should be extremely handy for cotton producers who will be trying to make a decision about going into the new ACRE program or remaining in the CCP.
To find the calculator online go to http://www.aaec.ttu.edu/webapps/acre/index.htm and register. Information is confidential.
Picture by Derek Scasta
47th Blackland Income Growth Conference is Set for Feb 2/3
This annual event will be held at the Heart Of Texas Fairgrounds in Waco, TX February 2 and 3. This is one of the largest agricultural conferences in the area and has some timely information that should be useful for homeowners, landowners, farmers and ranchers alike given the national and global economic situation.
Breakout sessions for Grain, Horticulture, Beef, Forage, Cotton, Wildlife, Family Issues, Private Applicator Training, Pesticide License Recertification, New Era for Food and Renewable Energy will take place.
View the brochure and program details online at http://dallas.tamu.edu/BIG/Conference.aspx
This annual event will be held at the Heart Of Texas Fairgrounds in Waco, TX February 2 and 3. This is one of the largest agricultural conferences in the area and has some timely information that should be useful for homeowners, landowners, farmers and ranchers alike given the national and global economic situation.
Breakout sessions for Grain, Horticulture, Beef, Forage, Cotton, Wildlife, Family Issues, Private Applicator Training, Pesticide License Recertification, New Era for Food and Renewable Energy will take place.
View the brochure and program details online at http://dallas.tamu.edu/BIG/Conference.aspx
Thursday, January 8, 2009
There are several programs that will be offered early in 2009 that I want to make folks aware of.
Electronic Waste Collection
Do you have old computer equipment that you want to get rid of but don’t know how? If so, there is an opportunity coming your way to make that computer benefit the state of Texas! January 16th from 1pm to 4pm and January 17th 9am to 12noon at the Old Kmart Parking Lot (across from the Precinct 1barn) the City of Corsicana and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice are partnering up to take in the following items: computers, printers, monitors, mice, keyboards, computer parts, scanners, televisions and rechargeable batteries. All items will go to a TDCJ facility to be refurbished and if possible returned to Texas schools. This program provides technical training for inmates and quality computers for the youth in Texas! call 903-654-4889 or 903-654-3075.
Row Crop Update and CEU Seminar
January 27 in the Small Fannie Mae Vernon Room at the Navarro County Exposition Center. Cost is $10 to cover the lunch and 4 CEU’s will be provided (1 general, 2 IPM and 1 Laws and Regs). The agenda will cover the following: Reading Pesticide Labels, Applying Wasterwater Residuals to Improve Soil Fertility, Variety Performance and IPM Applications, Boll Weevil Eradication, Atoxigenic Strains to Manage Alfatoxin in Corn, and Corn, Milo and Small Grains Demonstration Reports. The program will start at 9am and conclude by 2:30 pm. RSVP by January 24 by calling 903-654-3075.
Row Crop/Commodity Marketing Workshop
Thursday, February 12 at the Navarro College Lonestar Room. Cost is $10 per person to cover the expense of the meal. Speakers for the day include Dr. John Robinson, Extension Ag Economist for Cotton Marketing, Dr. Mark Welch, Extension Ag Economist for Grain Marketing and Nicole Gueck Extension Program Specialist for Risk Management will team up to talk about the market outlook for cotton and grains, marketing options and alternatives, Risk management, Farm Assist Program and calculating break-even costs for your operation. The most useful portion of this program will be in the afternoon when our speakers will work one-on-one with producers to develop break-even costs and discuss marketing options for 2009. RSVP by February 9 by calling 903-654-3075.
2009 Beef Clinic
February 26 at the Navarro County Exposition Center. Cost is $3 to cover a steak dinner that you will not want to miss. The Agenda will include an update from Texas Beef Council, A Bull Breeding Soundness Exam Discussion and Demonstration, Emerging Reproductive Diseases in Cow-Calf Herds, an update on Country of Origin Labeling, door prizes and more. Don’t forget about the always exciting trade show featuring local and state agribusinesses and agencies. This is going to be a program you will not want to miss. Reserve your seat (and your steak to for that matter) by calling 903-654-3075 by February 24th.
Electronic Waste Collection
Do you have old computer equipment that you want to get rid of but don’t know how? If so, there is an opportunity coming your way to make that computer benefit the state of Texas! January 16th from 1pm to 4pm and January 17th 9am to 12noon at the Old Kmart Parking Lot (across from the Precinct 1barn) the City of Corsicana and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice are partnering up to take in the following items: computers, printers, monitors, mice, keyboards, computer parts, scanners, televisions and rechargeable batteries. All items will go to a TDCJ facility to be refurbished and if possible returned to Texas schools. This program provides technical training for inmates and quality computers for the youth in Texas! call 903-654-4889 or 903-654-3075.
Row Crop Update and CEU Seminar
January 27 in the Small Fannie Mae Vernon Room at the Navarro County Exposition Center. Cost is $10 to cover the lunch and 4 CEU’s will be provided (1 general, 2 IPM and 1 Laws and Regs). The agenda will cover the following: Reading Pesticide Labels, Applying Wasterwater Residuals to Improve Soil Fertility, Variety Performance and IPM Applications, Boll Weevil Eradication, Atoxigenic Strains to Manage Alfatoxin in Corn, and Corn, Milo and Small Grains Demonstration Reports. The program will start at 9am and conclude by 2:30 pm. RSVP by January 24 by calling 903-654-3075.
Row Crop/Commodity Marketing Workshop
Thursday, February 12 at the Navarro College Lonestar Room. Cost is $10 per person to cover the expense of the meal. Speakers for the day include Dr. John Robinson, Extension Ag Economist for Cotton Marketing, Dr. Mark Welch, Extension Ag Economist for Grain Marketing and Nicole Gueck Extension Program Specialist for Risk Management will team up to talk about the market outlook for cotton and grains, marketing options and alternatives, Risk management, Farm Assist Program and calculating break-even costs for your operation. The most useful portion of this program will be in the afternoon when our speakers will work one-on-one with producers to develop break-even costs and discuss marketing options for 2009. RSVP by February 9 by calling 903-654-3075.
2009 Beef Clinic
February 26 at the Navarro County Exposition Center. Cost is $3 to cover a steak dinner that you will not want to miss. The Agenda will include an update from Texas Beef Council, A Bull Breeding Soundness Exam Discussion and Demonstration, Emerging Reproductive Diseases in Cow-Calf Herds, an update on Country of Origin Labeling, door prizes and more. Don’t forget about the always exciting trade show featuring local and state agribusinesses and agencies. This is going to be a program you will not want to miss. Reserve your seat (and your steak to for that matter) by calling 903-654-3075 by February 24th.
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