McCaskill to US House -- Get Off the Sidelines on Farm Bill

U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill, who helped lead the successful effort to pass the Senate’s bipartisan Farm Bill in June, released the following statement amid reports that the U.S. House of Representatives may abandon efforts to pass the Farm Bill, leaving farmers, ranchers, and rural communities in limbo for the rest of the summer:

“I have a simple message for members of the U.S. House: get off the sidelines and pass this Farm Bill. It’s been more than a month since the Senate came together to pass a bipartisan bill, crucial to jobs and the livelihoods of our rural families and businesses, and there’s just no excuse for the House’s failure to act. While I clearly support an extension of disaster assistance for our livestock producers, it’s past time for these politicians to put their differences aside and work together to ensure our farmers and ranchers have the certainty they need as they face the worst drought in a half-century.”

According to press reports today, the U.S. House is abandoning efforts to pass the Farm Bill, or even an extension of current farm programs. Instead, House leadership is considering extending only some disaster assistance programs—a move that, while necessary to make resources available during the drought, would still leave farmers and ranchers across the country in limbo. Reportedly, House members will also seek to pay for the disaster assistance programs by cutting other farm programs that have broad support from agriculture groups, signaling certain opposition to the disaster relief measures.

The Farm Bill approved by the Senate reauthorizes essential livestock disaster assistance programs, supports agriculture jobs, strengthens resources for family farms and ranches, and reduces the national deficit by more than $23 billion.  The Farm Bill—approved with a strong bipartisan vote of 64-35—also provides crucial resources that allow Missouri’s crop producers to manage risk and new programs that help Missouri’s dairy farmers to cope with high costs.

The Farm Bill  is one example of several pieces of legislation important to American jobs that passed with strong bipartisan support in the Senate, only to languish in the U.S. House—including Postal Service reform legislation, which continues to be delayed even as the Postal Service defaults on payments to fund retiree health benefits, as well as the Highway Jobs Bill earlier this year.

McCaskill also launched an online resource center last week on her website to provide a place Missourians can go for information ranging from U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency office locations across the state, to a drought monitoring map updated weekly. Additionally, the page offers a direct link for farmers and ranchers to apply for water supply assistance through the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.    

The drought online resource center is available on McCaskill’s website, HERE.

Fall-calving cow herds must be watched; heat stress can cause premature calving

Some heat-stressed cows are delivering premature calves, ahead of normal fall-calving season.

 

With a heat wave and severe drought, fall-calving season might become as labor intensive as winter calving, say University of Missouri Extension specialists. Farmers who have calved both spring and fall prefer the normally trouble-free ease of fall calving.

 

"Cows under stress need to be watched closely," says David Patterson, MU beef reproduction specialist.

 

"Cows bred to calve in the fall tend to start delivering calves early. Producers should start watching before the predicted calving date."

 

Eldon Cole, extension livestock specialist at Mount Vernon, Mo., confirmed that idea. "I know cows calve early, but some are already coming a month early."

 

Patterson says cows under stress reduce blood flow to the uterus, triggering premature calving. "When nights do not cool down, the cow's body does not reach a thermo-neutral state. The heat stress builds."

 

Justin Sexten, MU beef nutritionist, said cows in seventh or eighth month of pregnancy already face stress carrying the calf. When temperatures hit over 100F degrees that adds stress.

 

In addition, cows on poor pasture may not be getting adequate nutrition. "Over mature pastures will provide too much fiber and not enough energy. Fiber digesting in the rumen creates more heat," Sexten says.

 

Cole says premature calves are small and weak. To add to the problem, the mama cows did not have milk. The calves need both colostrum, the first milk that contains the antibodies for health protection, and they need hydration.

 

Temperatures over 100F and relative humidity down at 20 percent dehydrates calves dropped on a hillside in full sun. "Cows don't always pick an ideal spot to drop their calf," Cole says. "They may not be under a shade tree."

 

"When calving in winter, farmers pick up calves and put them under the heater in their pickup truck," Cole says. "They may need to put them under the air conditioner now."

 

Cole says he was alarmed when first early-calving reports came in, as death losses were high. However, other producers are having calves born closer to predicted dates, within two weeks early.

 

"We were spoiled by good weather without high temperatures the last couple of Augusts," Cole says. "Breeders began pushing for earlier calving dates."

 

Calves that were to be due September 1 are now due in August. "That may not work well this year," he adds. "Flies are going to be more of a problem."

 

Fall calves that become summer calves may need as much management attention as winter calves.

 

Sexten, the beef nutritionist, had earlier pointed out that cows approaching calving dates should be on a rising plain of nutrition.

 

On drought-dried pastures, cows may not get enough energy in their diet to produce milk at calving. On the cow herd at the MU Beef Farm, Columbia, he started supplemental feeding a pound of distillers by-product grains to add protein and energy to the pasture ration.

 

The cow's rumen needs protein to keep microbes working, digesting fiber.

 

Extra attention must be given to assure plenty of clean water for the mama cows. Shade helps also.

 

Sexten was not ready to call it a "weak-calf syndrome." But, emphasized that early attention saves calves. Intervention can save weak calves whatever the season.

 

Rob Kallenbach, MU forage specialist, hasn't seen problems with early calving in northern Missouri.

 

However, he said two cows did have premature births last August at the MU Southwest Research Center, Mount Vernon, Mo. "We had a couple of calves that weren't much bigger than cats. They could not reach the cow's udders."

 

Both lived, but became bottle calves. They had to be given away to get needed care.

 

"When cows are bred to calving-ease bulls, we always recommend starting to watch cows before their due date," Patterson says. "The calves usually come early."

 

Sexten recommends delaying breeding fall-calving herds until December 1. "Many people have backed up to breeding at Thanksgiving," he says. "Calving earlier is riskier."

McCaskill, Ayotte Continue Fight to Stop Excessive Spending by Federal Agencies

U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.)—who began investigating wasteful spending at the General Services Administration (GSA) in 2010—was joined today by U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) in introducing legislation to create better safeguards against such waste and install strong new measures for accountability across the federal government.

“With this legislation, we’re aiming to make sure that agency leaders can’t just shrug off responsibility for wrongdoing, and to see that employees who betray the public’s trust by wasting taxpayer dollars are punished, not rewarded for bad behavior,” said McCaskill, Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Contracting Oversight. “A lot of folks are understandably cynical that Congress can work together to get anything done—but accountability in government is a value that crosses party lines, and I’m glad to have Senator Ayotte’s support in this effort.”

McCaskill and Ayotte’s Stop Wasteful Federal Bonuses and Conferences Act would:

·         Punish Bad Behavior:  Federal agencies would be barred from giving bonuses to employees whose conduct has been determined, by an Inspector General or equivalent, to have resulted in fraud, waste, or abuse of taxpayer dollars, or a violation of contracting law.

·         Claw-back Bonuses Paid:  If a bonus is paid to an employee prior to an adverse decision by an Inspector General during the same year of the decision, federal agencies are given the authority to require the return of that bonus.

·         Agency Accountability for Conferences:  Conferences costing more than $200,000 would need approval by the agency head or designee (such as a Chief Management Officer).

·         Reporting Requirements:  Federal agencies sponsoring conferences would be required to report to Congress, on an annual basis, detailed information on such conferences.

The legislation—available on McCaskill’s website, HERE—follows an Inspector General investigation of a GSA conference held in Las Vegas costing more than $800,000. McCaskill, a former Missouri State Auditor, recently revealed findings from her investigations showing that in just the past few years the GSA had paid more than $1 million in taxpayer-funded bonuses to employees being investigated by the Inspector General for wrongdoing or misconduct.

Citing Danger to Vital Service and American Jobs, McCaskill Slams U.S. House for Postal Reform Delay

U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill, who successfully passed legislation in the Senate to protect rural communities in Missouri from losing their post offices, released the following statement as the U.S. House of Representatives’ three month-long delay on the legislation resulted in the Postal Service’s first-ever default:

“There’s just no excuse for members of the House to play politics with thousands of American jobs, as well as a vital service relied upon by our rural communities. In the Senate, we worked across party lines, forged a common ground, and passed a bipartisan postal reform bill months ago, and while the House lets it sit and gather dust, Missouri jobs and business opportunities hang in the balance. I again call on the U.S. House to get off the sidelines and act.”

The U.S. Postal Service announced plans last year to close thousands of post offices across the country—most from rural communities—as part of a larger cost-savings package. McCaskill waged a year-long battle against the closures, arguing that shutting down small town post offices would not help the Postal Service achieve substantial cost-savings, but would deal significant blows to communities across rural America.

After McCaskill helped win a temporary moratorium on closures, she successfully secured inclusion of her amendment protecting rural post offices to the postal reform legislation being considered by the Senate.With McCaskill’s support, this bipartisan reform legislation was passed by the Senate in April. In addition to protecting rural communities from losing their post offices, the legislation implements major cost-saving reforms, including addressing the Postal Service’s pre-funding requirement for retiree benefits. The legislation also preserves six-day delivery and maintains overnight delivery standards—provisions which will help prevent the closure of many mail processing facilities, likely including the facilities in Springfield and Cape Girardeau, Mo.

As a result of McCaskill’s efforts, the U.S. Postal Service reversed course and announced that it no longer intends to close down rural post offices.

The postal reform legislation is one example of several pieces of legislation crucial to American jobs that passed with strong bipartisan support in the Senate, only to languish in the U.S. House—including the Farm Bill, which continues to be delayed even during a severe drought, and the Highway Jobs Bill.

McCaskill, Rubio Continue Senate Push for Measure to Prevent Foreign Regulation of the Internet

Efforts to prevent foreign regulation of the Internet gained traction today as U.S. Senators Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) sought to amend legislation in the U.S. Senate to include a bipartisan measure they have introduced aimed at blocking the United Nations or foreign governments from regulating the internet. The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed similar language today.

“We’re one step closer to further protecting Missouri jobs and business opportunities,” said McCaskill. “I’m continuing to work across the aisle to ensure we’re encouraging business growth and development, and that we’re not giving oppressive regimes more tools to silence democratic dissent by their people.”

“The United States must lead an international effort to prevent authoritarian governments and regimes from diminishing Internet freedom,” said Rubio. “An international regulatory regime goes against the very nature of the Internet and its purpose of sharing ideas and connecting people.”

Citing the potential impacts on internet freedom and on technology jobs in the U.S., McCaskill and Rubio are leading the Senate resolution to make clear that the United States opposes allowing any international body or foreign country to have jurisdiction over internet management or regulation. The resolution is supported by 33 U.S. Senators.

Non-profit, non-governmental entities currently regulate and oversee the Internet, keeping the global network out of reach of any one government or international body. However, recent proposals—including some by the governments of Russia, China, and Iran—would turn some of the most critical Internet functions over to the United Nations, which could negatively affect innovation and dramatically expand the power of foreign countries to limit or censor speech within their borders.

The U.S. House of Representatives today passed H.Con.Res. 127, the House companion to the McCaskill-Rubio resolution. 

The resolutions precede a December meeting of the International Telecommunication Union, the United Nations agency responsible for communication technologies. The conference is tasked with renegotiating the International Telecommunications Regulations, which provide a framework for global telecommunications and have not been amended since being written in 1988.

Cut to the Chase -- State Fair is an Experience for All the Senses

State Fair is an Experience for All the Senses
By Ken Gordon 

One of the best ways to experience sensory overload is to visit your state fair. The sights, sounds, smells, tastes and things you can feel are once-a-year musts. If you have ever experienced a state fair, you know the feeling. From the puffy feel of cotton candy melting in your mouth, to a stroll through the livestock barns, a visit to your state fair can provide an experience unmatched by any other annual event. Plus, it’s a great way for people from all walks of life to experience agriculture. The first sense that may be overwhelmed is sight. The size of many state fairs can take some by surprise, and if possible you might try to find a tall building or catch a ride on the Ferris wheel to capture a panoramic view. But like most experiences, the fun is in the details you find while exploring the massive event. One of the most alluring details is food. There always seems to be a new food item to enjoy, usually found on a stick. It seems that if you can put something on a stick and deep fry it, you’ll find it at the state fair. A search for a deep-fried Twinkie on a stick was elusive, but at this year’s Ohio State Fair, a quest for a culinary delight called the Muddy Pig was successful. At first glance, the thought of chocolate-covered bacon on a stick wasn’t necessarily enticing. But, it’s the state fair, so why not? The Muddy Pig was a surprisingly tasty delight. Who knew? Many state fairs boast some claim to fame. Indiana’s features the world’s largest hog contest. While held at the Indiana State Fair, hogs from anywhere in the world are eligible to compete. The Hoosier state has the advantage though, because trucking a 1,200-plus pound hog any great distance is an arduous task—plus hogs tend to lose some weight while traveling, giving locals an unfair advantage. The folks running the event know this too, those crafty Hoosiers. In the northeast, the Bangor State Fair in Maine features a Paul Bunyan lumberjack show, plus an experience with grizzly bears and wolves. It might be tough to imagine a lumberjack show in Nebraska, but the featured pig races in the Cornhusker state would be a must-see event. Most state fairs are held in the late summer or early fall, but some begin earlier in the year when it’s a little cooler. It’s understandable that many of the early fairs can be found in the South. Florida holds its state fair in February and Georgia’s kicks off in April. For sheer size, the Texas State Fair takes top honors, boasting an annual attendance of 2.5 million, but it is one of the longest running fairs, lasting almost the entire month of September. The Minnesota State Fair holds the honors for the highest daily attendance numbers, but that fair has an unfair advantage—the Minnesota fair mascot, Fairchild the Gopher. You won’t find him on a stick. Aside from the midway with its obvious over-the-top flashing lights and colorfully tattooed characters, fairs also feature the latest technologies found in a state. At the industry and merchant displays some of the most innovative ideas for the home, garden or farm can usually be found. Where else would you expect to find a head massaging device that looks as if it’s from an alien spacecraft? Other labor-saving inventions can be found at such exhibits, as well as cooking demonstrations touting the latest in kitchen technology. Fun of a different kind can be experienced in the livestock barns and arenas. Watching the judging of animals entered by 4-Hers vying for the Grand Champion steer, market lamb, hog or other farm animal is a spectacle unlike any other. This is serious business. At last year’s Oklahoma State Fair the Grand Champion steer was purchased for $40,000. Whether you want to try the latest food on a stick, find the latest in technology, see the best domesticated animals, or most prized preserves, pies, artwork, machinery, antiques or experience hundreds of other sights, sounds, tastes or smells, your state fair is waiting for you. To find out more about your state fair, visit www.mostatefair.com.

(Ken Gordon, a native “crafty Hoosier” and state fair fan, is an occasional contributor to American Farm Bureau Federation’s Focus on Agriculture series. He is an ag PR consultant in Ohio.)

NW All Stars Win First Ever State Title

The Northwest Little League All-Star team won districts at Eagleville. On July 21st they then traveled to Perryville, MO for the final four in the Missouri State Tournament. They won the first game against Cole County (Jefferson City) 14-10. Saturday, they played Perryville and won 8-2. Sunday, they played Joplin and won 5-2. Monday, they faced Perryville again for the championship and won 10-0. They outscored the opposition 37-14 and committed only one error in the series. This was the first title ever for the all-stars. Worth County was represented by Drake and Hunter Simmons (Parnell). Ravenwood was represented by Chet Spire of Parnell. Other all-stars were Bryant Sparks, Tristen Lager, and Cole Durbin (Stanberry); Cameron Watson (Conception); Tyler Houchin, Corbin Koch, Tyson Arnold, and Sean Ottman (Maryville); and James Parson (Albany). They were coached by Bryce Buholt and assisted by David Arnold and Jim Parson.