GAC to host reality show from down on the farm

American television hasn’t had a hit show about farming since Green Acres almost 50 years ago.

That’s all changing now! The August/September issue of Farm & Ranch Living—the magazine for readers who love the land—takes a look at the new television show Farm Kings to see how Joe King and his clan are making farming cool again.

Get a glimpse behind the scenes:

·         While Joe King, 29, and his 10 siblings, nine boys and one girl, grew up farming, they took things into their own hands by getting a loan to start Freedom Farms on a property their mother owns in Pennsylvania

·         Joe hopes the show will draw more young people back to the land, especially at a time when so many people are disconnected from where their food comes from

·         As you might expect, the Kings quickly discovered that farming with a camera crew takes some serious time and patience, but they think it's really worthwhile to inspire and encourage entrepreneurial spirit

To read the full feature, check out farmandranchliving.com or download the August/September issue, now available for Google Play & Android, Nook, and Kindle. For more information on the show, go to gactv.com/farmkings or freedomfarmspa.com and tune in to the Great American Country cable network this Thursday, July 25 at 9 p.m. EDT for the show’s season premiere—including a special mention of Farm & Ranch Living!

ABOUT FARM & RANCH LIVING

Farm & Ranch Living features authentic, entertaining tales of life on the land. Each issue includes month-long diaries by farm or ranch families and stunning agricultural photographs. Readers range from seasoned farmers to second-generation ranchers who long to be back on the land. Each edition captures the spirit of these people and theirfascinating, first-hand memories of trial and triumph from “the good ol’ days.”

Published since 1978, Farm & Ranch Living’s heartfelt, warm and entertaining content can be found in the magazine and online at www.farmandranchliving.com. A digital download of Farm & Ranch Living is also available for the Nook, Kindle, Google Play or Android.

Farm & Ranch Living is part of the Home & Garden Group of The Reader's Digest Association, Inc., a global multi-brand media and marketing company that educates, entertains and connects consumers around the world with products and services from trusted brands.

U of Ark. Animal Wellbeing Symposium set for Aug. 1

By The Cooperative Extension Service

U of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture

Fast facts:

·       3^rd annual advances and current issues in animal wellbeing set for Aug. 1

·       Registration is free, deadline is July 26

·       Register online at http://bit.ly/12BPQV3

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – A chef. A vet. A fast food chain administrator. Their careers and points of view are varied, but all share one link: animal agriculture. Hear them talk about that connection Aug. 1, at the third annual symposium on advances and issues in animal wellbeing.

The one-day symposium is presented by the Center for Food Animal Wellbeing, a unit of University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville.

Registration is free and those planning to attend should register by July 26. Online registration is available at http://bit.ly/12BPQV3.

The event, being held on the University of Arkansas campus in the Leland Tollett Auditorium, opens at 7:30 a.m. with registration and continental breakfast.

“The objective is a better understanding of animal wellbeing/welfare and why so many are confused,” said Yvonne Vizzier Thaxton, director for the Center for Food Animal Wellbeing.

Karen Christensen, chairman, Professional Animal Auditor Certification Organization, sees the symposium as the go-to meeting to bring all of the stakeholders together to discuss welfare.” 

“This meeting is for anyone who has an interest in animal welfare, from producers to retailers to consumers,” she said. “It brings everyone together in one room.”

Christensen will be speaking about auditing – the assessment of animal care  -- from a welfare perspective.

“What makes good audits and good auditors?” she said. “This is important information for anyone being audited, requesting audits or performing audits.”

The agenda for the event:

·       Why Animal Welfare and Why Now? - Jennifer Walker, director, Dairy Stewardship, Dean Foods

·       A Veterinarian’s View - Jeffrey Courtney, director of veterinarian services, Pilgrim’s Pride

·       Nuisance Law and Farming - Rusty W. Rumley, National Agricultural Law Center

·       A Chef’s View of Animal Welfare - Michael Formicella, president, co-owner of Chella Foods, Chicago

·       ABCs of Auditing Animal Welfare - Karen Christensen, chairman, Professional Animal Auditor Certification Organization, or PAACO

·       The Media – A fact of Life – Sara Lilygren, executive vice president of Corporate Affairs, Tyson Foods

·       A Customer’s Perspective - Bruce Feinberg, senior director, Global Quality, McDonald’s

·       Livestock Sales - Next Frontier- Laura Marks, director of Animal Handling,

Kansas Livestock Board, and Chris Ashworth, DVM, Chairman of Animal

Agriculture Alliance Board.

For more information visit http://foodanimalwellbeing.uark.edu/AnnualSymposium.html.

Texas A&M goat workshop July 13 in South Texas

By Rod Santa Ana III | r-santaana@tamu.edu

Texas A&M AgriLife communications specialist

WESLACO, Texas – Small-acreage landowners are turning to goats for profit, and consumers are enjoying the results, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert who has organized an upcoming goat conference to help more producers get involved.

AgriLife Extension and its Sustainable Ag Committee will host the AgriLife Extension Goat Workshop from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 13 at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Weslaco, 2415 E. Highway 83.

“Goats are a great way to introduce animals to a farm system, and consumers snap up the varied and high-quality products goats produce,” said Barbara Storz, AgriLife Extension horticulturist in Edinburg. “This conference pulls in goat-raising experts whose talks will benefit everyone from the beginner to the veteran goat producer.”

The cost of the goat workshop is $20, which includes lunch. Seating is limited and preregistration is encouraged. For more information and registration, contact the AgriLife Extension office for Hidalgo County at (956) 383-1026.

“We held our first goat conference last year and found that many small landowners were very interested in both meat and dairy goats,” Storz said. “In fact, one of last year’s workshop participants just opened a goat milk dairy in Hidalgo County.”

Goat-related products are very popular among farmers market customers and chefs, Storz said.

“Goat products are so high in quality, they almost sell themselves,” she said. “Goat milk is popular with people who have allergies to cow’s milk, and dairy goats provide milk that makes excellent cheese, yogurt and ice cream. Goat-milk soap and lotions are also popular. And goat meat can be roasted on the barbecue pit or made into jerky, while the hides make beautiful rugs.”

The workshop program includes professionals from the International Goat Research Center at Prairie View A&M University, Storz said.

“We’re really excited to have these experts address us,” she said. “Two veterinarians from the center will share their expertise. Dr. Barbara Johnson will speak about managing overall goat health, and Dr. Kellye Thompson will discuss parasite prevention and treatment. Dr. Gary Newton, the research scientist leader at the goat research center, will give an introduction to goat breeding and reproductive health.”

Other speakers include Katie Carlson, a goat dairy operator who sells her products in Austin and Houston, will give a talk on operating a goat dairy and marketing goat milk products. Dr. Rick Machen, a professor and AgriLife Extension livestock specialist in Uvalde, will provide information on forage and pasture management.

“After the final speaker, all the speakers will join in a panel discussion to answer questions from members of the audience,” Storz said.

Goat conference participants will also have the opportunity to help schedule a future workshop on artificial insemination.

“A survey of producers found that that’s what they were most interested in, so we’ll discuss setting up a separate workshop for that in October. It will be led by Dr. Newton, who specializes in reproductive health.”

The goat workshop July 13 is made possible by a grant from U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency and the National Center for Appropriate Technology, Storz said.

Twilight goat tour Aug. 1 at Western Maryland buck test site

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There will be a Twilight Goat Tour on Thursday, Aug., 1, from 5:30 p.m. to dark, at the Western Maryland Research and Education Center in Keedysville, Md.

In addition to wagon tours of the facility and research program, there will be an opportunity to taste recipes prepared with goat meat. 

The recipes will be prepared by a local chef.

To make sure there is enough meat, registration is required in advance. 

A small donation is requested to help cover the cost of the meat. 

Register by calling Pam Thomas at 301-432-2767, ext. 315, or send an email to pthomas@umd.edu. The registration deadline is July 26.

The center is the location of the Western Maryland Pasture-Based Meat Goat Performance Test.

This year, there are 81 bucks, mostly Kiko, on test. 

The tour will also showcase the center’s pen vs. pasture study, a three-year project in which the performance and carcass characteristics of pen-fed and pasture-raised goats are being compared.

Australian port adds goats to export list

28 Jun, 2013 03:30 AM

By SALLY CRIPPS

Queensland Stock Journal

A live export ship being loaded with cattle at the KLE/SEALS facilities in Karumba.

GOATS will soon be exported live from the port of Karumba, cutting costs and travel times for western Queensland (Australia) producers.

Karumba Live Exports spokesman Sam Collings said AQIS registration had been in place for the past 12 months, but a lot of work had to be undertaken on yard alterations, changing feed troughs and the size of yards, before they could accept goats at the facility.

"As soon as the next order of goats comes in, I dare say they will be shipped out of Karumba," he said.

Most goats for the live export trade are sourced from western Queensland, making Karumba the logical place for shipping. To date, the facilities at Darwin have been the only ones registered for the goat trade.

Winton goat producer Ian Elliott made the trip to Darwin to deliver goats for markets in Brunei three times last year, and said he was looking forward to only travelling as far as Karumba.

As well as the lesser distance involved, it would cut out the need for spelling at Cloncurry on the way.

Mr Collings said South East Asian Livestock Services (SEALS) was investigating goat markets all through South East Asia, including Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore and Brunei.

Mr Elliott said he had been supplying a market for young billies in the 30-40kg weight range. The boats are mostly mixed loads consisting of cattle and buffalo, as well as goats.

"It's a unique port and this is a great opportunity to go ahead and tap into new supply areas," Mr Collings said.

Being right on the water, ships are able to dock alongside the facilities.

Despite a halving in the number of cattle being exported from Karumba, from 20,000 in 2011 to less than 10,000 last year, the company is in the process of expanding yard capacity to give it holding room for another 600 head, on top of the current holding of 2400 head of cattle.

"The investment in the industry shows we have faith in it," Mr Collings said.

So far this year, fewer than 8000 cattle have been shipped from the port.

The majority of cattle being shipped this year have been feeder cattle, Brahman-cross steers and heifers in the 250-350kg weight range for Indonesia, and high-content Brahman PTIC heifers for Indonesia and Malaysia.

Even if you don't eat goat, how could you resist this?

How's this for artisan? It's even cooked over hand-harvested applewood?!? From a Bethesda, Md., blog:

Speaking of goat, Sam's Food Truck is featuring a pulled Boer goat leg sandwich featuring locally sourced, free range goat leg brined with Dr. Pepper, tamari sauce, garlic and ginger, slowly smoked over aged derecho hand-harvested applewood, piled high on a brioche bun, topped with a red cabbage and broccoli slaw infused with a sriracha Aïoli. Chèvre cheese available at extra cost. Only while supplies last.

Goat Rancher Sire Edition coming in June

The cover of our 2012 Sire Edition

EARLY BIRD SPECIAL

The June issue of Goat Rancher will feature special articles targeting buck health, management and promotion - plus advertising opportunities for well-known and up-and-coming herdsires.

In addition to being mailed to our thousands of subscribers, the Goat Rancher Sire Edition will be available at the American Boer Goat Association National Show and other goat events around the nation, the Labor Day Weekend sales and at newsstands at more than 1,100 Tractor Supply Co. stores and 140 Orscheln Farm & Home stores nationwide.

If you want national exposure for your sire, here it is!

Goat Rancher is offering an early-bird discount for our advertisers. Book your half-page or larger color ad by 5 p.m. May 1 and get a 5% discount.

Submit your print-ready ad* by 5 p.m. May 6 and get an extra 5% off. That's a total of up to 10% off your Sire Edition ad.

To learn more about our advertising rates and specifications, click here

http://goatrancher.com/pdf/AdvertisingInformation.pdf

To learn more about Goat Rancher magazine, click here

www.goatrancher.com

To book your ad or for more information, call 888-562-9529 or e-mail goatrancher@hughes.net

*Print-ready ads must be a correctly sized, high-resolution PDF or JPEG.