In our most recent FG poll, we asked "How much time do you spend each week reading forage-related publications?"

Rep. Frank Lucas of Oklahoma issued the following statement after the House Republican Conference re-elected him to serve a second term as Chairman of the Agriculture Committee for the 113th Congress. "It is an honor to serve in this leadership position and I am grateful for the opportunity to continue working on behalf of America’s farmers, ranchers, and rural constituents.

Beginning January 1, 2013, by virtue of a Texas Animal Health Commission ruling, all adult cattle in Texas must have an approved form of permanent identification in place at any change of ownership. This includes sexually intact beef cattle 18 months older and above, and Mexican-origin event cattle. Not included are nursing calves, steers, spayed heifers, bulls, heifers under 18 months (unless they are about to calve), and cattle moved directly to slaughter.

Lydia Harrison of Durham, Ontario, and Dasha Metropolitansky of Oakville, Ontario, have been named this year's first-place winners in the 28th annual Canadian Young Speakers for Agriculture competition. The competition took place Nov. 3 at the Royal Winter Fair.

DuPont Pioneer recently celebrated the start-up of its new $15 million parent seed production facility near Wingham, Ontario. Ian Grant, president of DuPont Pioneer – Canada, indicated at the event that the opening of the Wingham Parent Seed Plant is a prime example of the investment Pioneer is making to continue producing products that meet the needs of today’s farmers.

“Making a Plan: Planning for a Profitable Estate Transition” is a workshop designed to help current and future agriculture producers, as well as professionals, understand the need for succession planning, while providing the latest tools to start the process. The 2012 workshop is Dec. 10 in Casper, Wyoming, at the Parkway Plaza and is open to agriculture producers and professionals of all ages.