R.L. Robbs, president of the International Brangus Breeders Association (IBBA) Board of Directors, was inducted into the Willcox, Ariz., Cowboy Hall of Fame Thursday, October 4, 2012. He was selected and honored by his peers for his involvement and dedication to the livestock industry at the local, state and national levels, as well as for his stewardship and preservation of natural resources.

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) has produced a new safety manual for agricultural sprayer operators and maintenance personnel. The manual covers a typical daily work environment for the equipment, outlining the latest accepted safety procedures in clearly stated safety warnings, graphics and text.

The 48-page manual was developed by AEM member manufacturers in an ad hoc agricultural sprayer committee under the auspices of the association’s Farm Equipment Council (FEC) Agricultural Safety Committee.

Erin Morrison (Minnesota), Katie Stroud (California), Emma Jumper (Arkansas), Jacquelyn Brown (Oregon) and Chandler Mulvaney (Alabama) were chosen as the 2013 National Beef Ambassador Team at the annual National Beef Ambassador competition, which is funded in part by the Beef Checkoff.

New Holland Agriculture has launched a free Farming Weather Forecast and Services app that the company says is distinct from the purely product-based apps already on the market.

Because accurate weather forecasting is a prerequisite for efficient and productive farming, New Holland's app provides local forecasts. Data is drawn from a network of over 71,000 weather stations. Using geo-location technology, that data is received and analyzed from the closest sub-station. Available information includes actual and "feels like" temperature, pressure, and wind speed and direction – of prime importance when spraying.

Algae grown from surplus manure on dairy farms presents an alternative source of bioenergy and opportunity to lower dairy farms' environmental impact by increasing on-farm nutrient utilization. Biofuel demand is rising, and this alternative algal biomass could create a win-win relationship between commercial algae growers who need affordable sources of fertilizers and the dairy farmers who need outlets for their manure. A review in the journal Algal Research discussed the feasibility of algae grown from dairy, swine and poultry manure water. The conclusion was that manure, runoff and drainage water contained enough nutrients to facilitate algal growth.

A massive beef recall from Canada now affects 30 states in the U.S., according to the Huffington Post, which says that Safeway and Walmart are among the stores participating in the recall. This is in addition to Albertsons' recall that started a few days ago. Cargill is also affected. The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued a recall on Sept. 16 of beef products from Alberta's XL Foods. On Sept. 21, it expanded the recall to include all meat produced on Aug. 24, 27, 28 and 29 and Sept. 5.

A massive beef recall from Canada now affects 30 states in the U.S., according to the Huffington Post, which says that Safeway and Walmart are among the stores participating in the recall. This is in addition to Albertsons' recall that started a few days ago. Cargill is also affected. The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) issued a recall on Sept. 16 of beef products from Alberta's XL Foods. On Sept. 21, it expanded the recall to include all meat produced on Aug. 24, 27, 28 and 29 and Sept. 5.

California Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer have strongly endorsed California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross’ call for inclusion of a margin insurance program in either the Farm Bill or any disaster aid measures. In a letter to Sen. Debbie Stabenow, chair of the Senate Ag Committee and Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS), ranking member of the Senate Ag Committee, the two Senators asked for quick action on a full five-year Farm Bill.

The global dairy market appears to be heading for a period of renewed supply scarcity in the coming 12 months, according to Rabobank. Rabobank senior dairy analyst Michael Harvey says the impetus for the tightening global market emanates largely from the supply side, where low milk prices, extreme feed costs and pockets of unfavorable weather are slowing growth in milk production across key export regions.