Beef safety professionals reaffirmed their commitment to “further reduce the risks associated with foodborne pathogens by utilizing scientifically proven production practices and technologies” during the 10th annual Beef Industry Safety Summit in Tampa, Florida, March 7-9. The pledge taken by the 250 in attendance was similar to one signed by those at the first summit, held in San Antonio, Texas, in 2003.

This article was #24 of the Top 25 most well-read articles on www.progressivedairy.com in 2012. to jump to the article. It was published in the March 10, 2012 Extra. Click here for the full list of the Top 25. While attending the 2012 World Ag Expo, Progressive Dairyman Publisher Alan Leavitt attended a “Procross” three-way crossbreeding tour hosted by Creative Genetics of California, Inc. Leavitt’s photo slideshow features crossbred cows with Swedish Red, Montbeliarde and Holstein genetics. We asked Creative Genetics owner Mike Osmundson to respond to a few follow-up questions:

What do weeds, grasshoppers, armyworms and feral hogs have in common? The answer is that all are pests that disrupt pasture production. And the control of all will be covered at the upcoming Dallas County Pasture Management program on March 30, 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., according to the Texas AgriLife Extension Service experts conducting the program. The program will offer five continuing education units to holders of Texas Department of Agriculture private applicators licenses, three in the general category, one in integrated pest management and one in laws and regulations, said Dr. Vanessa Corriher, AgriLife Extension forage specialist and one of the program speakers.

After a year of drought, East Texas hay stocks remain low, making production efficiency ever more important, said a Texas AgriLife Extension Service expert. On April 27, AgriLife Extension will offer a full day of training on hay production and purchasing that producers are not going to find anywhere else, said Dr. Vanessa Corriher, AgriLife Extension forage specialist. Held at the Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Overton, registration for the training is $60 and includes lunch, break refreshments and program materials.

The first step in achieving goals is to set them. That’s why feedyard managers aim for the best live and harvested performance, and that means a few points better than last year. Carcass value is especially important to those who sell cattle on a grid.