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Training To Lessen The Risky Business Of Beef Production

By Robert Burns

The program, “Reducing Risk in Beef Production,” will be held Sept. 11 at the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service office in Carthage, 110 S. Sycamore St.

The multi-county program is hosted by AgriLife Extension in Harrison, Shelby and Panola counties, said Randy Reeves, AgriLife Extension agent in Harrison County.

“Beef production has always been a risky business,” Reeves said. “Today, with drought, high replacement costs and expensive fertilizer, it’s more risky than ever.”

But increased risk is often accompanied with increased opportunity, he said, and with informed management, beef production can still be a profitable venture.

The program will start at 9 a.m. and end at about 2 p.m. Registration is $20, payable at the door, and will include lunch and refreshments.

Presentation topics and speakers will include:

“Managing Financial Risk,” by Legacy Ag Credit representatives Kristy Marjason and Yancy Murray, from Longview and Gilmer, respectively.

“Rainfall Index and Cattle Price Floor Insurance Program for Cattle and Forage,” Jen Livsey, with Texas Farm Credit, Robstown.

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U.S. Swine Health Improvement Plan | Made by Producers for Producers

Video: U.S. Swine Health Improvement Plan | Made by Producers for Producers

Join Jill Brokaw, a third-generation pig farmer and staff member of the National Pork Board, as she dives into the vital role of the US Swine Health Improvement Plan, also known as US SHIP. The program establishes a national playbook of standards for monitoring African swine fever and classical swine fever.

Why Should Pork Producers Care? If a disease breaks out, officials will establish a control area to help contain the disease. This plan is designed to mitigate risk and demonstrate freedom of disease at the site level. The goal is to support business continuity outside of the control area in case of an outbreak.

How Will the Pork Industry Use US SHIP? US SHIP uses already existing programs to support the standards for biosecurity, traceability and disease surveillance.

Biosecurity: This plan uses your completed Secure Pork Supply plan to demonstrate compliance with the biosecurity program standards and shows your ability to reduce the risk of disease introduction.

Traceability: AgView can be used to demonstrate compliance with the traceability standards and the ability to electronically provide State and Federal agencies the traceability information they need to determine where disease is and isn’t.

Disease Surveillance: The Certified Swine Sampler Collector Program helps expand the number of people certified to take samples. In the event of a large-scale foreign animal disease outbreak, we will need a trained group of sample collectors to help animal health officials find where the disease is present. This is to help you demonstrate freedom of disease and support the permitted movement of animals.

Getting Started with US SHIP:

1. Enroll in U.S. Swine Health Improvement Plan

2. Share 30 days of movement data

3. Have a completed Secure Pork Supply Plan

4. Become U.S. SHIP certified

5. Maintain communication with your state

Takeaway: U.S. Swine Health Improvement Plan helps safeguard animal health. Together, we're creating a sustainable future for pork production in the United States and taking steps to strengthen the business of U.S. pork producers everywhere