My belated Happy Thanksgiving wishes to everyone and my best wishes for a very Merry Christmas!!

 

Climate Change Command and Control Progressing Nicely in the USA

A grouping of articles regarding climate change, a plethora of them have popped up this past week . . . Of course, not much mention of the fact that the 'freak' snowstorm in South Dakota took them officially out of a drought - at great loss of cattle, which is beyond sad, but on the other hand, Mother Nature also corrected the region's water table with this snowstorm.  Actually, no mention at all of the great Atlas snowstorm of South Dakota in October . . . switching from the term 'global warming' to the now politically correct 'climate change' is intended to encompass all weather events of a perceived unusual nature . . . undoubtedly some UN/IPCC scientist is furiously trying to come up with scientific data to blame the snowstorm on the COWs.

  

'The claims are exaggerated': John Howard rejects predictions of global warming catastrophe 

"Former (Australian) prime minister John Howard has poured scorn on the "alarmist" scientific consensus on global warming in a speech to a gathering of British climate sceptics, comparing those calling for action on climate change to religious zealots."

"The ground is thick with rent-seekers. There are plenty of people around who want access to public money in the name of saving the planet.  Politicians who bemoan the loss of respect for their calling should remember that every time they allow themselves to be browbeaten by the alleged views of experts they contribute further to that lack of respect. . . . Economic growth in developing countries was much more important than countering global warming, Mr Howard said, and the West had no right to deny economic development to the rest of the world in the name of climate change. . . He accused the IPCC of including "nakedly political agendas" in its advice."  (The Sydney Morning Herald, Nick Miller, November 6, 2013)

Researcher helps sow climate-change doubt

Willie Soon, 

“Those people are so out of their minds!’’ exclaimed Soon, a solar researcher at the prestigious Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, in Cambridge. He assailed former vice president Al Gore, among others, for his views on climate change, calling predictions of catastrophic ocean tides “crazy’’ and scornfully concluding: “And they call this science.’’

"Before the Heritage Foundation audience of 100 people, Soon won appreciative applause before launching into a fresh set of attacks: “IPCC is a pure bully,’’ he said, accusing the body of “blatant manipulations of fact’’ and engaging in a “charade.’’   “Stop politicizing science!’’ he said. “Just stop!’’  (The Boston Globe, Christopher Rowland, November 5, 2013)

Is It Too Late to Prepare for Climate Change?

" . . . As it happens, the very same day the I.P.C.C. report was leaked, President Obama issued an executive order titled “Preparing the United States for the Impacts of Climate Change.” Among other things, it established a new Council on Climate Preparedness and Resilience, to be co-chaired by the head of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, the head of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, and—suggestively enough—the Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism. " (The New Yorker, Elizabeth Kolbert , November 5, 2013)

USDA seeks input on agricultural coexistence 

" . . . as a result of recommendations from the department’s Advisory Committee on Biotechnology & 21st Century. According to a notice posted in the Federal Register, agricultural coexistence refers to the concurrent cultivation of crops produced through diverse agricultural systems, including traditionally produced, organic, identity-preserved and genetically engineered crops. . . .USDA is seeking public input, particularly in the area of education and outreach to foster communication and collaboration among those involved in diverse agricultural systems on the topic of coexistence as well as how USDA can best communicate and collaborate with those entities."  (John Maday, Managing Editor, Drovers CattleNetwork, 11/04/2013)

USDA says climate change task force will help ag communities

"USDA says a task force established by President Obama Friday will assist agricultural communities facing the impacts of climate change.  The Task Force on Climate Preparedness and Resilience will advise the Federal Government on strategies to help American agriculture mitigate and adapt to the impacts of a changing climate. . . USDA expects the task force to help America’s farmers and ranchers adapt to changing climate conditions. . . As part of the broader Climate Action Plan, the USDA announced steps in June to create modern solutions against climate adversity. In addition to regional sources on climate information and forecasts, the USDA created the "Carbon Management and Evaluation Tool" (COMET-FARM), showing farmers how much carbon their land removes from the atmosphere."  (11/1/2013)

Climate change regulation: Scarier than climate change?

"We now know the plan, implemented almost entirely by executive order, might also be called, “choke the life of whatever feeble economic recovery we’ve managed so far.” I’m ready to say I don’t like much about it at all.  There’s a lot of code in there for unleashing enthusiastic federal regulators on job creators and workers. . . Farmers might well support reducing carbon pollution – if the methods are incentive and market-based.. . . I’m not a “denier,” but I am a “skeptic” on the whole global warming thing. From where I sit, climate change regulation is much more terrifying than climate change itself."  (Gene Hall, Texas Farm Bureau, 07/09/2013)

British White Cattle Sale in Hutchinson, MN - 2013 First Annual Sale

BRITISH WHITE CATTLE ASSOCIATION OF MINNESOTA - FIRST ANNUAL SALE VIDEO

Minnesota British White Cattle Association - First Annual Sale
October 19, 2013 - Hutchinson, Minnesota (Photo by Jodi Olson)

The sale was a great success, this first annual auction was a lot of fun and had some really fine animals from both the ABWPA and the BWCAA.  The sale was attended by folks from all across the USA, including Texas, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Nebraska,and South Dakota - and perhaps more.  Lots of folks pitched in, even non- members whose help was invaluable to making this a very successful first sale.  I had a wonderful time, visited with old friends I haven't seen in ages, made new friends, and am so glad I made the journey. Even though the BWCAA sadly made extreme last minute efforts to harm the outcome of the sale - it went very well, one can only imagine how much better it may have been. 

As well as representation from so many States in the USA, also present were 6 Board alumni of the British White Cattle Association of America giving the new Minnesota BWCA our wholehearted support.  There were over 30 lots that sold, here are some pricing highlights from the sale.

B&B Karen

BRED HEIFERS: B&B Nellie $2800; B&B Karen $2700; Coyote Ridge Lucy $2500; Briar Stone Blue Belle $2200; Coyote Ridge Lucky $2200;  Briar Stone Marea $2100;  RLC Farms Willow $2000; RAI Little Rose $1950.  

Briar Stone Abigail and Briar Stone Allison

OPEN WEANLING HEIFERS:   RAI Bud $1800; Briar Stone Abigail $1550; Briar Stone Allison $1550; RAI Blossum (donated by RAI British Whites) $1350   

Briar Stone Adonis & Pat Olsen

WEANLING BULL PROSPECTS:  Briar Stone Adonis $1600; RLC Farms Renegade $1500

Dale McDonald, Rambling Creek Cattle Company

Robert Isaacson, RAI British Whites

Walter and Nancy Bohaty, B&B Bohaty's British Whites

British White Cattle First Annual Sale in Minnesota

Update:  Click here for the Sale Catalog, and see the Supplemental Listings here.
             

Last year saw the formation of the first state British White Cattle Association in the state of Minnesota. While formation of regional BWCAA groups has often been discussed and detailed plans made and proposed over the years, no action at the national level to provide for regional cattle groups has made it past the table. There are a large number of Minnesota breeders of British White Cattle, and the herd numbers in that state rival that of most any others in the USA.  Along with dues paying members of the BWCAA, this new State association welcomes members of the ABWPA as well; recognizing that breeders in both associations have much to contribute to one another in both shared genetics and shared friendships with like-minded folks who against all odds it seems at times, continue to embrace and love the breeding and rearing of the very beautiful and ancient British White breed here in America.

The American impact on the breeding of British White cattle is apparent in many fine breeding lines in the USA, and the coming together of the breeders of Minnesota from both cattle associations will contribute to further the development in America of the ancient polled Park cattle of the British Isles.  The photo below reflects two bulls, the older bull is the product of the excellent BWCAA breeding program of RLC Farms, while the bull on the right, is the product of the likewise excellent ABWPA breeding program of Larry Fedler of Iowa.  The bulls are virtually identical, as of course are all the cattle long reared in both Associations.

BWCAA's RLC Farms Nitro and ABWPA's LPJ Zenith, May 2013

The new British White Cattle Association of Minnesota (BWCAMN) is hosting their first annual cattle sale on October 19, 2013 in Hutchinson, Minnesota.  Below you'll find the details of the sale from the BWCAMN web site, the sale catalog will be available soon, so bookmark their web site and check back to have a look at the consigned cattle!

For more information contact:
Robert or Karen Isaacson, (218) 843-2779, kisaacson@invisimax.com
or Linda Hohenwald, (320) 279-2790, RLCFarmsLLC@live.com
www.MNBritishWhites.org

"Our first annual sale for this fine breed will be held on October 19, 2013, at the McLeod County Fairgrounds Cattle Barn. It is located at 840 Century Ave SW in Hutchinson, Minnesota, 55350 and the sale will start at 1:00 p.m.  

So far a lot of open and bred heifers are consigned as this seems to be the demand. We also have younger bred cows, some cow/calf pairs and have some bulls that are 15 months or younger consigned.  There is a heifer being donated by Robert Isaacson to be auctioned off; RLC Farms, LLC is donating some straws of Woodbastwick Randolph Turpin semen and other items may be donated.

We are currently working on the sale catalog and it will be available to download here soon so keep checking back.  

You don't want to miss this sale as you will have the opportunity to meet wonderful breeders of British White cattle and make new friends and contacts!

There are rooms set aside at the AmericInn in Hutchinson.  Call 320-587-5515 and let them know you are with the British White Cattle Association of Minnesota.  Come Friday and have more time to view the animals and hang out with us Friday night!

Two vendors will be at the sale for you to purchase refreshments and food. The McLeod County Riders 4H group will serve Coffee, donuts and other snacks and The Red Dogs will have food available to purchase."

British White Cow and her Newborn Calf

This is J.West's Nell Opal, she calved just a few hours earlier. When I went to check on her this morning they were nestled beneath a stand of yaupon that must be 100 years old. Beneath it is shaded and the cows like to gather there in the heat of the late evening. After I arrived and disturbed their rest, the newborn's curiosity got the best of him and and he came to see me. Nell Opal fusses and fusses at him! She had just passed her placenta, so when she got up of course that was her focus, eating it, and she was none to pleased at my interruption and her little bull's bullheaded interest in checking me out.




Nell Opal was flushed for embryo export this past year for Oz Genetics of Australia. All cattle of J.West Cattle Company are dual registered with the American British White Park Association and the BWCAA. These cattle are the ancient polled white Park cattle of England.