- The 30th edition of Husker Harvest Days featured cattle with information from the comprehensive IGENITY profile. Mike Hynek, Goldrush Genetics, Guide Rock, Neb., displayed two Balancer bulls at the show, promoting his herd’s genetics and the use of DNA technology. The comprehensive IGENITY profile includes analyses for economically important traits such as tenderness potential, fat thickness, ribeye area, yield grade, hot carcass weight, quality grade and marbling, as well as a diagnostic test for identifying cattle persistently infected (PI) with bovine viral diarrhea (BVD). This information allows every segment of the production chain to make more confident selection, management and marketing decisions. Hynek plans to use this information to add marketability to his cattle and to make more confident selection and breeding decisions. Hynek says, “With IGENITY, I can learn more about the actual genetic potential each individual using DNA and then combine that information with visual evaluation and EPDs to help avoid some costly mistakes and help the industry produce a more consistent end product. For the beef industry to survive, we have to produce a more consistent, tender product, and DNA technology is one way to help us do that.”
- Burger King pledged to offer healthier fast-food items for children under 12, with plans to sell and market flame-broiled Chicken Tenders and apples cut to resemble thick-cut french fries. Called BK Fresh Apple Fries, the red apples are cut to resemble french fries and are served in the same containers as fries, but they are not fried and are served skinless and cold. The 2.4-ounce serving of Apple Fries will have 35 calories, the company said. A small serving of Burger King french fries has 230 calories and 13 grams of fat, according to Burger King’s Web site. Burger King will use U.S. grown apples that are cut and packaged in a sterile environment and subjected to a pre-wash that contains lemon to keep them from turning brown, said Burger King spokesman Keva Silversmith.
- Soybean rust has been found in South Carolina. Clemson University Plant Pathologist John Mueller says a glitch in the testing sentinel plots also may have given the disease a few days head start. Rust was found on 25 of 25 leaves sampled from maturity Group V soybeans in a sentinel plot just outside of Estill, S.C., which is about 50 miles northwest of Savannah, Ga. These beans were sampled on Sept. 11, and the degree of infection is typical of a very severe outbreak of rust, according to Mueller. The plot had been sampled on a weekly basis up to Aug. 20. Then due to logistical problems the plot was not sampled for two weeks. This 20-day gap obviously was enough for rust to go from being not detectable to severe levels. Based on the severity of rust at the Estill site, Mueller says it is likely other fields were also exposed to rust in this area. Therefore, application of a fungicide containing a triazole is warranted in southeastern South Carolina, including areas normally referred to as the Savannah River Valley plus the areas just south of the Santee river. Mueller stresses that fungicides may not be applied after 50 percent of the soybeans in a field reach growth stage R-6.
- A two-day Certified Crop Advisor program will be conducted at the University of Missouri-Delta Research Center in Portageville, Mo., Nov. 19-20. Separate classes will be taught in Soil Fertility, Pest Management, Soil and Water, and Crop Production with four CEUs pending per course. Classes will begin at 8 a.m. each day. Registration will be $25 per course or $75 for all four. The fee will include lunch. For more details, contact Gene Stevens (573-379-5431, stevensw@missouri.edu) or Anthony Ohmes (573-683-6129, ohmesg@missouri.edu).
