Loose Ends...

Wildfires have burned more than 474,000 acres in Florida, mostly along the Atlantic Coast, since the end of May. Firefighting costs are expected to be more than $110 million so far. Rains last week provided firefighters some relief and more rains were forecast.

In New Mexico, a $3000 reward is being offered to help apprehend those responsible for the fire in the Santa Fe National Forest and adjoining Santa Clara Pueblo land. Costs are expected to exceed $3.5 million to control the fire which has burned more than 5200 acres and involved more than 800 firefighters and support personnel.

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The Kansas Livestock Association reports that a closely held, proprietary process developed by a Minnesota-based company has been shown to reduce the cholesterol content of beef by 23 percent and can improve dressing percentages of finished steers by up to four percent.

KLA quotes Kansas State University meat scientist Michael Dikeman, who explains the "vascular infusion" process as a method of flushing residual blood out of the circulatory system of a carcass. The process pumps a fluid mixture of carbohydrates, sodium chloride (table salt), and phosphates through the carotid artery of a freshly bled animal.

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The Independent Cattlemen’s Association of Texas has scheduled its annual convention for Aug. 9-11 at San Antonio’s Omni resort hotel and conference center.

The agenda includes workshops and sessions covering cattle health, environmental management, nutrition, beef prices, tax and credit policies, new marketing programs and legislative updates. ICA is also inviting all area cattlemen, free of charge, to attend a 2 p.m. Saturday afternoon "Town Hall Meeting" to address the beef checkoff referendum petition; the group opposes a referendum vote.

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The Texas Agricultural Extension Service is conducting a series of eight Integrated Toxic Plant Management workshops across West Texas. The first two are scheduled in Del Rio on July 22 and in Ozona on July 23.

Alpine, Van Horn and Fort Stockton will host workshops on September 8, 9 and 10, respectively. Those interested should contact their local county Extension agent for times, meeting locations and registration fees.

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Twenty-eight sheep feeders from across the nation will meet in San Angelo July 19-22 for the 1998 Howard Wyman Sheep Industry Leadership School. The project is sponsored by the National Lamb Feeders Association and the Texas Agricultural Extension Service.

The NLFA board of directors will hold its summer meeting in conjunction with the leadership school.

More information is available from Dr. Frank Craddock at (915) 653-4576.

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The 1998 Big Country Wheat Conference is set for Thursday, August 20 at the Abilene Civic Center. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m.

Topics to be discussed include wheat price outlook, marketing forage options, wheat response to grazing, variety update, establishing a wheat stand, prevalent diseases of the Plains, insect management, fertility management and the role of biotechnology in small grains.

Registration is $5 if received prior to August 14. The fee at the door will be $15. The session will be approved by the Texas Department of Agriculture and the Certified Crop Advisors for CEU credits.

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A special session on drouth management has been planned for the 1998 TAMU Beef Cattle Short Course. It will be taught after the seminar and workshops on Monday evening, August 3, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

More information is available from Larry Boleman, Allyson Butler or Shannon Treichel at (409) 845-3579.

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The Texas Animal Health Commission tallied 152,748 head of cattle entering Texas from other states during June, compared to 231,239 head of Texas cattle leaving the state. Sheep entries totaled 2733 head against 15,918 head shipped out.

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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has denied a 1995 petition by the "Biodiversity Legal Fund" to list the lesser prairie chicken as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. The bird is found in western Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Texas and is considered a game bird over most of its range.

In its announcement, USFWS termed the requested listing "justified," but said other species are in greater immediate need. That makes the prairie chicken a "candidate species" for listing; as such, its status will be reviewed within 12 months.

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The Kansas Livestock Association cites further evidence that animal rights fanaticism is waning: a "national animal rights conference" normally held in Washington at the end of June was cancelled this year for lack of a sponsor or anyone willing to organize it.

The event has been plagued over the past two years with turnouts too small to recoup expenses, KLA notes, a problem that led to the bankruptcy of the 1996 sponsor, the National Alliance for Animals. Last year’s sponsor scaled its plans back substantially, the group says, and still lost money.

(This year’s expected sponsor pulled out when it couldn’t find a hotel willing to rent a broom closet and two coffee cups. Just kidding — Ed.)