Ag Business Briefs

Nebraska herd quarantined over bovine tuberculosis

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A cattle herd in north-central Nebraska’s Wheeler County where a cow tested positive for bovine tuberculosis remains in quarantine as authorities test other animals.

Nebraska Agriculture Department spokeswoman Kristin Kamm said on Dec. 28 that none of the cattle has yet been similarly diagnosed. Department staffers also are looking for cattle that may have been pastured next to and had fence line contact with the infected herd. The disease is primarily transmitted through nose to nose contact.

The South Dakota Animal Industry Board earlier this year contacted the Nebraska department as they traced cattle into and out of South Dakota’s infected herd. The testing of cattle that were moved into Nebraska led to the infected cow in Wheeler County.

Bovine tuberculosis causes severe coughing, fatigue, emaciation and debilitation in cattle and results in reduced milk and meat production.

First Farmers plans for Ag Summit at Purdue University

CONVERSE, Ind. — First Farmers Bank & Trust (FFMR) has announced plans to host an “Agricultural Summit” at Purdue University featuring a panel of speakers including authors, Bruce Vincent and Jessica Eise, Purdue professor emeritus, Freddie Barnard, and former Purdue Basketball players, Brian Cardinal and Todd Foster. The decision to relocate the annual event to Purdue was based on the organization’s expanding client base in western Indiana and eastern Illinois and the upcoming corporate announcement to expand services in Lafayette and Tippecanoe County. Attendance at the summit is currently by invitation but may be expanded to the public as attendance allows. The event is scheduled for Jan. 23.

— PRNewswire

South Dakota cities set weather records as cold continues

SIOUX FALLS (AP) — Record-setting cold weather continues to blanket South Dakota as the new year begins.

The National Weather Service says Aberdeen, Mobridge and Pierre set or tied record-cold temperatures for the date on Monday. The mercury plunged to minus 21 in Pierre, minus 30 at Mobridge and minus 32 in Aberdeen.

Aberdeen’s previous record-low temperature for New Year’s Day had stood for 99 years.

Several South Dakota cities also set cold-weather records over the weekend. Wind chill reports around the state early Monday were in the minus 30s, minus 40s and even minus 50s.

Nearly 1,000 people in Mitchell were without power for a couple of hours Monday morning before Northwestern Energy fixed the problem. The local fairgrounds and the Corn Palace were opened as emergency shelters but it wasn’t clear if anyone used them.

Branch manager receives certification in advanced training

Cleary Building Crop. would like to congratulate Jeremy Kappenman, branch manager at the Dell Rapids, S.D., sales and construction office, on receiving his masters of branch administration certification from Steel Wood University.

Steel Wood University is an extensive training program designed to teach both new and veteran employees the fundamentals of success at Cleary Building Corp. The week long course includes training on leadership, accountability and customer service.