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The application dead- line has been extended to March 19 for internships with the University of California Cooperative Extension available for graduate and undergradu- ate students and recent alumni in the agricultural and biological sciences. This paid internship offers the successful can- didates an opportunity to learn about and assist with cutting-edge research and education programs in tree crop pro- duction, sustainable agri- culture, integrated pest management, soil and water sciences and other disciplines. The intern will partici- pate in outreach efforts to educate farmers, pest con- trol professionals and the general public regarding scientific findings and improved methodologies of crop production and environmental protection. Working closely with experienced Cooperative Extension Farm Advisors, the intern will learn about the latest in agricultural practices and technolo- gies pertaining to almonds and other tree crops. The internships are made possible through a grant from the Almond Board of California. Four students complet- ed the internship program last summer, experiencing a wide range of activities from performing pressure bomb tests in almond orchards, monitoring pest traps for key pests in almonds and peaches, assisting in harvest sam- pling and analysis for almond trials, attending various educational events and participating in farm calls with growers and PCAs to help solve production problems. The internship posi- tions available include both a six-month graduate internship (MS or PhD preferred) and a three- to four-month internship for undergraduate or graduate students. V i s i t http://groups.ucanr.org/al mondinternship for more information and applica- tion. Bill and I attended the 19th annual Chico State Beef Day last Saturday with about 150 beef producers and college stu- dents. We appreciated Dr. Frank Mitloehner, Associate Professor Air Quality Cooperative Exten- sion Specialist and Director, Agricultural Air Quality Center, Department of Ani- mal Science, Univer- sity of California, Davis, bringing his talk down to our level of understanding. "Clearing the Air: Livestock's Contribu- tions to Climate Change." The smog we experience in Califor- nia's Central Valley is not only from Califor- nia cars and farming, but also from international transport like shipping and dis- tant lands like China. Contain- er ships at Long Beach emit more pollutants than the Los Angeles traffic on the freeways. People complain about farm- ing, when they move into homes that were built next to a dairy or an open field that is cultivated to grow crops. They forget that the farming opera- tion was there before they came. Converting agriculture lands to houses is giving an increase to greenhouse gases. Over the years through research they have found that our common assumptions are not true. We assume that manure causes the main air pol- lution on livestock farms, but fermented feed, silage is worse, and we need to manage silage smarter. Organic soil produces green- house gases because it has microbial material in the soil from the manure. The United Nations put out a paper in 2006, where they wrote that livestock sector is a major player and responsible for 18 percent of the greenhouse gases, claiming it was worse than transportation. Then TIME 2007 said that agriculture was worse than transportation. Did you realize that that largest concentration of animals was in India and China? In the next 30 years the demand for animal protein will increase because of consumer demand as their income rises. Forestry and agriculture are the only two industries that can sequester carbon. Meat production will double by 2050, and growth will occur in countries that are currently forested. Here in the USA, greenhouse gases will be from transportation, energy and industry. In developing countries livestock will be dom- inant because they have less industry and will deforest their lands. The University of California, Davis campus is building digesters that turn bio- mass into energy. They are using animal waste (manure), food waste fromthe cafete- rias and eating estab- lishments, grass clip- pings from all the lawns, etc. The plant is quite small com- pared to those in operation in Germany. Shannon Kelley, California Beef Council mentioned how our beef checkoff dollar is help- ing increase beef sales. With a $2 off coupon they increased beef roast sales by 84,000 pounds at one grocery chain last fall. California Cattlemen's Asso- ciation President Tom Talbot and Executive Vice President Matt Byrne talked about leg- islative issues affecting the beef industry in Sacramento and Washington, D.C. The exciting news was the ongoing testing of the vaccine for Foothill Abortion. We have lost calves due to Foothill for 60 or 70 years, and for many years we didn‚t know what caused it. Finally researchers discovered it was a tick, and then to devel- op a vaccine. It is more a West- ern problem, so the big drug companies weren't interested in spending the money for research and development of a vaccine. The California Cattle- men's Association has pledged $50,000 a year for research, and University of California, Davis is testing a vaccine in 2010. So far, half of the control group of heifers have aborted while the heifers that were vaccinated and exposed to the tick do not show signs that they will abort. The first calves are due March 15. Dr. Dave Daley, California State University, Chico, spoke on "Animal Welfare and Ani- mal Rights -Where do we go from here?" We all remember 15-20 years ago when the sub- ject was Vernal Pools, and how grazing disturbed the fairy shrimp. It was found that with- out cattle grazing, the wild flowers no longer bloomed in abundance. The Vernal Pools became overgrown with matted and decaying grasses and no habitat for the fairy shrimp. Daley used humor to discuss how to lose the argument on animal welfare. • Assume science will give us the answers. But the public doesn't trust scientists. • Using economics as justifi- cation for our practices. Some practices don't pencil out. • Defending all agricultural practices. We lose creditability by trying to defend all prac- tices, so defend those that are defensible. • We can't do better at ani- mal welfare, because agricul- ture is evolving practices all the time. • Attacking everyone who disagrees with us. Don't waste your time. • Not being willing to listen to others. • Being reactive instead of proactive. • Assuming that someone disagrees with you, you feel they are stupid, evil or both. Good people can see things dif- ferently. • Not working hard enough to build coalitions. • Criticizing non-conven- tional production practices. • Trying to lead a parade without seeing if anyone is fol- lowing. We all agree that animals have the right to be treated humanely. Dr Fred Provenza of Utah State University, told how calves learn to eat what their mothers are eating. They will eat hay when weaned, if their mothers ate hay while the calves were at their mother's side. *** The public is invited to Pauline Davis Pavilion at Tehama District Fairground today and Sunday for a free high school rodeo. District 1 California High School Rodeo Association has invited the other districts in California to come for an Interdistrict Rodeo. At noon today will be the Special Rodeo for young people with handicaps. They will com- pete in barrel racing, roping, goat undecorating, bronc riding and bull riding. No animals are used in the events, and high school rodeo contestants are paired with the special needs children. The event is spon- sored by Cargill. The Special Rodeo contestants will receive lunch and keepsakes. Local contestants for the high school rodeo in Barrel Racing will include Brandi Anthony, Madisen Gomes, Allie Jordan from Red Bluff. From Cottonwood, Sierra Alli- son, Madison McCarley, Brian- na Lee, Anna Doyle, Jesi Proulx, Brie Norton, Taylor Lambert, Katy Andrews and Jackie Munson. Bareback Riding will have Blaine Davies of Gerber and Casey Meroshnekoff of Red Bluff. Saddle Bronc will have Danny Brown of Red Bluff. Bull Riding will have Dylon Rosen and Cody Ellis of Cot- tonwood and Casey Merosh- nekoff. Goat Tying will have Allie Jordan, Hailey Carlon, Brandi Anthony of Red Bluff. From Cottonwood will be Anna Doyle, Katy Andrews and Jesi Proulx. Tie Down Roping has Brady Carlon, Danny Brown, Blaine Ragan of Red Bluff entered. Casey Loverin, Lyle Thurston, Bodie Robbins of Cottonwood. Blaine Davies of Gerber and Lee Hofmen of Corning. Breakaway Roping will have Katy Andrews, Madison McCarley, Anna Doyle of Cot- tonwood and Brandi Anthony of Red Bluff. Team Roping has Blaine Ragan roping with Lane Wilson of Montague, Kyler Olson of Cottonwood roping with Jenna Price of Orland. Casey Loverin and Lyle Thurston are a Cotton- wood team. Austin Pope of Cottonwood is roping with Loren Bebensee of Redding. Lee Hofmen of Corning and Rob Carrillo, Red Bluff are rop- ing as a team. Blaine Davies, Gerber will rope with Brady Carlon of Red Bluff. Casey Meroshnekoff is roping with Damon Nixon of Palo Cedro. Danny Brown, Red Bluff will rope with Zach Swain of Orland. Madison McCarley, Cottonwood ropes with Linda Johnson of Fort Jones. Brandi Anthony, Red Bluff team ropes with Daniel Ferreira of Fort Jones. Bodie Robbins, Cottonwood ropes with Tim Hofmen. Pole Bending has Brie Nor- ton, Katy Andrews, Anna Doyle, Madison McCarley, Bri- anna Lee, Sierra Allison, Jackie Munson, Taylor Lambert of Cottonwood. From Red Bluff Madisen Gomes, Hailey Carlon and Brandi Anthony. The rough stock events, bar- rel racing and pole bending are held in Pauline Davis Pavilion, while the roping events and goat tying are in the Red Bluff Bull Sale Pavilion, where the trade show was held during the recent bull sale. Free admis- sion. Jean Barton can be reached at jbarton@theskybeam.com. Saturday, February 27, 2010 – Daily News – 5A Call For Free Information Toll-Free (800) 464-1403 or (530) 365-1403 6183 MEISTER WAY ANDERSON, CA 96007 (530) 365-1403 (800) 464-1403 LIC #808524 12600 Hwy 99E, Red Bluff Located 5 Miles from I-5 • 530-527-6483 Hrs: 9am-6pm Monday-Saturday Expires 3-2-10 80%-85% Lean GROUND BEEF $ 2 49 lb. Choice Angus TOP SIRLOIN STEAK $ 4 99 lb. Choice Angus CHUCK ROAST $ 3 19 lb. Now Accepting E.B.T., Debit, Credit Cards CHECK OUT OUR IMPROVED SPICE RACK HONEY • SPICES • RUBS • MARINADES Red Bluff Garden Center 766 Antelope Blvd. (next to the fairgrounds) 527-0886 Free Class Feb., 27 @ 10am Gearing up your yard for What you can be doing now in your yard and what you can be expecting in the coming months Please call to reserve a seat Agriculture farm&ranch Chico State Beef Day; California High School Rodeo Courtesy photo Dr. Dave Daley, California State University, Chico, and Dr. Frank Mitloehner, University of California, Davis. Jean Barton Almond internship applications sought Local ranches recognized Tehama Angus Ranch of Gerber; David J Holden, Brooke Anne Byrd and Byrd Cattle Co., of Red Bluff; were recognized by the American Angus Association for having one registered Angus bull in its 2010 Pathfinder Report. Tehama Angus Ranch also was recognized for hav- ing 22 registered Angus cows included in the report.