Animal Welfare, Racing Groups Demand President Biden Halt Horse Slaughter

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November 7, 2023

Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy, along with several leading horse racing organizations, sent a letter to the White House, demanding that President Joe Biden work to halt live exports of thousands of American horses for slaughter for human consumption.

They noted that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called for an end to Canada’s role in exporting draft horses to Japan for slaughter and asked that Biden address America’s gruesome trade of equines to Mexico.

The United States also sends a smaller number of horses to Canada, which itself has two remaining horse slaughter plants.

Former Congressman and National Thoroughbred Racing Association president Tom Rooney, Jockey Club President James Gagliano, and New York Racing Association president David O’Rourke aligned with animal protection groups in urging Biden to do something about America’s biggest horse welfare problem.

“As a U.S. Senator and as vice president, you opposed horse slaughter,” the letter reads. “Yet, your administration has been silent on this trade. I do hope that Prime Minister Trudeau’s outspoken work on this matter reminds you that this subject is worthy of the attention of all North American heads of state.”

Bipartisan support is building in Congress for the Save America’s Forgotten Equines (SAFE) Act, H.R. 3475, and S. 2037.

Those measures, led by Reps. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla, and Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., and Sens. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., would also permanently codify a domestic ban on horse slaughter that has annually been renewed for the last 15 years.

The SAFE Act would halt live exports of about 20,000 equines for slaughter in Mexico and Canada.

While the last of the U.S.’s slaughter plants were shuttered in 2007, thousands of American equines are funneled to Mexico and Canada where they are killed, butchered, and then shipped to Europe and Asia for consumption.

In 2022, though, there were 20,000 horses shipped to Mexico and Canada for slaughter, down from 140,000 a decade ago.

“Elderly, sick, blind, and lame horses, heavily pregnant mares, small ponies, and aggressive stallions are all crammed onto trailers for a horrific journey to foreign meat plants. Horses and other equines are neglected and abused at every turn of this winding journey,” the letter to the president reads.

“If it’s wrong to slaughter American horses on U.S soil, it’s wrong to stain Mexican or Canadian soil with the blood of American horses, too,” said Wayne Pacelle, president of the Center for a Humane Economy.

“Our investigations show that the trafficking of live horses for slaughter for human consumption has been in a steep decline, but 20,000 horses still experience terror and butchery for no good reason.”

“It’s time to make all of North America a Safe Zone for American horses,” added Pacelle.

“The Jockey Club has long sought a ban on the export of horses for slaughter and we urge the Biden administration to take the necessary steps to protect horses from being butchered for very isolated pockets of Old-World consumers interested in horse meat,” declared James Gagliano, president of The Jockey Club, breed registry for Thoroughbreds. “The Thoroughbred industry is united in calling for this reform.”

The SAFE Act amends the 2018 Dog and Cat Meat Trade Prohibition Act, which banned the trade in dog and cat meat for human consumption, by adding the words “or equines,” thus ensuring that the three most treasured animal companion species, dogs, cats, and horses, are protected from foreign interests that regard them as little more than a food commodity, the letter to the president explains.

“This trade in horses for slaughter is perhaps America’s most reviled form of structural cruelty to equines,” added Scott Beckstead, director of campaigns for Animal Wellness Action and an Oregon Racing Commissioner. “The president and USDA have a chance to close out this debate and what is widely considered a morally settled matter.”

Animal Wellness Action is a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)(4) whose mission is to help animals by promoting laws and regulations at federal, state, and local levels that forbid cruelty to all animals. The group also works to enforce existing anti-cruelty and wildlife protection laws.

The Center for a Humane Economy is a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)(3) whose mission is to help animals by helping forge a more humane economic order.

Lighter Calves Bring More

By

Frank Buchman

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November 7, 2023

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“They averaged weighing less than a year ago but sold for more per pound.”

So, the amount received for this year’s calf crop set a ranch record high.

Objective is for calves to be heavier than the previous year’s weaning weight.

That was not the case for any certain reason. They received required vaccinations, were healthy, looked fresh, smooth haired, and uniform when sold as a group.

Evidently lower average weaning weight was partially due to inferior grass quality late in the season. Although dry and short, native pasture was considered higher in protein rather than slushy.

Genetics were such the calves should have weighed more than the previous year. However, water supplies were not of the highest quality.

Water was always available, but it was sometimes limited and frequently muddy with cattle forced to consume what there was.

Auction market price per pound was the determining factor of the total calf crop value. It is risky when a whole year’s calf crop is sold all at one time.

There was considerable concern about what the market would be although prices had been going up in recent months. Then fear of a government shutdown lowered prices being paid in days prior to sale time.

Somehow, someway, the market showed remarkable recovery and even increased some for the calves to sell for highest average ever. There have been drastic price fluctuations in the downward trend since sale day and are presently below what was received.

Most business endeavors have a certain level of risk, but cattle are near the top of opportunity to lose money. Regardless of how well an operation is precision managed, many factors influence the level of profitability. Only count the returns when the check is in the bank and all bills are paid in full.

With concerns about having sufficient feed and water for a cowherd, it is tempting to sell the entire calf crop. However, it is essential to save the best heifers as replacements for an operation to continue into the future.

Still heavy culling of old, poorly producing cows is necessary as difficult as that often is. Like many operations, several old cows, some 15-years-old, have been sold in recent months.

Reminded of Deuteronomy 30:9: “Your God, will outdo himself as you get calves, and enjoy a good life.”

+++ALLELUIA+++

XVII–45–11-5-2023

Horticulture 2023 Newsletter No. 43

By

Ward Upham

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November 7, 2023

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KSU horticulture logo — KSU horticulture

https://hnr.k-state.edu/extension/info-center/newsletters/index.html

Blog Post: http://www.ksuhortnewsletter.org

Video of the Week: Will Fall Mums Last Through the Winter?

https://kansashealthyyards.org/all-videos/video/will-fall-mums-last-through-the-winter

ANNOUNCEMENTS

K-State Garden Hour: Plants Gone Wild! Controlling Invasive Plants

Wednesday, November 1, 2023, 12 pm – 1 pm CST

Given the opportunity, certain plants can take over your landscape, woods and pastures. Join Lynn Loughary, Wyandotte County Extension Horticulture Agent, as she helps you to know which plants to keep a close eye on. Learn about a few of our most invasive plants and management strategies for their control. Discover which weeds are also regulated by law, through Kansas’ noxious weeds program.

https://hnr.k-state.edu/extension/consumer-horticulture/garden-hour/

UPCOMING EVENTS

Kansas Turf & Landscape Conference

The 73rd Annual Kansas Turf & Landscape Conference will be held on Wednesday, November 29 and Thursday, November 30 at the Hilton Garden Inn, Manhattan. The conference is an excellent way to learn about turf and landscape management, visit with old friends, network with new ones, and see all the latest products and supplies from local and national vendors.

The conference has been approved for commercial pesticide recertification hours:

1 Core hour

3A – 7 hours

3B – 7hours

GCSAA education points and International Society of Arboriculture CEUS will also be available by attending the conference.

For more information, go to https://www.kansasturfgrassfoundation.com/

REMINDERS

Dig cannas, gladiolas, dahlias and other tender bulbs for winter storage.
Spray for winter annuals such as henbit and chickweed as well as dandelions in the lawn.
TURF

Apply Late-Season Nitrogen Application in November

Although plant growth is slowing as the temperature drops, grass continues photosynthesizing. Applying nitrogen now boosts the photosynthesis rate and increases the amount of carbohydrates the plants can store through winter. This results in hardier plants with increased root growth and shoot density. Carbohydrates not used for immediate plant growth are stored for later use. Turfgrass with carbohydrate reserves can green up earlier in the spring and continue growth into May without additional fertilizer applications. This is beneficial because early-spring nitrogen applications tend to promote excessive shoot growth and reduced root growth.

For fall nitrogen applications, 1 to 1-1/2 pounds actual nitrogen per 1,000 square feet of lawn area is sufficient. Use a soluble nitrogen carrier such as urea or ammonium sulfate so the fertilizer is quickly available because the growing season is winding down. Many turfgrass fertilizers sold in garden centers and other retail outlets contain soluble nitrogen which work well for a November application. Avoid products that contain water-insoluble nitrogen (slow release) and clean up any fertilizer that scatters on the surrounding driveways, sidewalks or streets. (Cynthia Domenghini)

FLOWERS

Garden Mums

Garden mums (Chrysanthemum) that have finished flowering can be cut back to two to three inches. Apply a layer of mulch over the top for protection through the winter. It is also okay to leave the top growth intact through winter. This can provide some insulation for the crown, but some gardeners prefer to tidy up plant material that has died back. Regardless of fall maintenance practices, garden mums should not be allowed to dry out during the winter. If there has not been any precipitation in the form of rain or snow, it may be necessary to apply supplemental water. (Cynthia Domenghini)

MISCELLANEOUS

What to Do with Tree Leaves

Keeping up with leaves dropping onto the landscape is a big job every fall. The amount of leaf cover has an impact on the underlying plants. Photosynthesis will be restricted in a lawn covered with a dense layer of leaves preventing it from storing enough energy to survive winter. Here are a few options to deal with the beautiful mess.

Leaves can be added to the compost heap but it is best to shred them first. This can be done by mowing over them on the lawn and collecting them in the mower bag. They can also be added directly into the planters. Incorporate two- to three-inches of shredded leaves to the soil at a time. This can be repeated until the leaves are gone or the soil is frozen and cannot be worked. Shredded leaves can be used as mulch around trees, shrubs and perennials as well.

The shredded leaves can be left on the lawn if they are not too dense. If you can still see the lawn through the leaves overtop it should be safe to use this option. As you mow, the leaf pieces will fall in between the blades of grass and eventually break down into the soil. It may require multiple passes with the lawn mower to get the leaf size small enough. It is also necessary to mow frequently to keep up with the leaf drop. Some benefits of this approach have been reported in research. Leaf mulch incorporated into lawns can help prevent weeds from germinating between grass plants. Leaf mulch has not been shown to negatively effect on turf quality, color or soil pH.

If you are incorporating leaves into a cool-season lawn, it makes sense to be on a fall nitrogen fertilization program and core-aerate in the fall as well. You can mow leaves into a warm-season lawn, but wait to fertilize and core-aerate until late May or early June. (Cynthia Domenghini)

Recycling Pumpkins

As decorative pumpkins pass their prime due to time or freezing temperatures, put them to good use.
Pumpkins can be cut into small pieces and buried beneath leaf mulch in planters. Due to their high-water content, pumpkins will decompose relatively quickly and contribute organic matter back into the soil. Remove the seeds before composting to avoid growing an unwanted pumpkin patch in this location next year.

The raw seeds can be gathered and roasted for human consumption, or incorporated into feed for birds and other wildlife. Squirrels, deer and other animals will appreciate the meat of the pumpkin as food becomes scarce elsewhere. Farms and zoos will sometimes accept pumpkins from homeowners to feed to their animals as well. (Cynthia Domenghini)

Contributors:

Cynthia Domenghini, Instructor & Horticulture Extension Specialist

Ward Upham, Extension Associate

Department of Horticulture and Natural Resources

1712 Claflin, 2021 Throckmorton

Manhattan, KS 66506

(785) 532-6173

For questions or further information, contact: [email protected], [email protected] OR [email protected]

This newsletter is also available on the World Wide Web at:

http://hnr.k-state.edu/extension/info-center/newsletters/index.html

The web version includes color images that illustrate subjects discussed. To subscribe to this newsletter electronically, send an e-mail message to [email protected], [email protected] or [email protected] listing your e-mail address in the message.

Brand names appearing in this newsletter are for product identification purposes only. No endorsement is intended, nor is criticism implied of similar products not mentioned.

K-State Research and Extension is committed to making its services, activities and programs accessible to all participants. If you have special requirements due to a physical, vision or hearing disability, or a dietary restriction please contact Extension Horticulture at (785) 532-6173.

Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity employer. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension Work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, as amended. Kansas State University, County Extension Councils, and United States Department of Agriculture Cooperating, Ernie Minton, Dean.

The History of Halloween

By

Guest Columnist

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November 7, 2023

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This week we see all of the scary, spooky, and overall delightful trick-or-treaters that
came to our door on Halloween night. And while Halloween might be over by the time you read
this, I thought it would be fun to do a feature on the history of Halloween. As many people know,
there are an incredible amount of scary stories to explain the unexplainable of our long and
confusing human history. These stories take the form of legends, myths, and lots of other spooky
tales. Like many things, there’s a long and rich history in the making of one of America’s most
popular holidays. So come along and join me in learning about the origins of the spookiest
holiday on the calendar.
In order to truly understand the holiday of Halloween, we must understand the origin.
Halloween originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, which was a festival held in
order to ward off ghosts and spirits. Adding on to this, in the 8th century, Pope Gregory III
named November 1 as a time to honor all saints. All Saints Day also happened to incorporate
some of the same traditions of Samhain. As time went on, all hallows Eve was the term used to
refer to the night before All Saints Day. Generation after generation passed, and people got a
little bit more superstitious of the holiday when it eventually evolved into Halloween, a night of
tricks and treats.
Now we know the European origins of Halloween, but as Americans, we tend to make
things out to our own understanding. As such, early Americans took Halloween a little
differently than our European counterparts. In the North, Halloween was shunned as a
non-Christian holiday. Which in reality is slightly ironic, given that it was created by Christians.
However, in the south different traditions began to arise. The colonial ideas of the holiday
meshed with the Native American tribal stories that we heard when we got here making a
distinctly American version of Halloween as a holiday.
The first celebrations of Halloween included play parties, which were public events that
were typically harvest oriented. Given that Halloween is at the end of the harvest season, it was
perfectly in line with the agricultural society of the time. In some of the more southern states,
neighbors would share stories of the dead, tell each other’s fortunes, and dance and sing. This
mixing of cultures and ideas was a very American tradition in the early days of our colonies.
By the late 1800s there was a move in America to mold Halloween into a holiday about
community rather than ghosts, pranks, and witchcraft. However, there were plenty of out of the
ordinary stories that led to the whispers of witchcraft and wickedness on All Hallows Eve. This
once sacred holiday, became a convergence point for all things spooky. And good thing it did,
because otherwise we wouldn’t have half of the thrilling tales that we have now.
Overall, Halloween is a wonderful tradition full of history and stories alike. Last article,
We looked more at the spooky stories from around Kansas, so if you haven’t looked at that, I
would encourage you to do some digging. Kansas may not look it, but we sure do have a long
and legend filled history in this Great Plains state of ours. With that being said, have a
wonderfully suspicious time this Halloween. Don’t eat too many treats, and be sure to share at
least one thrilling tale around the fireplace.