Breakfast Matters

By Amanda Scott, Program Specialist, Expanded Nutrition Program
Breakfast has been dubbed the “most important meal of the day”. However, “breakfast is the most commonly missed meal of the day” says County Extension Agent Debbie Hailey. Recent research suggests that children who eat breakfast are more likely to have healthful nutrition behaviors and make healthy food choices such as eating more fruits and vegetables than those who do not eat breakfast. While breakfast is also important for academic performance and may help with maintenance of a healthy weight, fewer United States youth are eating breakfast.

Here are a few ways you can make breakfast a part of your family’s daily routine:
• Lead the Way: First, be sure that as the parent you set a good example and eat a healthy breakfast every day. “Parents serve as role models for healthy eating behaviors to their children” says Debbie Hailey. Be sure that your children see you eat breakfast, make it a family activity.
• Plan Ahead: Like any meal, breakfast takes planning. Prepare for breakfast as much as you can the night before. This might include slicing fruit, mixing frozen juice, or packing lunches for the next day at night so that you have time to prepare breakfast in the morning.
• Stock Up: Include breakfast foods on your grocery list. Stock your kitchen with healthy breakfast options such as milk, juice, yogurt, fruit, whole grain cereals and breads, or hot cereals such as oatmeal and grits.
• Rise & Shine: You might also need to wake up a little earlier to make sure you have time for everything you need to do. Your children may also need a few minutes after waking up before they are ready to eat breakfast. Even though this means you are up earlier, you and your children will feel better. You will have energy to start your day and will enjoy time together as a family before leaving the house for work and school.

Some ideas for a healthy breakfast include peanut butter on whole wheat toast, low-fat yogurt with granola, toasted waffles with fruit, bagels with cheese, grits, hard boiled eggs, or oatmeal with dried fruit or nuts. You might also try something unconventional such as rice and beans with fruit or a grilled cheese sandwich.

Just remember, breakfast matters! To learn more about healthy breakfast options, contact your local County Extension Agent, Debbie Hailey, at 325-625-4519.

June 21, 2007

Fredericksburg Facility Will Address Top Wine Industry Threat

Writer: Paul Schattenberg, 210-467-6575,paschattenberg@ag.tamu.edu
Contact: Dr. James Supak, 979-862-4389,j-supak@tamu.edu
Jim Kamas, 830-997-7047,jkamas@tamu.edu

Photos and Graphics Click for larger images

FREDERICKSBURG – The newly opened Texas Pierce's Disease Research and Extension Program facility in Fredericksburg may yield solutions for mitigating the single-greatest threat to the Texas wine industry, experts said.

The 3,200-square-foot facility, which opened June 14, is operated by Texas Agricultural Experiment Station and Texas Cooperative Extension, both entities of the Texas A&M University System. It includes a main building, there are three 30 ft. x 48 ft. greenhouses and an adjacent 1-acre research and demonstration vineyard. Laboratory equipment at the facility includes growth chambers, incubators and field cages for capturing insects.

"This is a dedicated research and education facility built specifically for the purpose of finding out more about how to mitigate this disease which costs the Texas wine industry millions of dollars," said Dr. Jim Supak, Experiment Station director for the Pierce's Disease Research and Extension Program.

The new facility was built with the cooperation of private individuals, state and local government, academia, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Texas and California wine industries and many others, said Supak

Experts in various scientific disciplines, including entomology, molecular biology, and plant pathology and physiology, will collaborate on research and education related to Pierce's disease. While most of the facility's researchers are part of the Texas A&M University System, researchers from the University of Texas-Tyler, the University of Houston-Downtown and Texas Tech University will also participate in and contribute to research and education efforts through the facility.

"Our research and education efforts through the facility will focus on host plants, how Pierce's is transmitted from location to location, and how to best detect and control it," said Jim Kamas, an Extension fruit specialist in Fredericksburg.

The new test vineyard at the facility will enable researchers to learn more about how the disease is transmitted, said Kamas, who will oversee research activities at the vineyard. It will also provide a more "scientific context" in which to learn more about wine-grape root stock susceptibility to the disease and how certain environmental factors may affect overall wine-grape quality and production.

"The facility provides something that has been needed for a long time – an infrastructure for studying this disease in the very heart of Texas wine country," he said.

Previous research has demonstrated that Pierce's disease is caused by the xylella fastidiosa bacterium which is spread from plant to plant by small insects called sharpshooters, said Isabelle Lauziere, an Experiment Station research entomologist who will work from the new facility.

"We're hoping the new facility will help us answer some questions about why these sharpshooters seem to prefer certain plants over others," Lauziere said. "And we hope to identify the natural enemies of these sharpshooters and use the greenhouses help identify – and raise – these natural enemies."

The facility will also help researchers get more in-depth information about plant and insect genetics related to Pierce's disease, and about the relationship between the disease and the insects that transmit it, she said.

Cord Switzer, CEO of Fredericksburg Winery, who attended the opening of the new facility, said mitigating the effects of Pierce's disease was "vital to the economic security of the industry."

Switzer, who produces about 7,000 cases of wine annually from wine-grapes bought from eight area vineyards, said support for new facility was key to the industry's future.

"This really is a multiple-state, multiple-industry issue," Switzer said. "And we need to not only have a facility like this, but we need to get funding in place to address this disease on a national level."

Switzer will travel to Washington, D.C. later this month as the Texas wine industry representative on a team discussing funding for Piece's disease with U.S. Department of Agriculture officials and congressional appropriators.

"We have state-related legislation in place to address the issue, but now we need national funding for efforts related to Piece's disease, he said. "And this year, for the first time, Texas has a place at the table during those discussions."

Switzer said mitigating the disease would also benefit agri-tourism stemming from vineyard and winery tours and help the economy of multiple communities in wine-producing areas of the U.S.

While the Texas wine industry has an annual economic impact to the state of more than $1 billion, Pierce's disease is definitely not just a Texas problem, said Dacota Julson, executive director of the Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association.

"The disease doesn't have borders, and it affects the California wine industry and the wine industries in other states," Julson said. "That's why it's important that groups come together to share research and vision, like they have done with the new facility in Fredericksburg."

Over the past five years, much progress has been made toward identifying how Pierce's disease is transmitted and how to manage it, said Joy Johnson, chairwoman of the Texas Pierce's Disease Growers' Advisory Board.

"We've already come a long way in addressing this disease," said Johnson, co-owner of Granite Hill Vineyards. "And while it doesn't affect wine quality, it can be devastating – and costly – from a grower's standpoint. "We need to find newer and better ways to manage this disease so we can educate the vineyard owners on how to achieve the best possible wine-grape quality and quantity."

A well-focused research and educational effort, such as the one conceived through the new Fredericksburg facility, can help make that a reality, said Phil Garcia, regional director for the agriculture department's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

"When you've got people from government, industry, academia and local businesses and organizations working together to find practical solutions, a lot can be accomplished," Garcia said. "I think the facility will certainly make a serious contribution toward a national effort to find a solution to the problem of Pierce's disease."

Jun. 21, 2007

Gov. Perry Signs Legislation Ordering State Divestment in Sudan

AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry today signed Senate Bill 247, which directs the state Employees Retirement System (ERS) and Teachers Retirement System (TRS) to divest financial holdings in companies doing business in Sudan.

“As one of the richest nations in the world, our country holds both tremendous power and great influence,” said Perry. “The brutal attacks on the people of Darfur are sickening. And what is worse, they are coming from the very body that should be protecting them: the Sudanese government.

“I am proud that lawmakers joined me in demanding resources be pulled from this country of carnage. Texas is setting an example for the rest of the nation – and the world – that these unconscionable acts will not be tolerated or supported.”

The Sudanese government is responsible for mass genocide and other inhumane attacks on their people. Today, 17 states, including Texas, have adopted divestment policies. SB 247 specifically directs divestment of funds that have a direct relation to the atrocities taking place in Sudan. The Comptroller’s Office will compile and publish a list of prohibited companies and update on a quarterly basis. ERS and TRS will give written notice to companies recognized as actively participating or linked to genocide, and provide a timeline for companies to discontinue business with Sudan.

SB 247 takes effect January 1, 2008.

For more information regarding legislative action taken by Gov. Perry, please visit
http://www.governor.state.tx.us/divisions/press/bills/.

Rainfall

I had another half inch or so of rain and Tex Wright reports, "Hot weather has again stirred up the cool at the foot of the Santa Anna Mountains and put .35 if moisture in my rain measuring device."

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Attorney General Abbott Seeks to Recover Taxpayer Dollars Taken in Medicaid Fraud Scheme

Sandoz Mylan, Teva and subsidiaries accused of falsely pricing Medicaid-covered drugs

AUSTIN – Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott today charged three major pharmaceutical companies and their subsidiaries with defrauding the taxpayer-funded Medicaid system of tens of millions of dollars.

Defendants named in the Attorney General’s petition are:
• Mylan Laboratories Inc. of Pennsylvania (with national subsidiaries Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc. and UDL Laboratories Inc.)
• Sandoz Inc. of New Jersey (with subsidiaries Geneva Pharmaceuticals Inc., Novartis Pharmaceuticals Inc., Eon Labs and Apothecon Inc.)
• Teva Pharmaceuticals Inc. of Pennsylvania (with subsidiaries Lemmon Pharmaceuticals Inc., Copley Pharmaceuticals Inc. Ivax Pharmaceuticals Inc., Sicor Pharmaceuticals Inc., Teva Novopharm Inc. and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd.)

“Texas taxpayers will not tolerate the abuse of our Medicaid system and those who depend on it for their health care,” said Attorney General Abbott. “The Office of the Attorney General will crack down on anyone who schemes to evade the law and profit from defrauding the Medicaid program.”

In order for pharmaceutical products to be eligible for Medicaid reimbursement, Texas law requires that manufacturers accurately report generally and currently available market prices to the Medicaid program.

According to the Attorney General’s law enforcement action, the defendants sold hundreds of Medicaid-covered drugs at steeply discounted prices to large companies such as Wal-Mart, CVS Pharmacy and Walgreens, but defendants failed to provide the same pricing information to the Medicaid program. As a result, state officials were misled about current market prices for the drugs. When Wal-Mart and others sought Medicaid reimbursement for these drugs, the false price reports led the Medicaid program to unnecessarily spend millions of taxpayer dollars on the defendants’ products. Thus, Medicaid reimbursed at significantly higher rates than the discounted rates already established between the defendants and these retailers. The scheme was brought to the Attorney General’s attention by Ven-a-Care of the Florida Keys Inc., an industry whistleblower.

Today’s legal action reflects Attorney General Abbott’s continuing commitment to crack down on waste, fraud and abuse in the Medicaid system. In 2005 alone, the Texas Medicaid program cost more than $17 billion. To save taxpayer dollars, Attorney General Abbott has dramatically expanded both the Civil Medicaid Fraud Section and the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. Since Attorney General Abbott took office, the civil and criminal Medicaid fraud sections have recovered almost $190 million.

To obtain more information about the Attorney General’s efforts to fight Medicaid fraud, access the agency’s Web site at www.oag.state.tx.us

June 20, 2007

Managing Medications Critical to Overall Health Care and Cost

Writer: Kay Ledbetter, 806-677-5608,skledbetter@ag.tamu.edu
Contact: Andrew B. Crocker, 806-677-5600,abcrocker@ag.tamu.edu

AMARILLO – Prescription and non-prescription medications are important for good health, but without proper management they may have unintended side-effects, said a Texas Cooperative Extension specialist.

The more medications a person takes, the greater risk for bad interactions, said Andrew B. Crocker, Extension gerontology specialist. This can be more of a risk for older adults, who in general take more prescribed medications.

"Being able to safely manage your medications involves understanding a little bit about drugs, in general, and how to talk to your doctor, pharmacist and other health providers who might recommend medications," Crocker said.

Medications considerated should include doctor-prescribed medicines from a pharmacist; non-prescription pills, liquids or creams; and vitamins, minerals or dietary supplements, he said.

Medicines bought without a prescription are called over-the-counter medicines, Crocker said. The Food and Drug Administration has deemed these safe to take without a doctor's written order.

"However, mixing certain medicines can cause problems, so be sure to let your doctor know about all the prescription and over-the-counter drugs you are taking," he said. "Just because it is safe enough to be sold over-the-counter does not mean it is completely safe for you to take."

Tell the doctor or nurse about all medication being taken whenever a new drug is prescribed, Crocker said. Also remind the health care provider of allergies or problems with medicines.

Some questions to ask before taking a new medicine are:

-- What is the name of the medicine and what is it for?

-- How many times a day and when should it be taken?

-- Should it be taken before, after or between meals? Should any foods be avoided when taking this medicine?

-- How long should the medicine be taken?

-- What happens if a dose is missed?

-- What side effects can be expected?

The pharmacist is an important part of a healthcare team, Crocker said. He or she can answer many questions about a medication.

"For example, a pharmacist can tell you how and when to take your medicine, whether a drug may interact with or affect another medicine you are taking, and any side effects you might have," he said. "Also, the pharmacist can answer questions about over-the-counter medications."

Having all prescriptions filled at the same pharmacy or chain of pharmacies will keep records in one place, Crocker said. Also, the pharmacist is able to keep track of all the medications and could advise if a new drug might cause problems.

When having a prescription filled, Crocker said, it is important to be able to read and understand the name of the medicine, the directions on the container and the warning stickers on the bottle. If a label is hard to read, ask the pharmacist to use larger type.

Other suggestions when picking up a prescription are:

-- Check ability to open the container or ask the pharmacist to put the medicine in bottles that are easier to open.

-- If swallowing pills is a problem, do not chew, break or crush tablets without first finding out if the drug will still work.

-- Ask about special instructions on where to store a medicine. For example, should it be kept in the refrigerator?

"By having some additional knowledge about terms and instructions, you can better manage your medications, reducing the risk of medication error," Crocker said.

"Also, by better compliance with your medications, you are more likely to experience better health while reducing your overall healthcare costs," he said.

For more information, visit the National Institutes of Health Senior Health site: http://nihseniorhealth.gov .

Coleman County Youth Activity Center
Presents

Sonny Burgess

Sponsored by Sandi and Ron Carroll
Proceeds go to the new Expo Center

Friday, June 29th

Coleman Rodeo Dance Slab
8:00 pm til 12:00 midnight
Tickets $10
Concession on Site
BYOC- $5 Cooler Charge
No glass containers

Come out to the dance and support the new Expo Center being
built on the Coleman County Youth Activity Center Grounds

Jun. 19, 2007

Gov. Perry Declares Disaster for Four North Texas Counties

AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry today issued a Disaster Declaration in Cooke, Grayson, Lampasas and Tarrant counties due to severe storms, flooding and tornado damage in North Texas.

“Recent storms have devastated the communities in North Texas, sadly taking lives and homes in the storms’ path,” Perry said. “State resources and volunteer organizations are on site providing assistance, and we will continue to work with local officials in addressing the needs of these communities.”

On Monday, Perry deployed high-profile vehicles and Texas Military Forces soldiers at the request of local officials to North Texas counties impacted by severe storms and flooding during the past several days to provide continued search operations in these communities. The governor also made available aviation assets to assist local officials in search operations as needed and is prepared to send additional resources upon request by local authorities.

The Texas Department of Public Safety Highway Patrol and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department are also assisting with search operations. The Texas Department of Transportation, the Department of State Health Services, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Texas Animal Health Commission, as well as the American Red Cross, The Salvation Army, the Texas Baptist Men and various other organizations are at the disaster sites providing needed assistance.

The governor's Disaster Declaration opens the door to a variety of assistance from state agencies, including the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, (TDHCA), the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Office of Rural and Community Affairs (ORCA).

TDHCA administers emergency assistance through the disaster relief HOME program. This program can provide up to $500,000 per jurisdiction for distribution to qualified individual applicants.

NRCS, which issues emergency assistance through the Emergency Watershed Protection Program, can assist communities with a range of projects such as debris removal, erosion control, and repair of bridges and culverts.

Upon request from the governor, qualifying communities with populations less than 50,000 and counties with populations less than 200,000 are eligible to receive up to $350,000 in emergency grants from ORCA for infrastructure losses.

Atlantis Leaves Station, Begins Journey Home

Image above: This is a view of the Space Shuttle Atlantis as it performs a fly-around of the space station. Image credit: NASA TV

The STS-117 crew members ended their stay at the International Space Station Tuesday when they undocked Space Shuttle Atlantis at 10:42 a.m. EDT. Attention now turns to landing, scheduled for 1:54 p.m. Thursday.

Following undocking, Pilot Lee Archambault flew Atlantis 360 degrees around the station to collect video and imagery of the station and its newly expanded solar wings. He then completed the final separation engine burn at 12:28 p.m.

Later in the day, Archambault and Mission Specialists Patrick Forrester and Steven Swanson used the shuttle robot arm and the 50-foot long Orbiter Boom Sensor System to conduct a late inspection of the thermal protection system.

The crew will spend Wednesday preparing for landing. Atlantis’ first landing opportunity is at 1:54 p.m. Thursday at Kennedy Space Center, Fla.

During its stay at the station, which began June 10, the STS-117 crew continued the on-orbit construction of the station with the installation of the Starboard 3 and 4 (S3/S4) truss segment.

The crew installed the truss June 11 and conducted four spacewalks to activate the S3/S4 and assist in the retraction of solar array on the Port 6 truss. During the third spacewalk, the crew repaired an out of position thermal blanket on the left orbital maneuvering system pod.

Atlantis also delivered a new station crew member, Flight Engineer Clayton Anderson. He replaced astronaut Suni Williams, who is the new record holder for a long-duration single spaceflight for a woman. She arrived at the station in December with STS-116.

June 20, 2007

One Point Defines National Wool Judging Winners

Writer: Steve Byrns, 325-653-4576,s-byrns@tamu.edu
Contact: Pascual Hernandez, 325-387-3101,p-hernandez@tamu.edu

SONORA – One point – that's all that separated first and second places in two of the main judging contests which were held in conjunction with the 70th annual Sonora Wool and Mohair Show. The contests and the show were June 12-14 in Sonora.

Kerr County's senior wool judges were named top judging team in the nation during the 47th annual National 4-H Wool Judging Contest, the week's premier contest. The team's score of 1,807 edged out Crockett County's team by one point. Winning team members are Bryan Weaver, Chance Muehlstein, Katie Muehlstein and Carissa Saur. Coaches were Roy Walston, Texas Cooperative Extension agent in Kerr County, and Dr. Fred Speck, of Kerrville.

The National 4-H Wool Judging Contest's high point winner was Crockett County 4-H'er Kraig Chandler, with 626 points.

Third place team honors went to the Niobrara County, Wyo., 4-H wool judging team. Winning scores in FFA contests were also one point apart. With a score of 1,834, Sonora FFA bested Sterling City FFA by one point to win the seventh annual National FFA Wool Judging Contest. Team members are Craig Leonard, Emily Earwood, Savannah Leonard and Colton Moore. Earwood was the high point individual with 615 points. The team was coached by Shawna Faris and Michael Kissire, agriculture science teacher. Both coaches are from Sonora.

New Mexico's Estancia FFA team took third place in the FFA wool judging contest.

The national 4-H and FFA wool judging contests are two highlights of the Sonora Wool and Mohair Show. The show features youth judging contests and wool and mohair fleece competitions in junior and open categories. The event is sponsored by the Sonora Lions Club and Sonora Chamber of Commerce in cooperation with the Sonora Wool and Mohair Company and Extension.

Jun. 18, 2007

Gov. Perry Activates State Resources in Response to Storms Across North Texas

AUSTIN - Gov. Rick Perry today deployed six high-profile vehicles and 38 Texas Military Forces soldiers to areas in Cooke and Tarrant counties impacted by severe storms and flooding this weekend into Monday morning. The state is providing search and rescue assistance to these communities. The governor has also activated three Texas Army National Guard helicopters to assist local officials in search and rescue operations as needed.

“The state is taking swift action in addressing the needs of the individuals and areas impacted by these storms,” said Perry. “We will continue to work with local officials as their communities require assistance.”

Heavy rainfall and storms were reported during the weekend in north and central Texas, where some areas received more than 10 inches of rain. Threatening storms are expected to produce additional rain through Monday in already saturated areas, posing the continued danger of flash flooding.

“We hope Texans will take all possible precautions to stay out of dangerous situations as this severe weather continues,” Perry said. “At the same time, the state stands ready to respond during these unpredictable weather events.”

Rainfall

I poured a couple of inches out of my rain gauges over the weekend and Tex Wright reports, "There was 1.20 inches in the rain gauge here at the foot of the Santa Anna mountain... gives us 2.05 for the last two days."

Kellogg Strengthens Marketing Practices to Children, Announces Front-of-Pack Nutrition Labeling

BATTLE CREEK, Mich., June 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Kellogg Company today announced that it is undertaking two major initiatives that further strengthen its commitment to meeting consumers' health and nutrition needs by adjusting what and how the company markets to children and through new front- of-pack nutrition labeling.

"The initiatives we're announcing today set a new standard of responsibility and are consistent with our 100-plus year heritage, further strengthening our commitment to helping consumers make informed food choices," said David Mackay, president and chief executive officer, Kellogg Company. "Around the world, Kellogg continues to play an active role in helping consumers successfully manage both sides of the calories in/calories out equation through product choices, in nutrition education, community programs and partnerships promoting the importance of a balanced diet and physical activity."

Shifting the Mix of Products Marketed to Children Under 12

Kellogg will change what and how it markets to children under 12 using nutrition criteria. The company will use its new internal standard, the Kellogg Global Nutrient Criteria (Nutrient Criteria), to determine which products will be marketed to children on TV, print, radio and Internet as well as how those products are marketed, including use of licensed properties, Web site activities directed to children, promotions/premiums, product placement and in-school marketing. Kellogg will continue its practice of not advertising to children under 6.

The Nutrient Criteria set an upper threshold per serving of less than or equal to 200 calories, less than or equal to 2 grams of saturated fat, labeled 0 grams of trans fat, less than or equal to 230 milligrams of sodium and labeled 12 grams of sugar.

"The nutrient criteria Kellogg has adopted are based on a broad review of scientific reports and experts," said James Hill, Ph.D., Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and former member of the National Institutes of Health Taskforce on the Prevention and Treatment of Obesity. "I applaud the transparency Kellogg has demonstrated in their approach and believe the changes they are making represent meaningful progress and are a good first step."

Kellogg will apply the Nutrient Criteria to all of its products marketed to children under age 12 around the world. Those products that don't meet the Criteria (almost 50 percent of Kellogg products currently marketed to children worldwide) will either be reformulated to meet the Nutrient Criteria or they will no longer be marketed to children under 12 by the end of 2008. The Nutrient Criteria will also guide targeted future innovation and product development. Over time, the company will work toward providing consumers even more product choices with enhanced nutritional value.

"Today, only 27 percent of Kellogg advertising spending in the U.S. is directed to children under 12 and we've always approached that communication responsibly," said Mackay. "We're taking these steps to address increasing concerns about marketing to children and further strengthen our commitment to responsible marketing. In addition, we plan to increasingly emphasize products with enhanced nutritional value as well as continuing to find ways to emphasize nutrition and healthy lifestyles in our marketing to children."

Wherever possible, implementation of Kellogg commitments will begin immediately. For example, certain brands will feature better-for-you options in their advertisements. We will be making content enhancements to our child- directed Web sites, including adding automatic screen time limits and healthy lifestyle and nutrition messaging, plus limiting depictions of foods that don't meet our Nutrient Criteria in interactive activities like games, downloads and wallpaper. Subject to existing contracts, we also will not be using licensed characters as food forms, on front of pack or in advertisements unless that food meets the Nutrient Criteria. Full implementation of all commitments will be completed by the end of 2008.

Front-of-Pack Nutrition Labeling

Additionally beginning later this year, consumers will see Guideline Daily Amounts (GDAs) on the front of ready-to-eat cereal packages in the United States, Canada and Mexico. In the U.S., new packaging will feature an easy-to- use labeling system on the top, right-hand corner of cereal boxes, identifying percentages of calories, total fat, sodium and grams of sugar per serving. As a company, Kellogg is responsive to meeting the nutrient needs in the countries where it operates. As such, the front-of-pack labels will also identify the nutrients American consumers need to consume more of including fiber, calcium, potassium, magnesium, vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin E. The percentages are based on a typical 2,000 calorie daily diet.

The front-of-pack summary gives a quick snapshot of how a food fits into a consumer's daily diet and complements the nutrition label found on the side panel. Kellogg first pioneered the use of GDAs in Europe and Australia, where the labeling approach has been well-received and adopted by the industry. Kellogg is also encouraging other food and beverage companies to join the initiative in the U.S., and is in ongoing dialogue with industry on uniformity in labeling.

Kellogg actively funds and partners with organizations, health agencies and governments around the world to communicate the importance of a balanced diet and physical activity. Over the past year, the company has invested nearly $10 million worldwide in health and nutrition initiatives and is committed to continuing these efforts.

With 2006 sales of almost $11 billion, Kellogg Company (NYSE: K) is the world's leading producer of cereal and a leading producer of convenience foods, including cookies, crackers, toaster pastries, cereal bars, fruit snacks, frozen waffles, and veggie foods. The company's brands include Kellogg's, Keebler, Pop-Tarts, Eggo, Cheez-It, Nutri-Grain, Special K, Rice Krispies, Murray, Austin, Morningstar Farms, Famous Amos, Carr's, Plantation, Ready Crust and Kashi. Kellogg products are manufactured in 17 countries and marketed in more than 180 countries around the world. For more information, visit the company's Web site at http://www.kelloggcompany.com/.

Editor's note: Visit the Kellogg Company Media Room (http://kelloggs.mediaroom.com/) for more information including fact sheets, frequently asked questions and a link to the announcement webcast.

SOURCE: Kellogg Company

June 14, 2007

DTN Partners with Texas Cooperative Extension Executive Program

Contact: Dr. Danny Klinefelter, 979-845-7171,danklinefelter@tamu.edu

Photos and Graphics Click for larger images

COLLEGE STATION – DTN, a provider of real-time market, news and weather information services, is partnering with Texas Cooperative Extension, its Executive Program for Ag Producers and Extension economist Danny Klinefelter.

DTN will become the media sponsor for The Executive Program for Ag Producers 2008 program, and Klinefelter will be advising DTN editors on business coverage.

Klinefelter is a professor and Extension economist with Texas Cooperative Extension, part of the Texas A&M University System, specializing in agricultural finance and management development.

Co-director of the Texas A&M Family and Owner-Managed Business Program, Klinefelter serves as the executive secretary for the Association of Agricultural Production Executives. He is also coordinator of the Planning the Return to the Farm program and a member of the board of Ag Texas Farm Credit Services and Texas Enterprise Bank.

The Executive Program for Ag Producers is an executive training course designed for mid-career producers to cultivate management skills. The annual, week-long executive training course conducted by Extension attracts top farm operators from around the country. Taught by a number of prominent industry professionals, the course focuses on issues affecting commercial agriculture operations such as managing personnel, evaluating market opportunities and adapting to regulatory and technology changes.

Klinefelter will advise DTN on farm business coverage and participate in regular online discussions as a guest expert for DTN.

"Danny's extensive experience working with a variety of agricultural organizations as well as his expertise in agricultural economics will be a valued asset to DTN," said Urban Lehner, DTN editor-in-chief. "Danny is a highly-respected, well-known expert within the agriculture industry and our staff is looking forward to working with him."

"Our objective with TEPAP (the course) is to improve management and decision-making at the farm level," Klinefelter said. "We believe DTN can help us reach an even larger audience of producers nationwide. That will help us multiply the impact that we can have, both from the faculty and farmer-learning point of view."

June 15, 2007

August Estate Planning Seminar Tailored for Ranchers

Writer: Tim W. McAlavy, 806-746-6101,t-mcalavy@tamu.edu
Contact: Wayne Hayenga, 979-845-2226,w-hayenga@tamu.edu

COLLEGE STATION – Ranchers can learn how recent changes in tax laws may affect their estate plans by attending a seminar scheduled for Aug. 8-9 at the College Station Conference Center, 1300 George Bush Drive.

This event will be held in conjunction with the Texas A&M University Annual Beef Cattle Short Course, slated for Aug. 6-8.

"Our goal is to help families make wise estate planning decisions by providing information on tax- and estate-planning matters," said Dr. Wayne Hayenga, Texas Cooperative Extension economist and attorney. "This information should be useful for married couples, potential estate executors and those who want to make estate settlement less burdensome for their loved ones."

The seminar will run from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Aug. 8, and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Aug. 9, with lunch served at noon.

The first day's agenda will cover basic estate devices such as wills, living trusts, estate tax deferral and gifts.

"A married couple can elect to not pay any estate tax on the death of the first spouse," Hayenga said. "But do you want to do this? What do you have to give up if you choose this option? Can you change your mind later? These are some common tax deferral concerns.

"Gifts are an alternative to leaving property in your estate. Can you afford to give property away while alive? What is the best kind of property to give away? What should you keep? We will address these and other questions the first day."

The second day's agenda will focus on estate taxes, how to keep the ranch running well, corporations and partnerships, special use land valuation, and life insurance in estate planning.

"We will also discuss the rules for deferring estate tax payments," Hayenga said. "You can structure your estate to allow the heirs to pay some estate taxes over a 15-year period, at 4 percent interest.

"There are new tax rules that affect estate plans. What should you include in the taxable estate? What deductions and expenses are available to reduce the taxable estate? We will also spend some time calculating your potential estate tax bill."

Registration costs $125 per person. The fee covers all materials, refreshments and lunch on Aug. 9. Enrollment is limited. For more information or to register, contact Sharon Wehring at 979-845-2226 or by email at s-wehring@tamu.edu .

June 14, 2007

Air Emissions Project to Get Under Way at Oklahoma Swine Operation

Writer: Kay Ledbetter, 806-677-5608,skledbetter@ag.tamu.edu
Contact: Dr. Ken Casey, 806-677-5600,kdcasey@ag.tamu.edu

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AMARILLO -- Determining how much air emissions area hog facilities release from their buildings is a two-year project for a local Texas Agricultural Experiment Station air quality engineer.

Dr. Ken Casey will take part in the 2.5-year, $14.6 million study to measure levels of hydrogen sulfide, particulate matter (dust), ammonia, nitrous oxide, volatile organic compounds and non-methane hydrocarbons released from livestock facilities.

This is a first-ever, nationwide study to measure amounts of various pollutants discharged from poultry, dairy and swine operations, said Al Heber, a Purdue University professor of agricultural and biological engineering.

Recording has begun at most of the locations, and by midsummer the project will be under way at 20 monitoring sites in nine states. Led by Purdue, the study will help establish science-based guidelines for potential regulations on livestock air emissions, Heber said. Good data are lacking on these gases, which are regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

"There has never been an agricultural air emissions study this comprehensive or long term," Heber said. "We don't know enough about what is being emitted into the atmosphere. This study will give the EPA the data it needs to make science-based regulations and even allow us to develop strategies for reducing emissions when necessary."

The National Air Emission Monitoring Study, overseen by the EPA Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, will record two continuous years of emission data at concentrated animal feeding operations and manure storage locations.

The study is funded by the Agricultural Air Research Council, a non-profit organization that receives its funds from livestock industry groups.

Casey will collaborate with 13 principal researchers from seven different universities.

Industry officials worked with EPA to find sites representative of diversity within each industry, Casey said. Then a qualified and experienced researcher was sought to do the monitoring and testing. AThe pork industry and EPA wanted a typical facility in a representative geographical location,@ Casey said.

"At this site, they wanted to monitor both the buildings and the lagoon," he said. "They had to find a facility where the emissions would not cross one another in the prevailing winds.

A site was located in the Oklahoma Panhandle using criteria developed by the National Pork Association, EPA and Heber, Casey said.

Purdue sent a trailer fully equipped with instrumentation to the site, he said. It will take about two months to install and calibrate the system. Casey and his crew will monitor ammonia, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide and particulate matter continuously from the buildings. Another researcher will periodically monitor emissions from the lagoon.

"This is a baseline study to see how much of these pollutants are emitted," Casey said. "EPA will take that data and develop emissions factors, which will be used in the development of emissions inventories."

The dust will be measured by a piece of equipment called tapered element oscillating microbalance, he said, which gives a continuous measurement of the air being exhausted from the fans on the building.

Likewise, Casey said, samples from representative fans in each building will be drawn continuously by monitors to the instrument trailer and be analyzed for ammonia, carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide.

"These measurements will give us concentration," he said. "To get emission rates, we'll also have to know how much air is being exhausted from the building, which is done by continuously monitoring the status of each fan and the resistance against which it operates."

The instruments' functions and calibration will be checked weekly by a research associate from Amarillo, Casey said. The system will be monitored daily online, and data will be e-mailed nightly to Heber at Purdue and Casey in Amarillo.

Friday, June 15, 2007

Attorney General Abbott, Harris County Constable Track Down, Arrest Parent Who Owes Child Support

John Adams owes $74,000; faces criminal prosecution

HOUSTON – A deputy constable with the office of Harris County Precinct 7 Constable May Walker arrested John David Adams for failing to pay court-ordered child support. The Houston father of two was apprehended after investigators from the Attorney General’s Child Support Division located Adams and contacted Constable Walker to make the arrest. Adams, 40, owes more than $74,000 in unpaid child support.

“Texans will not tolerate parents who neglect their children,” Attorney General Abbott said. “Parents who refuse to pay their court-ordered child support must be held accountable for violating the law. Thanks to Constable Walker and her deputies, a negligent parent was brought to justice for failure to support his kids.”

In December 1993, a Montgomery County court ordered Adams to pay $300 a month in child support. After Adams repeatedly violated the courts order, an investigator with the Attorney General’s Child Support Division presented the case to Montgomery County District Attorney Michael McDougal for criminal prosecution. In May, a Montgomery County grand jury returned a criminal indictment and an arrest warrant was issued.

Attorney General Abbott added: “We are grateful to the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office for its commitment to Texas children. With the district attorney’s ongoing help, we will ensure that the children of Montgomery County have the resources they need to grow healthy and strong.”

Adams is currently incarcerated in the Harris County jail on criminal non-support charges. A criminal non-support conviction carries up to a two-year state jail sentence and a fine of up to $10,000.

The Child Support Division is responsible for establishing and enforcing civil child support orders. Attorney General Abbott works regularly with local prosecutors to impose criminal penalties against parents who have the ability to pay child support, but who refuse to make their court-ordered payments. The Attorney General’s statewide child support collections exceeded $2 billion for the fiscal year that ended Aug. 31, 2006. The region that covers Harris and Montgomery counties collected more than $438 million of that amount.

Friday, June 15, 2007

Victoria Child Predator Caught by Cyber Crimes Unit Receives 70-Year State Prison Sentence

Dionicio Robles, Jr. receives maximum punishment for child sex crimes

VICTORIA – A Victoria child predator arrested by Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott’s Cyber Crimes Unit has been sentenced to 70 years in state prison for using the Internet to exploit children.

Dionicio Robles, Jr., 54, was sentenced Thursday in the 135th District Court to 20 years each on three counts of online solicitation of a minor, the maximum punishment for a second-degree felony. Judge Kemper Williams also sentenced Robles to maximum 10-year sentences on each of seven counts of child pornography possession, a third-degree felony. The online solicitation sentences will run concurrently with the pornography sentences, which were stacked, for a total of 70 years in state prison.

“The tough sentence by Judge Kemper Williams in this case sends a strong message: Texans will not tolerate criminals who prey upon our children,” Attorney General Abbott said. “The Cyber Crimes Unit will continue its aggressive crackdown on sex predators and child pornographers. We are grateful to Victoria County District Attorney Stephen Tyler and the Victoria Police Department for their tremendous assistance with this case.”

Attorney General Abbott added: “Thanks to the dedication of our Cyber Crimes Unit investigators and Assistant Attorney General Angela Goodwin, Texas is a safer place.”

Cyber Crimes Unit investigators and Victoria police officers arrested Robles in March 2006 after he e-mailed graphic images of himself to a person he believed was 13-year-old girl and propositioned the child for sex. When he arrived, Robles discovered that the “girl” was actually an undercover Cyber Crimes investigator. Forensic analysis conducted by the Cyber Crimes Unit revealed hundreds of images of child pornography on Robles’ computer.

Since taking office, Attorney General Abbott has earned a national reputation for aggressively arresting and prosecuting online child predators. The Cyber Crimes Unit and the Fugitive Unit, which locates sex offenders who have violated the terms of their parole and could be stalking children, have combined to arrest almost 600 sex offenders. For more information, contact the Office of the Attorney General at (800) 252-8011 or visit the Attorney General’s Web site at www.oag.state.tx.us.

Jun. 15, 2007

Gov. Perry Releases List of Vetoes

Includes Bills that would Enrich Condemnation Lawyers at Taxpayers' Expense; Allow Ex-Cons Access to Firearms

AUSTIN – Governor Rick Perry today announced he has vetoed 49 bills, including House Bill 2006 which would provide a financial windfall for condemnation lawyers at taxpayers’ expense.

“The state and local government would be over-paying to acquire land through eminent domain in order to enrich a finite number of condemnation lawyers at the expense of Texas taxpayers,” Perry said. “This bill will slow down and shut down needed construction projects through the creation of a new category of damages that are beyond the pale of reason.”

Perry pointed to two specific provisions in the proposed law that outweighed the positive benefits of the bill:

• One provision would expand damages a landowner can recover to include any diminished access to the roadway from remaining property when a portion of a landowner’s property is condemned. Currently, a landowner is appropriately entitled to have reasonable access to their property maintained when a portion of their property is condemned. However, the provision contained in this bill would require large payments of taxpayer dollars for properties that continue to have reasonable access to the road but where that access has been only altered in some fashion. This is an unreasonable burden to place on taxpayers.
• The second problematic provision would greatly increase the cost taxpayers would pay to compensate an owner for the land which is left after some of the property is acquired through eminent domain. It would allow the recovery of damages for factors such as changes in traffic patterns and visibility of the property from the road. Texas courts have long disallowed this practice because it would make public projects that benefit the greater population prohibitively expensive to build.

Perry supported the bill in its original form but objected to these amendments added in the final days of the session. The governor alerted the bill author and sponsor to his grave concerns about these provisions with several days left in the session, but the author refused to work toward a solution. The governor has received letters from almost every fast-growth city and county asking him to veto the bill because the cost of constructing state and local projects will increase by more than $1 billion annually.

“As someone who grew up in rural Texas, and farmed our family’s piece of land, I am a strong proponent of protecting private property rights,” Perry said. “But the issue is one of fairness to taxpayers, who will get fleeced in order to benefit condemnation lawyers.”

Perry supported the legislature’s efforts during a special session in response to the Kelo decision by the United States Supreme Court which had a detrimental impact on private property rights. He worked with legislators to protect Texans’ land from condemnation when its intended use was a private, profit-making venture instead of a vital public use.

Perry also vetoed House Bill 1503, which had an unintended consequence that would let ex-convicts who have completed their sentences for rape, murder, robbery or other violent crimes to possess firearms immediately after being released from prison.

“I am as strong a supporter as any for the right of law-abiding citizens to own or carry a concealed weapon, but this bill goes too far,” Perry said.

To see the bills vetoed by Gov. Perry go to:
http://www.governor.state.tx.us/divisions/press/bills/veto

Jun. 15, 2007

Governor Perry Signs $151 Billion Budget for FY 2008-09

Uses Line-Item Veto Power to Eliminate $650 Million in Unnecessary Spending

AUSTIN – Governor Rick Perry today signed House Bill 1 into law, providing $151.9 billion to fund initiatives and programs important to carrying the State of Texas forward responsibly in the upcoming biennium. The governor also used his line-item veto power to reduce the two-year budget by $570 million.

“The budget passed by the 80th Legislature will ensure Texas continues on the path of prosperity; building and strengthening the distinct pillars that create a great society: quality education, health care and security,” said Perry. “Legislators should be proud of their work, but be ever cognizant that more is still to be done.”

The budget signed by Gov. Perry increases general revenue spending by $7.7 billion, or 11.8 percent, compared to the current biennium. Ninety percent of growth is due to increased funding in education, human services, criminal justice and the environment.

The 2008-09 budget increases border security funding by more than $100 million, invests an additional $146 million in college financial aid, provides hundreds of millions of dollars to help Texans purchase private and employer-sponsored health insurance, provides funding for a new film incentive program, provides more money for the Children’s Health Insurance Program, expands state investment in clean air programs, and provides hundreds of millions of dollars for teacher incentive programs. It also funds increases for classrooms, mentoring for the children of prisoners and important criminal justice priorities.

“While I support many of the investments in the budget, I am concerned this budget is not transparent; rather it continues billions of dollars of accounting gimmicks and neglected opportunities to provide relief to the taxpayers who footed the bill,” said Perry. “Not one cent of more than $7 billion unspent by this legislature went to additional tax relief. Instead of leaving all that money in a government bank account, I believe we should have invested some of it in the economy through tax cuts.”

As passed by the legislature, special items funding for agencies and institutions of higher education totaled $1.2 billion, or 19.5 percent of the total higher education general revenue funding. This means nearly one of every five dollars dedicated to higher education was spent outside the funding formulas on pet pork projects. Because special earmarks for local institutions often don’t meet the statewide goals of our higher education system, Gov. Perry vetoed more than $35.8 million of the $123 million in earmarks that were disclosed as single line-items.

The budget for FY 2008-09 takes effect September 1, 2007.

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Proclamation from Gov. Perry regarding HB 1.

Summer Food Safety and You

Better Living for Texans Nutrition Education Class

When: Wednesday, June 20, 2007
1:00 - 2:00 p.m.

Where: Coleman High Rise Community Room
311 Commercial Ave.

What: Summer Food Safety Practices to Prevent Food borne Illnesses

Did you know that each year about one in four Americans will get sick from something they ate? Many people think they have the flu when they get symptoms of diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, fever and headache. But it may be a foodborne illness, also known as food poisoning.

There are four simple steps that can be followed to reduce the risk and health consequences of foodborne illness:

• Clean your hands and cooking surfaces.
• Combat cross-contamination of meat juices with other foods.
• Cook foods to a high enough temperature.
• Chill perishable foods within two hours after cooking.

Texas Cooperative Extension and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission invite you to attend the Better Living for Texans program on Food Safety and You. This program will help you gain the skills to avoid a foodborne illness.

The Food Safety and You program will be offered on Wednesday, June 20, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m., at Coleman High Rise Community Room, 311 Commercial Ave.

For more information, contact Debbie Hailey at 325-625-4519, to ask about the Better Living for Texans/Food Stamp Nutrition Education Program.

City of Clyde Centenial Celebration

The Clyde Community invites everyone to help celebrate our 100th Birthday. The celebration weekend will be July 6th & 7th. A street dance, historical displays, historical artifacts, crafts, food, Blue Bell Ice-cream and art exhibits downtown; Historical documentary with narration, video, pictures, music and Antique Tractor and Car Show at the Junior High Auditorium; Bar-B-Que brisket cookoff, horseshoes, washers, volleyball, kid games and fireworks at Clyde Lake. These are just a few of the planned activities. Most of the events will be free to the public. We want a big turnout for the Centenial Celebration. Please consider this an official invite to our party.

For information call the City of Clyde at 325-893-4234 concerning the Bar-B-Que cookoff entries and the arts and craft booths, or the Clyde Chamber of commerce at 325-893-4221 for general information.

4-H Updates

By: Debbie Hailey, CEA-FCS

Multi-County Camp
June 27-29 Brady, TX
Mark your calendar for this fun event ! More details coming soon !!!

District Record Book Judging
July 17, 2007
If you are planning on submitting a 4-H Record Book, please let us know what category and age division your book needs to be entered in. Completed record books should be turned in to the Extension office on or before July 9th .

4-H LEADERSHIP LAB / DISTRICT OFFICER ELECTIONS
June 28-30, 2007 at the Texas 4-H Center
Registration via 4-H Connect Open May 14 through June 1 Office Applications due to the District Office by June 1
All other forms (Minors Release & Health History) due to District Office by June 15

District Leadership Lab will be held at the Texas 4-H Center in Brownwood on June 28-30 (Thursday through Saturday). Districts 7 and 10 will partner with us for lab and will participate together in the same activities. The cost will be $150.00 per delegate. (This includes all meals beginning with dinner on Thursday and ending with lunch on Saturday, insurance, activity fees, lodging and facility use fee.) All participants must be at least 13 years of age by the date of Leadership Lab. All other forms are due in the County Extension Office by June 12th so I can . Workshops will feature leadership development in communication, teamwork, problem-solving, decision-making, and much more! Get your skills honed while having fun as we work together to *Make The Best Better!*

ICE CREAM SUPPER AT Coleman Co. Electric Coop Annual Mtg.
Friday, July 13, 2007

This year, Coleman county 4-H has been asked to host the refreshments at the Coleman County Electric Cooperative Annual meeting on Friday, July 13 at the Coleman ISD School Cafeteria. We will begin serving at 5:30 p.m. Refreshments which 4-Hers need to bring are *homemade ice cream and homemade cookies.

We also need 4-Hers to help serve at this event. 4-Hers.....this is a great community service activity. Please call the Extension Office at 625-4519 and sign up for what you would like to bring and if you are available that evening to help serve.

4-H Calendar

June

18 District 4-H Horse Show - Sweetwater

26-28 Multi-County Camp -Brady

28-30 District 4-H Leadership Lab

July
9 Record Books due to Co. Extension Office

13 Ice Cream Supper for Coleman Co. Electric Coop
(Serving begins at 5:30 p.m.) (4-Hers be there by 5:00 pm)

15-21 State Shooting Sports Games - San Antonio

17 District Record Book Judging

23 District Junior & Intermediate Fashion Show

If you have any questions about any of the 4-H events listed above or would like more information about the 4-H programs in Coleman County, please come by the Extension Office, 2nd floor, County Courthouse, or give us a call at 325-625-4519.

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