The Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) is reminding producers importing cattle from Minnesota of expected additional import requirements.

According to Minnesota officials, the state recently discovered its fourth tuberculosis-infected herd within the last 12 months, which will likely downgrade Minnesota's current bovine tuberculosis status to modified accredited (MA).

The MA status automatically triggers certain NDA tuberculosis regulations. The regulations require all cattle imported into Nebraska from states certified with MA tuberculosis status to meet one of the following two criteria:

* Originate from an accredited herd and obtain a permit for entry, list the accreditation number on the Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI), be individually identified on the CVI, and be tested negative to an official tuberculin test within 60 days prior to entry.

* Originate from a herd which has tested negative to an official whole-herd tuberculin test within 365 days prior to entry and obtain a permit for entry, be individually identified with identification listed on the CVI, have tested negative to an official tuberculin test within 60 days prior to entry, and be quarantined at destination until slaughter or retested negative to an official tuberculin test.

"We encourage all producers importing cattle into Nebraska to be aware of the requirements," said State Veterinarian Dr. Dennis Hughes. "These safeguards are in place to help protect the health of our animals, as well as our livestock industry."

The above regulations will be effective immediately when Minnesota's tuberculosis status is downgraded.

"We are putting this reminder out now in order to prepare livestock producers/importers of this important, pending change to their normal import practices," Hughes said.

Individuals planning to import cattle into the state should contact the NDA, Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), at 800-572-2437 for more information.

Ag leaders travel to Portugal, Spain and Morocco

Thirty Nebraska LEAD XXVI Fellows recently returned from an international study/travel seminar to Portugal, Spain and Morocco.

"The seminar was designed to provide first-hand appreciation and understanding of the global/international community and the potential for people of all nations to work together," said Terry Hejny, Nebraska LEAD program director and group leader.

During the Jan. 10-25 seminar, LEAD Fellows attended briefings at American embassies and met with American business, agricultural trade and commodity groups. Additionally, LEAD Fellows were able to observe the agricultural production in each country with visits to farms and ranches, along with briefings at agricultural research centers and universities.

Area Nebraska LEAD Group XXVI members on the trip include Eldon Bish of Aurora, Jason Bonsack of Wood River, Dwayne Braun of Aurora and Brian Wray of Ord.

The Nebraska LEAD Program is a two-year leadership development program under the direction of the Nebraska Agricultural Leadership Council Inc., in cooperation with the University of Nebraska's Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

National 25x'25 Summit in Omaha on March 11-13

The 4th National 25x'25 Renewable Energy Summit, "Bringing the Vision to Life: Win-Win Solutions for America's Energy Future," will be held at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Omaha, from March 11-13.

Among the many speakers addressing the summit is Dr. Steven Chu, Nobel laureate and director of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Other speakers will include Dr. Lowell Catlett, a Regents professor at New Mexico State University and renowned futurist; Charles Zimmerman, Wal-Mart vice president who oversees sustainable facility development; Gov. Dave Heinemann; and Jay Wolf, immediate past president of the Nebraska Cattlemen and a board member of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association.

The fourth National 25x'25 Renewable Energy Summit program will focus on the opportunities and challenges of bringing the 25x'25 renewable energy vision to life.

For additional information on covering the summit, contact Bill Eby at 912-495-9584 or 512-940-8990 (cell), or by e-mail at BEby@25x25.org. More on the summit, including a preliminary program, is available at www.25x25.org.

Nebraska Beef Ambassador Contest open to youth

Young beef enthusiasts from 8 to 20 years of age (as of Jan. 1) are invited to participate in the Nebraska Beef Ambassador Contest.

The senior winner will represent Nebraska at the national contest in Oklahoma City this fall. For more information, rules and entry forms, go to www.NebraskaCattlewomen.org or call Candice Davis (308-327-2234) or Kelli Loos (Mobile: 515-333-1215). Deadline for entries is March 15.

Upper Big Blue NRD offering student scholarship

The Upper Big Blue NRD is offering the 2008 Raymond A. Burke Scholarship of $500 to one student who resides in the district.

The scholarship competition is open to students with a study emphasis in natural resources.

Burke was a land improvement contractor and farmer with very strong interests in the management of conservation and educating young people. He served for 40 years on the elected boards of the Polk County Soil & Water Conservation District and the Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District.

The scholarship is for full-time students who reside in the Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District. The deadline for submitting the application is Friday, May 2.

An application form can be obtained by calling Scott Snell at the Upper Big Blue NRD at (402) 362-6601, or online at www.upperbigblue.org.

CHS distributes $57 million to Nebraska owners

CHS Inc. owners in Nebraska are sharing in an unprecedented $57 million disbursement as a result of the leading energy and grain-based foods company's record fiscal 2007 earnings. It marks the fourth consecutive record return to owners by CHS and is the largest ever made by a U.S. cooperative.

The distribution was made to 899 member cooperatives and individuals in Nebraska.

The distribution under way is part of a total $298 million now being distributed in 48 states. This includes cash patronage, equity redemption and CHS preferred stock issued as equity redemption. In total, CHS expects to return $345 million to its owners in fiscal 2008.

CHS Inc. (www.chsinc.com) is a diversified energy, grains and foods Fortune 200 company owned by farmers, ranchers and cooperatives, along with thousands of preferred stockholders, from the Great Lakes to the Pacific Northwest and from the Canadian border to Texas.