Wishing you Beautiful Moments and Treasured Memories.

Issue No. 104

January 5, 2016

2016! Can you believe it? Christmas came, we all sang Auld Lang Syne - and so ended 2015. It's now time to look ahead. We've got things to do! There are new days to uncover and blank slates to fill. For this, this is a new year and the days ahead will allow us to make it remarkable!

2016 already has quite an agenda on deck. This LEAP YEAR is an election year and the Olympic Games will begin soon! On the coattails of a truly history making year, but the door remains open to yielding even greater options and greater service to our industry.

With all of the hopes and promises that the New Year is sure to bring, we are thankful that it also brings more opportunities to work together.

You are a partner in health care decision making and you are partnered with a coverage provider that is thriving in the midst of change.

We wish you a happy, healthy and a successful New Year! Welcome 2016!

Now serving ALL of Texas Agriculture -

Contact us for more information

TACT - Dedicated Insurance Professionals

you know and trust...like Family.

Health Awareness

January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month

Courtesy - HHS.gov

January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month, an important time to spread the word about this sight-stealing disease.

Currently, more than 3 million people in the United States have glaucoma. The National Eye Institute projects this number will reach 4.2 million by 2030, a 58 percent increase.

Glaucoma is called "the sneak thief of sight" since there are no symptoms and once vision is lost, it's permanent. As much as 40% of vision can be lost without a person noticing.

Glaucoma is the leading cause of preventable blindness. Moreover, among African American and Latino populations, glaucoma is more prevalent. Glaucoma is 6 to 8 times more common in African Americans than Caucasians.

Over 3 million Americans, and over 60 million people worldwide, have glaucoma. Experts estimate that half of them don't know they have it. Combined with our aging population, we can see an epidemic of blindness looming if we don't raise awareness about the importance of regular eye examinations to preserve vision. The World Health Organization estimates that 4.5 million people worldwide are blind due to glaucoma.

TACT Assisting You

Assisting you with routine eyecare - yearly exams and eyewear, TACT has partnered with Ameritas Group/VSP to offer all TACT members a vision benefits program. Ameritas Group/VSP provides group vision care benefit plans through a nationwide network of private practice and retail optical providers. To see this fantastic program, visit www.txagcoop.com and download the PDF of the benefits plan by going to the forms page.

Healthcare in the News

New Rules Proposed to Improve Child Care Quality, Health, Safety

Courtesy - HHS.gov

New proposed rules to improve child care were announced by HHS's Administration for Children and Families. The proposed rules offer additional guidance on program requirements established in the bipartisan Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014, which was passed by Congress and signed by President Obama in November 2014.

The new law reauthorized the Child Care and Development Fund program for the first time in 18 years. It also made significant changes to increase the success of children served by the program and their families, including increasing health and safety requirements for child care programs and providers, making child care financial assistance more stable for low-income working parents, improving and expanding information parents have about child care options, and raising the quality of child care. The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking published proposes additional guidance on specific program requirements.

"Last year's bipartisan passage and signing of the child care law represented an historic re-envisioning of the Child Care and Development Fund program," said Secretary Burwell. "The law and these proposed rules will protect children by setting new requirements for background checks and health and safety training for child care providers."

The law and proposed rules also require states to invest more in the coming years to improve the quality of care for all children in child care settings.

"Parents deserve to have the peace of mind that comes with knowing their children are in safe care settings with knowledgeable staff," said Mark Greenberg, HHS acting assistant secretary for children and families. "The new background check and training requirements in the law help give them that peace of mind."

Agriculture News

2015's Ending S

leighed

by Winter Storm Goliath,

Affecting Cattle Management

2015 showed her teeth one last time with a storm that affected people and animals across a majority of the country. The massive storm included a severe side with rain, flooding and tornadoes and a winter weather side with snow and blizzard conditions, all separated by a band of freezing rain and sleet. The dividing line between these storm components ran across New Mexico, Texas and the middle of Oklahoma resulting in a wide variety of conditions and challenges for cattle producers. The one consistent component across both sides of the storm has been lots of wind.

Rain totals last weekend ranged from three inches to over 11 inches. This final blast of moisture adds to a wet fall to make 2015 the wettest year on record, more than 50 percent above normal. In Oklahoma, yearly rainfall totals through December 27 range from over 77 inches in the southeast, 154 percent of normal, to over 31 inches in the Panhandle, 151 percent of normal!

Cattle producers are dealing with cold and muddy conditions that are impacting cattle across a wide swath of the country extending from the Southern Plains through the Midwest and Corn Belt. The combination of wet, cold and windy conditions causes significant cold stress for cattle and boosts nutritional requirements for cattle.

The winter weather side of this storm has brought significant snow totals across the West and Rocky Mountain regions and extended across the central and northern Plains. The arctic air dipped south and combined with southern moisture to produce large snowfall and blizzard conditions from New Mexico and western Texas, across the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles and western Oklahoma. The storm caused road closures and disrupted travel in eastern New Mexico and the Texas Panhandle; with blowing snow and icing conditions making travel difficult and dangerous across western and central Oklahoma.

While the storm is mostly a cattle management issue for cows, it will impact animal productivity for stocker cattle and feedlots. The widespread feedlot impacts will likely affect cattle and beef markets in the coming weeks. Feedlots in the Southern Plains are being hit with adverse weather for the first time this winter; having enjoyed very mild conditions so far this fall. In contrast, feedlots in the Midwest and Corn Belt have already been dealing with muddy conditions and the current weather will aggravate those poor conditions, resulting in additional productivity losses. The poor animal performance and additional death loss are a direct economic loss for feedlots; while the broader beef market may reflect the impact of additional loss of beef tonnage as a result of lower carcass weights.

Source- Dr. Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist from the OSU Weekly Cow-Calf Corner.

Healthful Hint

helping you...

Keep Your Resolution!

By: Lindsay Rose, Local Life Texas

Ah, New Year! That time of year when we resolve to make that big change in our lives. This is the year I lose 40 pounds. This is the year I get that promotion. And, almost inevitably, this is the year I break my resolution. According to StatisticBrain.com, 45% of Americans usually make a new Year's resolution and only 8% achieve it. Also, according to this source, the younger you are, the more likely you are to achieve it. Adults in their 20s achieved their resolution 39% of the time compared to only 14% of people in their 50s.

So, this year, how can you set yourself up to achieve your New Year's resolution? They cynic will say, "Don't make one." However, here are a few tips to make 2016 the year you actually KEEP your resolution!

1. MAKE ONE RESOLUTION

Be reasonable. You're not likely to achieve seven lofty goals this year, so set one goal and make sure you're excited about it. While you know quitting smokiing isn't going to be easy, it will be nice to have your family and friends off your back about it and you know you're doing something good for yourself. Also, be specific about your goal. It's hard to tell if you've achieved vague goals like, "Be a better person." if you're having a hard time choosing a resolution, you're probably overthinking it. Typically, whatever comes to you first is the resolution that's most important.

2. PLAN YOUR APPROACH

In the business world, we are told to set SMART goals. That is, goals that are Specific, Measureable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely. While it may seem a bit overboardto go through the whole process you use at work to ensure your New Year's resolution is SMART, all of these items are worth considering if you reallyl want to achieve our goal. Another key statistic from StatisticBrain.com says that people who explicitly make resolutions are TEN TIMES more likely to kepe them than people who do not explicitly make them.

3. SHARE YOUR RESOLUTION

Post a note on the refrigerator, write it on your mirror, share it on Facebook. Do whatever you need to do to keep your eyes on the prize adn hold yourself accountable. having a New Year's Resolution buddy is a great way to stay honest about your goal...as long as you can handle your buddy asking how your weight loss is going as you're scarfing down a slice of Snickers Cheesecake!

4. PICK A START DATE

Contrary to popular belief, your New Year's resolution does not need to begin on January 1. It's still a busy time of year and you may have better success if you put it of a bit. For some, beginning a new diet two weeks before vacation also might not be the best timing. In addition to picking a start date, pick check-in dates as well. Set reminders for yourself at one week, one month, six months or whatever is appropriate.

5. DON'T BE DISCOURAGED

Don't be discouraged by setbacks. Anticipate problems and how you can avoid them or get past them. There's a good chance you'll get off course some time during the year, but that's no reason to give up on your resolution. One unhealthy meal is no reason to go off your diet for the whole day or week, just as one cigarette in a moment of weakness is not reason to follow it up with six more. Find ways to encourage yourself when you're having trouble or call a friend for support.

6. REWARD YOURSELF

Don't just focus on a big reward for achieving your end goal. Reward yourself for staying on track. As you reach those check-in dates you set for yourself, reward your success! Whether it's buying a new pair of jeans for the first 15 pounds lost or rewarding yourself with that new-fangled fitness device you didn't know everyone has these days, rewards keep you going.

The time has come to choose our New Year's Resolution. Is 2016 the year you really to make that big change in your life? Or, maybe 2016 is just the year you actually keep your resolution. Either way, now you're prepared to make it happen. Best of luck!