Last week's headlines announced that U.S. Secretary of Agriculture
Mike Johanns was stepping down to return to Nebraska to make a run for
Senate. Whether you agree or disagree with his decision is your own
opinion, but I found one thing of note in his resignation letter to
President Bush.
In closing his letter, Johanns said, "On a very personal note, I'd like
to express my deepest gratitude for your confidence and support. For a
farm boy from Iowa, this truly has been an opportunity of a lifetime. As
I have often noted, I never dreamed of becoming Secretary of Agriculture
as a child because it seemed so far removed from our 160-acre farm. I
hope young people growing-up on farms and in rural communities today
realize that no dream is too big in America."
Enjoy this week's issue of American Cowman Update.
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What's the status of a National Animal Identification System (NAIS)
in the US? Attendees at the ID INFO Expo held Aug. 28-30 in Kansas City
were asked that very question and 85% of respondents said the US is
behind in instituting a traceability system compared to other countries.
That said, the tone of the meeting was that the US needs to move forward
with implementing some type of traceability system for livestock. "I
don't think animal ID is dead," said Nevil Speer, a professor of animal
science at Western Kentucky University. He added, "A lot of people
continue to drive this process, we have a long way to go, but
traceability is right and reasonable. It needs to remain voluntary, and
it has to be market driven." To read the complete article and hear
audio from the conference, click on the headline above.
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Ol'
Bax
By Steve Lucas, Mountain View Farm, Louisa,
Virginia
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Baxter was born with great expectations. His mother was an
Australian Shepherd that belonged to Charles and Betty Rosson, and his
father was a blue tick hound, Labrador retriever mix that roamed the
neighborhood. What more could anyone want in a cow dog? Clearly the
genetics were right. The hound gave him the ability to track down cows.
The shepherd gave him the aptitude to herd, and the retriever the
skills to bring the cows back. He even looked the part, his long black
hair and white markings making him look very much like a stout, tall,
Border collie.To read the complete article, click on the headline
above.
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As expected, USDA has released its final rule expanding cattle and
beef imports from Canada. The National Cattlemen's Beef Association has
monitored this issue carefully from the beginning, including our filing
of comments back in March 2007.
Let me say at the onset this final rule is not perfect. It allows import
of beef from cattle of any age, and live cattle born after March 1,
1999. This is the date USDA determined to be the effective date of
Canada's ruminant-to-ruminant feed ban.
A feed ban date reflecting Canada's youngest BSE cases would have been
more appropriate and our comments reflected that. But USDA did maintain
the requirement that all imported cattle be permanently identified
through harvest. To read the complete article, click on the headline
above.
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Cattle producers are signaling that fall is here -- the annual
ritual of weaning and pregnancy checking has begun in most areas of the
U.S. However, producers in some areas of the West and mid-Atlantic
regions have already weaned their calves due to severe drought
conditions.
Since beef cattle producers generate the majority of their annual income
via the sale of calves (about 80%), typically a lot of effort is put
into maximizing the price at which they are sold. Yet, practically no
effort is spent to maximize the price on the other 20% of their income
-- which is acquired through the sale of cull cows (also known as
"market cows").
A producer once told me: "we spend all of our time fighting
tooth-and-nail to get another dollar or two on our calves, and then we
give away our culls." I couldn't agree more. To read the complete
article, click on the headline above.
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Late summer/early fall can be a good time to treat sericea lespedeza
with herbicides, according to Walt Fick, Kansas State University
(K-State) Research and Extension range management specialist.
This noxious weed is a problem on grazing lands in Kansas since it is
unpalatable to cattle and competes with desirable grasses and forbs,
Fick says. Controlling sericea lespedeza has proven to be unusually
difficult, but a combination of practices that include well-timed
herbicide applications can be effective. To read the complete
article, click on the headline above.
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In the last issue of American Cowman Update our link to the
weed control article by SDSU's Eric Mousel was incorrect. So, we offer
the story again.
Weed populations have exploded recently in many pastures. Plants like
ragweed, ironweed, goldenrod, and vervain have become a common sight.
Many pastures were drought stressed last year and recent summer rains
have stimulated a late season revival of these weeds. What do you do
about weeds at this time of year? To read the complete article, click
on the headline above.
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Horse nutrition will be a topic of Oklahoma State University's Horse
Owner's Symposium, Oct. 6 at McElroy Hall Auditorium at the Stillwater
campus. Other topics include equine metabolic syndrome, equine viral
arteritis and biosecurity at the home farm, transport of the injured
horse and common plants toxic to horses. Cost is $35/person;
registration deadline is Sept 28. Visit www.cvm.okstate.edu/conference/HorseSymposium/Default.asp
for more info.
Additional upcoming events include:
Oct. 17-22 -- 108th American Royal Livestock Show, Kansas City, MO;
816-221-9800 or www.americanroyal.com.
Oct. 22-26 -- Purdue University Agribusiness Seminar: Agrimarketing;
765-494-4247 or agbusinessinfo@purdue.edu.
Oct. 30 -- Kentucky Grazing Conference, WKU Expo Center, Bowling Green.
Learn more at www.uky.edu/Ag/Forage.
Nov. 7-8 -- BEEF magazine's Quality Summit, "Beef Quality in the Ethanol
Era," Holiday Inn Centre, Omaha, NE; 800-722-5334, ext. 14606, or www.beefconference.com.
Link to more calendar items by clicking on this link americancowman.com/calendar/
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To assist Angus producers in capturing added value from their
participation in AngusSource, the American Angus Association has
announced several fall sale dates. These scheduled sales will group
AngusSource tagged calves as well as other age- and source-verified
calves.
Current industry reports document $15-$25 per head premiums are being
realized for age- and source-verified cattle. Reports indicate the
genetic verification of Angus calves, such as AngusSource, are adding an
additional $30 per head more than non-Angus calves. In addition,
AngusSource tagged calves have the opportunity to qualify for Certified
Angus Beef regardless of hide color. To read the complete article,
click on the headline above.
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Ridley Block Operations has introduced Crystalyx(R) Distillers
OptimizerT, a nutrient-dense, free-choice, low-moisture mineral block to
assist in the balance of minerals and vitamins for cattle fed corn
byproducts. The new supplement features a blend of Zinpro's
chelated/organic minerals from Availa-4 to help increase
bioavailability. This blend appears important to combat the antagonistic
effects of high sulfur (S) levels found in corn byproducts that can tie
up trace minerals required for optimal animal performance. To read
the complete article, click on the headline above.
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Consumers tell us that tenderness and taste are two of the most
important attributes when they are evaluating their beef eating
experience. They want tender beef and are willing to pay for it.
That was the message Dr. Keith Belk, professor at Colorado State
University's Center for Red Meat Quality and Safety, delivered to
agricultural editors and other participants at a Sensory Evaluation
Briefing and Wet Lab held at Iowa State University. The training session
was hosted by Elanco Animal Health as part of its continuing effort to
educate beef producers on the importance of tenderness of the beef they
produce. To read the complete article, click on the headline
above.
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With her recipe for Nuevo Chipotle Beef in Butternut Squash Boats,
amateur home cook Christine Riccitelli of Incline Village, Nev., won the
27th National Beef Cook-Off(R) and the $50,000 "Best of Beef" grand
prize in mid-September in Chicago, IL. Riccitelli's dish topped recipes
from 26 other finalists (including six children) from across the
country. The contestants were competing for $110,000 in prize money.
To read the complete article, click on the headline above.
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We've all misread a few trends in life, some of which evolved into
forces that drastically changed lives and entire industries.
Thirty years ago, who would have thought that the roughest, most
mismanaged, cedar-infested grassland in the Flint Hills of Kansas would
bring as much or more at auction than well-managed parcels? And what
about the increasing effect of energy costs on agricultural production?
Why do I ramble about these things in a column on cattle health? It's
because I see just as dramatic a change in store for how your cattle
will be valued.To read the complete article, click on the headline
above.
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