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Don’t get excited, I’m not going to give you my opinion of the
candidates or look at how they stand on issues important to the cattle
industry and ag, in general. In fact, this year’s election, if nothing
else, serves as a stark warning that ag and the livestock industry are
simply not even on the radar screen of any presidential candidate or
their party.
-- Click on headline to read the rest of this
story by Troy Marshall
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Last week was the perfect storm – falling corn prices, rising
boxed-beef prices, a major breakthrough in regaining access to the
Korean market, and a friendly Cattle-On-Feed report that showed
larger-than-expected marketings and record-small placements, which put
several dollars on the market almost overnight.
Expectations are for continued strength next week, as improving weather
will help the slow-developing grilling season to get underway. The
agreement with Korea, which allows for all products under 30 months of
age, is expected to put an additional $20/head or more on the fat market
and provides a much-needed boost to the market. Most importantly, the
agreement precluded Korea from halting all shipments with any mistake on
the part of U.S. exporters, removing the notorious tactic for which
Korea had become infamous.
With record fuel prices, falling consumer confidence and decreasing
disposable income, this was welcomed news.
-- Troy Marshall
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The last presidential election seemed to be the perfect opportunity
for the cattle industry. On almost every important issue, including the
environment, taxes, private-property rights, trade, etc., the two
candidates – John Kerry and George W. Bush – were starkly different.
It was arguably the clearest cut choice we’d ever faced as an
industry.
-- Click on headline to read the rest of this
story by Troy Marshall
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The American Meat Institute (AMI) has launched the YouTube channel,
“Meat News Network” to convey consumer-focused information about the
meat industry in an accurate, visual way.
AMI president and CEO J. Patrick Boyle told the House Oversight
Committee’s Domestic Policy Subcommittee that the project will launch
with a three-part video that features Temple Grandin and other members
of AMI's Animal Welfare Committee.
“We’ll soon add new videos on other timely topics so we can enhance
our relationship with the 95% of Americans who enjoy our products,” he
says.
In addition to the video on animal welfare, the channel also includes
videos on food packaging, food safety, the World Cancer Research Fund
Report, meat nutrition and environmental concerns. The channel will be
expanded in the coming months to provide consumers and the media with
the most credible information about these and other issues of importance
to the meat and poultry industry.
“It is imperative that we share the facts about our industry and our
products in informative and visually compelling ways,” said Boyle.
To view the new YouTube Channel, go to: www.YouTube.com/meatnewsnetwork.
-- AMI news release
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During the last decade, increased attention to odor and air
emissions from animal-feeding operations has come from regulatory
agencies, environmental organizations, neighbors and feedyard owners and
managers. That has put mitigation of odor and emissions at the forefront
of management concerns by feedyards and other animal-feeding operations.
A national conference on mitigating air emissions from animal-feeding
operations is scheduled for May 19-21 in Des Moines, IA where 60
technical papers will be presented to provide info on regulatory trends
and research. Registration is $150 before May 4 and $200 after. For more
info, go to www.abe.iastate.edu/wastemgmt/mitigation.html
or contact Robert Burns at 515-294-4203 or rburns@iastate.edu.
-- Iowa State University
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For the fourth consecutive week, the U.S. average retail price for
regular gasoline set an all-time record – $3.508/gal. for the week
ending April 21. Meanwhile, the U.S. average diesel price also set an
all-time high at $4.143/gal.
The average price of gasoline shot up by 11.9¢ from the previous week.
Prices were up in all regions, with the East Coast adding 14.9¢ to
$3.484, the Midwest adding 11.2¢ to $3.47, Gulf Coast 12.6¢ to $3.411,
and the Rocky Mountains increased to $3.416, up 9.2¢. The West Coast
moved up 7.2¢ to $3.734, and California added 7.2¢ to $3.846.
Prices for diesel also increased in all regions. The East Coast added
9¢ to $4.207, the Midwest moved up 8.5¢ to $4.098, the Gulf Coast
increased 7.7¢ to $4.077, and the Rocky Mountains added 7.2¢ to
$4.111. The West Coast increased 7.9¢ for the week, to $4.255, while
California added 8.3¢ to $4.317.
-- Energy Information Administration
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The Senate voted to extend the farm bill for another week until May
2. The House is expected to also pass the bill. Meetings continue
between the House and Senate leadership to reach agreement on the farm
bill’s tax provisions and funding issues. There’s a growing feeling
among members that a new farm bill is preferable to the one-year
extension requested by President Bush.
In a statement, Bush said, “I’m disappointed Congress has failed to
put forward a good farm bill, leaving farmers and ranchers in a state of
continued uncertainty as to how they will be affected by Federal
policies.” He went on to say, “As important, the proposal also
lacks the important reforms I've repeatedly called for.”
The leadership of the House/Senate farm-bill conference said the
President’s remarks were unhelpful. Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), chairman
of the Senate Ag Committee said, “The administration continues to dig
in its heels on the farm bill by rejecting reasonable offsets that the
White House itself used for other legislation and by now calling for a
one year extension of current law. The President's call for an extension
is just the latest example of this administration's lack of cooperation
to enact a new, stronger farm bill.”
-- P. Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C.
correspondent
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Last year’s drought in the Southeast showed many cattle producers
that summer is a critical time in a cow-calf operation, says Gary Bates,
Tennessee Extension forage specialist in Southeast Farm Press.
And late April and May is the time to start working on your summer
forage production. If you wait until summer, you’ll have waited too
long because you can’t depend on tall fescue/orchardgrass pastures to
provide much forage during July and August.
-- Click on headline to read the rest of this
story by Gary Bates, Tennessee Extension forage specialist
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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced details of its
enhanced feed rules, a condition of further loosening of import
restrictions for U.S. beef into Korea. The final rule amends FDA’s
regulations to prohibit the use of certain cattle materials in animal
feeds. The materials include:- The entire carcass of BSE-positive
cattle;
- Brains and spinal cords from cattle 30 months of age and older;
- Entire carcass of cattle not inspected and passed for human
consumption that are 30 months of age and older from which brains and
spinal cords were removed;
- Tallow derived from BSE-positive animals;
- Tallow derived from prohibited materials that contain more than
0.15% insoluble impurities;
- Mechanically separated beef derived from prohibited
materials.
The rule goes into effect April 27, 2009. Korea has
agreed to accept bone-in and boneless products for beef over 30 months
of age with the publication of the rule.
-- P. Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C.
correspondent
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The American Meat Institute (AMI), National Meat Association, and
the National Milk Producers Federation filed a petition with USDA’s
Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) this week requesting FSIS to
amend the rules so that nonambulatory, disabled cattle aren’t
permitted into the meat supply in any circumstances. The petition would
eliminate current authority for a public-health veterinarian to allow,
in limited circumstances, cattle that become non-ambulatory after
passing ante-mortem inspection to enter the food supply.
AMI President Patrick Boyle said, “Allowing the current rule to remain
in force could ultimately undermine the confidence of U.S. consumers and
foreign customers in markets that are proving difficult to reopen in the
first place.”
-- P. Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C.
correspondent
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Iowa and Nebraska have issued regulations regarding the movement of
cattle from Minnesota, which had its bovine tuberculosis (TB) status
officially dropped from Modified Accredited Advanced to Modified
Accredited on April 9.
The updated regulations released by the Iowa Department of Ag and Land
Stewardship (IDALS) include the following requirements for cattle and
bison moving into Iowa auction markets from Minnesota:- Feeder
steers and spayed heifers. Negative TB test within 60 days of movement
if animal is two months of age and older and has official ID. No
restricted movement.
- Feeder heifers (intact). Negative TB test within 60 days of movement
if animal is two months of age and older and has official ID. Heifers
are restricted to move from the auction market to an Approved Terminal
Feedlot. Producers wishing to obtain an Approved Terminal Feedlot status
must call IDALS at 515-281-6358.
- Breeding cattle. Herd of origin must have tested negative for TB
within the past 12 months AND have a negative test of the individual
animals (two months of age and older) within the past 60 days. The
second test is not required if the animals to be moved are two months of
age and older are moved to the auction market within 60 days following
the herd-of-origin herd test and those animals were included in the
testing on that herd-of-origin herd test.
- Finished cattle. Negative TB test within the past 60 days. Cattle
restricted to move from auction market directly to slaughter.
- Cull cows and bulls. Same requirements as for breeding cattle.
In addition, producers moving cattle to Iowa auction markets will have
to present documentation of TB testing at time of delivery of cattle to
the auction market and documentation of testing must be maintained in
the market records.
Meanwhile, Nebraska Department of Ag (NDA) TB
regulations require all cattle imported into Nebraska from states
certified as Modified Accredited 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 TB test within 60 days prior to entry;
or
- Originate from a herd which has tested negative to an official
whole-herd TB test within 365 days prior to entry and obtain a permit
for entry, be individually identified with ID listed on the CVI, have
tested negative to an official TB test within 60 days prior to entry,
and be quarantined at destination until slaughter or retested negative
to an official TB test.
Importers must also comply with Nebraska
Animal Importation Act requirements. Contact NDA’s Bureau of Animal
Industry at 800-572-2437.
-- Burt Rutherford
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BEEF magazine columnist Jim Gerrish will be in Victoria, TX
May 13-14 to lead a Management-Intensive Grazing workshop. The workshop
will consist of 1½ days of classroom discussion and a half day in the
field to learn about growing quality pastures, matching forages and
animals, designing a grazing system and other topics. The workshop is
open to 50 registrants. Cost is $50. For more info, contact Tim Reinke
at 361-576-1129, Ext. 3.
-- NRCS release
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Sharpshooters, hunters and landowners have killed a total of 1,028
deer in a 164-sq.-mile area in northwestern Minnesota thus far this year
in the state’s bid to control the spread of bovine tuberculosis (TB).
Preliminary results indicate eight of the animals, all of them adults,
might be infected with bovine TB.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources says aerial sharpshooters
took 416 deer, and ground sharpshooters claimed 398 animals, in and near
the core area. In addition, landowners have taken 94 deer, and a special
early January hunt resulted in another 120 head.
Ground sharpshooters were to resume their efforts this past Monday and
continue through at least the end of April.
Minnesota’s bovine TB status officially dropped earlier this month
from Modified Accredited Advanced to Modified Accredited. The downgrade
affects producers shipping cattle and bison out of the
state.- Feeder cattle and bison must have an individual negative
TB test within 60 days of shipment. Sexually intact animals can only
move to an approved feedlot.
- Breeding cattle or bison must have an individual negative TB test
within 60 days of movement and a negative whole herd TB test within 12
months of shipment.
- Slaughter cattle or bison have no testing requirements if animals
move directly to slaughter at an approved slaughter facility (federal-
or state-inspected plant).
Import states may have additional
restrictions and requirements.
The Minnesota Board of Animal Health (MBAH) is working to establish a
split-state status to quickly regain TB-free status for the rest of the
state. The tentative “split” region affects 300 cattle herds in
portions of Roseau, Marshall, northern Beltrami and Lake of the Woods
counties.
-- Joe Roybal
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As unpleasant as the thought of reducing a cowherd is, a plan needs
to be ready in the event that dry conditions persist, says Kris
Ringwall, North Dakota State University beef specialist.
-- Click on headline to read the rest of this
story by Kris Ringwall, NDSU Extension beef specialist
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The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) met with USDA Secretary
Ed Schafer this week and asked USDA to take action to address the pork
industry economic crisis as a result of rising feed costs and tightening
credit markets. It’s estimated that pork producers are losing
$30-$50/head.
NPPC asked USDA to take five steps:- Authorize a two-phase pork
purchase program of about $100 million – derived exclusively from
reproductive animals (i.e., sows) – to reduce the herd by 163,579
animals.
- Flexibility in interpreting and implementing USDA emergency programs
and loan guarantees to help producers purchase feed.
- Support and defend U.S. pork exports, including use of the Market
Access and Foreign Market Development programs.
- Consider early release without penalty of non-environmentally
sensitive Conservation Reserve Program acres for the 2009 crop year.
- Fully implement the inter-departmental livestock task force
authorized to examine and address livestock-industry
challenges.
-- P. Scott Shearer, Washington,
D.C. correspondent
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Select Sires Inc., the Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) and the
Ohio Cattlemen’s Association have established the Roy A. Wallace BIF
Memorial Fund to honor the man who devoted his life to beef-cattle
improvement. Wallace worked for Select Sires for 40 years, serving as
vice-president of beef programs. He passed away in January at 63.
Wallace became involved with BIF in its infancy and was the only person
to attend each of the first 40 BIF conventions. BIF is an organization
that brings together purebred and commercial cattle breeders, academia
and breed associations, all committed to improving beef cattle. Wallace
was honored with both the BIF Pioneer Award and BIF Continuing Service
Award, co-authored the BIF 25-year history, “Ideas into Action,” and
was named one of the industry’s “Top 40” contributors by
BEEF magazine in 2004.
Contributions may be sent to: Roy A. Wallace Memorial Fund, c/o Union
County Foundation, 126 N. Main St., P.O. Box 608, Marysville, OH 43040.
Make checks payable to Union County Foundation with “Roy Wallace BIF
Memorial” written in the memo line.
-- Select Sires news release
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In his latest “Hay & Forage Minute,” Bruce Anderson, University
of Nebraska Extension forage agronomist, offers the following tips for
controlling red cedar and musk thistle in pastures.
-- Click on headline to read the rest of this
story by Bruce Anderson, Hay & Forage Minute
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If concern about mold and spoilage of wet distillers grains (WDG)
has limited your use of this nutrient-rich byproduct of the ethanol
industry, it may be time to give it another chance.
-- Click on headline to read the rest of this
story by Kindra Gordon
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The number of cases of West Nile virus in horses is down
significantly in recent years, due mainly to the success of vaccination
programs, says Russ Daly, South Dakota State University (SDSU) Extension
veterinarian. However, the mosquito-transmitted disease is still a
threat and non-vaccinated horses are still at risk.
“Vaccinating horses for West Nile is a safe and effective management
procedure,” Daly says. “Field observations suggest vaccinations
prevent the vast majority of clinical cases of West Nile virus infection
in horses and that vaccinated horses are much less likely to die if they
do become infected with West Nile virus.”
Horses already vaccinated should get a booster to coincide with the
onset of mosquito season. If horses haven’t previously been
vaccinated, a two-dose schedule is recommended. For more info, consult
your vet or visit: agbiopubs.sdstate.edu/articles/ExEx11009.pdf.
-- SDSU release
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