|
|
|
USDA’s latest Cattle On Feed (COF) report was called neutral to
bearish as the marketing number came in significantly lower than
estimates. Nationwide, the COF number was at 96% of a year ago,
placements were 91% and marketings at 92%. The seven-state COF number
mimicked the national trends, as the numbers for on-feed, placements and
marketings came in at 96%, 90% and 88%, respectively. Placements were
down 47% in Colorado, 18% in Texas, 22% in Nebraska, and 20% in Kansas.
The demise of the Canadian feeding industry continues, as Canada
registerd its lowest COF number since 2004.
Cattle inventory numbers down again. As expected, the semi-annual
inventory report released last week showed a continued but small
reduction of the U.S. beef cattle herd. USDA estimates the number of
beef cows and heifers that have calves at 33.15 million head on July 1
– down from 33.35 million head in 2007; a drop of about 0.6%, but a
smaller decline than most pre-report estimates suggested.
Similarly, USDA estimates a 2.2% decline in beef replacement heifers,
which is on the high side of pre-report figures, as well. All cattle and
calves in the U.S. (as of July 1) totaled 104.3 million head, slightly
below the 104.8 million on July 1, 2007 and down 1% from the 105.2
million two years ago.
All cows and heifers that have calved, at 42.4 million, was down
slightly from both July 1, 2007 and July 1, 2006. Beef cows, at 33.2
million, were down 1% from July 1, 2007, and 1% below two years ago.
Milk cows, at 9.25 million, were up 1% from July 1, 2007 and 1% above
two years ago.
Other significant numbers were:- All heifers 500 lbs. and over,
16.5 million, down 1%.
- Beef replacement heifers, 4.6 million, down 2%.
- Milk replacement heifers, 3.9 million, unchanged.
- Calves under 500 lbs., 28.6 million, down slightly.
- The calf crop was down slightly. The 2008 calf crop is expected to
be 37.3 million, down slightly from 2007 and 1% below 2006.
- Calves born during the first half of the year are estimated at 27.1
million, down slightly from 2007 and 1% below 2006.
-- Troy Marshall
|
 Camp
Cooley Ranch provides powerful genetics to create value.
Our customer programs create opportunity to market your
cattle. We provide calving-ease sires with big growth spreads and
carcass traits to create performance. We create
consistency by selecting balanced-trait donors and sires. Let us
help you create your herd’s genetic potential.
www.campcooley.com
1-800-251-0305
|
|
There’s been a lot of talk about speculators’ role in the
commodity markets and their contribution to unneccessarily high
commodity prices. Corn and oil have been the main concern for
politicians, but all commodities have been supported by an influx of
speculator dollars flowing away from the stock market into the commodity
pits.
As is always the case, the market has a way of punishing unbridled
enthusiasm or pessimism. This week brought massive liquidation in the
corn and oil pits, as those commodities continue the downward trend of
several weeks’ running. Not surprisingly, liquidation of positions has
occurred, and some of those speculator dollars are returning to safer
environments.
-- Troy Marshall
|
|
At NCBA’s summer conference, Jim Wiesemeyer, vice president for
policy and trade issues for Informa Economics Inc., told producers that
exports are “going to be your margins in the future.” He made the
case that growth from an industry standpoint is dependent upon exports
and, conversely, our competitiveness in a global beef market.
Beef exports were up 32% in May, and were at their highest levels since
2003. This momentum was kicked off by Korea’s reopening, and with
hopes that the Japanese market will soon follow suit.
In the week ending July 17, exports were 21,900 tons or a 188% increase
over the previous week. This the second-largest export total since June
5, 2003.
The week of January 24, 2008 saw exports of 30,129 mt (one of the
largest week’s ever, and the largest post BSE). For perspective, in
2003, we exported 540,748 mt; in 2007, 256,636; and we are at 346,874
for 2008.
Korea purchased 6,100 mt last week, but still has a way to go before
regaining its stature as a top three export market. U.S. beef has became
a rallying point for the political opposition in South Korea, but
consumers are increasinlgy purchasing the product.
Overall, the global market for protein is exploding, but the beef
industry has largely sat out the last five years because of BSE. The
loss of our global market position becomes even more acute when
considering that this was a time of a falling dollar that should have
seen exports rise dramatically.
-- Troy Marshall
|
4 Lucky Winners to receive a $250 cash prize!
Fill out a short survey to become eligible. This survey is sponsored by
a company who is interested in understanding what is important to you in
choosing and using fencing products.
The information you provide will be used ONLY by the sponsor to provide
better products to you and other agricultural fencing product users in
the future.
Click here
for the survey and your chance to win.
|
|
USDA’s 233-page rule regarding mandatory country of origin
labeling (mCOOL) sets the framework for mCOOL that is scheduled to be in
place by the end of September. See the rule in its entirety at federalregister.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2008-17562_PI.pdf.
-- Click on headline to read the rest of this
story by Troy Marshall
|
|
At the summer midyear meeting, the National Cattlemen’s Beef
Association’s policy division adopted several policies that will
remain interim until voted on by the membership in January. Two of the
biggest issues were renewable fuels and environmental regulations.
The policy board called for a significant reduction of the Renewable
Fuels Standard (RFS) and declared opposition to mandated production
and/or mandated usage of any renewable fuels. The board also voted to
support transitioning to a market-based approach for fuels produced from
livestock feedstuffs.
To promote U.S. energy independence, the board also voted to support
environmentally responsible exploration and extraction of domestic
fossil fuel-based energy sources and regulatory relief to speed up
construction and renovation of refineries.
The board also voted to support development of accurate greenhouse gas
emissions data for domestic cattle production systems based on sound
science, and to develop a communications strategy to address
inaccuracies about emissions related to the cattle industry. They
declared opposition to government action that would regulate or require
reporting of ag greenhouse gas emissions. Opposition to listing species
or habitat under the Endangered Species Act based on climate change was
also approved.
-- Troy Marshall
|
Rely on the power of Angus data, industry leading technology,
continuing research and unmatched value-added marketing opportunities.
Angus, the power of people and progress.
www.angus.org
|
|
Cattlemen in Oklahoma and Texas can sharpen their Beef Quality
Assurance (BQA) skills at a series of upcoming seminars.
Oklahoma cattlemen can choose from six meetings scattered throughout
the state, with the first set for Aug. 5 at Enid. Other meeting
locations include Goodwell, Woodward, Stillwater, Waggoner and Ardmore.
Meanwhile the Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Texas Beef Council
and Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) will host
two BQA meetings in August; Abilene on Aug. 15 and Amarillo on Aug. 25.
“By becoming a certified Beef Quality Assurance producer, growers not
only help keep consumer confidence strong, but also position themselves
to capture some of the premium dollars which the program will
undoubtedly generate along the way,” says Bruce Carpenter, Texas
AgriLife Extension livestock specialist at Fort Stockton.
For more info on the Oklahoma meetings, go to www.oklahomabeefquality.com.
For more info on the Texas meetings and to pre-register, contact
TSCRA’s Stacy Fox at sfox@texascattleraisers.org
or 817-332-7155. Or visit www.texasbeefquality.com.
-- Burt Rutherford
|
|
Cattle feeding continues to gush red, and this point is clearly
illustrated by numbers put out by the LMIC (Livestock Marketing
Information Center) and looking at monthly estimated cattle feeding
losses for the first six months of the year.
| USDA slaughter level by month (million head)
| Estimated $ losses/head (LMIC) | Equity
Loss (million) |
| January-1,858 | -168.23 | $312.6 |
| February-1,776 | -150.44 | $267.82 |
| March-1,842 |
-169.78 (largest in history) | $312.70
|
| April-2,010 | -137.68 | $276.7 |
| May-2,140 | -50.07 | $107.1 |
| June-2,268 | -88.78 | $201.35 |
| Year to Date | | $1.478 billion
|
-- Troy Marshall
|
|
Wallets are slimmer these days as prices for food and fuel climb.
For consumers, tighter grocery budgets often mean high-end beef cuts are
left out of the shopping cart.
When it comes to purchasing meat, consumers are shifting their
preferences to roast beef. According to Oregon Business News,
roast beef sales are up over last year as consumers search out cheaper
cuts that can provide enough meat for several meals.
Though roast sales nationwide have eased in recent months, a 1.1% sales
increase from 2007 over 2006 may have signaled the start of a trend,
says Randy Irion, director of retail marketing for the National
Cattlemen’s Beef Association.
What’s more, the article notes that increased retail prices are
directly related to the high price of corn and fuel. In fact, the
average per-pound price was up 4.2% for beef in 2007 from 2006, USDA
says.
And as consumers struggle with the rising costs of food, the emerging
trend is to trade down from more expensive to affordable meats, with
roast beef and hamburger being utilized for multiple meals throughout
the week. For the complete article click here.
-- Amanda Nolz
|
Control Without Complication
Simplify life for you and your calves with Vira Shield® 6. A
highly convenient choice that’s always been safe and effective to
precondition calves nursing pregnant cows.
Vira Shield 6
- NOW PART OF THE MERIAL® SUREHEALTH®
PRECONDITIONING PROGRAM
- HIGHLY EFFECTIVE
- LONG-LASTING
- UNCOMPLICATED
© 2008 Novartis Animal Health US, Inc.
www.livestock.novartis.com
(800)-843-3386
MERIAL and SUREHEALTH are registered trademarks of Merial.
Vira Shield is a registered trademark of Novartis AG.
Vira Shield logo and wordmark and Control Without Complication are
trademarks of Novartis AG.
|
|
The U.S. Departments of State and Homeland Security say a new
Passport Card is available to people who travel by land or sea to
Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda.
The Passport Card is a convenient, wallet-sized document that will
facilitate the frequent travel of Americans living in border
communities. It utilizes a vicinity-read radio frequency ID chip that
will allow U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers to access photos
and other biographical info stored in secure government databases before
the traveler reaches the inspection booth so that inspection can be
facilitated.
The Passport Card is available for $45 for first-time applicants and $35
for children under 16. Adults who currently have a valid passport can
apply for the Passport Card by mail for $20. For more info, go to www.travel.state.gov.
-- Department of Homeland Security release
|
|
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), the Angus
Foundation and Pfizer Animal Health have teamed up to create the final
online course in the beef reproduction series titled “Prevention
Programs and Technologies to Improve Reproductive Performance.”
The hands-on, interactive course features exercises, tools and resources
that cover benchmarking herd performance measures; performance
improvement strategies; uses and descriptions of available technologies;
and goal-setting and activities planning.
Cost is $25 for NCBA members and $35 for non-members. For more info,
contact Grace Webb, producer education coordinator, at gwebb@beef.org or 303-850-3338.
-- NCBA
|
|
The House of Representatives passed by voice vote H.R. 6432, the
Animal Drug User Fee Act (ADUFA). This legislation reauthorizes the Food
and Drug Administration (FDA) to collect fees from the animal health
industry to be used for the review and approval of animal health
products.
The fees supplement FDA’s Congressional appropriations to provide for
more timely review of new animal drugs. Since ADUFA was originally
passed in 2003, FDA has been able to reduce its review time for new
animal drugs. This has allowed these new drugs to enter the marketplace
quicker while at the same time maintaining high standards for safety and
effectiveness.
The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration. This legislation –
ADUFA expires on Sept. 30 – is a priority of the livestock and animal
health industries.
-- P. Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C.
correspondent
|
|
The New Jersey Supreme Court this week upheld several animal-welfare
regulations established by that state’s department of agriculture. The
measures include gestation crates for sows, debeaking chickens,
castration and feeding practices to enhance egg production.
The court did find one practice objectionable – docking of dairy
cattle to remove the lower portion of the tail. The court also
instructed the ag department to do more work to evaluate and define what
routine husbandry practices are if they want to continue relying on
them.
New Jersey adopted animal welfare regulations in 2004 to meet a
legislative mandate issued eight years prior to develop “standards for
humane raising, keeping, care, treatment, marketing and sale of domestic
livestock.” A coalition of animal rights groups sued, contending the
regulations were inhumane and provided no benefit to the animals. Last
year, a three-judge state appeals court upheld the practices.
To read the court’s opinion, go to www.judiciary.state.nj.us/opinions/supreme/A-27%20SPCA.pdf.
-- New Jersey Star Ledger
|
|
USDA Secretary Ed Schafer says USDA won’t allow “early out”
for Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contracts without penalty.
Schafer says market conditions have improved and that acreage was
exiting CRP through normal maturities.
According to USDA, 1.15 million acres of CRP will mature as of Sept. 30,
2008, and 3.855 million acres will mature on Sept. 30, 2009.
Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), chairman of the Senate Ag Committee, supports
USDA’s decision and said, “After the spring and early summer
disasters throughout the Midwest, USDA rightly allowed emergency use of
CRP land for grazing. I believe Secretary Schafer has drawn a sound
distinction between that emergency access vs. offering an option for CRP
contract holders unilaterally to cancel their contracts and put land
back into crop production without any penalties or interest.”
-- P. Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C.
correspondent
|
|
The Bush administration said this week that this fiscal year would
set a record for national debt – $482 billion. The previous record was
$413 billion for fiscal year 2004.
-- P. Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C.
correspondent
|
|
“Short-term,” “gummer” and “smooth mouth” are all terms
cattlemen use to describe older cows. These animals have produced well
for the past decade or so and are the experienced veterans of the herd.
However, due to age, lack of teeth, and an anticipated decline in
production, they’re forced to retire.
-- Click on headline to read the rest of this
story by Ron Torell, University of Nevada Extension livestock specialist
(torellr@unce.unr.edu)
|
|
The U.S. average retail price for regular gasoline fell 10.9¢
(week ending July 28) to hit $3.955/gal., the third consecutive week in
which the U.S. average decreased and the first time in eight weeks that
the average price fell below $4. Meanwhile, retail diesel prices tumbled
for a second week, losing 11.5¢. to $4.603/gal., but still $1.717
higher than a year ago.
Gasoline was down in all regions, registering $3.96/gal. on the East
Coast, the Midwest shaved 15.4¢ to $3.827, the Gulf Coast losing 8.5¢
to $3.857, the Rocky Mountains dropping by 4.5¢ to $4.06, and the West
Coast moving 11.8¢ lower to $4.245. California lost 14.3¢ for the week
($4.317/gal.).
Diesel also was down across the country. The East Coast fell 10.9¢ to
$4.664, the Midwest plunged 13.1¢ to $4.518, the Gulf Coast dropped
13.1¢, to $4.57, the Rocky Mountains shaved 5.7¢ to $4.657, and the
West Coast fell by 7.9¢ to $4.766. California shaved 9.5¢ to hit
$4.869/gal.
-- Energy Information Administration
|
|
DuPont and the University of Tennessee (UT) plan to build a new
cellulosic ethanol pilot plant and research facility. Expected to be
operational by the fall 2009, the facility could be one of the first
steps in shifting ethanol production from corn to less demand-intensive
feedstocks such as corn cobs and switchgrass.
“We believe this project will make Tennessee the focal point for the
development of the cellulosic ethanol process,” says UT president John
Peterson.
“With food and gas prices surging at double-digit rates, there is an
imperative for sustainable biofuels technologies,” adds DuPont CEO
Charles O. Holliday Jr. “This joint venture addresses this issue head
on.”
The plant, to be located in Vonore, TN, about 35 miles from Knoxville,
will produce up to 250,000 gals. of ethanol annually. Vonore was
selected as the site because it is 30 minutes from the UT campus and the
Oak Ridge National Laboratory, which has also been working on
development of a cellulosic ethanol process.
Peterson says UT officials expect the pilot plant to be the first of at
least 10 cellulosic production facilities to be built across Tennessee,
providing new cropping opportunities for the state’s farmers.
To read more on this story, go to: southeastfarmpress.com/biofuels/biofuels-switchgrass-0728/.
-- Forrest Laws, Farm Press
|
|
As a veterinarian, clients frequently ask me: “Can I get a premium
for my preconditioned calves?” I always respond with: “What is a
premium?”
--Click on headline to read the rest of this
story by Dave Sjeklocha, DVM, Haskell County Animal Hospital, Sublette,
KS (620-675-8180).
|
|
BEEF magazine’s “2008 Alliance Yellow Pages” are now
online at www.beefmagazine.com. The
listings, which will also appear in the August issue of BEEF, are
the industry’s most comprehensive. Detailed are 34 programs –
categorized by consumer-based programs, where the focus is on finding,
feeding and marketing cattle according to predefined consumer product
specifications; or calf-based programs, where calves are procured to fit
specific value requirements. The listings include contact info, history
and specs for each of these top, value-based marketing programs.
-- Joe Roybal
|
|
I'd like to comment on the July 25 article, “No Livestock From
Argentina.”
First, one clarification: The last incidence of foot-and-mouth disease
(FMD) in the Patagonia South region of Argentina occurred in October
1976 and was traced to its origin north of the 42°S. line that divides
the region from the north.
But, this trade issue presents an interesting and difficult quandary for
the U.S. livestock industry. Nearly all U.S. livestock organizations
rightfully maintain a zero-tolerance position with regard to FMD and
FMD-related trade issues. Therefore, organizations like the National
Cattlemen’s Beef Association, R-CALF and the U.S. Cattlemen’s
Association adamantly oppose USDA's proposal. And, of course opposing
USDA in this case is low-hanging fruit for politicians. However, a
couple of points must be made:- Both South Patagonia and North
Patagonia are FMD-free "without vaccination," according to the World
Animal Health Organization (OIE), which also declared all of Argentina
FMD-free "with vaccination" in March 2007.
- The U.S. led the fight for getting the application of sanitary and
phytosanitary (SPS) science-based standards into the Uruguay Round
Agreement of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. The U.S. also
fought hard to get other countries to adhere to the sanitary regulations
that affect trade.
Therefore, as the U.S. government and the U.S.
livestock industry ask other countries to honor science-based SPS
standards with regard to issues like BSE in Asia and hormones in Europe,
it's difficult to be credible trading partners as we categorically shrug
off the science and arbitrarily exert pressure on USDA to abandon the
proposal to open meat trade with Patagonia South. The fallback, though,
is that this would be the first time USDA recognizes the disease-free
status of a sub-region of a country.
There is no practical reason today to open animal or meat trade with
this region – with or without FMD. But let's all remember that we're
now in a global fishbowl. We should be careful what we ask for – we
might just get a level playing field.
-- Clint Peck
Montana director of Beef Quality Assurance
|
|
|
