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Catch a roundup of each week’s cattle-market activity every Friday
afternoon at beefmagazine.com. Steve Kay,
editor and publisher of Cattle Buyers Weekly, the number one
marketing and business newsletter for the North American meat and
livestock industry, will provide the week-ending summary. Beginning
today, you can find it under “Steve Kay’s Friday Market Update” on
the opening page of www.beefmagazine.com.
For more info on Kay’s Cattle Buyers Weekly subscription
newsletter, visit www.cattlebuyersweekly.com,
phone 707-765-1725, or email info@cattlebuyersweekly.com.
-- Joe Roybal
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Recent industry articles have focused on the fact that Koreans are
still buying U.S. beef despite months of avid protests against our
product. Admittedly, it is positive that Koreans are purchasing our
product despite all the bad press, but that increasing volume doesn’t
tell the whole story.
-- Click on headline to
read the rest of this story by Troy Marshall
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I haven't gotten the chance to watch much of the Olympics, but I did
watch several of Michael Phelps’ swimming races. I also saw the
"Jamaican Lightning Bolt" win both of his gold medals on Internet
replays.
-- Click on headline to read the rest of this
story by Troy Marshall
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With all the talk about corn and energy prices, there’s been a lot
of focus on the negatives in the marketplace. To be sure, the structural
changes in our industry are the most significant we've seen in more than
a century. They will change the industry, and in some cases not for the
better.
-- Click on headline to read the rest of this
story by Troy Marshall
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The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has confirmed another
case of BSE in a six-year-old beef cow in Alberta. The infected cow,
detected via Canada’s national BSE surveillance program, is the 15th
case of BSE in Canada and the third case this year.
CFIA says no part of the animal’s carcass entered the human food or
animal feed systems. The animal’s birth farm has been identified, and
an investigation is underway, including a tracing of herdmates at the
time of the animal’s birth and examining possible sources of
infection. The age and location of the infected animal are consistent
with previous cases detected in Canada, CFIA says.
Canada remains a Controlled Risk country for BSE, as recognized by the
World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). Accordingly, this case
should not affect exports of Canadian cattle or beef.
-- P. Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C.
correspondent
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High input costs are putting a squeeze on cattle producers, and
experts with the Texas AgriLife Extension Service have several options
to overcome these challenges:
-- Click on
headline to read the rest of this Texas A&M University release
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The Livestock and Grain Market News Branch of USDA’s Ag Marketing
Service will conduct two cattle-grading demonstrations for feedyards and
cattle feeders who deliver cattle on CME Live Cattle contracts.
The seminars will be Sept. 16 at Winters Livestock Auction in Dodge
City, KS, and Sept. 18 at Amarillo Livestock Exchange in Amarillo, TX.
Both seminars will begin at 9 a.m. and conclude at noon.
The seminars will cover official grade standards for slaughter and
feeder cattle and participants will have a chance to grade both
slaughter and feeder animals. In addition, details of new requirements
and procedures beginning Oct. 1 to deliver cattle for the CME Live
Cattle futures contract will be covered. Dodge City participants will
see a presentation on instrument carcass grading.
Both seminars are free. For info on the Dodge City seminar, contact Rich
Hruska at 620-227-8881 or Richard.Hruska@usda.gov.
For info on the Amarillo seminar, contact Kenneth Gladney at
806-372-6361 or Kenneth.Gladney@usda.gov.
-- Burt Rutherford
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A fire-ant treatment being touted on radio and on the Internet –
pouring two cups of club soda directly in the center of a fire ant mound
– is a sham. Linda Hooper-Bui, a Louisiana State University AgCenter
entomologist, says the treatment is based on the idea that carbon
dioxide in the water is heavier than air and displaces the oxygen in the
mound, suffocating the queen and other ants, supposedly killing the
whole colony in two days.
“There is not enough carbon dioxide in two cups of carbonated water to
suffocate an entire fire-ant mound,” she says. “The reason why the
mound may appear to be dead is you’ve poured two cups of water on
them, and they moved because of the disturbance.”
The experts say the most effective way to treat fire ants is with baits
that don’t affect other beneficial insects. The baits work because the
ants forage for food, pick up the bait and take it back to the nest,
where they feed other ants. Eventually, the chemical finds its way to
the queen, and the colony dwindles and dies.
-- Delta Farm Press
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Weeds have exploded recently in many pastures, reports Bruce
Anderson, UNL Extension forage specialist in his latest “Hay & Forage
Minutes.” Anderson says recent summer rains have stimulated unchecked
growth of ragweed, ironweed, goldenrod and vervain in areas without the
competition of thick, relatively tall grass.
Spraying weeds now does little good, Anderson says, but shredding would
actually work better to reduce weed seeds if it’s not already too
late.
However, two other approaches are more important for long-term weed
control, he points out.- First, do more rotational grazing next
year to improve the health, vigor and density of your grass. In
particular, leave more residue when rotating to maintain higher
competition. Healthy, competitive grass stands are essential to reduce
weed populations economically.
- Second, target herbicide applications for when they will do the most
good. Early to mid-June usually is most effective, especially with
herbicides like Grazon, Curtail, 2,4-D and Banvel, he says. Most
perennial weeds, and many annuals, are sensitive to chemicals in June.
Weed control, along with good grazing, will thicken your grass stands so
herbicides won’t be needed as often in the future.
“Don’t let
weeds take over your pasture, but don’t spend money controlling them
needlessly. A good plan will work best,” Anderson says.
-- Bruce Anderson, UNL Extension forage
specialist
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The U.S. average retail price for regular gasoline fell for the
sixth consecutive week, dropping 6.9¢ for the week ending Aug. 18, to
$3.74/gal. Meanwhile, the average U.S. retail diesel price plunged for
the fifth consecutive week, losing another 14.6¢ to hit $4.207.
Gasoline was down by 37.4¢/gal. from the July 7 all-time high of
$4.114/gal. For the week, the East Coast dropped 9.8¢ to $3.701, the
Midwest shaved 2.3¢ to $3.708, the Gulf Coast 8.6¢ to $3.599, and the
Rocky Mountain region 6.5¢ to $3.888. The West Coast was down 7.7¢ to
$3.98, while California retreated 8.1¢ to $4.037/gal.
Meanwhile, retail diesel was down 55.7¢ from July 14’s all-time high,
but still $1.339 higher than a year ago. For the week, the East Coast
tumbled 15.7¢ to $4.263/gal., the Midwest 13.7¢ to $4.13, the Gulf
Coast 14.3¢ to $4.156, the Rocky Mountains 15.4¢ to $4.319, and the
West Coast 15.5¢ to $4.356. California plummeted 18.5¢ to $4.422.
-- Energy Information Administration
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Cattlemen considering a move to later calving may want to also
consider taking a look at their cowherd vaccination program.
Researchers are continuing to focus on Clostridium perfringens
Type A, an emerging pathogen often associated with severe calf disease
such as abomasitis, which can result in fatality rates from 5% to
50%.
“It’s a multifactorial disease,” says David Van Metre of Colorado
State University’s College of Veterinary Sciences. “No one has found
the complete set of factors that cause it.”
While the pathogen is more common in bottle-fed dairy calves, it can be
a problem in beef calves, according to Larry Hollis, Kansas State
University Extension beef veterinarian. “One scenario where it might
be a problem in beef calves is when calving is delayed into the spring
months such as April-May,” he says. “If the grass greens up and the
cows start milking heavily while the calves are still small, the calves
may engorge on milk and experience a problem.”
Van Metre recommends focusing prevention measures on enhancing immunity
and using feeding practices that inhibit proliferation in the gut. He
recommends:- Using good colostrum and milk/milk replacer
hygiene.
- Avoid feeding long-stem forage too early.
- Whenever possible during severe weather, encourage calves and dams
to stand up to limit milk engorgement by the calf after the weather
passes.
- Make sure animals have adequate copper and selenium
status.
Research indicates that vaccination can help control losses.
In a trial Van Metre conducted on a commercial dairy operation, he
randomly assigned cows and pregnant heifers to a control or a vaccinate
group. Vaccinates received two doses of clostridium perfringens
Type A toxoid.
“The cows and heifers receiving two doses of the vaccine generated
significantly higher antibody titers to alpha toxin one week after the
second immunization than did controls,” he says. “Additionally, the
calves ingesting colostrum from vaccinate dams had significantly higher
serum neutralizing antibody titers to alpha toxin than calves born to
controls.”
Hollis says February-March calves are usually big enough to consume all
the milk the cow produces once spring green-up comes around and she
starts milking heavily. However, younger calves might be at risk. “If
I were spring calving (April-May), I would consider including
vaccinations for Clostridium perfringens in my program,” he
says.
-- Burt Rutherford
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Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) in a letter to U.S. Trade Representative
Ambassador Susan Schwab indicated that the ethanol import tariff is
“explicitly permitted” under World Trade Organization (WTO) rules.
The letter was in response to questions raised by Sen. Dianne Feinstein
(D-CA) about whether the import tariff violates WTO rules.
Grassley said, “Besides the fact that the ethanol tariff is perfectly
in line with WTO obligations, it is also in line with our domestic
energy policy which focuses on using homegrown ethanol to help rural
communities across the country rather than sending more dollars to the
Middle East or Brazil. Brazil has yet to even take advantage of
exporting ethanol duty-free to the United States through the Caribbean
Basin Initiative. Until Brazil takes full advantage of its ability to
export ethanol duty-free, I don’t see why we should give Brazilian
ethanol more generous treatment.”
-- P. Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C.
correspondent
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Manure is an excellent source of nutrients and can enhance
biological activity and soil physical properties. But be careful when
applying it to alfalfa so you don't do more harm than good, warns Bruce
Anderson, University of Nebraska Extension forage specialist.
Liquid manure can burn leaves due to salt injury, while dry manure can
smother plants if applied too heavily or in large chunks. Manure also
can spread weed seeds, and the nitrogen in manure can stimulate grasses
already in the alfalfa to become more competitive. Manure application
equipment also can damage alfalfa crowns and compact soil.
If forced to spread manure on alfalfa, follow these
suggestions:- Apply less than 3,000 gals. of liquid manure/acre,
or 10 tons of solid manure, to minimize salt burn or smothering. If
manure is dry, adjust the spreader to break up large chunks that can
smother growth.
- Spread manure immediately after removing a cutting to minimize
direct contact with foliage.
- Only spread manure when fields are dry and firm to limit soil
compaction and avoid wheel traffic damaging plant crowns.
- Finally, if you wish to stimulate grass yield, apply manure to
fields with lots of grass; otherwise, select fields with little grass if
you want to minimize grass competition.
--
Bruce Anderson, UNL Extension forage specialist
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The hope for widespread irradiation of the nation’s ground beef
supply received a boost this week with the Food and Drug
Administration’s (FDA) approval of the use of irradiation immediately
on spinach and iceberg lettuce. But it was a disappointing baby step as
the agency apparently acted just enough to mollify critics of its
inaction and keep critics of the technology at bay.
-- Click on headline to read the rest of this story by Joe
Roybal
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Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Judd Gregg (R-NH), and Richard Burr
(R-NC) have introduced bipartisan food-safety legislation, “The FDA
Food Safety Modernization Act,” that would improve the way that the
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) protects the safety of the food
supply.
Durbin said, “Over the last year we’ve seen major recalls of peanut
butter and jalapeno peppers spiked with salmonella, spinach laced with
E-coli and chili loaded with botulism. It’s clear these aren’t
isolated incidents and are the result of a food safety system that’s
outdated, under-funded and overwhelmed. Today’s bipartisan bill will
close many of the gaping holes in FDA’s food safety authority and help
to ensure the food on our store shelves is safe.”
The legislation would require domestic food facilities to write hazard
analysis critical control point (HACCP) plans; FDA would set
commodity-specific standards for fresh produce; high-risk imports to be
certified as meeting U.S. standards; and FDA to set up an accreditation
system for third-party inspectors of food facilities. More frequent
inspections, with specific timelines for high-risk facilities would be
conducted.
Along with mandatory recall authority, FDA also could suspend a food
facility’s registration if there is a reasonable probability a food
would cause serious adverse health consequences.
-- P. Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C.
correspondent
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After climbing steadily for two years, farmland values eased
somewhat in the Tenth Federal Reserve District, although values remained
well above year-ago levels. In the second quarter, irrigated land posted
an annual gain of 21.6% and the value of non-irrigated land rose 18.3%,
according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City’s second quarter
survey of agricultural credit conditions.
The survey of 265 banks in the Tenth Federal Reserve District (Colorado,
Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Wyoming, northern New Mexico and western
Missouri) found that the farm income index pulled back from record highs
due to the rising costs of energy-related crop inputs such as
fertilizer, fuel and chemicals. Rising input costs also boosted loan
demand as farmers borrowed to cover operating expenses.
To see a complete summary, go to www.KansasCityFed.org/agcrsurv/agcrmain.htm.
-- Kansas City Fed release
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Calving in April and weaning during August may produce a lighter
calf, but with feed costs at record levels, cow-calf producers will see
better returns under this production system, according to Kansas State
University Associate Professor KC Olson. Adopting this schedule helps
match peak nutrient availability, specifically grass production, with
the cow’s nutritional requirements for milk production.
He made the recommendation to about 200 beef producers and industry
stakeholders attending the KLA/K-State Ranch Management Field Day at the
ML Ranch near Peru, in Chautauqua County.
Olson says most producers feed hay from mid-October to mid-April. At an
estimated harvest cost of $70/ton, feed costs add up in a hurry. He
suggested leaving cows on dormant warm-season grass and providing 1.5
lbs./day of supplemental protein through the winter and early spring.
Research has proven this allows cows to maintain body condition, while
reducing feed costs by $150/head. Early weaning offers some of the same
advantages.
“Selling a lighter calf would seem to put you at a disadvantage, but
in this feed cost environment, the net return will be better,” Olson
says.
-- Kansas Livestock Association
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Twenty-five senators have written USDA Secretary Ed Schafer
concerning the implementation of the farm bill provision that eliminates
producers from receiving direct, counter-cyclical or ACRES (Average Crop
Revenue Election) payments on farms with 10 acres or less.
The letter is the result of USDA indicating it would not approve
requests for farm combination reconstitutions of farms that have base
aces of 10 acres or less if the request was received after the enactment
of the farm bill which was May 22, 2008. The letter points out that it
was the clear intent of Congress to allow for the aggregation of farms.
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) said, “USDA can’t just make up its own
rules when implementing a law that is clearly written. The Department
needs to follow the law and implement it as Congress intended.”
Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), chairman of the Senate Ag Committee, said,
“Now USDA is disallowing consolidation that simplifies its
administrative task and instead is focused on a punitive policy
approach. It does not make sense from a policy or practical
perspective.”
-- P. Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C.
correspondent
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Experts from the University of Minnesota and the livestock feed
industry will provide updates on animal feeding trends at the 69th
annual Minnesota Nutrition Conference, Sept. 16-17 at the Holiday Inn in
Owatonna, MN.
Highlights include updates on Minnesota research related to feeding
dairy and beef cattle, swine and poultry, as well as a keynote speech on
calculating the carbon footprint of livestock production.
Cost for the conference is $195 until Sept. 1, $230 after that date;
students, $100. To register, go to www.ansci.umn.edu/mnc.html.
-- University of Minnesota
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Key findings of the National Stocker Survey, recently completed by
BEEF magazine and 12 land-grant universities, is among the highlights of
the K-State Beef Stocker Field Day, Oct. 2.
Registration is at 9:30 a.m., with the program beginning at 10:15 a.m.
at Kansas State University’s (KSU) Beef Stocker Unit, located west of
Manhattan on west Marlatt Ave.
The event, designed to give producers the latest practical info to help
them adapt to recent significant changes in the beef industry,
features:- Wes Ishmael, BEEF magazine, “Key Findings From the
National Stocker Survey,” and
- Denny Hausmann, Alpharma Animal Health, "Current Concepts in
Medicated Feed Additives."
In addition, KSU Extension researchers
and specialists will discuss:- New realities of conducting
business in the stocker segment.
- What’s the importance of temperature in diagnosing sickness.
- Making rational choices for stocker therapy.
- Use of byproducts for exploiting efficient performance.
- The implications of heavier cattle being fed for shorter days.
- A visual tour of the progression of pneumonia.
- Proper injection considerations for quality beef assurance.
- How much do cutting bulls really cost?
Info also will be
available regarding ultrasound applications for earlier detection of
quality cattle, the latest innovation in data collection and scale head
technology; and cattle handling facilities.
Early registration is $25 if paid by Sept. 15. For more info or to
register, contact Lois Schreiner at 785-532-1267 or lschrein@ksu.edu; or visit www.ksubeef.org.
-- KSU news release
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When 17 busloads of beef producers embarked on the Minnesota State
Cattlemen’s Summer Tour and Trade Show in Windom, MN on July 15,
BEEF magazine was there. Now you can get a front-row seat of the
tour highlights via five video profiles available at www.beefmagazine.com.
Sponsored by the Minnesota Cottonwood Cattle Producers, participants
toured four cow-calf operations and three feedlots. Travelers witnessed
prime examples of operations feeding naturally raised cattle, improving
genetics, finding a niche market through boxed-beef sales, and even
monitoring nutritional intake of livestock by adding electrolytes to the
water.
BEEF intern Amanda Nolz also interviewed five producers for their
feedback on the practices they witnessed on the tour, as well as their
thoughts on the state of the beef industry. The videos from the event
can be found on BEEF TV at beefmagazine.com/beeftv/.
-- Amanda Nolz
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