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Perhaps you heard the story of a young FFA member who led a walkout
of several thousand members from a Carrie Underwood concert a couple of
summers ago in protest of the country singer’s anti-meat positions and
association with the Humane Society of the United States. That young
person was Amanda Nolz. This fifth-generation rancher from Mitchell, SD,
is only 21 years old, but she already has a long record of advocacy for
the U.S. beef industry.
She’s the 2006 National Beef Ambassador and has produced her own blog
– chewingthecud.org –
since 2006, in which she’s opined about her love and dedication to
ranch life and beef-industry opportunities for young people. She also
has had her own weekly radio program on agriculture activist Trent
Loos’s “Faces Of Ag,” in addition to regular freelancing to
beef-industry publications.
The 2006 National FFA Extemporaneous Speaking champion, Amanda served
previous internships with USDA’s Ag Marketing Service in Washington
D.C., and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association in Denver, CO, in
addition to an internship with BEEF magazine this summer.
Now, she’s blogging her senior year at South Dakota State University
for BEEF magazine. You can catch up on the fresh musings of this
remarkable young woman every Monday through Thursday morning at blog.beefmagazine.com/beef_daily/.
Check it out and join the discussion.
-- Joe Roybal
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Things certainly look bleak for the McCain/Palin ticket right now.
The latest polls have Obama gaining significant momentum. In fact, the
latest CBS News poll has Barack Obama with a nine-point advantage. Just
two weeks ago, these very same polls showed McCain with all the momentum
and leading in the key toss-up states, but things have changed
dramatically.
-- Click on headline to read the rest of this
story by Troy Marshall
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Well, mandatory country-of-origin labeling (COOL) is now the law of
the land, or is it?
-- Click on headline to read the rest of this
story by Troy Marshall
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Outrage over the distorting of the intentions of the mandatory
country-of-origin (COOL) law supposedly led Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) to
introduce a bill that would modify the beef-checkoff program. Called the
“Beef Checkoff Modernization Act of 2008,” the biggest proposed
change is it would require at least 30% of checkoff revenues be spent on
promoting U.S. beef. This theoretically would be a way to pull
U.S.-labeled product into the system and rectify the problems being
experienced with mandatory COOL (See “The Chess Game Of Mandatory
COOL” elsewhere in this issue).
-- Click on headline to read the rest of this
story by Troy Marshall
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Proposition 2, “The Standards for Confining Farm Animals,"
proposed by the Humane Society of the U.S., will appear on the Nov. 4
California ballot. If successful, the new state statute will prohibit
the confinement of farm animals in a manner that doesn’t allow them to
turn around freely, lie down, stand up, and fully extend their limbs.
Additionally, the measure imposes a misdemeanor penalty and a fine of up
to $1,000 or imprisonment in county jail for up to six months for
violators. It also would ban cages for egg-laying poultry, gestation
crates for sows and veal crates for veal calves.
Florida, Arizona, Colorado and Oregon have passed similar laws involving
rights for swine and veal. But California's referendum is the first to
demand all egg-producing chickens in the state be cage free. Currently
5-8% of the eggs produced in California come from cage-free chickens.
California is responsible for about 6% of all the nation's table eggs, a
$330 million industry in 2007, reports the San Fransisco
Chronicle.
Proponents of the cage-free measure claim that not only will living
conditions and bird health be improved under the ban but the price of
eggs will come down. But Daniel Sumner, lead author of a UC-Davis
economic impact study who is director of UC's Agricultural Issues Center
and a professor of ag economics at Davis, says: "The most likely outcome
is that California's chicken farmers will go out of business."
Read the article at www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/30/BA6E1364MK.DTL.
-- Lean Trimmings and other sources
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There are some changes coming in our industry's ability to use
antibiotics.
-- Click on headline to read the rest of this
story by Mike Apley, DVM, Kansas State University
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In an attempt to force their government to address new demands,
Argentine farmers who staged an epic four-month ban on exports from
March to July of this year may resume beef and grain sales boycotts.
Eduardo Buzzi, one of the four main farm leaders, said on Sunday “We
are not only considering resuming the road protests, we are also mulling
whether to once again refrain from selling export grains and beef
cattle.” Earlier this year, road blocks caused food shortages in the
shops and supermarkets of Argentina and forced thousands of tons of
vegetables, fruit and dairy produce to go rotten by the side of the
road.
Despite government reassurances to the contrary, the farmers claim the
dispute over farm duties on exports is far from over. The earlier farmer
protests were related to proposed taxes on soybean production. Buzzi
says farmers now are asking for “a segmentation of export duties to
favor small farmers and medium-sized producers, along with a reform of
laws in relation to land leases and assistance for farmers affected by
the drought earlier this year.”
-- Muriel Elizabeth Hayes in Argentina
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As the U.S. House of Representatives considers a sweetened financial
bailout package, the rest of the world watches nervously to see how the
U.S. salts the blackening storm clouds looming on the economic horizon.
-- Click on headline to read the rest of this
story by Burt Rutherford
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This week has been a roller coaster ride for the “bailout” bill
with the House of Representatives defying both Republican and Democratic
leaders by voting the bill down and then the Senate passing the bill by
an overwhelming bipartisan vote on Wednesday night.
The Senate bill was heavily revised to attract wider support. It extends
a number of tax breaks for families and businesses that either expired
last year or are set to expire Dec. 31. And it increases the limit on
federal insurance for bank deposits from $100,000 to $250,000.
The business community sent a letter to Congress stating their
“profound disappointment” in the House vote rejecting the bill and
urging Congress to enact legislation to bring stability to credit
markets. The letter said, “If Congress fails to act and credit markets
tighten further, our associations’ members will find it more difficult
– if not impossible – to secure credit to run their companies, and
our members’ employees will find it harder to get mortgages, secure
auto loans, and borrow money to send their children to college.”
The associations signing the letter included the American Meat
Institute, Food Marketing Institute, Independent Community Bankers of
America, International Dairy Foods Association and National Restaurant
Association.
-- P. Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C.
correspondent
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This week mandatory country-of-origin labeling (COOL) went into
effect but there remains a number issues concerning the complexity of
the rule. Questions continue to be raised about the amount of product
that will be labeled as mixed-origin.
The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) in a letter to USDA said,
“There is now great concern that there will not be any exclusively
U.S. labeled meat because many within the industry have said that the
only label they will use is ‘Product of the U.S., Canada or Mexico.’
Farmers and ranchers are being told by some processors that unless they
check the multiple-origin label box (to certify the origin of their
animals) on their product affidavits, they will be audited. This
information is completely discouraging to a producer, not to mention the
fact that it is not a true statement.”
AFBF is asking USDA to conduct a “nationwide meat labeling survey”
to determine how much product, which product and where exclusively
U.S.-labeled meat is being sold. Because of the complexity of the rule,
USDA is initiating a six-month period of “informed compliance”
before enforcing mandatory COOL labeling requirements.
USDA will be conducting an industry education and outreach program
concerning COOL requirements. This means that during the first six
months, enforcement and the $1,000/violation fines won’t be executed.
-- P. Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C.
correspondent
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People place the call. Angus answers. Meat buyers pay a premium
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Campbell Soup Company is partnering with the National FFA
Organization and singer-songwriter Jewel to help raise awareness of
American ag. Through the “Help Grow Your Soup” campaign, Campbell
will donate $250,000 to assist FFA efforts.
Beginning this week, consumers can visit www.HelpGrowYour Soup.com and,
for each click on the red barn, Campbell will donate $1 up to $250,000
to the National FFA Organization to support its education and
sustainability efforts, as well as preserve several barns across the
country. The National FFA Alumni Association will spearhead the barn
preservation effort.
-- Campbell Soup Company
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Congress has passed legislation to suspend for the 2008 crop year a
farm-bill provision that required producers to have a minimum of 10-base
acres to receive program benefits. According to the House and Senate Ag
Committees, this legislation was needed to reverse USDA’s decision to
not allow producers to aggregate small base acreage.
Rep. Bob Etheridge (D-NC), chairman of the House Ag Subcommittee on
Commodities and Risk Management, said, “This is good news for
thousands of farmers who rent or lease smaller tracts of land for their
farms. It allows farmers to continue to receive payments for the work
they do on small farms, and ensures that our rural economy stays
strong.”
The bill now goes to President Bush for his consideration.
-- P. Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C.
correspondent
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In Cornell University’s Beef Cattle Merchandizing class, students
spend eight weeks learning to merchandize cattle and culminating in a
heifer sale. Students are completely responsible for planning,
advertising and executing the sale, which is set for Oct. 25 in Dryden,
NY.
Offered in the third annual sale are 19 bred Angus, Simmental, Herefords
and commercial heifers, with four special lots coming from Cornell's own
herd. The heifers all have ultrasound and temperament data, among other
data.
The sale is set for 1 p.m. at the Cornell Teaching and Research Barn,
preceded by a complementary noon lunch. To learn more, contact Mike
Baker, Cornell Extension beef cattle specialist, at mjb28@cornell.edu or
607-255-5923. Or visit www.ansci.cornell.edu/courses/as4700/heifer_sale.html.
-- Cornell University release
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Timing is everything where thistle control is concerned, and when it
comes to thistle control, October to early November is one of the best
times to use herbicides.
Bruce Anderson, University of Nebraska Extension forage specialist,
recommends you first inventory your pastures. Most thistle seedlings
will be small, in a flat, rosette growth form, and they are very
sensitive now to certain herbicides.
Several herbicides are effective and recommended for thistle control.
“Maybe the most effective is a newer herbicide called Milestone. Two
other very effective herbicides are Tordon 22K and Grazon. But be
careful with Tordon and Grazon since they also can kill woody plants,
including trees you might want to keep. 2,4-D also works well while
it’s warm, but you will get better thistle control by using a little
less 2,4-D and adding a small amount of Banvel to the mix,” he says.
Other herbicides also help control thistles in pastures – like Redeem,
Ally and Curtail. No matter which weed killer you use, though, be sure
to read and follow label instructions, and be sure to spray on time.
And Anderson has one more word of advice: “Next year, avoid
overgrazing your pastures so your grass stands get thicker and compete
with any new thistle seedlings.”
-- Bruce Anderson, UNL Extension Forage
Specialist
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A review of the fixed-time artificial insemination (AI) trial
carried out last fall in southwest Missouri is set for Oct. 14 at the
University of Missouri (MU) Southwest Research Center in Mt. Vernon. The
program begins with a noon lunch followed by researchers Dave Patterson
and Dan Busch reviewing the trials they’ve held around Missouri.
“They will explain the accepted protocols for fixed-time AI and
discuss bulls that seem better suited to that type of program,” says
Eldon Cole, MU Extension livestock specialist. Also included is a field
trip to the Cope Farm south of Aurora to view calves from those timed
matings.
The program is open to the public but registration must be made prior to
Oct. 10 by contacting Cole at 417-466-3102.
-- University of Missouri Extension
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The Texas AgriLife Extension Service and the Chicago Mercantile
Exchange (CME) will conduct a marketing and hedging seminar Oct. 16 in
Abilene, TX. Speakers from the CME, several brokerage firms and AgriLife
Extension will give a hedging overview, discuss the basics of options
and give overviews of grain, cattle and beef markets and the beef
trading environment, as well as offer tips on managing input costs.
Pre-registration by Oct. 14 is free. To register, call the Texas
AgriLife Extension office in Abilene at 325-672-6048.
-- Texas AgriLife Extension release
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It’s possible. Researchers at the University of Virginia are
working on a handheld device for use in human medicine that may
eventually allow doctors, crime-scene investigators, pharmacists and
others to quickly conduct DNA tests from almost anywhere.
James Landers, University of Virginia professor of chemistry and
mechanical engineering and associate professor of pathology, and his
colleagues are developing a handheld device the size of a microscope
slide that houses many of the analytical tools of an entire laboratory,
in extreme miniature.
“This area of research has matured enough during the last five years
to allow us to seriously consider future possibilities for devices that
would allow sample in-answer out capabilities from almost anywhere,”
he says.
-- Sciencedaily.com
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Kansas State University´s (KSU) 60th annual Kansas Income Tax
Institute is scheduled for eight locations across Kansas. Sponsored by
KSU Research and Extension, all sessions for the two-day institute are
from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Cost of the institute for both days is $220 if paid no later than two
weeks prior to the date of the session, and $245 after. One-day
registration is also available.
Dates and locations for the institutes include:- Oct. 28-29 –
Salina Holiday Inn;
- Oct. 29-30 – Wichita Holiday Inn Select;
- Nov. 10-11 – Topeka Holiday Inn;
- Nov. 17-18 – Garden City Clarion Inn;
- Nov. 18-19 – Colby Comfort Inn;
- Nov. 19-20 – Fort Hays State University Memorial Union in Hays;
- Dec. 1-2 – Olathe/Kansas City - Holiday Inn;
- Dec. 16-17 – Pittsburg State University Overman Student Center,
Pittsburg.
Find more info on speakers and program at: www.agmanager.info/events/Tax%20Institute/2008.asp.
-- Kansas State University
release
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The FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) has launched a new
database of approved animal drugs. “Animal Drugs@FDA” (www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/animaldrugsatfda/),
is a publicly-accessible web-based application available through the CVM
home page.
It replaces the "Database of Approved Animal Drug Products," also known
as the Green Book, which was developed and managed by the
Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine Drug
Information Laboratory at Virginia Tech University.
At Animal Drugs@FDA, users can
search for detailed descriptions of all new FDA-approved animal drugs.
The search tool not only allows users to conduct simple word searches,
but is also capable of more complex searches through the following eight
specific search criteria: NADA/ANADA, Sponsor, Ingredients, Proprietary,
Dose Form, Route, Species, and Indication.
Under the Generic Animal Drug and Patent Term Restoration Act (GADPTRA),
CVM will continue to make available electronic files of listed drugs
previously provided through the Green Book on its web site.
-- Center for Veterinary Medicine release
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According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s latest
“Monthly Energy Review,” renewable energy accounted for more than
10% of the domestically produced energy used in the U.S. in the first
half of 2008.
Through June 30, the U.S. consumed 50.673 quadrillion Btu (quads) of
energy – 34.162 quads from domestic sources and 16.511 quads were
imported.
Domestically-produced renewable energy (biomass/biofuels, geothermal,
hydropower, solar, wind) totaled 3.606 quads — an amount equal to
10.56% of U.S. energy consumption that is domestically-produced. This
share is only slightly less than the contribution from nuclear power
(11.98%).
Biomass and biofuels combined presently constitute the largest source of
renewable energy in the U.S. (1.883 quads) followed by hydropower (1.387
quads).
Wind power experienced the largest growth rate — increasing by almost
49% from the first half of 2007 compared to the first half of 2008
(0.244 quad, up from 0.164 quad).
Solar and geothermal contributions were at roughly the same levels in
2008 as they were in 2007. However, both are poised to greatly expand
their market share in the near future.
-- Delta Farm Press
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Well above average hurricane activity is expected for October,
according to the Colorado State University (CSU) hurricane forecast
team. Three named storms are expected this month with two of the three
to become hurricanes and one of those to be a major (Category 3-4-5)
hurricane.
Through September, this season has experienced 12 named storms, six
hurricanes and three major hurricanes, the CSU team says. There have
been 74.5 named storm days so far – nearly twice the number of named
storm days expected through the end of September.
“We predict October will be quite active based on climate signals
through September," says William Gray, who has been issuing hurricane
forecasts at CSU for the last 25 years. “There has been a strong
clustering of hurricane activity around mid-July and late August-early
September. We think we are now entering a new period of heightened
activity that is likely to go for another two to three weeks.” For
detailed info, go to tropical.atmos.colostate.edu.
-- Colorado State University release
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For the second week in a row, gasoline prices dropped in all U.S.
regions (week ending Sept. 29), shaving 8.6¢ to hit a national average
retail price for regular of $3.632/gal. Meanwhile, the U.S. average
diesel price remained unchanged at $3.959.
Since the July 7 all-time high, gasoline has fallen by 48¢/gal. For the
week, the East Coast was at $3.664, the Midwest $3.609, and the Gulf
Coast and Rocky Mountains at $3.60. The West Coast recorded $3.642,
while California was $3.67.
Meanwhile, diesel was down on the East Coast, Rocky Mountains, and West
Coast but up in the Midwest and Gulf Coast. The East Coast recorded an
average price for the week slightly above $4, while the Midwest was
$3.936, the Gulf Coast $3.929, the Rocky Mountains $3.944, and the West
Coast $3.941. California was $3.963/gal.
-- U.S. Energy Information
Administration
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USDA’s two remaining informational sessions on mandatory
country-of-origin labeling (COOL) are set for Oct. 7 and 9. The sessions
are designed to provide detailed information about the COOL program to
growers, packers, suppliers, handlers, retailers, consumers and other
interested parties.
Oct. 7 – 1:30 - 4:30 p.m., Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites,
Lakeville, MN.
Oct. 9 – 1:30 - 4:30 p.m., Marriott Renaissance Montura Hotel,
Los Angeles Airport.
Learn more at www.ams.usda.gov/cool.
Follow the link to Informational Sessions.
-- National Meat Association Lean Trimmings
newsletter
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USDA’s Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration
(GIPSA) will hold three, town-hall meetings to receive public comments
and recommendations on the farm bill as it relates to the swine and
poultry industries. The meetings will focus on the use of arbitration in
poultry and livestock contracts, and will be used to help GIPSA
promulgate regulations. The meetings are set for Oct. 14 in Van Buren,
AR; Oct. 16 in Ames, IA; and Oct. 22 in Gainesville, GA.
-- P. Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C.
correspondent
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