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Reversing the trend of the previous three weeks, the national
average price of regular gasoline at retail dropped 0.9¢ to $1.838/gal.
for the week ending Jan. 26. Meanwhile, the national average price of
diesel slipped 2.8¢ to reach $2.268/gal.
The weekly gasoline average was $1.139 lower than the price a year ago.
The East Coast was up 0.6¢ to $1.816, the Midwest was down 5.4¢ to
$1.82, the Gulf Coast was unchanged at $1.729, the Rocky Mountain region
was up 3.7¢ to $1.644, and the West Coast rose 2.8¢ to $2.057.
California was up 3.1¢ to $2.095.
Diesel dropped in all regions, with the East Coast shedding 3.3¢ to
$2.344, the Midwest 3.2¢ to $2.232, the Gulf Coast 2.5¢ to $2.202, the
Rocky Mountains 0.6¢ to $2.243, and the West Coast 1.9¢ to $2.319.
California fell 2.3¢ to $2.296/gal.
-- Energy Information Administration
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Meat buyers pay a premium for Certified Angus Beef® brand products
and more than $200 million in grid premiums have been returned to
producers. Angus, the power of people and progress.
www.angus.org
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Producers continue to have a favorable opinion about the Beef
Checkoff Program, despite the current economic challenges facing the
industry. A representative survey of 1,200 beef producers nationwide
found that 68% of producers approved of the checkoff, down from 72% a
year ago.
“With negative market conditions we expected that overall approval
might drop,” says Richard Nielson, an Ephraim, UT, cow-calf producer
and chairman of the Joint Producer Communications Committee.
The late December and early January survey asked producers whether they
agreed or disagreed with a series of statements about the checkoff. A
large majority, 83%, felt the checkoff program has helped contribute to
a positive trend in consumer demand for beef. About the same number
believed the program had value in weak economic conditions and were
confident the checkoff is on their side during a crisis.
When it comes to their own operation, roughly 70% of respondents felt
the checkoff helped contribute to the profitability of their operations.
And 64% believed the checkoff program is being managed well. To view the
full report, go to: www.beefboard.org/news/files/Checkoff%20in%20the%20news/Beefmemo0901b2.pdf.
-- Cattlemen’s Beef Board
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Climate expert Art Douglas delivered his 32nd annual weather outlook
to attendees of the “CattleFax Outlook 2009” session in Phoenix on
Thursday.
“Cold La Nina conditions along the equator will continue to
keep the tropical jet stream weaker than normal across the southern tier
of states. With a weak jet, late winter and spring drought will continue
to strengthen from California into Texas and the Southeast. Drought
impact will be most severe in California and Texas and sections of the
Piedmont.
“The heavy snow pack in the northern Corn Belt will retard spring
warming and result in excess oil moisture from the eastern Dakotas into
Minnesota, Wisconsin and northern sections of Iowa and Illinois. This
will not be favorable for early field work in the upper Midwest. La
Nina conditions are forecast for the late spring and this should
result in normal to slightly below normal rainfall in the central Corn
Belt.
“Assuming La Nina conditions persist into the middle of the
summer, the best bet is for a slightly warmer and drier summer from the
northern Rockies into western portions of the Corn Belt. The summertime
ridge of high pressure across the nation should be stronger than normal
due to the combined effects of La Nina, a warm Atlantic and a
cold East Pacific. This combination typically favors a relatively active
summer monsoon pattern in the Southwest.
“Argentina and Uruguay continue to be gripped in severe drought while
crop areas of Brazil appear to be progressing well. Only slight
improvement in likely in the crop in Argentina during the next month.
Australia continues to be gripped by drought in the southern two-thirds
of the continent while the north is enjoying a healthy summer monsoon.
If La Nina conditions persist into July and August, winter rain
areas of southern Australia could show improved wheat and grazing
conditions in their upcoming winter.”
-- CattleFax Outlook 2009 Executive Summary
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Marinating beef in red wine or beer may reduce the levels of
potentially cancer-promoting compounds, according to a study from
Portugal, reports www.FoodNavigator.com.
According to University of Porto researchers, the beer or red wine
marinade reduced levels of heterocyclic amines by up to 88%.
Heterocyclic amines, formed during the frying or grilling of fish and
meat, are reported to promote carcinogenesis in humans.
Reporting in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, the
researchers marinated eight beef samples in pilsner beer, eight in red
wine, and kept four as control samples. The beef was marinated for
different amounts of time, ranging from 1-6 hours, followed by frying.
All samples marinated in red wine or beer contained lower levels of
heterocyclic amines than the control samples, the researchers reported.
Carcinogenic compounds such as
2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine and
2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline were reduced by 88% and
40%, respectively, after marinating for six hours.
Furthermore, the levels of 4,8-DiMeIQx, a compound with reported
mutagenic properties, was reduced significantly when the beer marinade
was used.
In taste-panel tests of pan-fried steak (control) or red wine- or
beer-marinated steaks, no significant difference was found in the odor,
color and overall quality of steaks marinated in beer and the control,
non-marinated steaks. The marinade duration was limited to two hours as
a longer marinade was reported to produce detrimental effects on odor,
color and overall quality.
To see the article, go to: www.foodnavigator.com.
-- FoodNavigator.com
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Search, sort, select your seedstock.
The Limousin Exchange is an easy, efficient way to locate and sort bulls
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www.nalf.org
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The Minnesota Board of Animal Health (MBAH – www.bah.state.mn.us) says a
farmed elk, a seven-year-old female, from an Olmsted County herd tested
positive for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD).
As part of mandatory surveillance program requirements, the elk’s
brain stem and lymph nodes had been submitted to USDA’s National
Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) in Ames, IA, after slaughter. NVSL
confirmed the animal had CWD, and MBAH quarantined the herd on Jan. 23.
Minnesota implemented mandatory registration and CWD surveillance
programs for farmed cervidae herds in 2003. When farmed cervidae over 16
months of age die or are slaughtered, herd owners must submit brain
samples for CWD testing.
CWD is a fatal brain and nervous system disease found in cervidae in
certain parts of North America. The disease is caused by an abnormally
shaped protein called a prion, which can damage brain and nerve tissue.
Infected animals show progressive loss of body weight with accompanying
behavioral changes. In later stages of the disease, infected animals
become emaciated (thus “wasting” disease). Other signs include
staggering, consuming large amounts of water, excessive urination, and
drooling. There is no evidence that CWD can be transmitted to humans.
For more on CWD, visit www.bah.state.mn.us.
-- Minnesota Board of Animal Health
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Two producer-panelists speaking at the recent BEEF Quality
Summit shared their perspective on what it means to manage costs and
product quality for profit.
-- Click on headline to read the rest of this
story by Alaina Burt
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Protect your calves right from preg-check.
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Scour Bos® is a registered trademark of Novartis AG.
www.livestock.novartis.com/offers.html
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Here are the highlights of the U.S. cattle industry’s long-term
outlook, according to officials addressing the “CattleFax Outlook
2009” session in Phoenix on Thursday.
“Per-capita beef supplies will decline 1.5-2.0 lbs. during 2009.
Supplies are expected to continue to decline into 2011.
“Per-capita meat supplies (beef, pork and poultry) are expected to
decline nearly 4 lbs. during 2009. This will be the largest year-to-year
decline since 1981-82.
“Demand will be the biggest wildcard during 2009-2010, both
domestically and globally. The magnitude of the current recession
suggests this will be the longest and one of the deepest of any time in
history. Demand is expected to remain soft through 2009, but exports are
still expected to grow compared to 2008.
“Production costs will moderate during 2009 compared to last year.
Costs will remain elevated but should decline slightly for the year in
total.
“The single biggest opportunity for the U.S. beef and cattle industry
is expanding market access for U.S. beef products.
“Opening the Japanese market to product less than 30 months of age
could add nearly $4/cwt. to the fed market and $10/cwt. to the calf
market.
“Mexico and Canada are two of the largest export destinations for U.S.
beef. Non-tariff trade barriers, like mandatory country of origin
labeling, are short-sighted legislation for an industry trying to
compete in a global marketplace. If the U.S were to lose access to
Mexico and Canada, it would negatively impact the market by nearly
$50-$60/head on all classes of cattle.”
-- CattleFax Outlook 2009 Executive Summary
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USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack is directing USDA to extend the comment
period for the payment limits rule for an additional 60 days. Vilsack
says, “Let's be clear – in no way is this move a signal that we will
modify the rules for the 2009 crop year. Sign-up has begun and it's
important that clear and consistent rules remain in place so that
producers can prepare for the crop year and manage their risk
appropriately."
USDA has received seven comments on the proposed payment limits rule.
-- P. Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C.
correspondent
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Just as historically short cattle numbers are adding support to the
topsy-turvy cattle markets, the dairy industry is seeking to make a
buy-out program for that industry part of the nation’s economic
stimulus package.
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) sent a letter to the
Senate last week opposing the proposal.
“The cattle industry is not subsidized by the government, nor do we
wish to be,” says Andy Groseta, NCBA president. “However, we are
subject to the unintended consequences of policy directed towards other
sectors of agriculture, such as the dairy industry. Flooding the market
with beef and driving down the price for our products will be
devastating for America’s cattle producers.”
Groseta explains the proposal would use taxpayer dollars to raise dairy
prices by buying older dairy cows from farmers, taking approximately 6.5
billion gals. of milk off the market. This would result in nearly
320,000 additional head of cattle entering the beef market, which could
drastically reduce the price of beef cattle.
“All of agriculture is experiencing the impact of the current economic
downturn, and the cattle industry is no different,” Groseta says.
According to NCBA, proponents of the buyout suggest lessening the
consequences for the cattle industry by using USDA Section 32 funds to
purchase ground beef. A similar plan was implemented in 1986, which
didn’t prevent the cattle market from crashing. The 1986 buyout
resulted in a 25% decrease in the price paid to producers for beef
cattle and sent the cattle markets to the lowest point seen in the last
30 years. In total, the beef industry saw a $1-billion loss from the
buy-out in 1986.
“NCBA doesn’t support utilizing taxpayer dollars to both fund this
proposed buyout and to try and mitigate its ill effects on the cattle
business,” Groseta says. “This is a flawed proposal and we urge
Congress not to include it in the stimulus package.”
Now would be a good time to express your thoughts about it to your
senators.
-- Wes Ishmael, BEEF Stocker Trends
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The American Grassfed Association will host its sixth annual
conference Feb. 5-7 in Lexington, KY. Participants will learn economic
strategies in alternative ranching/farming practices, hear an update on
government regulations and see carcass-cutting demonstrations, among
other things. For info, log on to www.americangrassfed.org.
-- American Grassfed Association release
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The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Ready Campaign,
in partnership with The Advertising Council, is introducing a series of
social media tools to further engage Americans in emergency
preparedness. The initiative is an extension of “Resolve to be Ready
in 2009,” a nationwide effort to encourage individuals, families,
businesses and communities to prepare for emergencies in 2009.
The tools will engage Americans in taking the three simple steps
communicated in the Ready Campaign: Get an emergency supply kit, make a
family emergency plan, and be informed about the types of emergencies
that can happen in your area and their appropriate responses.
At the initiative’s center is a new webpage, “Be Prepared,” which
features an interactive widget providing updates on emergency
situations, local emergency contact info, an instructional video,
emergency-kit checklists and guidelines on how to better prepare for an
emergency. Users can also access a clickable map to find contact info
for state and local government agencies.
The widget helps users stay up to date on the latest Ready activities
through Twitter news feeds (by following the user name
“ReadydotGov”). The widget can be posted to social-networking
profiles, blogs, wikis and personal homepages.
The program also includes a tool for visitors to create a comprehensive
family emergency plan and share important info with family and friends.
Furthermore, visitors are encouraged to share their preparedness story
by submitting a video to the Ready Campaign Video Blog. Access the new
webpage by clicking on the online banner on the homepage of www.ready.gov.
-- DHS release
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The chairmen and ranking members for the House Ag Subcommittees were
named this week. Conservation, Credit, Energy and Research: Tim Holden
(D-PA), chairman, and Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), ranking member; Department
Operations, Oversight, Nutrition and Forestry: Joe Baca (D-CA),
chairman, and Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE), ranking member; General Farm
Commodities and Risk Management: Leonard Boswell (D-IA), chairman, and
Jerry Moran (R-KS), ranking member; Horticulture and Organic Ag: Dennis
Cardoza (D-CA), chairman, and Jean Schmidt (R-OH), ranking member;
Livestock Dairy, and Poultry: David Scott (D-GA), chairman, and Randy
Neugebauer (R-TX), ranking member; and Rural Development, Biotechnology,
Specialty Crops, and Foreign Ag: Mike McIntyre (D-NC), chairman, and
Michael Conaway (R-TX), ranking member.
-- P. Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C.
correspondent
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The House Ag Committee expects to conduct oversight on a number of
issues during the 111th Congress. Some of the items the committee has
indicated it expects to review are:
- USDA’s implementation of the 2008 farm bill.
- Current state of health of the U.S. farm economy.
- USDA’s implementation of the farm bill payment limit and adjusted
gross income provisions.
- Increase in agribusiness consolidation.
- USDA’s implementation of the energy title of the farm bill.
- Availability of biofuels pumps and approved fuels.
- EPA’s regulation of Animal Feeding Operations.
- Role and effectiveness of the Federal Crop Insurance Program.
- Address sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) barriers and other
technical barriers to U.S. ag exports and examine USDA efforts to
eliminate such barriers.
- USDA’s enforcement of the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act and
humane handling regulations.
- Assess effectiveness of the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards
Administration (GIPSA) in determining market manipulation in the
livestock industry.
- USDA’s mandatory livestock price reporting system.
-- P. Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C.
correspondent
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The House of Representatives passed an $819-billion stimulus package
with no Republican support. The bill includes approximately $275 billion
in tax cuts and almost $545 billion in domestic spending. The
Congressional Budget Office estimates that 65% will be spent by
September 2010. The Republicans offered a $475-billion alternative
focused heavily on reducing individual and business taxes which
failed.
-- P. Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C.
correspondent
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Winners of the National Beef Backer Award, which recognizes chain
and independent restaurant operators who excel in menuing and marketing
beef, were announced this week. This year’s national winners include:
Cattlemens Restaurants (Santa Rosa, CA) in the “Independent”
category, Charlie Brown’s Steakhouse (Mountainside, NJ) in the
“Chain” category and Merriman’s Restaurants (Kamuela, HA) as the
“Innovator of the Year.”
- Cattlemens Restaurants is a regional chain with eight locations
in Northern California. Founded in 1968 by ranchers Pete Gillham Sr.,
and Pete Gillham Jr., it features the best cuts of beef, served simply
and in generous portions in a charming Western ambiance. John Frenzel,
marketing director for Cattlemens Restaurants, says, “With a
mouthwatering menu, innovative beef promotions and a dedication to
satisfying guests, Cattlemens Restaurants has remained a place where
tradition has outlasted the trendy.” All steaks are hand-cut on
premise the same day they’re served, then grilled to perfection,
Frenzel says.
- Charlie Brown’s Steakhouse has been committed to serving beef
selections at an incredible value for 40 years. In addition to
traditional prime rib and steak cuts, the firm features newer beef cuts
such as the Ranch and Flat Iron steaks as a way to continue offering
their patrons a delicious steak at an affordable price,” says Tom Law,
executive chef.
- Merriman’s Restaurants’ chef and owner, Peter Merriman, says
beef is a central part of the upcountry Hawaii lifestyle, and its
regional menu. “Our partnership with local ranchers guarantees us
high-quality, great tasting beef products and an authentic dining
experience,” Merriman says.
-- Cattlemen’s Beef Board
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The Weather Channel has a new website aimed at ranchers and farmers.
The Farmers Forecast site adds ag-related alerts in addition to the
severe weather alerts already available at the www.weather.com site. These alert
producers to warnings with freeze, frost, high wind or hail indicators
for each forecasted day. Not only does the page include the percent of
precipitation, but an actual projection of the amount of rain expected.
In addition to 36-hour and 10-day forecasts, the new section includes an
almanac that allows users to compare the forecast with typical and
historical weather conditions. Producers can reference past weather
conditions and plan for their crops accordingly using info such as daily
and monthly averages, as well as actual reported conditions from the
day, week and month to date.
To see the weather site, go to www.weather.com/outlook/agriculture/forecast/73162
and enter your zip code.
-- Ron Hays, Radio Oklahoma Network
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Three new members were named to the Senate Ag Committee – Michael
Bennett (D-CO), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Mike Johanns (R-NE).
-- P. Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C.
correspondent
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North Dakota State University (NDSU) Extension is conducting two
workshops for individuals interested in starting a farm- or ranch-based
tourism business in North Dakota. Workshops are Feb. 10 at the McKenzie
County Courthouse in Watford City, and Feb. 12 at NDSU's Carrington
Research Extension Center.
The 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. programs will cover tourism trends and business
opportunities; assets for tourism in rural North Dakota; educational
vacations; financing an agri-tourism business; and the legal, liability
and health considerations of an agri-tourism business. The program also
will include a business assistance panel that will provide information
on how the NDSU Extension Service can assist these efforts, the North
Dakota Intern Program and student learning through YouTube (Watford City
only).
Registration is $15/person, plus $10 for each additional person from the
same organization or family before Feb. 6; or $25 at the door. Go to
www.ag.ndsu.edu/ccv/happenings.htm
for registration forms. Send the completed form and check payable to
NDSU Extension to: NDSU Extension Center for Community Vitality, 2718
Gateway Ave., #104, Bismarck, ND 58503. For more info, call 701-328-9718
or email kathleen.tweeten@ndsu.edu.
-- NDSU release
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The 2009 Overton Pasture and Management Workshop is now accepting
enrollment for two sessions, March 24-26 and March 31-April 2. Designed
to help novice and experienced ranchers fine tune their livestock
operations to reduce costs of inputs and increase returns, the courses
are set for the Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Overton.
Each session lasts three days, with time split between classroom and
in-field instruction. Topics cover all aspects of running a beef
operation, from establishing and maintaining high-quality forages to
calibrating sprayers, taking soil samples, castrating and vaccinating
cattle, and dehorning calves. Also included is training on writing a
business plan for a ranch, keeping proper records, choosing the
appropriate forage species for different soils, understanding soil
fertility, establishing forage systems that minimize winter feeding
costs, setting correct stocking rates, choosing the right cattle breeds,
promoting good animal health, and marketing cattle.
Enrollment for the three-day course is $350 and includes all meals,
coffee breaks, refreshments and workshop handbook. See a full agenda at
overton.tamu.edu/grazingschool.htm.
To register or for more info, contact Jennifer Lloyd at 903-834-6191 or
jllloyd@ag.tamu.edu.
-- Texas AgriLife news release
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The Senate Appropriations Committee included language in its portion
of the stimulus package that would prohibit the slaughter of
nonambulatory cattle for human food.
-- P. Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C.
correspondent
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USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) has produced a report on
the transformation of the U.S. livestock industry. The report looks at
the many factors that have gone into the change from smaller to larger
operations, as well as the implications.
Larger operations are able to realize lower costs and higher returns,
while tighter coordination among firms at different processing stages
can reduce financial risks, according to the report. This change has
been driven by strong financial pressures.
View the whole report at www.ers.usda.gov/publications/eib43.
-- USDA Economic Research Service
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USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack outlined his priorities this week in a
meeting with reporters. The priorities include:
-- Click on headline to read the rest of this
story by P. Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C. correspondent
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Ohio State University (OSU) Extension will offer a program series in
February to aid beef producers in managing their businesses while
staying on the cutting edge of the industry.
“Managing Dynamic Change in the Beef Cattle Industry” will be held
on consecutive Wednesdays and Thursdays in February. Hosted at two
locations, Highland County Training and Employment Center in Hillsboro
and Alexander High School in Albany, each program begins at 6 p.m.
OSU Extension, along with the Ohio Cattleman's Association (OCA) and the
Southern Ohio Agricultural and Community Development Foundation, will
host the program. Registration is $50 for the first person from a cattle
operation and $25 for each additional person from that same operation.
Go to fairfield.osu.edu/ag/beef/beefNovr12.html
to learn more, or contact John Grimes at 937-393-1918, Rory Lewandowski
at 740-593-8555, or OCA at 614-873-6736.
-- Ohio State University release
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