|
|
|
With the Senate passing its version of the stimulus package, the
stimulus, or “spendulous” bill as some call it, was likely to pass
both houses as early as the end of this week. Reasonable people will
disagree vehemently on the impact of this bill both positively and
negatively, but it is a historic moment. A bill that will spend well
over $800 billion when combined with earlier measures, makes this one of
the most significant endeavors ever undertaken by our government.
The resulting 1,071-page bill knocked out in committee, which insiders
admit few will have a chance to read before it’s voted on, is on a
fast track for passage today. Previously, Democrats had promised that
the public would have 48 hours to digest the bill and its provisions
before a final vote. That pledge appears to have gone out the window.
House Republican Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA) wrote on Twitter, “Those in
favor of speed over commonsense may just be afraid of letting the People
know what they are ramming through.”
The biggest benefit of the stimulus package may not have anything to do
with the bill itself, but that it signals a shift in rhetoric from the
leadership. This bill was a tremendous political opportunity in terms of
effecting change, but it was opposed by the majority of Americans.
The sad result was that political leaders had to adopt the tactic of
making sure that people understood it was needed and needed quickly.
This tactic led to a steady stream of claims asserting that conditions
were dire and the economy was on the verge of permanent disaster.
The inevitable cycle was jumpstarted as a result – expenditures
decreased, business revenues declined, layoffs skyrocketed, concern
grew, and the trough grew deeper and more serious with each passing day.
Hopefully, with the stimulus package now done, the leadership will begin
the work of rebuilding the consumer confidence it’s worked so hard to
tear down as a strategy in getting the bill passed.
-- Troy Marshall
|
 Actual feedlot performance data clearly shows
performance always pays. Recent data on over 100,000 head of steers
demonstrates today’s ideal steer gains 3.5 lbs. or more per day,
finishes at 1,400 lbs. and qualifies for additional premiums paid for
high quality carcasses.
To read the entire white paper, click here. >>>
|
|
A recent Certified Angus Beef news release heralded the work of
science journalist Gary Taubes, who makes a compelling case that
carbohydrates and low-fat diets may be the cause of much of our
nutritional problems. His book, "Good Calories, Bad Calories," is a
compelling read, especially as he details how red meat has gotten a bad
rap.
Ultimately the concept of their being labeled a “good food” or a
“bad food” is fundamentally flawed. A balanced diet and healthy
lifestyle isn’t always the most popular thing, but it is probably
where we’re heading.
This week I saw an article in Nation's Restaurant News regarding
a Chandler, AZ restaurant called the Heart Attack Grill. It’s a
marketing concept many in the industry would cringe at, but the
outfit’s signature item is an 8,000-calorie burger that features four
hamburger patties, 12 slices of bacon, and four types of cheeses; it’s
called “the quadruple-bypass” burger. What’s more, the French
fries, made with lard, are called “flat liners,” and the waitresses
are dressed like nurses. Well, you get the picture.
It might not exactly be promoting a healthy lifestyle, but I'll probably
be able to tell you how that single bypass burger tastes.
-- Troy Marshall
|
|
Stung by the recent success of the Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS)
in garnering public attention, People For the Ethical Treatment of
Animals (PETA) is apparently ratcheting up its rhetoric and protest
activities to regain its notoriety. This week, the Quiznos subway
sandwich chain announced its new animal-welfare policy created in
conjunction with PETA. The cage-free, crate-free, and more humane
slaughtering guidelines are one thing, but the real agenda shined
through when Quiznos announced it was removing eggs altogether from
three of its four cookies.
-- Click on headline to read the rest of this
story by Troy Marshall
|
Search, sort, select your seedstock.
The Limousin Exchange is an easy, efficient way to locate and sort bulls
and females that fit your specifications:
- State
- Breeder
- Percent Limousin
- EPDs
- Color
- Polled status
- Age
- More …
Search, sort and select your Limousin and Lim-Flex® seedstock
today.
www.nalf.org
|
|
The 2007 Census for Ag was released last week. It shows the number
of U.S. farms has increased the last five years, but small and large
farms are squeezing out midsized operations. Some of the results
include:
- Number of farms – 2.205 million in 2007 compared to 2.130
million in 2002.
- New farms tend to be smaller and more diverse.
- In 2007, 125,000 farms produced 75% of the value of U.S. ag
production compared to 144,000 farms in 2002.
- Average farm size declined to 418 acres in 2007 compared to 441
acres in 2002.
- Harvested cropland (total) – 309.608 million acres (2007) vs.
302.697 million acres (2002)
- Products sold (average per-farm market value of products) –
$134,807 (2007) compared to $92,245 (2002).
- 30% more women as principal farm operators.
- 10% increase in Hispanic operators.
- Average farmer’s age was 57.1 years in 2007
-- P. Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C. correspondent
|
|
Anne Burkholder of Will Feed Inc. in Cozad, NE, and Longmont, CO
dairyman Jim Docheff are recipients of the 2009 Beef Quality Assurance
(BQA) Award. The two were cited for “their exceptional day-to-day
focus on quality, safety and wholesomeness.”
Funded in part by the beef checkoff, the BQA Awards program is also
supported by Safeway, on behalf of its Rancher’s Reserve® beef brand,
and Cargill.
-- To read more from Cattlemen’s Beef Board
release, go to: www.beefusa.org/NEWS2009BQAAwardWinnersAnnounced37672.aspx
|
 More Pounds without Bigger
Cows
Cattle producers need every edge in today’s tough economy. Get more
pounds of calf to sell by using Gelbvieh or Balancer bulls on those
British-based cows. The Gelbvieh-influenced heifer mates give you the
benefits of a crossbred cow without a larger mature cow size, according
to MARC data. Get more at www.smartcross.org
|
|
When BEEF magazine and Elanco Animal Health partnered up to
present the first National Stocker Award competition four years ago, the
primary hope was to highlight the importance of the stocker industry,
recognize leading stocker operators, and give stocker producers an
opportunity to learn from their peers. Turns out the process is also
helping participants learn more about their own operations.
“I encourage stocker operators to participate in this contest. The
application process really makes you sit down and evaluate the strengths
and weaknesses of your business in a new light. We’re privileged to
have won and we know there are a lot of other top operations out there
who can submit applications reflective of their outstanding efforts,”
says John Paul Pendergrass of Pendergrass Cattle Company, Inc. at
Charleston, AR. He and his dad, John Frank, were named the National
Stocker Award winner in 2008.
This year’s contest, which began Feb. 1, offers the same opportunity,
though perhaps more simply. The application has been streamlined, and
only finalists will be asked to submit profit metrics for up to five
groups of calves.
The winner receives $5,000 cash and an expense-paid trip to the National
Cattle Industry Convention in San Antonio next year, courtesy of Elanco
Animal Health. The winner also receives an expense-paid trip to the
BEEF Quality Summit in St. Joseph, MO, courtesy of BEEF
magazine. Two runners-up will each receive $1,000 cash from Elanco.
So sharpen your pencils and plan to participate. Nominations close May
1. Application forms and a sample application are available online at
www.nationalstockeraward.com.
-- Wes Ishmael
|
|
A survey of American consumers’ confidence in the safety of the
food they purchase in grocery stores was released by the Rasmussen
Report. The report found 83% of Americans are confident in the food
they purchase from the grocery store.
The survey was completed during the peanut-butter recall. According to
the survey, 42% of respondents claim they’ve avoided eating peanut
butter since the nationwide salmonella outbreak made the headlines in
mid-January.
-- P. Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C.
correspondent
|
Portable Power!
Gallagher’s B100 Solar Energizer has a 5-Watt solar panel that will
power up to
60 acres/7 miles of multi-wire permanent fence with stored energy of 0.8
Joules.
It has highly visible low-battery and fence voltage indicator lights.
The comfortable
carry handle allows easy transportation providing dependable and
portable power.
For more information, click here www.gallagherusa.com/permanent.component.aspx?mktprodid=892
|
|
The economic downturn in China has caused more than 20 million
Chinese peasant farmers working in factories in the major cities to
return to the land. The migrant workers had been forced by the
devastating May 2008 earthquake into the cities to find work.
Prior to the economic downturn, the Chinese government had introduced
interest-free loans for machinery purchases and other incentives to lure
the farmers back to the land. The result is that farmers have gone home
by the millions, and there’s not enough land to sustain them.
Rice needs more water than any other grain crop, but China is
experiencing its worst drought ever. The combination is causing chaos in
the rural sectors, as fear rises of riots and demonstrations by farmers
seeking more government support. That’s according to foreign companies
involved in farming in China.
-- Muriel Elizabeth Hayes,
Argentina
|
|
Learn more about estrous synchronization protocols for beef cows and
heifers at a webinar being offered by the Beef Cattle Clearinghouse
eXtension Community of Practice on March 25. The noon to 1:15 p.m. (CST)
webinar will help viewers sort out synchronizing protocols that are used
for heifers and cows and the application of those protocols.
The webinar will be presented by Glenn Selk, Oklahoma State University,
and Les Anderson, University of Kentucky, beef cattle specialists with a
focus in beef cattle reproduction. The webinar can be viewed from a home
or office computer, or as part of a program at the extension office by
clicking on
connect.extension.iastate.edu/beefcattle/.
At the login page, enter your name under the "Enter as a Guest"
heading, then click on "Enter Room." The instructions that detail how
to join the integrated phone audio conference will be on the screen when
you join the meeting.
Anytime before the meeting you can visit the following URL to confirm
your ability to connect to the Connect server: www.extension.iastate.edu/testconnect/.
-- Beef Cattle Clearinghouse eXtension Community
of Practice
|
|
An outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD) was confirmed in the
province of Basra, Iraq over the weekend. Only 1,200 animals were
initially reported as infected in this very remote area but as many as
120,000 animals could be affected, officials say.
In a Feb. 6 report, Reuters says Sabah Jassim, general director of the
Basra-based Veterinary Company, which is affiliated to the Agriculture
Ministry, says FMD is endemic in Iraq. “It is a disease like other
diseases that hit animals. The Iraqi Agriculture Ministry is adopting a
scientific plan to deal with it," Jassim said. He blamed the cattle
owners for not sending their cattle for routine tests and
vaccinations.
-- Muriel Elizabeth Hayes,
Argentina
|
|
New developments in pasture and range grasses and seeding and
establishing pastures and rangelands are among topics at a Feb. 24
workshop in Powell, WY.
Other topics to be discussed at the 9:45 a.m.-3 p.m. program, set for
the University of Wyoming Powell Research and Extension Center, include:
forage kochia for fire prevention and fall and winter grazing; utilizing
legumes to enhance pasture and rangeland productivity; resources
available from USDA’s Ag Research Service forage and range laboratory
in Logan, UT; and producing and purchasing quality grass seed.
RSVP by Feb. 19 to 307-754-8836 or sfrost1@uwyo.edu
. More info is available at: www.uwyo.edu/bighorncropspt.
-- University of Wyoming
|
|
Gary Vermeer, founder and chairman emeritus of Vermeer Corporation,
Pella, IA, died Feb. 2, at 90 years of age. Funeral services were
conducted last Friday at Faith Christian Reformed Church in Pella.
Along with his cousin, Vermeer started the business in 1948, after
inventing a wagon hoist five years earlier that made it easier to unload
corn. Demand for the labor-saving device from his neighbors prompted him
to open Vermeer Manufacturing Company.
From that small operation, the company grew over the next 60 years to an
international organization that manufactures agricultural, construction,
environmental and industrial equipment. Today, Vermeer Corporation has
industrial dealerships in over 60 countries and on every continent
except Antarctica, in addition to hundreds of agricultural equipment
dealers throughout the U.S.
Perhaps his best known manufacturing contribution is the Vermeer round
hay baler, an invention that revolutionized agriculture in 1971 as it
turned the labor-intensive process of hay baling into a one-man
operation.
Vermeer is survived by his wife, Matilda, three children and their
spouses (Stanley and Alma Vermeer, Robert and Lois Vermeer, and Mary and
Dale Andringa), eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
To learn more about Gary Vermeer and his lifetime of contributions,
visit www.garyvermeer.com.
-- Teri Vos, Vermeer Corporation
|
|
Regular-grade gasoline prices are projected to average $1.95/gal. in
2009 and $2.19 in 2010, predicts the U.S. Energy Information
Administration (USEIA). Meanwhile, on-highway diesel fuel retail prices,
which averaged $3.79/gal. in 2008, are projected to average $2.28 in
2009 and $2.55 in 2010.
Over the past 6 months, the monthly average price of West Texas
Intermediate (WTI) crude oil fell from $133/barrel in July to $41 in
December and January. WTI prices are projected to average $43/barrel in
2009 and $55 in 2010. For the full USEIA “Short-Term Energy
Outlook,” go to: www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/steo/pub/contents.html.
For the week ending Feb. 9, the national average price for regular
gasoline jumped 3.4¢ to $1.926/gal.; that’s a 31.3¢ increase over
the past six weeks, but $1.034 below the year-ago price and $2.188 off
the July 7, 2008 all-time high. Diesel fell for the fourth consecutive
week, shedding 2.7¢ to an average of $2.219/gal. That’s $1.061 below
a year ago and $2.545 below the July 14, 2008 all-time high.
Regarding gasoline, only the Midwest was down for the week, shedding a
paltry 0.6¢ to $1.864. Otherwise, the East Coast added 3.6¢ to $1.912,
the Gulf Coast 3.5¢ to $1.837, the Rocky Mountains 6.8¢ to $1.78, and
the West Coast 9.3¢ to $2.175. California rose 10.2¢ to $2.215/gal.,
89.3¢ under a year ago.
All regions were down for diesel. The East Coast slipped 2.9¢ to
$2.296, the Midwest 2.8¢ to 2.173, the Gulf Coast 3.3¢ to $2.156, the
Rocky Mountains 1.8¢ to $2.211, and the West Coast 1.1¢ to $2.292.
California shed 1.9¢ to $2.269.
-- U.S. Energy Information Administration
|
|
The Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS) has listed the issues it wants
the various federal agencies to address. Some of the items HSUS listed
for USDA include:
- Downers and slaughter plant oversight – immediately finalize
rule closing loophole and comprehensively banning slaughter of any
downed cattle.
- Enforcement – increase oversight of the Humane Methods of
Slaughter Act and Animal Welfare Act.
- Horse slaughter – support legislation to institute a permanent ban
on horse slaughter and exports of horses for human consumption.
- Intensive confinement – support efforts to phase out intensive
confinement, as recommended by the Pew Commission on Industrial Farm
Animal Production.
- Confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs) – reverse the Bush
Administration EPA final rule exempting CAFOs from federal reporting
requirements on emissions; ensure that CAFOs aren’t exempted from
environmental laws, including new laws addressing climate change, as
well as Community Right-to-Know and Superfund.
-- P. Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C.
correspondent
|
|
If you’re a beef producer looking for a new twist on agri-tourism
(or maybe it’s agri-voyeurism), you might take the lead from the
Binder Park Zoo in Battle Creek, MI. As a special Valentine’s Day
feature, zoo officials are offering visitors the chance on Feb. 14 to
take an intimate look at animal-mating rituals. Dinner and a show,
honey?
“We're going to talk about animal reproduction, the different animals
here at Binder Park Zoo and their little quirks, different things that
get them going to help them reproduce," Jenny Parnett of Binder Park Zoo
told WWMT News Channel 3 about the “Zoorotica” promotion.
Apparently the idea has locked on an area need, as tickets are sold out,
at $50/viewing couple. The adults-only event is a three-hour tour that
also includes a special presentation and hors d’oeuvres to end the
experience.
“Biting, clawing, scratching and mid-air acrobatics, animals have a
way of reproducing that can be beautiful and brutal at the same time!”
reads the promotional material. Plus, each couple will receive a small
gift to commemorate their experience.
-- Binder Park Zoo and news reports
|
|
As a government regulation, mandatory country of origin labeling
(MCOOL) is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the product
information to which I as a consumer have a right. Now that there's a
new administration in Washington – one that supports MCOOL, as well as
increased consumer rights of all kinds – here's what I expect my
elected leadership to provide for me, a voting, taxpaying purchaser of
beef products:
-- To read the rest of this article by Walt
Barnhart, go to:
beefmagazine.com/government/0201-mcool-way/
|
|
As the new administration reviews the final rule regarding mandatory
country of origin labeling (COOL), more and more members of Congress are
weighing-in.
Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), chairman of the Senate Ag Committee, recently
said in his newsletter, “by and large, I think USDA did make some
improvements in the final rule compared to earlier versions of it, but
USDA didn’t go far enough in clarifying the meat-labeling provisions
to ensure that meat exclusively of U.S. origin is accurately labeled for
sale to consumers and that comingled food products are properly
labeled.” The chairman also indicated the regulations should be
modified to remove their present exemption from COOL for several food
products, such as mixed or comingled vegetables and canned foods, which
consumers would expect labeling.
Meanwhile, Rep. Collin Peterson (D-MN), chairman of the House Ag
Committee, believes the rule should go into effect as planned, with the
results reviewed at a later date to determine if modifications to the
rule are needed.
-- P. Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C.
correspondent
|
|
To help horse enthusiasts better interpret equine behavior, My Horse
University at Michigan State University (MSU) is offering a three-part
webcast series in March and April.
Camie Heleski, MSU Department of Animal Science, will head up the series
March 18 with a webcast titled “Horse Behavior Categories.” March
25, Katherine Houpt, Cornell University, will discuss “Understanding
Horse Body Language.” And on April 1, Cindy McCall, Auburn University,
will present “Managing Horse Behavior: Let Your Horse Be a
Horse.”
Registration is $25 for each webcast or $50 for the entire series. To
register, visit www.myhorseuniversity.com.
All three webcasts will be archived for future viewing by registered
participants. For more information, visit www.equisearch.com.
-- My Horse University
|
|
Cattle production is largely a part-time business in the U.S., with
almost 72% of cow-calf operations serving as a supplemental source of
income for the operators. And almost 14% operate for reasons other than
income, such as pleasure.
-- Click on headline to read the rest of this
story by Joe Roybal
|
|
Penn State University (PSU) was named the national winning team of
the 2009 National Collegiate Beef Quiz Bowl, presented by the National
Cattlemen’s Foundation. Among the members of the winning PSU team were
Kristina McAllister, Amy Shollenberger, Jennifer Rassler, Elizabeth
Smith, and team advisors Dan Kniffen and Christopher Raines.
Held during the recent Cattle Industry Annual Convention in Phoenix, AZ,
four regional championship teams participated – PSU, Kansas State
University, University of Kentucky and the University of Wyoming. The
teams earned the privilege of competing in the finals by winning their
American Society of Animal Science section’s competition of the
Academic Quadrathlon.
Each team was comprised of four animal science students who answered a
series of questions relating to all areas of the beef industry during a
double elimination competition. The range of questions includes
physiology, nutrition, reproduction, meat science, basic production
information and current events affecting the beef industry.
The National Collegiate Quiz Bowl is a joint program of the National
Cattlemen’s Foundation and the American Society of Animal Science.
-- National Cattlemen’s Foundation
|
|
South Dakota and Minnesota officials are readying producers for the
new rendering regulation that goes into effect this spring that could
affect their ability to dispose of dead cattle.
-- Click on headline to read the rest of this
story
|
|
The Senate and House of Representatives reached an agreement on a
$790-billion stimulus package. There are four main areas in the package:
- Tax breaks for individuals and businesses,
- Investments in health care and alternative energy,
- Funding for “shovel-ready” infrastructure projects and
- Aid to state and local governments, which includes expanded benefits
for individuals who are unemployed and lack health insurance.
The goal of the “American Reinvestment and Recovery Act” is to
create or save 3.5 million jobs over the next two years. The final
package includes $230 billion in tax cuts for middle-class families.
The bill makes a $150-billion investment in infrastructure and is to
double renewable energy generating capacity over three years.
The Congress plans to pass the bill by the weekend.
-- P. Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C.
correspondent
|
|
Temple Grandin, Colorado State University professor of animal
science, designer of humane livestock handling facilities, and author,
will launch a certification program that combines evaluation of both
sustainable and humane practices.
“Dr. Temple Grandin Certified, Sustainable & Humane” was created by
Grandin (www.grandin.com)
and Niman Ranch (www.nimanranch.com). It’s
said to be the first program to evaluate humane treatment and
sustainability combined. Further, the program will be “affordable,”
and create an opportunity to advance the naturally raised meat industry
and support sustainable and humane research.
Starting in August 2009, companies wishing to carry the certification
will be audited on 21 core principles developed by Grandin and Niman
Ranch. These principles include:
- Animals must be given the opportunity to care for, interact
with, and nurture their young.
Practices prevent soil loss or degradation in production areas,
minimize air quality issues, and prevent water quality degradation of
surface and groundwater.
- Animals must be fed an adequate, well-balanced and 100% vegetarian
diet.
- Pasture and/or bedding are the preferred environments. To qualify as
pasture, 75% or more of the land occupied by livestock must have
vegetation with a root system.
Under the core principles, Grandin and Niman Ranch are now in the
process of developing separate guidelines for each species, as well as a
comprehensive auditing program, a Niman Ranch news release says.
-- Niman Ranch
|
|
Few issues have rattled livestock folks more than the rumor that the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was proposing to tax livestock for
methane emissions. In the story put forth by the American Farm Bureau
Federation (AFBF) in late November 2008, the so-called “cow tax”
would require operations with more than 25 dairy cows, 50 beef cattle or
200 hogs to pay an annual fee estimated to be $87.50/head for beef
cattle, $175/head for dairy cows and $20/hog.
-- To read the rest of this article by Joe
Roybal, go to:
beefmagazine.com/government/0201-livestock-issue-rumors/
|
|
USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack says recent health scares illustrate the
need to modernize the U.S. food safety system and ultimately create a
single inspection agency. Thus, the duties now shared by USDA, the Food
and Drug Administration and other government agencies should be
combined, Vilsack says, according to Bloomberg News.
As Vilsack doesn’t expect that Congress will approve a unified agency
this year, he says government departments need to work together more
closely and use technology to become faster and more efficient.
-- Lean Trimmings newsletter
|
|
A proposed Utah state law would criminalize theft and "wanton
destruction of livestock" such as cattle, calves, horses, mules, sheep,
goats, hogs and domesticated elk. Currently such acts are prosecuted as
criminal mischief.
The measure – HB0240, sponsored by Rep. Ronda Rudd Menlove (R-Garland)
– would punish such offenders with a second-degree felony if the
livestock value is more than $5,000; a third-degree felony if $1,000 to
$5,000; a class A misdemeanor if the value is $300 to $1,000; and a
class B misdemeanor if the value is under $300.
In addition, the offender's vehicle and weapon can be seized, and the
offender’s hunting license revoked if the acts are committed while
hunting. Criminal mischief laws don't allow seizure of assets or loss of
hunting licenses, Menlove says.
In speaking before Utah’s House Natural Resources, Ag and Environment
Committee, which passed the bill unanimously, Skull Valley cattle
rancher Martin Anderson related how he lost 10 cows, including a
week-old calf, last spring.
"The magnitude of loss, in my case $9,000 or $10,000, almost wipes out
your profits for the year," he said, recalling the horror of seeing
two-month-old calves lying dead next to their mothers.
He says the bill promotes humanity toward animals. "It's the hope of
this bill that someone that does this kind of activity is ultimately
caught, prosecuted and convicted," he said. "There's a little more teeth
in it."
-- Deseret News
|
|
|
