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If you want to be inspired, and have the time to watch a fascinating
seven-minute video, go to www.youtube.com/watch.
The video is of a Scottish woman who has never been married (claims to
never have been kissed) and lives with her cat “Pebbles” in a small
village. She has become an overnight sensation on both sides of the
Atlantic.
The video is of her audition with “Britain's Got Talent,” a British
TV show that is similar to “American Idol” in the U.S. The video has
been viewed more than 13 million times and Boyle has been featured on
morning news shows all across the U.S., as well.
I've probably watched this video five times now and it gets better each
time. I don't want to ruin the surprise of the video. However, it
illustrates one of those moments that remind us not to judge a book by
its cover and that talent and beauty sometimes emerge from the strangest
places. It is worth the seven minutes it takes to watch the clip.
-- Troy Marshall
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Whether it’s simply spring demand kicking in or tighter numbers
catching up to the market, the entire cattle complex showed quite a bit
of strength this week. Of course, six months ago, most analysts would
have said that the prospects of $90 fats next week would be a big
disappointment instead of a positive one. However, a whole lot has
changed in the last six months; the one thing that hasn't is that the
supply side of the market remains very positive, and demand continues to
exceed most expectations.
-- Troy Marshall
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While the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) never went
away, it has simmered on the back burner for quite some time. The
proliferation of age- and source-verification programs has enabled many
producers to capture the economic benefits associated with traceback
capabilities, leaving NAIS in the position of being one of those
industry initiatives where customers say they want it, scientists tell
us we need it, but nobody wants to bear the cost.
-- Click on headline to read the rest of this
story by Troy Marshall
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USDA says producers can enroll in the Average Crop Revenue Election
(ACRE) program beginning April 27. ACRE is the new option to the
traditional counter-cyclical payments provided in the 2008 farm bill.
Producers will have until Aug. 14 to make their decision for the 2009
crop. Producers who elect the ACRE program for a farm agree to: 1) forgo
counter-cyclical payments; 2) accept a 20% reduction of the direct
payments; and 3) accept a 30% reduction in loan rates for all
commodities produced on the farm. More info about the ACRE program is
available at local Farm Service Agency (FSA) county office or visit
www.fsa.usda.gov.
-- Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C. correspondent
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Over 140 ag organizations and companies wrote President Barack Obama
urging him to work “expeditiously to resolve” the Mexican trucking
issue that has resulted in tariffs on U.S. exports to Mexico. The U.S.
Department of Transportation’s Cross Border Trucking Pilot Program
with Mexico was terminated by Congress earlier this year. Opponents of
the program have argued that Mexican trucks lack adequate safety.
The U.S. is now in violation of its bilateral trade obligations with
Mexico on international trucking. Mexico has instituted retaliatory
tariffs on $2.4 billion worth of U.S. manufactured and ag exports.
The letter to Obama said, “…we strongly urge you to work with
Congress and quickly resolve the Mexican trucking issue to end
retaliatory tariffs. Until this issue is resolved, Mexico’s
retaliation will continue to economically harm U.S. farmers,
manufacturers and service providers and those who work in these
industries.”
Those signing the letter included the American Farm Bureau Federation,
American Meat Institute, American Peanut Council, American Seed Trade
Association, American Soybean Association, Corn Refiners Association,
International Dairy Foods Association, National Association of Wheat
Growers, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, National Corn Growers
Association, National Grange, National Milk Producers Federation,
National Pork Producers Council, U.S. Meat Export Federation, and USA
Rice Federation.
-- Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C. correspondent
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The Texas AgriLife Extension Service and the Texas and Southwestern
Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) will conduct a free Texas Beef
Quality Producer Program April 21 in Lubbock.
Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. at the Texas AgriLife Research and
Extension Center in Lubbock. The half-day training and certification
will cover the program’s principles, record keeping, environmental
stewardship, genetic selection, cattle handling, culling, and vaccine
and drug use.
The program is free and includes a catered lunch. For more info or to
RSVP, which is requested, contact TSCRA’s Stacy Fox at 800-242-7820 or
sfox@texascattleraisers.org.
-- Texas Agri-Life Extension release
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The Kansas State University Southeast Ag Research Center’s (SARC)
Beef Cattle and Forage Crops Field Day is May 7 at the Mound Valley
Unit. The program, which kicks off at 8:30 a.m. with coffee and donuts,
are: mineral supplementation of grazing beef cattle, bermudagrass
variety selection, factors affecting market value of feeder cattle,
pasture weed and brush control update, and evaluation of hay storage
systems. For more info, contact SARC at 620-421-4826.
-- KSU news release
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Increased beef exports to South Korea and Vietnam helped overcome
declines in the beef industry’s leading markets of Mexico and Canada,
says the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).
-- Click on headline to read the rest of this
release by USMEF
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Congress returns next week to a full agenda. Priorities will be the
conference report on the budget and begin the appropriations process for
fiscal year 2010. The House Ag Committee plans hearings on crop
insurance and food safety.
-- Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C. correspondent
|
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of the valuable returns your checkoff investment delivers. For the most
concise, relevant information, sign up for My Beef Checkoff News, a monthly
e-newsletter highlighting how your investment is Promoting, Educating,
Researching and Safeguarding to help build beef demand.
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Livestock producers forced to sell during drought conditions in 2008
are eligible for tax breaks offered by the IRS. And producers who have
already filed returns without the tax breaks can file amended returns to
take advantage of the benefits, says Jose Pena, Texas AgriLife Extension
Service economist based in Uvalde.
According to Lance Williams, producer relations specialist with the
Texas Department of Ag in Austin, the IRS allows producers to defer
taxes on drought-related livestock sales. In addition to the sale of
livestock, the breaks also apply to animals purchased in the future as
replacements, Pena said.
“Reporting income from the sale of inventory livestock may be
delayed,” he said. “If you sell or exchange more livestock than you
normally would in a year because of a drought, flood or other
weather-related conditions, you may be able to postpone reporting the
gain until the next year.”
The drought-related break on replacing livestock extends over two years,
and up to four years if an area has been officially declared a disaster
area, he said. The tax deferment for livestock sales allows a one-year
postponement.
Producers can get specifics from their certified public accountants and
the IRS tax codes, Williams said. For more information, please visit
www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p225.pdf
and www.irs.gov/irb/2008-42_IRB/ar10.html
.
-- Texas Agri-Life Extension release
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The European Union (EU) is pushing for the inclusion of animal
welfare standards in World Trade Organization (WTO) multilateral trade
negotiations, reports www.thaindian.com.
"Inclusion of animal welfare standards in the WTO agenda is urgently
needed to effectively enforce animal standards worldwide, and to improve
the appalling condition of slaughter houses in many countries, including
India," New Delhi, India-based Citizens for Animal Rights (CAR) said in
a release.
Quoting European representatives, the CAR added: "Animal welfare
concerns are being increasingly recognized in food production around the
world, but they must be formalized within the WTO trade agreements."
But the India government opposes the EU move, reports financial
express.com, citing such moves as “non-tariff trade barriers by
developed countries to curb exports.”
But Michael Scannell, adviser to the European Commission's Animal Health
and Welfare Directorate, says: "Getting formal recognition of animal
welfare standards within the binding WTO agreements is crucial for
unlocking the UN and World Bank resources needed to help the developing
world raise its animal welfare levels."
-- Media reports
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The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) in a recent report, “The
Impact of Ethanol Use on Food Prices and Greenhouse – Gas
Emissions,” found ethanol contributed just “0.5 and 0.8 percentage
points of the 5.1% increase in food prices” from April 2007 to April
2008. The report says, “Over the same period (April 2007 to April
2008), certain other factors – for example, higher energy costs –
had a greater effect on food prices than did the use of ethanol as a
motor fuel.”
-- Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C. correspondent
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My wife and I used to have free-range chickens. We didn’t get an
abundance of eggs because the hens hid them in the barn hay – and then
brought us batches of live chicks instead of breakfast makings. And,
they stopped laying during the winter so we had to buy commercial eggs
at the local grocery.
-- Click on headline to read the rest of this
story by Dennis T. Avery
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USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is accepting
applications for the Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program (FRPP), a
voluntary conservation program that helps farmers and ranchers keep
their land in agriculture. Eligible entities can apply at any time, but
must submit applications on or before June 1 to receive consideration
for fiscal year 2009 funding.
FRPP provides funds to purchase development rights to keep productive
farmland in ag uses. Working through existing programs, NRCS joins
state, tribal or local governments and non-governmental organizations to
acquire conservation easements.
Only eligible entities may submit applications. These include state,
tribal or local governments and non-governmental organizations that meet
specific requirements. The entities must have an established farm and
ranchland protection program.
FRPP can provide up to 50% of appraised fair market value of the
easement on the farm or ranch. At least 50% of the appraised fair market
value of the easement must be provided by the eligible entity.
Land proposed for funding in FRPP must meet one of three eligibility
categories:
- Contain at least 50% prime and unique farmland soils and soils
of statewide and local importance.
- Contain historic or archeological resources.
- Contain land that supports the farm and ranch land protection
policies of state or local programs.
-- Southwest Farm Press
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A study by the Minnesota Center for Automotive Research at Minnesota
State University found that increasing ethanol blended into gasoline
from 10% to 20% causes no significant change in the performance of
automotive fuel systems. The study included eight models of fuel pumps
running each model using one of three different fuels – gasoline, E10
and E20. Pumps with E20 showed less wear than those run with gasoline.
The study results are available at: www.mda.state.mn.us/news/publications/renewable/ethanol/e20endurance.pdf.
-- Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C. correspondent
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Scientists at the Plum Island Animal Disease Center in New York are
using infrared thermography (IRT) to identify cattle that may be
infected with foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). While the technology has
been used for years in other fields, USDA researchers at Plum Island say
it’s the first time it’s been used as a tool for early detection of
FMD.
“It’s a huge endeavor to examine animals one by one. Even on a small
farm it’s a big task,” says Louis Rodriguez, research leader. Using
IRT technology isn’t intended to be a diagnostic test, he says.
Rather, it enables scientists to concentrate their resources by quickly
isolating animals that require further testing.
It works by spotting hot hooves. In an IRT photograph of a group of
cattle, the hooves of healthy animals appear blue-green, whereas
infected cattle have orange-red feet. The Plum Island researchers found
they could detect elevated hoof temperatures up to two days before
cattle developed clinical signs.
For more info, go to www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/
-- Agricultural Research Service release
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When it comes to fire ants, Dale Pollet, Louisiana State University
(LSU) AgCenter entomologist, says the best months to start a control
program are April and October.
-- Click on headline to read the rest of this
release by Delta Farm Press
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“Oppose Criminalizing Horsemeat” is an online petition available
at: www.rallycongress.com/support-animal.
It seeks to “urge Congress and the Obama Administration to protect the
private property rights of livestock owners and to oppose legislation
that would restrict the market, transport, processing or export of
horses; to recognize the need for humane horse processing facilities in
the U.S.; and not to interfere with State efforts to establish
facilities in the U.S.”
Give it a read and sign if you agree.
-- Joe Roybal
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If you’re worried about a drought again this year or looking for
ways to limit the forage problems drought can cause, Bruce Anderson,
University of Nebraska Extension forage specialist, has some advice.
Early spring is a time when action can be taken to minimize some of
drought’s problems, Anderson says. He suggests to begin by preparing a
strategy for using leftover hay.
“One of the better options is to feed hay a bit longer this spring
before turning cows out to permanent pasture. This action is exactly
opposite of my usual recommendation to graze more and feed less hay, but
allowing pastures to accumulate a bit more growth before grazing begins
will provide more total grazable forage if drought prevents much
regrowth later on,” he says.
Leftover hay also can be used later during the grazing season to give
pastures more time to recover between grazings, he adds.
Another strategy is to plant drought-tolerant forages for pasture or
hay. Summer annual grasses like sudangrass, sorghum-sudan hybrids, and
pearl millet are excellent choices.
“Wait until soils are good and warm before planting these grasses,
though. Late May or early June usually is best,” Anderson advises.
“So reserve some ground now for these drought-insurance grasses,
before you plant everything to corn, beans, and other crops.” Anderson
says these grasses can also be planted into the stubble as a double crop
after wheat harvest.
“If the rains don’t come, planning and acting now to reduce
potential forage losses from drought will pay big dividends,” he says.
Editor’s note: For more info, read “Five Drought-Planning
Steps To Take Today,” at: beefmagazine.com/cowcalfweekly/drought-planning-steps/index.html.Also,
see “Drought Checklist” at: beefmagazine.com/mag/drought_checklist/index.html.
-- Bruce Anderson, University of Nebraska
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Yes, you read the headline correctly. Rush Limbaugh, the bastion of
conservative thinking in the U.S., has become a spokesman for the Humane
Society of the U.S. (HSUS).
The move didn’t go unnoticed by cattle folks. The Texas Cattle Feeders
Association (TCFA) contacted its members, asking them to contact
Limbaugh and explain HSUS’ true agenda. Here’s what TCFA said:
“Fans of Rush Limbaugh have been shocked to learn that he has become
an advocate for HSUS. In fact, Rush has narrated two commercials on
behalf of HSUS.
“To hear the audio of Rush's commercials supporting HSUS, click here:
www.hsus.org/press_and_publications/press_releases/rush_limbaugh.
“Rush is probably like many supporters of HSUS – well-intentioned in
wanting animals to be treated with compassion but uninformed about the
organization's real mission. We hope you will send a message to Rush at:
ElRushbo@eibnet.com.
“Please feel free to use all or part of this sample message:
Rush,
Because we share many of the same conservative beliefs, I am very
saddened to learn of your support for an organization that is working
hard to put all cattlemen, including me, out of business. The Humane
Society of the United States (HSUS) has long pursued a goal of putting
an end to all animal agriculture.
I know you believe in doing solid research. If you really check into
what HSUS is up to, you will find that – despite having $200 million
in assets – HSUS does not operate a single animal shelter nor provide
financial support for local humane societies or shelters. HSUS is
nothing other than a radical political organization determined to force
all Americans to eat a vegan diet and forfeit the unique nutritional
properties of beef.
Many well-intentioned people have been duped into donating their
hard-earned dollars to HSUS because the drive-by media refuses to expose
the truth about HSUS. I hope your show will become a place where people
can get the facts about this organization's real agenda.”
-- Burt Rutherford
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A non-binding budget resolution passed in the U.S. Senate last week
supports raising the death tax exemption to $5 million/individual and
$10 million/couple, indexed for inflation, while reducing the maximum
tax rate to 35%. Currently, estates valued at more than $3.5 million, or
$7 million for a couple, are taxed at a 45% rate.
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) lauded the 51-48 vote
on the measure sponsored by Senators Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) and Jon Kyl
(R-AZ). The Obama administration had proposed exempting estates up to $7
million, with a 45% tax rate for estates beyond that level.
“This is a huge victory for America’s farmers and ranchers,” says
Gary Voogt, NCBA president and rancher from Marne, MI. “Nearly half of
NCBA’s members have operations that have been in their families for
more than one generation, and they should have the right and the ability
to pass these operations on to their children and grandchildren.
“Many farmers and ranchers are what we call 'land rich and cash
poor',” explains Voogt. “This is not a tax cut for the rich. Cattle
producers are often forced to sell off land, farm equipment, parts of
the operation, or the entire ranch just to pay off liabilities under the
death tax.”
-- NCBA news release
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Texas AgriLife Extension is planning two 2009 Beef Cattle
Standardized Performance Analysis (SPA) workshops – April 28 at the
Nolan County Extension Office in Sweetwater, and May 6 at the Texas
Agrilife Research and Extension Center in Vernon. Both programs begin at
8:30 a.m.
Stan Bevers, AgriLife Extension economist at Vernon, says SPA “can
make good cow-calf producers better by measuring individual operations
and comparing them to a pool of similar operations.”
Participants will complete an in-depth financial and production analysis
of their cow herd, specifically the calves weaned in 2008.
"This analysis will give them an excellent idea of where they currently
stand," he says. "Comparing their findings with others helps them
establish both short and long term goals for their herd."
Registered participants will be sent forms to organize data before the
workshop. Assistance in gathering and organizing the records and data
needed to complete the analysis is available, so participants should
register as early as possible, Bevers says. Confidentiality of the
producer’s data will be maintained.
Following completion of the analysis, each participant will receive an
individual meeting with a specialist certified in the program, and
guidance on developing and using the info to measure cow herd
performance and cash flow. They will also get a "herd report card" that
compares their herd’s performance to other herds. Software and
supporting materials will be provided.
For more info or to register, contact Bevers at 940-552-9941, Ext. 231
or s-bevers@tamu.edu; or Bill
Thompson at 325 653 4576 or .
-- Texas AgriLife Extension release
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Floodwaters have inundated hay supplies in many parts of North
Dakota and Minnesota this spring.
"Time is of the essence in salvaging wet hay," Greg Lardy, North Dakota
State University (NDSU) Extension beef cattle specialist, tells
producers dealing with flood-damaged hay this spring. "It will heat and
mold very quickly, leading to spoilage as well as the possibility of
spontaneous combustion."
Lardy recommends producers move dry hay off wet hay because the water in
the wet hay will soak up into the dry hay.
Producers also need to watch the hay for signs of heating, such as a
strong burning odor, noticeable vapor or a hot feeling when it's
touched. Hay bales that are 30-40% moisture content pose the greatest
risk of fire, so producers should check them often. Check daily if the
hay seems to be heating.
To check a haystack's temperature for fire risk, drive a sharp-pointed
pipe into the hay, lower a thermometer inside the pipe and leave it
there for about 20 minutes. Hay is approaching the fire danger zone at
150° F. At 170°, hot spots or pockets of fire are possible, so have
the fire department on standby.
One option to reduce fire risk if the hay temperature rises to more than
140° F, is to split the hay into two piles and monitor it daily.
Lardy warns against feeding hay that’s been flooded to livestock
because floodwaters are considered contaminated. Thus, the hay probably
isn't safe for livestock consumption, or worth the time and expense of
drying it. Instead, dispose of it or spread it on fields as fertilizer.
Producers also should not feed moldy legume hays, such as alfalfa or
clover, to livestock because the hay could cause reduced performance,
sickness, abortions or death.
For more info on dealing with wet hay or other flood-related issues,
visit NDSU's flood info web page at www.ag.ndsu.edu/disaster/flood.html.
-- NDSU release
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The recent loosening of several trade and travel sanctions against
Cuba hasn’t produced a consensus of opinion for the Obama
administration. While U.S. ag interests – happy at the growing
possibility of opening trade with Cuba in the near future – have been
supportive of the move, some Obama supporters have knocked the new Cuba
policy as too timid. Others have derided it as a reward to a despotic
Cuban government.
As a result of the policy changes, those living in the U.S. with
relatives in Cuba are now allowed to visit them regularly. In addition,
care packages and unlimited money transfers between family members in
the two nations are allowed. U.S. telecommunication companies will also
have greater access to the island nation.
Prior to the recent policy shift, an executive order by President Bush
had limited travel to Cuba to once every three years and limited
remittances to family members at $300 annually.
“This is a good first step, but we can and should do more,” says
Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT), Senate Finance Committee chairman. “I urge the
President to relax restrictions on the sale of U.S. ag products to Cuba.
We need to make it easier for America’s farmers and ranchers to sell
their high-quality products, including Montana’s world‐class wheat
and barley, to one of our closest markets.”
During the last session of Congress, Baucus introduced legislation to
ease trade and travel restrictions for U.S. farmers and ranchers. He
plans to introduce similar legislation in the coming weeks.
Baucus says an independent International Trade Commission study found
that removing U.S. export restrictions would increase the annual U.S.
share of Cuba’s ag imports to nearly 70%. If true, that would mean an
annual boost of over $300 million in U.S. ag sales.
U.S. ag sales to Cuba have averaged $400 million annually since 2000,
says Bob Stallman, American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) president. Top
commodity sales include poultry, wheat, soybeans, rice and dairy. With
expanded trade to the country, the AFBF expect ag sales to increase to
more than $1 billion annually.
“Current language in the omnibus appropriations bill aids U.S.
agriculture by allowing travel on a general license for those making ag
sales to Cuba rather than the specific license currently needed,” said
Stallman. “This would ease delays that significantly impact the
ability to transact commercial sales with Cuba, which in some cases,
have been lost to U.S. competitors because of the restriction.
“Other priorities for AFBF in regard to Cuba include commercially
defining ‘cash payments in advance’ as intended by Congress in the
2000 Trade Sanctions and Reform Act; allowing the country to directly
wire payment to U.S. banks instead of going through a third-country bank
as it does now; and issuing visas for Cuban inspectors to travel to the
U.S. to meet with suppliers, inspect facilities and verify procedures
and standards associated with the sale of U.S. food and agricultural
exports to Cuba.”
For more on U.S./Cuba trade, see deltafarmpress.com/searchresults
-- Forrest Laws, Farm Press
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The U.S. and Canada have agreed to finalize organic equivalency
standards by this summer, says the Organic Trade Association.
Canada’s nationwide Organic Products Regulations, set to be
implemented June 30, will require all Canadian organic products to be
endorsed by a certification body accredited by the Canadian Food
Inspection Agency (CFIA). Meanwhile, USDA’s final rule on national
organic standards, fully implemented in October 2002, is slightly
different from the new Canadian regulation. USDA says the two
governments intend to reach an agreement before the introduction of the
new rules for Canadian organic produce, which would ensure that trade
continues uninterrupted.
-- FoodNavigator.com
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USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack held a roundtable discussion with various
stakeholders to discuss views on the National Animal Identification
System (NAIS). Vilsack said, “Much work has been done over the past
five years to engage producers in developing an animal identification
system that they could support. However, many of the issues and concerns
that were initially raised by producers, such as the cost, impact on
small farmers, privacy and confidentiality and liability, continue to
cause debate.”
USDA plans a future nationwide listening tour to seek additional
stakeholders concerns and solutions regarding NAIS. As of April 5, a
total of 510,750 livestock premises in the U.S. – or 35.5% – had
registered under NAIS out of an estimated total of 1,438,280 premises.
For a a breakdown, visit: animalid.aphis.usda.gov/nais/premises_id/update.shtml
-- Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C. correspondent
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