|
|
|
Due to current economic conditions, BEEF staff has
reluctantly decided to postpone the 2009 BEEF Quality Summit set
for Nov. 10-11 in St. Joseph, MO. We thank you for your support of the
BEEF Quality Summit over its successful three-year history, and
also for your continued support of BEEF magazine.
With surveys indicating that 95% of past participants considered the
BEEF Quality Summit content valuable and attendance worthwhile,
BEEF staff is exploring alternative ways of delivering the
BEEF Quality Summit content to our audience. So stay tuned!
-- Joe Roybal
|
|
Warren Buffett is staying away from stocks. The Fed report shows
scant signs of growth. Experts warn the foreclosure crisis is far from
over. Unemployment approaches a 20-year high. The value of the dollar
moves lower. The U.S. no longer has the most competitive economy,
according to latest survey and economic data (replaced by Switzerland).
-- Click on headline to read the rest of this
story by Troy Marshall
|
|
Despite the computer models seemingly being proven wrong at every
conceivable turn, climate-change advocates are seemingly more convinced
than ever that man and capitalism are plunging the world toward its
demise. Now it appears that we’re approaching the grasping-at-straws
stage.
The Arctic has been on a cooling trend for some 2,000 years, but this
data was largely ignored when the greenhouse gas theories emerged
because it didn't fit. However, in the last decade, the trend has
reversed, and is approaching the temperature range where the cooling
trend originated.
In the online version of the journal Science, a study was
published that quoted this specific data to indicate that greenhouse gas
emissions are overwhelming the system. The one thing about the study
that probably is meaningful is that it does illustrate just how much the
Earth's climate has changed over time. Whether the changes in the Arctic
will reverse other trends and prove the greenhouse theory to be right
all along will take some time to confirm.
With what’s been occurring on other political fronts – manufactured
crises created to enact unwanted changes, and real issues and data being
swept under the rug to avoid changes that politicians don't want to make
– it’s good to remember that these aren't new strategies; they’re
taken directly from the environmentalist extremist playbooks.
Seemingly, it's expected that we will forget that the last three
predictions of demise didn't come to fruition, if the next crisis can be
eloquently stated.
-- Troy Marshall
|
 Trimble’s EZ-Guide 250 and EZ-Guide 500 lightbars can now
provide record-keeping, tracking and feature mapping of your liquid and
dry manure applications. Combine this new technology with Trimble’s
proven guidance capability in order to more easily fulfill EPA and DNR
manure handling record-keeping requirements. Visit trimble.com/agriculture to
find a dealer near you.
|
|
Uncertainty seems to be the dominant theme of the day, but there are
some things we can be pretty certain of.
Genetics
matter. Genetics have become more and more important as our ability
to make genetic improvement has increased. Today, DNA and holistic
system approaches are refining our ability to make genetic improvement.
Genetics play a big role in cost reduction, and in meeting marketing
specifications. When it comes to lowering costs, gaining market access
and realizing extra value, genetics are key. Numbers have been tight,
but market differentiation has been growing; this trend will explode
when buyers have sufficient numbers to really differentiate.
-- Click on headline to read the rest of this
story by Troy Marshall
|
|
The 10th Annual Kansas State University (KSU) Beef Stocker Field Day
is set for Sept. 24 at the KSU Beef Stocker Unit in Manhattan, KS.
The program includes a mix of speakers from KSU Research and Extension,
as well as beef producers, cattle feeders, ag lenders and beef
processors. Among the topics are: buying and selling right; panel on
partnering with feedlots – who brings what to the table; thinking
outside the shots; panel on negotiating custom grazing arrangements;
cattle financing in a tight credit market; producing value-added cattle;
weed and woody plant control for pastures; and utilization of byproducts
on pasture.
In addition, technological and scientific innovations and applications
available from commercial vendors and the KSU Diagnostics Lab will be
highlighted during the day, including cattle handling facilities,
persistently infected (PI) bovine viral diarrhea virus, and
record-keeping systems.
The field day includes a catered barbecue brisket lunch and to wrap up
the day, Moly Manufacturing will sponsor the “Cutting Bull’s
Lament” – a Prairie Oyster Fry, Pitchfork Fondue and Dutch Oven
Desserts.
A pre-registration fee of $30 by Sept. 15 is requested for an accurate
meal count. For more info or to register, go to www.asi.ksu.edu/ and click on
“Beef.” Or, contact Lois Schreiner at 785-532-1267 or lschrein@ksu.edu.
-- KSU news release
|
|
The Kentucky Agricultural Development Board approved the Kentucky
Beef Network LLC (KBN) for $862,634 in state Agricultural Development
Funds to implement several production and marketing programs for cattle
producers and to provide educational programs that enhance
profitability.
“The Kentucky Beef Network continues to play a vital role in the
growth and success of Kentucky’s multi-million dollar beef cattle
industry,” says Gov. Steve Beshear. “Projects such as this one,
supported by the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund, provide
opportunities for Kentucky’s farm families to increase net farm
income.”
The primary objective of this project is to enhance net returns to
cattle producers through increased marketing opportunities, data
management, education and comprehensive farm management systems.
For more info on KBN, contact Becky Bennett at 859-278-0899 or bbennett@kycattle.org.
-- Kentucky Beef Network
|
CRYSTALYX® is the original low-moisture block supplement program
designed to get results AND save you time and money. For better
performance out of your cattle and better use of pasture grasses, hay
and other forages, the choice is clear. CRYSTALYX.
|
|
Want to learn firsthand about beef cattle production systems in
Argentina and Brazil? Then sign up before Sept. 30 for the 2010 Beef
Study Tour to South America. The Feb. 2-15 tour is sponsored by the
Montana Beef Quality Assurance (MBQA) program and BEEF magazine.
Tour hosts are Clint Peck, MBQA director and Burt Rutherford,
BEEF Senior Editor. Also traveling with the group will be travel
coordinator Renata Stephens of Brazilian Liaison, a Brazil native with
extensive experience in South American ag excursions.
Tour participants will visit a variety of cattle ranching and feeding
operations in Brazil's west-central subtropical cattle farming regions
and in Argentina's temperate climate. Highlights will include an
Argentine cattle-feeding operation and a Brazilian meatpacking plant.
Among the other stops will be a federal beef cattle research center and
a high-tech cattle seedstock operation.
"The purpose is to learn about the challenges and opportunities facing
South American ranchers as competitors in international markets," Peck
says. "Participants will have a firsthand look at their strengths and
weaknesses – as well as their lives and lifestyles."
Tour participants will visit world-class tourist sites in Buenos Aires,
Argentina and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Tour cost is estimated at $5,500/person (double occupancy and based on
25 participants), and includes all international airfare, in-country air
and motor coach transportation, 12 nights of business-class lodging and
most meals – along with local guides and translators.
For more info, contact Stephens at renata@brazilianliaison.com
or call 763-972-8080. A tour itinerary is available at www.brazilianliaison.com.
-- Clint Peck, Montana Beef Quality Assurance
|
|
It’s tough to think of a young person who has come on the U.S.
livestock industry scene with such a splash as our own Amanda Nolz.
Editor of BEEF magazine’s BEEF Daily electronic
newsletter and BEEF Daily Blog, Amanda has quickly built a huge
and loyal following of readers throughout the U.S.
In addition to her Monday through Thursday postings at beefmagazine.com, musings on
Facebook and Twitter, duties on the family seedstock operation, and
non-stop advocacy for U.S. beef producers, Amanda also takes her message
directly to the public via numerous public appearances. The range of her
remarks cover everything from opportunities and obstacles for youth in
livestock production to taking on the detractors of the farming and
ranching way of life.
You can sign up for her electronic posts at beefmagazine.com. But, if you
have the opportunity to listen firsthand to this impressive young
professional, here is a lineup of her upcoming appearances:
- Sept. 11 – South Dakota CattleWomen’s Annual Convention,
Pierre, SD; luncheon keynote, “Table Truths in a New York Minute –
Telling the Agriculture Story Online.”
- Sept. 16 – SDSU Beef Leadership Experience Opening Keynote,
Brookings, SD; Address to SDSU animal science freshmen on the importance
of getting involved. She will also be speaking to the Block and Bridle
group that evening to expand upon the same topic.
- Oct. 9-11 – 2010 National Beef Ambassador Contest, Fort Smith, AR;
Amanda will present the inspirational keynote to the ambassador
contestants, as well as present a workshop to the CattleWomen on online
social networking.
- Nov. 21 – Agriculture Banquet, SD Department of Ag, Pierre, SD;
keynote address, “What Happened to the Next Generation of
Agriculturalists?”
- Jan. 30-31, 2010 – North Dakota Farm Bureau Young Farmers and
Ranchers Conference, Minot, ND.
- Feb. 12-13 – Great Lakes Regional Dairy Conference, Frankenmuth,
MI.
-- Joe Roybal
|
|
Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), ranking minority member of the Senate
Ag Committee, held hearings this week on the effect of global warming
legislation on agriculture. A recent study performed at his request
examined 98 representative farms and ranches to understand the farm-gate
implications of the House-passed American Clean Energy and Security Act.
That study revealed that 71 of the operations would be worse off under
the bill.
Nearly all the 27 farming operations that realize benefits under the
Waxman-Markey bill are located in the Midwest Corn Belt. The study
indicates the benefits are predominantly the result of increased revenue
from higher prices, a result of fewer acres planted to these crops, not
from payments under an offset program. In other words, Chambliss says,
geographic disparities would exist as a result of the Waxman-Markey
bill.
Virtually all cotton and dairy operations would be worse off and no rice
farms or cattle ranches would experience any benefit under the bill.
Chambliss says this is in direct contrast to what USDA Secretary Tom
Vilsack said while testifying before the Senate Ag Committee in July; he
said all agriculture would benefit from this plan.
The study was conducted by The Agriculture & Food Policy Center at Texas
A&M University. According to Chambliss, the data outlined in the study
is troubling, particularly the cap and trade program which will
undoubtedly raise production costs for farmers and ranchers. Perhaps
most troubling to Chambliss is that the Waxman-Markey bill will result
in more than 7 million acres shifting out of production in the first
five years, with nearly 50 million acres by 2050.
To see the study, go to www.afpc.tamu.edu.
-- Ron Hays, Radio Oklahoma Network
|
 Right Today. Right Tomorrow.
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 senior official at the China Meat Association says China has
become the world's leading meat producer, with 29% of the global total
output last year. Xinhua reports that China's meat production
last year topped 72.69 million tons, up 6% from the previous year. Of
the total, 63.5% was pork, which means nearly half of the world's pork
last year was produced in China.
China is a major consumer of meat products, importing 1.84 million tons
and exporting only 742,000 tons last year. China estimates that global
meat consumption will expand by almost 2% annually from now to 2018 to
more than 320 million tons. Of that, 37.5% is expected to be pork.
Meanwhile, China’s Ministry of Health continues to work with other
government agencies to formulate a new system of food safety standards,
as required by the country’s new food safety law that went into effect
June 1. Vice Minister of Health Chen Xiaohong says the new system will
integrate existing food safety standards, eliminate areas that overlap
or contradict each other, and establish new standards for areas that
previously lacked regulation.
"The amount of pathogenic microorganisms, pesticide residue,
microorganism residue, heavy metals and pollutants in food products, as
well as the use of food additives are the priority areas," Chen notes.
"We are also building up an expert team on food safety standards."
He also promised transparency in the making of the new system, which
“will also be subject to the opinions of international organizations
and other countries, in line with a request from the World Trade
Organization.”
-- chinadaily.com
|
|
The U.S. average price for regular gasoline at retail slipped for
the fourth week in a row, dropping 2 ½¢ to $2.59/gal. for the week
ending Sept. 7. That’s $1.06 below the year-ago price. And, diesel was
down for the first time in seven weeks, shedding nearly 3¢ to $2.65, or
$1.41 below last year, according to the U.S. Energy Information
Administration (EIA).
Gasoline was down in all but the West Coast region. The East Coast
dropped 2¢ to $2.58, the Midwest 6¢ to $2.46, the Gulf Coast 5¢ to
$2.41, and the Rocky Mountains 2¢ to $2.60. The West Coast was up 5¢
for the week to $3, and California jumped 6¢ to $3.10.
Diesel was down in all regions. The East Coast dipped 3¢ to $2.66, the
Midwest 2¢ to $2.63, the Gulf Coast 4¢ to $2.58, the Rocky Mountains
1¢ to $2.68, and the West Coast 2¢ to $2.79. California was down 3¢
to $2.87/gal.
Meanwhile, EIA expects the monthly average regular-grade gasoline retail
price to fall from $2.62/gal. in August and September to an average of
$2.56 over the fourth quarter of 2009.
“Higher crude oil prices next year contribute to an increase in the
annual average gasoline retail price from $2.34/gal. in 2009 to $2.70 in
2010. Projected annual average diesel fuel retail prices are $2.47 and
$2.88/gal. in 2009 and 2010, respectively,” EIA reports in its
“Short-Term Energy Outlook” released Wednesday (see the report at
www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/steo/pub/contents.html).
-- U.S. Energy Information Administration
|
|
In a move sure to please Southern ag interests, Sen. Blanche Lincoln
(D-AR) has been named chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee. She
is widely viewed as a friend to Southern agriculture. She will set
precedent as the first woman and Arkansan to helm the 184-year-old
committee.
-- Click on headline to read the rest of this
story by David Bennett, Farm Press
|
|
Last week, a guest on the Glenn Beck Program discussed his views on
the planned demise of the U.S. beef industry. On Sept. 3, David
Martosko, research director for the Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF),
discussed how the number of animals and plants protected by the federal
Endangered Species Act is about to increase dramatically.
“For Cass Sunstein, radical animal-rights activist and nominee for the
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) Administrator job
(regulatory czar in the Obama administration), that means he will be
better positioned than ever to make livestock farming a thing of the
past,” CCF says. Read the article at: www.consumerfreedom.com
To view the interview on Glenn Beck, go to www.youtube.com.
-- Center for Consumer Freedom
|
|
Igenity® and Global Animal Management (GAM) have joined forces
to provide producers with the first-ever option to combine information
from a comprehensive DNA profile with health, source and age records in
one user-friendly package.
“Now, producers can merge the inside information from Igenity with
calf health, source and age verification records all in one place,”
says Stewart Bauck, Igenity executive director of research and
development.
Tri-Merit® is a data management tool from GAM, a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health, that can be used
to certify traditional health processes as well as verify age, source
and movement of individual cattle. By linking Tri-Merit with Igenity,
producers can now store a wealth of information about their cattle in
one system. IGENITY, a division of Merial, offers DNA analyses for more
than 15 economically important traits, a diagnostic test for persistent
infections (PI) of the bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) virus and more.
Jim Heinle, GAM president, says this partnership joins two groups with a
shared vision to provide cattle producers with the most innovative
technologies available.
For more info on Igenity, call 1-877-IGENITY or visit www.igenity.com/beef. For
more info on GAM or Tri-Merit, call 1-800-235-9824 or visit www.tri-merit.com.
-- IGENITY news release
|
|
With an increasing number of cattle producers expressing an interest
in natural cattle, the Noble Foundation, Ardmore, OK, has developed a
listing of companies that purchase naturally produced beef. According to
Job Springer with the Noble Foundation, the list differentiates between
companies that purchase feeder cattle and those that purchase finished
cattle, and provides contact information.
For more info, go to: www.noble.org/Ag/Economics.
-- Noble Foundation
|
|
The 70th University of Minnesota Nutrition Conference is set for
Sept. 15-16 at the Holiday Inn in Owatonna, MN.
The ruminant session is set for the morning of Sept. 16 and begins with
8 a.m. registration followed by presentations on poisonous plants in
livestock feeding, nutrition and management of feedlot heifers, the
effects of source and particle size of fiber on feedlot performance and
carcass characteristics, and the implications of cow size on formulating
beef cow rations. For more detail or to see the entire program, go to:
www.ansci.umn.edu/mn_nutrition.pdf
-- University of Minnesota
|
|
The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine and
Department of Animal Science will host an animal welfare symposium Oct.
16 at the Nationwide and Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center in Columbus.
The goal of the symposium is to build partnerships to proactively
address animal welfare issues in Ohio and beyond. Speakers will offer
an examination of current research on animal welfare and discuss the
implications for livestock production.
For more info, go to www.vet.ohio-state.edu.
-- Ohio State University
|
|
The Tri-State Cow/Calf Conference is set for Sept. 22-23 at the
Appalachian Fairgrounds in Gray, TN.
The conference begins Sept. 22 with an optional tour of three Tennessee
cow-calf operations that leaves from the fairgrounds at 1 p.m. Following
the tour, a light meal will be served and the trade show will open.
The Sept. 23 program begins at 8:30 a.m. Program topics and speakers
include: beef cattle outlook and industry changes, managing genetic
defects and enhancing end product, weaning healthy calves, utilization
of by-product feed in beef cattle diets, calf-crop marketing strategies,
and what to expect from a feedlot when retaining ownership.
Registration is $10 before Sept. 16 and $15 after. Go to www.tnbeefcattleinitiative.org
for more info.
-- Abingdon Feeder Cattle Association
|
|
USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has added an additional weight
category to its Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) for non-adult beef
cattle, non-adult dairy cattle and non-adult buffalo/beefalo. The
over-400 lbs. category has been split into 400-799 lbs. and 800 lbs. or
more. The change aims to ensure that assigned market values for
non-adult livestock over 400 lbs. reflect the statutory requirement for
the payment to be 75% of the market value for the livestock.
FSA state offices also will establish new normal mortality rates for
each of the new weight categories covered under LIP, while FSA national
headquarters will establish average fair market prices for each
category.
For more on LIP and other FSA disaster assistance programs, visit your
FSA county office or www.fsa.usda.gov.
-- USDA news release
|
|
USDA officials shot and killed two wolves Saturday that were linked
to five attacks on livestock in the Keating Valley area of Baker County,
OR.
The wolves were shot after nonlethal efforts failed to keep them from
killing livestock again. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife then
authorized USDA’s Wildlife Services to kill the animals, one of which
was wearing a tracking collar, from a fixed-wing aircraft.
"It's unfortunate that we got to this step," Russ Morgan, wolf
coordinator for Fish and Wildlife, said in a news release, "but these
wolves continued to kill livestock despite our many efforts to keep them
out of trouble. We cannot allow chronic losses to continue."
Officials linked the male and female wolves to the loss of 29 domestic
animals in five separate incidents between April 9 and Aug. 27. Four of
the five incidents occurred on one ranch, and the fifth occurred at an
adjacent ranch.
The two wolves killed in Baker County were yearling animals and never
bred. Their genetics link them to Idaho wolves, but it’s unclear if
they were born in Oregon or came to Oregon from Idaho.
For unknown reasons, the wolves were on their own at a young age, which
could have contributed to their inability to survive on wild animals
rather than livestock.
The wolf pair was linked to the losses through evidence including bite
marks and other wounds on the livestock, track sizes, the wolves'
historic use of the area and the style of the killings.
After the first incident, Oregon Fish and Wildlife, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, Defenders of Wildlife and the landowners worked
together to try nonlethal measures to keep the wolves from killing
livestock again. Those measures included placing a radio collar on one
of the wolves so it could be monitored, installing fladry (flagged
fencing that can be a wolf deterrent), using a radio-activated-guard box
that makes noise when a radio collar approaches, double-penning
livestock, keeping livestock near homes at night, burying carcass piles
and using guard dogs.
Also, Fish and Wildlife hazed the wolves out of the Keating Valley area
multiple times with an airplane or helicopter and used noise-making
cracker shells to discourage them from remaining in the Keating Valley
area around livestock operations.
-- The (Portland) Oregonian
www.oregonlive.com
|
|
Last week, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that
Brazilian meatpacking giant JBS would soon announce a bid to purchase
Pilgrim's Pride, which controls about 22% of the U.S. poultry market. If
so, the bid would come less than a year after the U.S. Department of
Justice (DOJ) filed suit to block JBS's purchase of National Beef.
Writing in In The Cattle Markets, John D. Anderson and John
Michael Riley, Mississippi State University ag economists, say that if
JBS does make a formal bid for Pilgrim's Pride, DOJ will be faced with
an interesting decision on how to evaluate the deal.
“Under the Obama administration, DOJ has signaled their intention to
bring a renewed focus to competition issues in the agricultural
sector… The potential acquisition of one meat industry behemoth by
another will certainly generate competition concerns, both among
industry participants and government regulators,” the authors
say.
Even so, it may be difficult for DOJ to find sufficient objective
grounds to oppose the acquisition. For one thing, the acquisition will
have no effect on industry concentration within the poultry sector
because JBS currently has no stake in the poultry industry, Anderson and
Riley say. But, DOJ may decide to define the market more broadly to
include the entire meat industry rather than just the poultry industry,
they speculate.
A more expansive definition would make the acquisition a big deal, but
aggregate industry concentration isn’t nearly as pronounced as within
any individual sector, weakening any case that DOJ might desire to make
in opposition to the acquisition, the duo says.
“Finally, and probably most importantly, DOJ – consistent with
regulatory guidelines – has typically been fairly lenient in
evaluating mergers and acquisitions which involve the takeover of a firm
that would very likely fail anyway.” Pilgrim's Pride has been
operating under bankruptcy protection since last year, and its prospects
for survival as a stand-alone firm are dim.
“Having Pilgrim's taken over by a firm with no current stake in the
poultry industry is likely to be more palatable to DOJ than having it
taken over by one of its current competitors. If JBS really wants to
make a serious push to acquire Pilgrims, this argument will probably
carry the day. Still, after making noise about taking a new harder line
on agricultural competition issues, DOJ will surely not relish the
thought of giving the go-ahead to a deal that will create a global,
horizontally-integrated firm rivaling the scale of Tyson Foods. This
will be interesting to watch.”
-- John Anderson, John Riley, Mississippi State
University
|
|
|
