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The headline alone would be enough to cause blood vessels to break
among most hardcore global-warming advocates. Last year, China surpassed
the U.S. in producing carbon dioxide (CO2).
When one considers that the Chinese economy is only one- third the size
of that of the U.S., it underscores their contribution even more.
-- Click on headline to read the rest of this
story by Troy Marshall
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 Sydenstricker Genetics is a unique,
dynamic program that combines end-product merit with functionality. We
offer genetic diversity, real-world performance and multi-trait
excellence in our Angus cattle. In our 31st Annual Production Sale, we
will offer 180 bulls and bull calves along with 280 registered females.
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The key to selling any negative message is to surround it with as
many true facts and good intentions as possible, and then focus on the
legitimate components so that the questionable ones seem almost
unimportant.
-- Click on headline to read the rest of this
story by Troy Marshall
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The euphoria over Taiwan's promised announcement to reopen its
markets to U.S. beef was pretty short-lived. Before the good news could
even be digested, the demonstrations against the importation of U.S.
beef began. Stories of the government being toppled are already
circulating, and the opposition's plan is in full swing.
The playbook seems like it is one being shared from country to country.
The problem is that the inevitable delays give the opposition plenty of
time, and the results seem inevitable, as well.
A market reopening should be a positive thing, but it's a hollow victory
if it ends up in destroying our market share for decades in the process
of regaining access.
-- Troy Marshall
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Australian producers are upset over their government’s
announcement to allow the importation of beef from countries with
documented cases of BSE, reports farmonline.
Australian Beef Association (ABA) chairman Brad Bellinger says his
members were appalled at the sellout of Australia's beef industry, with
access by the U.S. apparently being the biggest issue.
"At the time of the signing of the U.S. Free Trade Agreement in February
2004, the then ABA chairman John Carter predicted that this would
happen," he says. "Now, our industry faces annihilation at the hands of
the USA, a country with cases of BSE, with no National Livestock
Identification System, with a world respected grading system and with
economies of scale, which sees them currently selling beef to their
consumers at a much lower price than Australian consumers pay.
"Add the fact that the U.S. dollar is falling toward parity with the
Australian dollar and we will see top hotels and restaurants bringing in
US prime and choice-grade beef," he says.
-- Farmonline
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Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. (BIVI) has acquired certain
Fort Dodge Animal Health vaccines, parasiticides and antibiotics for the
BIVI cattle business in the U.S. and Canada, the company says. Among
those products in the beef cattle line are vaccine brands Triangle®,
Pyramid®, Presponse® and TrichGuard®; and Cydectin® brand
parasiticide.; See the complete list and existing BIVI products at www.bi-vetmedica.com.
As part of the cattle product acquisition, BIVI also is acquiring Fort
Dodge manufacturing and other assets, and will continue its
industry-leading research and product development efforts to bring
additional health solutions to cattle producers, the company says.
-- BIVI news release
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Preg-check time is really profit-check time. That’s why it’s so
important to keep your cows on CRYSTALYX®. Next to the bull himself,
it’s the best way to ensure high reproductive efficiency. Because when
the vet says, “She’s open”, it’s already too late. Click here to learn more.
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Two years after the last U.S. horse slaughter plant ceased
operations, the government wants to look into the closures’
implications on horse welfare. Congress has requested the Government
Accountability Office to study the issue and report its findings by
March 1, 2010.
Specifically, the GAO is to look into the following:
- How the horse industry has responded to the closure of U.S.
horse slaughter facilities in terms of the numbers of horse sales,
exports, adoptions and abandonments.
- The implications these changes have had on farm income and trade.
- The extent to which horses in the U.S. are slaughtered for any
purpose.
- Any impacts on state and local governments and animal protection
organizations.
- How USDA oversees the transport of horses destined for slaughter in
foreign countries, particularly Canada and Mexico.
- The manner in which USDA coordinates with the Department of the
Interior and state governments to assist them in identifying, holding,
and transporting unwanted horses for foreign export.
- General conclusions regarding the welfare of horses as a result of
a ban on horse slaughter for human consumption.
The request is part of the Senate Appropriations Committee Report, which
accompanies the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug
Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for FY2010,
which provides funding for the USDA.
-- American Quarter Horse Association release
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Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health (ISPAH) has established the
Dell Allen Scholarship at Kansas State University (KSU). Honoring the
researcher, teacher and businessman, the Dell Allen scholarship is
created for meat science graduate students.
"Allen has played a significant role in shaping today’s U.S. meat
industry," says David Yates, ISPAH associate director of production
technologies. "Whether in the classroom, lab or boardroom, he has spent
his career working to make our industry, and the people in it, even
stronger."
Allen became a KSU faculty member after completing his doctorate and
taught at the university for 22 years in the department of Animal
Sciences and Industry. He left KSU in 1988 to work for Excel Corp. as
director of quality and training. During his tenure at Excel, which
became Cargill Meat Solutions, Allen was an influential speaker at
international food safety conferences and collaborated with government
agencies, agriculture industry groups and consumer advocates. He held
various leadership roles before retiring in 2004 as vice president of
technical services and food safety.
The Dell Allen Scholarship will be provided to a KSU meat science
graduate student. ISPAH will fund the scholarship for a minimum of three
years.
For more info, contact Jim Miles at jim.miles@sp.intervet.com.
-- Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health release
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 SEEDSTOCK NEWSLETTER BARN –
Over 20 Genetic Newsletters – Under One Roof.
The Seedstock Barn is a multi-breed collection of breeder and
association newsletters assembled in one convenient location.
Newsletters provide valuable information into personal producer
philosophy and herd management tips. Producer and association
newsletters foster the sharing of educational and best practice
information vital to improving our most important product, BEEF, in an
effort to keep our most important customer, the CONSUMER.
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A Tuesday night amendment to a Department of Interior and
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) appropriations bill will delay for
a year any EPA regulations that require feedyards to report greenhouse
gas emissions from manure management systems.
The amendment also delays for a year any action that EPA may take under
Title V of the Clean Air Act – the so-called cow tax, according to
Forrest Roberts, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association chief
executive.
“This doesn’t necessarily remove the issue of how we look at EPA’s
role in regulating greenhouse gas,” Roberts told BEEF Cow-Calf
Weekly. “But it is a short-term win that gives us more time to
work with policymakers to make sure we are positioning (regulations)
appropriately. At the end of the day, we hope ag would be considered a
solution in this whole area surrounding climate change.”
President Obama is expected to sign the measure.
-- Burt Rutherford
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A feedlot wage survey conducted by Gregorio Billikopf with the
University of California with assistance from the Colorado Livestock
Association reveals some interesting data.
-- Click on headline to read the rest of this
story by Gregorio Billikopf,
University of California
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 Social Networking For Beef Industry
Professionals
BEEF content is available on Facebook, a social networking tool
increasingly used by beef industry professionals. Interact with readers
and editors, participate in discussions and keep up-to-date with
industry happenings. Become a
fan of BEEF!
BEEF is also on Twitter, a micro-blogging site that provides
brief status updates on people, groups or organizations. Users can
"follow" people or groups, including news organizations that they want
to keep up-to-date with. Follow BEEF on
Twitter!!
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With feeding being the largest cost in beef production, a new
calculator available at the University of Illinois (UI) website allows
producers to compare different feedstuffs to make the most economical
choices. Find the Cost of Feedstuffs Calculator at www.farmdoc.illinois.edu.
“With the advent of the ethanol industry and the further processing of
grain, the co-products resulting from these processes has opened up a
whole new area of feed sources. But it has been a challenge for
producers to compare these different feedstuffs as they can vary in dry
matter, protein and energy,” says Dave Seibert, UI Extension animal
systems educator.
Even a bigger problem is that the same feedstuffs from different
processing plants can vary in their nutrient value. Meanwhile, the
moisture content can vary 10 to 60%, with some high-moisture products
reaching 80%. And, storage loss on some of these feedstuffs can range
from 5 to 50% or more.
“The ‘Cost of Feedstuffs Calculator’ allows livestock managers,
consultants, and veterinarians to compare the cost of purchasing,
transporting and storage losses for different feedstuffs. The feedstuffs
library includes 120 different feedstuffs comprising: 22 company
co-products; 25 by-products; five new generation co-products; 27
forages; 11 grains; nine crop residues; 12 silages; and nine
supplements. In addition, producers can add additional feedstuffs
available on their farm,” Seibert said.
Each of the feedstuffs can be compared to the default feedstuffs, which
is No. 2 shelled corn; 44% soybean meal and mid-bloom alfalfa hay.
“Groups of 5, 10 or 15 different feedstuffs can be compared at one
time with the feedstuffs ranked on a cost per pound of energy or cost
per pound of protein,” Seibert says.
-- UI news release
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The U.S. average prices for regular gasoline and diesel jumped by a
dime each for the week ending Oct. 26. Gasoline at retail hit
$2.67/gal., the first time since Oct. 20, 2008, that the national
average price is higher than the year before. Meanwhile, diesel settled
at $2.80/gal., but still 49¢ below the year-ago price.
Gasoline was up in all major regions, with the East Coast surging 13¢
to $2.65, Midwest 12¢ to $2.66, Gulf Coast 11¢ to $2.55, Rocky
Mountains 6¢ to $2.58, and West Coast 2¢ to $2.89. California was flat
at $2.99.
Diesel also was up in regions, adding 10¢ on the East Coast ($2.82),
the Midwest ($2.79) and Gulf Coast ($2.74). The Rocky Mountains jumped
7¢ to $2.78, the West Coast 8¢ to $2.90. California added 9¢ to hit
$2.97/gal.
-- U.S. Energy Information Administration
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Some culling of beef cows occurs in most herds every year. Industry
audits generally show that cull cows, bulls and cull dairy cows make up
about 20% of the beef available for consumption in the U.S. About half
of this group (or 10% of the beef supply) comes from cull beef cows.
-- Click on headline to read the rest of this
story by Glen Selk, Oklahoma State University Cow-Calf Corner
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Just in time for Halloween, one of the world’s top email hoaxes
has again arisen from the grave. First appearing in 2002, the email is a
chain-style communication designed to encourage recipients to boycott
McDonald’s, claiming that the fast-food chain sources its beef from
South America.
-- Click on headline to read the rest of this
story by Joe Roybal and Clint Peck
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The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) continues to urge
Congress to pass legislation providing additional relief and permanency
in the tax code for America’s farmers, ranchers and other small
business owners. As part of these ongoing efforts, NCBA is supporting
H.R. 3905, the Estate Tax Relief Act of 2009, introduced last week by
Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-NV), along with Reps. Kevin Brady (D-TX), Devin
Nunes (R-CA), and Artur Davis (D-AL). Over a 10-year period, H.R. 3906
would increase the estate tax (“death tax”) exemption to $5 million
while decreasing the rate to a level of 35%.
Currently, the death tax is set at 45% for estates worth more than $3.5
million (or $7 million for a couple). The President’s budget proposed
freezing the estate tax at this level so it could be dealt with at a
later date. If Congress does nothing, in 2011, it would revert to
pre-2001 tax levels, and estates worth more than $1 million would be
taxed at a 55% rate.
“This bipartisan bill is a step in the right direction towards a
permanent solution that will allow farmers and ranchers to better plan
for the future of their operations,” said Jill Davidsaver, NCBA
manager of legislative affairs.” If Congress doesn’t act soon, it
will be too late. Allowing the estate tax to revert to pre-2001 levels
will be a death warrant for small-to-medium sized family businesses.”
H.R. 3905 would raise the estate-tax exemption through a phased
approach, starting at $3.5 million in 2009, and increasing by $150,000
each year until 2019 when the exemption would permanently level off at
$5 million. The phase-out of the tax would work the same way: decreasing
from 45% to 35% by 1% increments from 2009 to 2019. The bill is indexed
for inflation after 2019.
For more info on this topic, go to www.beefusa.org/uDocs/deathtaxleavebehind.pdf.
-- NCBA release
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A Polk County, WI, farmer has been found guilty of violating
Wisconsin's livestock premises registration law, and ordered to pay
nearly $400.
Patrick Monchilovich, 39, of Cumberland, is the first person to be
convicted of violating the law, which took effect in November 2005. He
has 60 days to appeal the judge's decision.
The premises registration law requires any property where livestock are
held to be registered in a central database and assigned a number. The
registration lists what species are on the premises. The law is intended
to speed up the process of finding potentially exposed animals when
there is a disease outbreak.
According to documents filed by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture,
Trade and Consumer Protection, Monchilovich was first contacted by
telephone in April 2008 to inform him that he needed to register his
premises, on which he was keeping cattle. He declined. An animal health
inspector visited him later that month, and he still refused to
register. In May 2008, he refused delivery of a certified warning
letter, which was then hand-delivered to him during a final visit by the
inspector and a compliance officer in June 2008.
Charges were filed in Polk County Circuit Court by District Attorney
Daniel Steffen on Feb. 26, and Monchilovich pleaded not guilty on March
17. The case came to trial on Oct. 21, when he was found guilty by Judge
Molly GaleWyrick and ordered to pay a $200 civil forfeiture and about
$190 in court costs.
-- Wisconsin Department of Ag release
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The annual International Livestock Congress USA (ILC) convenes Jan.
12 in Denver’s Renaissance Hotel. In preparation, organizers are
asking cattle producers to outline some of their short-term strategies
of beef cattle managers. The results will be used to help frame a panel
discussion about balancing costs and expenses in the cow-calf business.
The five-minute survey can be accessed at www.surveymonkey.com.
“Envisioning 2020 – Preparing for Future Global Demand” is the
topic of this year’s ILC. The keynote speaker is Richard Brown,
London, England. A partner in GIRA Euroconsulting, a French-based
international organization, Brown will provide summary projections and
analysis of the global beef industry. Other speakers include: Wesley
Batista, JBS Swift; Erin Daley, U.S. Meat Export Federation; Greg Bloom,
Colorado Meat Packers; Rob Shuey, Tyson Foods, Inc.; Jeff Simmons,
Elanco Animal Health; John Maddux, Maddux Cattle Company; Kevin Yon, Yon
Family Farms; and Colin Woodall, National Cattlemen’s Beef
Association.
Pre-Congress tours are Jan 11. Cost of the conference is $175/person or
$100 for students before Dec. 11, and includes a continental breakfast,
buffet lunch, and grounds admittance to the National Western Stock Show.
Go to www.theisef.com to
register on-line.
-- Clint Peck
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All three of Iceland's McDonald's restaurants in the capital city of
Reykjavik are closing.
"The economic situation has just made it too expensive for us," says
Magnus Ogmundsson, the managing director of Lyst Hr., McDonald's
franchise holder in Iceland.
According to the Associated Press article, Lyst was required to import
all its restaurant inputs, from packaging to meat and cheeses, from
Germany. But costs had doubled over the past year due to the collapse of
the Icelandic krona and high import tariffs, which made it impossible
for the company to raise prices further and remain competitive with
competitors who use locally sourced produce. A Big Mac in Reykjavik
currently retails for 650 krona ($5.21 US).
-- Muriel Elizabeth Hayes
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The U.S. has blocked requests to the World Trade Organization (WTO)
by Canada and Mexico for experts to examine new U.S. mandatory
country-of-origin labeling (COOL) rules the two countries claim are
hurting their meat exports to the U.S.. COOL requires U.S. retailers to
indicate the country of origin in meat and seafood.
WTO rules allow the plaintiff in a dispute to reject the first request
for a panel. But the requests are likely to go forward to the next
meeting of the WTO's dispute settlement body on Nov.19, when the U.S.
can’t block them again, Bloomberg reports. Mexico and Canada
say its meat and livestock exporters are suffering lower prices and
uncertainty because of the COOL rules.
-- Bloomberg
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This year's fall weather – rain and cloudy following a drought –
and its effect on forages can be a recipe for nitrate poisoning of
livestock, says a Texas AgriLife Extension Service expert.
And under these conditions, cattle don't have to consume improved
forages to be at risk, as many weeds also can build up high levels of
nitrate, says Vanessa Corriher, AgriLife Extension forage
specialist.
"In a recent incident, a producer turned some cattle into a dry lot,"
she says. "Though he supplied hay, the cattle apparently died of nitrate
poisoning from eating pigweed in the lot."
Forages and small grains that are susceptible to building up high levels
of nitrate include sudangrass, sorghum-sudan hybrids, pearl millet,
corn, wheat and oats, she says. Weeds prone to build up high nitrate
levels include Canada thistle, pigweed, smartweed, ragweed,
lambsquarter, goldenrod, nightshades, bindweed, Russian thistle and
stinging nettle.
Another risk factor is hay cut during or just after a drought period.
"This is especially risky if nitrogen was applied just prior to the hay
harvest," she says. Though the high nitrate levels are associated with
weather conditions, once the levels are built up in hay, the risk is not
lessened over time, Corriher notes.
Corriher recommends producers regularly take forage samples from
pastures and have them analyzed for nitrates, including samples of
forages and weeds at various growth stages.
"Be sure to specify that you want nitrate analysis," she says. "Standard
nutritional analysis usually does not test for nitrates."
Hay samples should be collected with a probe. Samples from several bales
can be combined.
Unlike prussic acid poisoning, the risk of nitrate poisoning is not
decreased over time, Corriher says. Hay harvested months ago could still
contain the same high levels of nitrates it did when baled.
"Though the risk of nitrate poisoning is higher after a drought or an
extended period of cool, wet weather, it's something producers should be
aware of year round," Corriher says.
-- Texas AgriLife Extension release
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