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This year Camp Cooley Ranch celebrates 20 years of
ultrasound performance in our Brangus herd. From this work results some
of the most powerful, performance proven Brangus, Angus and Charolais
bulls to ever sell at Camp Cooley. Your search for Quality in
Volume begins and ends at Camp Cooley Ranch. Give us a call or
stop by for a visit!
www.campcooley.com
1-800-251-0305
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It's been a long, tortuous route to get the market reopened with
Korea. The subtleties and nuances of international negotiations are
something most cattlemen aren't well suited for. Still, despite the fact
the South Korean market is still essentially closed to U.S. product, it
does appear Korea will allow bone-in beef, and effectively reopen its
market to product under 30 months of age, in late May.
Korea indicated this week it would reopen the market if the U.S. was
officially designated as a "controlled-risk country" for BSE by the OIE,
as that group is expected to do in late May.
One industry observer commented recently how happy the U.S. beef
industry should be to regain one of its top-three export markets for
beef, while allowing South Korean negotiators to evade the appearance of
caving in to U.S. demands in the recently concluded free-trade
agreements (FTA). This resolution, he postulates, will allow South Korea
to garner domestic support for the FTA, while the third-party
designation by OIE will help calm Korean consumers.
I'm sure he's right. When the border reopens -- as I think it will -- it
will be a win-win situation for both sides. But I still think the
process took at least a year longer than it needed to be.
-- Troy Marshall
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Remember that bumper sticker from the mid 1970s, when agricultural
economics became so disastrous that there were farmers crashing tractors
into the local bank in protest? It said: "Don't cuss the farmer with
your mouth full."
Click here to read more of this story by Wes
Ishmael
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After USDA's recent report indicated that more acres were going to
be planted to corn than any time in the last 60 years, the corn market
responded by softening significantly. Meanwhile, people have started to
talk about why the eventual acreage will actually be less than
projected.
For one thing, fertilizer costs are rising, which will encourage a
shift. Meanwhile, the basis has narrowed between corn and other grains,
which may keep some acreage shift from occurring. And, with wet
conditions in parts of the Corn Belt, and wetter than normal conditions
expected the next 30 days, some corn simply won't be planted on time.
Those acres likely will shift back to soybeans as a result.
I've always believed in the saying that "rain makes grain," and that
concern about too much moisture at planting time usually ends up to be a
positive from a harvest standpoint. This year is somewhat unique in this
regard, as most farmers are trying to plant significantly more acres to
corn, with the same equipment and labor as in the past. This means the
window for error has been reduced.
Still, the market continues to send the signal that the most profitable
crop for 2007 is corn, so expect every bit of corn that can be planted
to be planted.
-- Troy Marshall
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South Korea to reopen. Beef demand soaring. Carcass weights down.
Supplies to tighten. Fats trade for $100/cwt. or more. Feeders $10/cwt.
higher than January. Corn acres higher, corn prices lower. Drought
officially ends. Green grass is coming. These are some of the variations
on the headlines we'll see this week in industry publications, and the
exciting thing is that, for the most part, all seem to be true.
Click here to read more of this story by Troy
Marshall
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McDonald's Holdings Co. Japan says its monthly sales hit 43.05
billion yen in March, the highest level in the company's 36-year
history, Japan Today reports. The record sales are attributed to
the introduction of a new regular menu and limited-season products, such
as the Mega-Mac, as well as offering round-the-clock service, the
company says.
A Godzilla-sized Big Mac sourced from Australian beef, the Mega-Mac is a
hamburger with four patties, with an extra bun in between, that sells
for 350 yen ($2.95 U.S.), about three times more than a standard burger.
Originally introduced as a short-term promotion, 3.3 million of the
sandwiches were sold in the first four days, eventually reaching a
record 11.5 million in three months, reports Meat & Livestock Australia
(MLA).
Its popularity kick-started a mega-burger craze that saw competitors,
such as Wendy's ("Big triple," $5.05) and Freshness ("Classic
double-double burger," $5.72), join in, MLA says.
-- Joe Roybal
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The Energy Information Administration (EIA) says international
tensions are amplifying the effects of already tight international
petroleum markets as the summer season (April through September) begins.
At the same time, unanticipated refinery problems in February and March,
both in the U.S. and abroad, reduced the supply of gasoline resulting in
seasonal price increases about a month earlier than usual.
U.S. retail gasoline prices have surged the last two months, rising more
than 60¢/gal., but the rapid rate of price increase is expected to
slow the next few months. During the summer season, EIA says the average
monthly gasoline pump price will peak at an average of $2.87/gal. in
May, compared with $2.98/gal. last July. Regular gasoline at retail is
projected to average $2.81/gal. this summer, compared with $2.84 last
summer.
According to EIA's weekly price survey, regular gasoline averaged
$2.80/gal. on April 9 -- 12¢ over the year-ago level. California
retail prices of $3.25/gal. are 45¢/gal. higher than a year
ago.
Meanwhile, the average U.S. diesel price rose to $2.84/gal. in response
to the refinery outages and higher crude oil prices. Retail diesel fuel
prices are expected to average $2.82/gal. over the summer, down 6¢
from last summer.
-- Energy Information Administration
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Colorado State University's College of Agriculture is offering 14-
to 18-year-old youths a chance to learn about food-animal agriculture
and equine science this summer. Called Camp Round-UP, the camp focuses
on incorporating math, science and agriculture into an environment that
fosters teamwork. Lessons will cover a wide range of animal agriculture,
including beef, equine, dairy, sheep and wool, swine, poultry and meat
sciences.
The program runs June 16-19 and costs $375; students who register before
May 10 receive a $25 discount. Visit www.ansci.colostate.edu and click on Camp Round-UP
in the Quicklinks column.
-- CSU Release
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A one-hour, live broadcast on liver flukes is set for April 23 at 8
p.m. (EDT) on RFD-TV. A panel of experts will offer tips on minimizing
fluke risk, and will take questions at 866-547-9696. The
Merial-sponsored program will be rebroadcast April 24, at 4 a.m. and 12
p.m. EDT; and April 29 at 3 a.m.
-- Merial news release
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The U.S. cow-calf sector has been profitable since 1999 and returns
the last three years have been the highest the industry has experienced
in more than 25 years. Ordinarily, such a record would be enough to
encourage producers to increase their herd size, primarily by holding
back heifers, says Jim Mintert, Kansas State University economist. But
that's not the case thus far in 2007.
Click here to read more of this story by the
Livestock
Marketing Information Center
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Need to upgrade your rural medical clinic or school? USDA is making
$62.9 million available for distance learning and telemedicine, $75
million in loan and grant combinations, and $15 million in grants.
Telemedicine technology makes it possible for doctors to examine and
direct treatment of patients in remote treatment centers. This gives
rural residents access to medical specialists not usually available in
rural areas. The distance-learning program finances equipment to expand
educational resources to students and educational institutions in rural
areas.
Applications for the $15 million in distance learning and telemedicine
grants must be received by June 11. Applications for loans, and loan and
grant combinations, are accepted year round. Contact your Rural
Development state office for information. For a list of state Rural
Development offices, visit www.rurdev.usda.gov.
-- Burt Rutherford
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Herefords - The Efficiency Experts
Adding Hereford genetics to your herd makes perfect business sense in a
cost-driven economy. Excellent conversion, hardiness, fertility,
longevity and even disposition can help reduce input costs. These
Hereford efficiencies are ideal for your herd, your business and your
plans for the future. Low-maintenance cattle, long-term profit. Now
that's power.
www.hereford.org
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The Senate passed legislation that would increase federal penalties
for transporting animals across state lines for the purpose of staging
fights. The legislation would make it a crime to buy or sell animals for
fighting, and would make it unlawful to use the U.S. Postal Service to
promote animal fighting in the U.S. The bill (H.R. 137) passed the House
in March and now goes to the President for his approval.
-- P. Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C.,
correspondent
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The Senate Agriculture Committee plans to hold a hearing April 18 to
discuss competition issues and the farm bill. We can expect the issues
of concentration, vertical integration, packer ban, spot market
requirements, and arbitration to be discussed at this hearing.
Meanwhile, the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock plans to hold
a hearing on the livestock and meat industries on April 17. One focus
will be USDA's "Livestock and Meat Marketing Study" released in
February. The congressionally mandated study found that alternative
marketing arrangements (AMAs) increase the economic efficiency of the
cattle, hog and lamb markets, and that these economic benefits are
distributed to consumers, as well as to producers and packers who use
AMAs.
-- P. Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C.,
correspondent
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Legislation that would clarify that livestock manure is not a
Superfund material has gained a number of cosponsors since its
introduction in March. Senate bill (S. 807) now has 17 cosponsors, while
the House bill (H.R. 1586) has 85 cosponsors. This legislation is
supported by the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, National Pork
Producers Council, National Chicken Council, and the American Farm
Bureau Federation.
-- P. Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C.,
correspondent
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USDA Secretary Mike Johanns said this week that USDA would be
sending the complete legislative language for its 2007 farm bill
proposal to Congress over the next 4-6 weeks.
-- P. Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C.,
correspondent
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The POWER of one BRAND can change your future in the beef
business.
Certified Angus Beef ®, the oldest, most successful branded
beef program in the industry returned more than $50 million in grid
premiums in 2003. The demand for CAB® brand products translates into
fed cattle premiums of $2-$5/cwt. Source-verified, high-percentage Angus
replacement females often top auctions by selling for $50-$100 per head
above cash market. Sale barn surveys conducted at nine auction markets
indicated premiums are paid, not for black-hided cattle, but for
high-percentage-Angus cattle.
One brand, one breed--the power of one can change your future in the
beef business.
www.angus.org
Certified Angus Beef® and CAB® are registered trademarks of
Certified Angus Beef, LLC
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USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service this week
announced that, effective April 17, all cattle coming from the Mexican
State of Coahuila will be denied U.S. entry. The move is due to
noncompliance with the tuberculosis (TB) eradication program. The ban
will remain in effect until APHIS has determined that Coahuila is in
compliance with TB program guidelines.
-- Burt Rutherford
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Outside of a few football games and an occasional outbreak during
"March Madness," Texas Fever has been pretty well corralled in the Lone
Star State. USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
officials aim to keep it that way.
The Texas Fever of concern to animal health officials is a condition
carried by fever ticks that has been the subject of intense effort by
APHIS since 1906. Back then, Texas Fever wiped out about 90% of the U.S.
cattle industry. By 1943, the effort was successful enough that the only
area in the U.S. still infected with fever ticks is a roughly 500-mile
stretch along the Rio Grande River that forms part of the Texas-Mexico
border.
While the tick riders who patrol this often remote region are successful
in keeping the fever ticks controlled on cattle, wildlife is another
story -- particularly the exotic wildlife that have come to inhabit many
South Texas ranches. While they readily carry and spread the cattle
fever tick, they can't be roped and dipped like cattle can.
Consequently, APHIS officials last week conducted a helicopter hunt of
nilgai, a large exotic antelope native to India and Pakistan. In all, 37
were killed in a two-day hunt on a portion of the Lower Rio Grande
Valley National Wildlife Refuge. The meat was donated to a food
bank.
In all, officials estimate that 30,000 nilgai roam throughout South
Texas. The number in the tick free zone is unknown.
-- Burt Rutherford
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They get it done with one
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vaccine that includes up to 13 disease-fighting antigens. New Vira
Shield® 6+VL5 HB is the first and only inactivated viral vaccine
with BVD, vibrio and Lepto hardjo-bovis, the leptospire that can clobber
conception rates. Click on the photos to hear more on this convenient
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All the content from BEEF magazine's April issue is now
available at www.beef-mag.com. This month, "Market Advisor"
columnist Harlan Hughes provides his thoughts on a financial
early-warning system for monitoring the economic and business health of
a ranch -- beef-mag.com/hughes/financial_early_warning_system/.
In addition, grazing guru Jim Gerrish provides some timely insight into
whether your pasture can produce enough legume nitrogen on its own --
beef-mag.com/mag/legume_nitrogen/, thereby saving
a grazier some valuable fertilizer dollars. And BEEF magazine
staffers Burt Rutherford and Alaina Burt deliver a two-part treatment on
effective fly control in "Shoo, Fly" and "Be A Good Neighbor,"
respectively.
-- Joe Roybal
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"Grazing Behavior: Understanding and Managing Livestock, Wildlife,
Plants, Soils and People" is the theme of a free, two-day seminar set
for May 1-2 at the Prairie Knights Casino and Resort in Fort Yates, ND.
Sponsored by the North Dakota State University Hettinger Research
Extension Center, the seminar will be led by Fred Provenza, a well-known
animal behaviorist and Utah State University professor and researcher.
Aimed at livestock producers, he'll explore the relationships among
soils, plants, herbivores, people and ecosystems, and focus on how
behavior influences food and habitat selection.
For more info, visit www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/hettinge/, or call
701-567-4323. Register by April 24.
-- NDSU Hettinger Research Extension Center
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Did you look ahead and plant rye, triticale or even wheat last fall
to use as extra early pasture this spring? If so, grazing should begin
soon, if it hasn't already started, says Bruce Anderson, University of
Nebraska agronomy professor. Small-grain pastures can be convenient and
profitable, but good management must be used to optimize production and
prevent livestock losses.
Such small-grain pastures can be an extremely important resource for
spring grazing. Not only do they alleviate the need for spring hay
feeding but animals get access to clean grass for excellent gains, and
the practice allows more time for drought-ravaged pastures to recover.
To maximize grazing from these small grain pastures, wait until grass is
4-8 in. tall before initiating grazing. Then stock heavily enough to
maintain plant height between 6-12 in. Do this by either adjusting the
stocking rate according to grass growth, or subdivide the pasture into
paddocks and graze rotationally.
Stands, soils, fertility and moisture all will affect stocking rate, so
adjust stock numbers for your conditions. With careful management, this
system can provide good grazing all the way to June.
One concern when grazing small-grain pasture is grass tetany, which can
be lethal but is more common in lactating cows than in dry cows or young
stock. Reduce tetany by feeding magnesium oxide supplements mixed with
salt, molasses or grain. Monitor consumption carefully and adjust the
mixture so cattle consume about 1/4-lb. of magnesium oxide/cow each
week.
For more info on grass tetany, visit www.beefcowcalf.com and type "grass tetany" into
the "Search For:" box on the opening page.
-- Bruce Anderson, University of Nebraska
agronomy professor
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The Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) will host a one-hour webinar
on the impact of ethanol on livestock markets. Set for 2 p.m. CST on
April 26, the session will be led by Bruce Babcock, Iowa State
University (ISU) economist and director of ISU's Center for Agricultural
and Rural Development; and Steve Meyer, author of the CME Daily
Livestock Report. Learn more or register at www.cme.com/livestockseminar.
-- Livestock Marketing Information
Center
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