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There's been talk that the farm bill was bogged down and the current
farm bill might be extended for a year. However, it's critical for
mandatory country-of-origin labeling (COOL) that a bill gets passed.
Without corrections to the program, COOL could be a real bear to
implement according to next fall's timeline.
In actuality, everyone wants a farm bill passed. Without question, the
Bush Administration has major concerns about the tax increases, costs
and budget gimmicks, and had also advocated a more radical change in the
makeup of the farm bill. But consensus has been reached on most issues.
The odds are that, while it might take a couple of months to work out
the details, a farm bill is still likely.
The most amazing thing is just how little the farm bill has to do with
farming anymore. Depending on how you classify things, less than 25% of
the farm bill really has anything to do with those engaged in producing
food and fiber. Food stamps, the conservation titles and the like are
really the drivers.
Ironically the beef industry may have more at stake in the energy bill
than in the farm bill.
-- Troy Marshall
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I think talk of marketing and sales skills makes most everyone a bit
nervous, especially when it comes to customer service.
Every customer-service initiative must be based on complete honesty and
true goodwill. If you're adopting a customer-service stance solely to
increase sales, then it will likely be transparent and borders on the
unethical.
It's a major commitment to treat your customers like gold, and it's a
simple concept to treat your customers in the same manner you would like
to be treated. But like all things in marketing, the difficulty isn't in
developing the proper strategy, it's in implementing it.
The question should never be: "what's in it for me?" The great irony is
that when one forgets their self-interests and puts others' interests
above their own, their interests generally get taken care of.
In today's world, your customers have to be so satisfied with you that
they won't consider doing business with anyone else.
-- Troy Marshall
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I'd like to wish our readers belated greetings for a Happy
Thanksgiving Day, and hope you all had the opportunity to gather around
the dinner table and take a few moments to truly remember what you're
thankful for. The following makes up my list:- As a Christian, I'm
thankful for the gift of eternal life, for the power of prayer, for the
ability to serve a risen savior, and for the opportunity to receive so
much while deserving none of it.
- As an American, I'm thankful for the opportunity to live in this
great country. I'm thankful for those brave young men and women serving
overseas, and for their families sacrificing so much on our behalf.
- I'm thankful for family and friends, the health of our children, the
love of our parents, and those rare people who one can call true
friends.
- As a cattleman, I'm thankful for the code of the West, and the
opportunity to work so closely with Mother Nature in carrying out the
privilege of helping feed God's children.
- I'm thankful for that feeling I get every year when I glimpse an
early spring morning, brisk and cold, when the grass is turning and the
calves and cows look so good. I'm thankful for the feel of the leather
as I saddle my horse, the feeling of being at peace with the universe
when I take that first deep seat of the day, and watch my kids mount up,
while I savor that last sip of morning coffee.
I hope everyone is
doing something that allows them to experience moments like that. Happy
Thanksgiving!
-- Troy Marshall
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I use the term, "code of the west," a lot to signify all those
things that are so great about our industry but are kind of unspoken
intangibles. Of course, there never was a formal code truly defined, and
I've read that Zane Gray first actually used the term, which has nothing
to do with geography but rather a mindset.
-- Click on headline to read the rest of this
story by Troy Marshall
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The packer ban and other market initiatives have been bantered about
for years. They're always good for a heated discussion at the local
café, but we should keep in mind such measures have never been
included in a farm bill. And odds are they would be ruled
unconstitutional if they were included.
Almost certainly, the biggest impact on the industry that measures under
discussion in the current farm bill will have is the final number for
the next renewable fuels mandate. We're on pace to produce 6 billion
gals. of ethanol this year, and it appears the next mandate will be 15
billion gals. or more.
A quick calculation will tell you that would require significantly more
than one-third of this year's record 13-billion-bu. corn crop for
ethanol production. That means that we would have to reach 15 billion
bu. from an annual corn harvest just to stay even.
The political momentum on renewable fuels, however, is clear. That means
the industry likely is facing even higher corn prices. With exploding
production costs, there's already talk that current prices are not doing
enough to pull supply through the system.
If one is looking for the single factor that's likely to affect
long-term profitability in our industry the most, the key is in
determining just how big the next renewable-fuels mandate will be.
-- Troy Marshall
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Now effective is the USDA final rule that allows for importation of
Canadian cattle born after March 1, 1999, and beef products from animals
over 30 months of age. However, R-CALF has filed a motion for a
preliminary injunction in the U.S. District Court in Aberdeen, SD, to
which the Department of Justice (DOJ) has indicated its opposition in a
brief filed with the court. DOJ says the rule on cattle over 30 months
of age "is founded on the same sound science and expert agency
assessments" as the rule concerning animals under 30 months of age. The
court hasn't yet ruled on R-CALF's motion.
-- P. Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C.
correspondent
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Congress returns next week with a very full agenda. A major issue
will be the completion of appropriation bills for fiscal year 2008.
Only one of the 12 appropriation bills has been completed. It's expected
that a number of the appropriation bills, including ag, will be combined
into a continuing resolution that will fund various agencies for the
remainder of the fiscal year.
Other issues that Congressional leadership would like to finish include:
the farm bill, energy, alternative minimum tax, Children's Health
Insurance Program, and Peru trade agreement. This should keep Congress
busy for the next three weeks it will be in session before adjourning
for the year.
-- P. Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C.
correspondent
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Are you going to plant a new hay field next spring? Instead of
automatically planting pure alfalfa, think about mixing some grass into
the planting, writes Bruce Anderson in his Nov. 28 edition of "Hay &
Forage Minute."
-- Click on headline to read the rest of this
story by Bruce Anderson, University of Nebraska
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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking nominations for
a new Farm, Ranch and Rural Communities Federal Advisory Committee.
According to EPA, the committee will meet biannually and will consist of
about 25 members representing large and small farmers; ranchers and
rural communities; rural suppliers, marketers and processors; academics
and researchers who study environmental issues impacting agriculture;
tribal ag groups; and environmental and conservation groups. Send
nominations to EPA's Marrietta Haggins at haggins.marrietta@epa.gov.
-- P. Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C.
correspondent
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Farm-bill negotiations continue in the Senate with the desire to
reach an agreement by the time the Senate returns next week. The
negotiations continue to focus on how many amendments each side will be
allowed to offer.
The key issue is whether the Republican leadership will insist that
non-farm bill amendments (inheritance tax, alternative minimum tax,
etc.) be allowed for consideration during the farm-bill debate. Senate
Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has indicated the completion of the
farm bill is one of his top priorities before the Senate adjourns before
Christmas.
If the Senate completes the farm bill in December, then the conference
between the House and Senate would begin immediately with the
expectation the bill could be to the President early next year.
-- P. Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C.
correspondent
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The Department of Justice (DOJ) has raised strong concerns and
objections to Sen. Chuck Grassley's (R-IA) legislation that would
establish an Ag Competition Task Force to assist DOJ and the Federal
Trade Commission in "drafting ag antitrust guidelines, examine problems
in ag competition, and coordinate activities to address anti-competitive
practices."
The legislation also creates an Office of Competition and Fair Practices
at USDA and a Deputy Assistant Attorney General at DOJ for ag
matters.
DOJ said in a letter to the Senate that the bill "would not accomplish
its stated goal of protecting rural communities and family farms and
ranches, but instead would unnecessarily duplicate existing
collaboration efforts, increase costs and uncertainty, and may hinder
effective antitrust enforcement and harm competition in ag and other
industries."
-- P. Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C.
correspondent
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The National Cattlemen's Foundation (NCF) today announced it would
partner with USDA in promoting premises registration on the nation's
farms and ranches. Consisting of a record of basic info such as address
and phone number, premises registration allows animal health officials
to notify a livestock owner quickly when a disease or natural disaster
puts livestock at risk, but doesn't obligate a livestock producer to
participate in further levels of animal ID.
As the philanthropic arm of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association
(NCBA), NCF will administer resources to NCBA to deliver premises
registration info through a variety of communications channels to cattle
producers.
The foundation joined a growing list of livestock organizations who are
partnering with USDA in this effort. Others involved in the effort
include American Angus Association, the National Pork Board, the
National FFA Organization, and the IDAIRY coalition, consisting of
numerous dairy groups.
- Walt Barnhart, Carnivore
Communications
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If you're a stocker operator -- that is, someone who grows calves
beyond the weaning stage -- your input is needed in the
first-of-its-kind National Stocker Survey.
BEEF magazine, along with 12 land-grant universities, is
conducting the survey, which was mailed earlier this month to a
representative sample of stocker operators in the U.S. But every stocker
operator and backgrounder has an opportunity to participate in this
historic survey by completing it online. Just click on: www.snap-surveys.com/prismb2b/grau/NSSAlt/ntlstkrs07alt.htm.
All the info gathered will be kept strictly confidential and used only
in the aggregate. The data will be used by universities, industry
leaders and allied industry to guide their activities and investments in
programs, products and research focused on the needs and concerns of
stockers and backgrounders, says Dale Blasi, Kansas State University
beef stocker specialist.
Despite the fact that a majority of fed cattle spend some portion of
their post-weaning, pre-feedlot lives in a growing or straightening-out
program, there has never been a national effort to benchmark and
characterize the management practices and challenges of stockers and
backgrounders. The best that producers and those serving them have had
are estimates and guesses based on cow-calf and feedlot survey
information assembled by the National Animal Health Monitoring Service.
The most recent of those occurred in 1997-1999.
-- Joe Roybal
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The news came as little surprise this week as Paul Hitch, a Guymon,
OK rancher, cattle feeder and farmer, announced he would step down from
his position as president-elect of the National Cattlemen's Beef
Association (NCBA).
-- Click on headline to read the rest of this
story by Burt Rutherford
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People thinking about returning to the family ranch or farm are
encouraged to attend a two-day program titled "Planning To Return To The
Farm/Ranch." The program will be held in two sessions -- Jan. 18-19 and
Feb. 22-23 in Fort Worth, TX.
Planning for the future is key for a successful business, says Danny
Klinefelter, Texas Cooperative Extension economist. The program can
benefit a family whose child is planning to return to the farm or ranch
in the next year or two.
Cost is $750/family up to four, and includes a copy of the book
"Building Effective Farm management Systems." For info or to register,
go to rttf.tamu.edu.
-- Texas A&M University release
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Hay producers and truckers should be aware of USDA Animal Plant
Health Inspection Service (APHIS) rules restricting movement of hay out
of fire ant-quarantined areas. Extremely dry conditions in the Southeast
have increased hay movements, and some growers may not be familiar with
the quarantine rules.
-- Click on headline to read the rest of this
story by eHay Weekly
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The International Livestock Congress, slated for Jan. 15 in Denver
during the National Western Stock Show, is themed "Global Beef
Opportunities: Blazing New Trails." Attendees will get a glimpse of the
global beef market and how and where they might turn it into an
opportunity. Visit www.theisf.com/ilcusa.aspx
for more info.
-- International Livestock Congress release
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USDA's Farm Service Agency (FSA) has opened registration for
producers to apply for the Livestock Compensation Program (LCP) and
Livestock Indemnity Program.
LCP compensates producers for feed losses resulting from natural
disasters occurring between Jan. 1, 2005 and Feb. 28, 2007. Producers
suffering losses from blizzards that started in 2006 and continued into
2007 are eligible.
Producers in primary or contiguous counties declared secretarial
disaster areas, or counties declared presidential disaster areas,
between Jan. 1, 2005 and Feb. 28, 2007 are eligible to apply. Producers
suffering losses in more than one year must choose only one year for
which they want to receive benefits. For more info, contact your county
FSA office.
-- Farm Service Agency release
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The U.S. average retail price for regular gasoline fell 0.2¢ to
$3.097¢/gal., as of Nov. 26, or 85.1¢ above a year ago.
Meanwhile, diesel topped its previous record by almost 2¢, jumping
3.4¢ for the week to $3.444/gal.
In regional prices for gasoline, the East Coast gained 0.7¢ to
$3.092/gal.; the West Coast recorded the highest regional price, up
0.2¢ to $3.305; and California rose 0.3¢ to $3.398 (90.5¢
over last year). The Rocky Mountain region shaved 0.5¢ to $3.063,
the Midwest fell 1.1¢ to $3.059, and the Gulf Coast was down
0.3¢ to $2.966, the only region under $3.
Meanwhile, diesel was up across the U.S., with regional highs set in the
East Coast, Midwest and Gulf Coast. The East Coast increased 4.6¢
to $3.453, the Midwest rose 3.4¢ to $3.423, and the Gulf Coast
added 3.6¢ to $3.36. The Rocky Mountains advanced 2¢ to
$3.527. The West Coast retained the highest regional price, adding
0.1¢ to $3.587. California fell 0.4¢ to $3.62.
-- Energy Information Administration
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A new budget spreadsheet from South Dakota State University (SDSU)
can help producers calculate the costs of producing goats for the meat
goat market.
SDSU Extension beef specialist Ken Olson says meat-goat production can
be incorporated as a stand-alone production enterprise or as a
complement with beef cattle. Goats can take advantage of rough forages
and shrubs, and provide control for certain noxious weeds.
Find the Excel spreadsheet at: econ.sdstate.edu/Extension/otherlinks.htm.
-- American Cowman Update
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As the farm animal care debate ensues, the American Farm Bureau
Federation polled consumers on their opinions. In cooperation with
Oklahoma State University (OSU), more than 1,000 individuals nationwide
were polled by telephone on farm-animal welfare.
-- Click on headline to read the rest of this
story by the American Farm Bureau Federation
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USDA is seeking comments on a proposed voluntary standard for a
naturally raised marketing claim for livestock and meat. The standard
was published in the Nov. 28 Federal Register and is entitled:
"U.S. Standards for Livestock and Meat Marketing Claims, Naturally
Raised Claim for Livestock and the Meat and Meat Products Derived from
such Livestock." See the notice at: www.ams.usda.gov/lsg/stand/naturalclaim.htm.
In a release, USDA says: "Increasingly, livestock and meat producers are
using production or processing claims to distinguish their products in
the marketplace. USDA's Ag Marketing Service, through its voluntary
certification and audit programs, verifies the accuracy of these claims.
The proposed standard will establish the minimum requirements for those
producers who choose to operate a USDA verified program involving a
naturally raised claim. The naturally raised marketing claim will also
be a voluntary program."
Comments must be received by Jan. 28, 2008. Referencing docket number
LS-07-16, submit comments at www.regulations.gov; mail them
to: Naturally Raised Marketing Claim, Room 2607--S, AMS, USDA, 1400
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20250-0254; or fax to:
202-720-1112.
-- USDA news release
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Regarding the item, "Feed Horses For Cold Weather" (Nov. 16 BEEF
Cow-Calf Weekly), if we're going to adjust any feed ration, it must
be weighed out, in some form. Tests have shown that a 6-in. flake of
two-wire baled hay can weigh 4.5 lbs. if all grass, 6 lbs. if it's a
grass/alfalfa mix, 9 lbs. if all alfalfa, while a 6-in. flake of
three-wire alfalfa can weigh 16 lbs.
Concentrates also can vary greatly. The 1-lb. coffee can of pelleted
sweet feed, for instance, weighs 1.25 lbs. (variance between sweet
feeds, as well), while whole corn weighs 1.8 lbs., cracked corn is 1.4
lbs., whole oats is 1.5 lbs., and rolled oats is .6 lb.
We know what overfeeding can do to the horse -- colic, etc. And it will
affect the pocketbook, as well. A 25% error in pelleted concentrates and
in hay can add +$200/year/horse to your feed bill.
Very little loose hay is fed anymore, so it's quite practical to weigh a
few bales for an average if you're feeding many horses outside. But if
you're feeding them individually in the barn, one should weigh what the
horses are being fed.
An added note: Stay away from hay with large amounts of legume in it
when horses are not working. Grass, oat or wheat hays are great
replacements.
Bob Racicot, M.S.
EARC, Inc.
Ruidoso, NM
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