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Initially, the weakening of the U.S. dollar was seen as a positive
for ag. After all, it encouraged exports, thus making our product
cheaper to foreign sources. But the list of unintended consequences
makes it a lot more difficult to analyze the results.
Many experts argue that if we'd maintained the value of the dollar or at
least prevented its freefall, we would have avoided inflationary
concerns. Nor would the price of oil have climbed to $100/barrel, they
say, thus mitigating the explosion in input costs. Plus, consumers would
have more disposable income, allowing continued growth in beef demand,
and on and on.
We've already seen returns diminish in the ethanol industry despite
increased mandates. Where would ethanol, corn prices and the like be if
oil were $60/barrel rather than $100?
It's almost impossible to say, but the general consensus is that, for
export-dependent markets such as ag, a slight weakening in the U.S.
dollar was a positive. The magnitude of the devaluation is something no
one predicted and its implications are far more disturbing.
-- Troy Marshall
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That headline is how one cattleman characterized his failure to
anticipate the changes that occurred in this industry the last couple of
years. Looking back, he was exactly right, and it's a lesson for all of
us.
-- Click on headline to read the rest of this
story by Troy Marshall
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The Hallmark/Westland story continues to garner headlines on a whole
range of issues.
The Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS) announced its intention to sue
USDA over the agency's enforcement of the downer-cow issue.
-- Click on headline to read the rest of this
story by Troy Marshall
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John Crouch, American Angus Association (AAA) CEO, announced his
intention to retire later this year. He's had an incredible impact, not
only on the Angus breed, for which he's worked for 34 years, but the
overall industry.
Crouch is recognized as both a leader and pioneer in the seedstock
performance movement and in the development of national genetic
evaluation programs. Recent AAA press releases effectively highlight his
many achievements but, as is often the case with truly great leaders,
their legacy is more accurately reflected in the many people they
mentored to industry leadership positions, as well.
I've always been amazed at such people who exert such an industry impact
through association work. It requires a unique combination of vision,
dedication and passion to help create positive environments that will
give members an opportunity to excel and succeed.
The truly successful leaders are as varied in style, personality and the
like as cattlemen in general, but the one common denominator is their
passion for the members, the breed, and the goals of the organization
and the industry.
I feel uncomfortable in addressing these types of announcements because
I feel I'm never able to capture the essence of their accomplishments or
characterize the gratitude the industry wants to express to them for
their service. I just hope John Crouch knows that any breeder or
cattleman that has had the opportunity to work with him or benefit from
his efforts, has the same feeling that I do. That is to simply tip my
hat and to smile a little wider realizing that the view is always so
much broader when standing on the shoulders of such giants.
-- Troy Marshall
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As of Feb. 25, a total of 12 states have registered at least half of
their livestock premises, and total participation nationally stands at
31.3%, or 450,708 out of a total premise number of 1,438,280.
States that have registered at least half of their premises include:
Idaho, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, Nevada, New York,
North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Utah, West Virginia and Wisconsin. For a
look at all the results, visit: animalid.aphis.usda.gov/nais/naislibrary/documents/plans_reports/NAIS_Prem_Stat_Report.pdf.
-- Joe Roybal
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Just how important are the first 12 hours of a calf's life?
Extremely, says Dave Smith, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension
veterinarian. "Those first 12 hours set them up for success or failure
all the way through their life," he says.
-- Click on headline to read the rest of this
story by Alaina Burt
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Through a cooperative research and development agreement, the U.S.
Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC) at Clay Center, NE, and DuPont
Qualicon will develop a new test for E. coli O157:H7, a pathogen
that led to more than 30 million lbs. of ground beef being recalled in
2007.
"This agreement allows us to work with experts from the USDA ARS toward
our common goal of an E. coli O157:H7 test that is even faster,
more accurate and more efficient," says Kevin Huttman, president of
DuPont Qualicon.
E. coli O157:H7 is a food-borne pathogen usually associated with
eating undercooked, contaminated ground beef. The
DuPont™ Qualicon BAX® system is
currently used by food companies and governments around the world to
reliably detect pathogens in food, including E. coli O157:H7,
Salmonella, Listeria and more.
-- DuPont Qualicon release
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More than 20 years ago, Marilyn Adams tragically lost her son in a
farm-equipment accident. That inspired her to form Farm Safety 4 Just
Kids to educate rural youth about farm safety and health.
Now, Volvo announced that Adams is one of three top heroes in the 6th
Annual Volvo for Life Awards. Adams is being recognized in the program's
safety category and will receive $100,000 for her cause. The award will
be presented in New York on March 19, where one overall winner will also
be named America's Greatest Hometown Hero and will be presented with a
new Volvo every three years for the rest of his or her life. For more on
Farm Safety 4 Just Kids, visit www.fs4jk.org.
-- Farm Safety 4 Just Kids
release
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The Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS) sued USDA this week over what
it says is a loophole that allows "downer" cattle into the food supply.
The lawsuit alleges cows that fell down after an initial USDA
veterinarian inspection but "appeared otherwise healthy" were allowed to
be slaughtered.
HSUS said, "Unless we want yet another dramatic food scare -- further
eroding consumer confidence in beef and costing the private sector and
the federal government tens of millions of dollars -- we should not
hesitate to close this legal loophole and establish an unambiguous
no-downer policy that will also help protect crippled animals from
egregious abuse."
The American Meat Institute in a statement said, "Today, HSUS,
emboldened by the alarmist and unfounded food-safety concerns that
they've generated, is now asking a federal court to prohibit
veterinarians in federally inspected meat plants from exercising medical
judgment to determine whether some livestock are fit for
consumption."
The statement went on to say, "No company benefits by behaving this way.
The consequences of disregarding federal rules and industry best
practices are enormous, as we've clearly witnessed. We reject the notion
that this is somehow indicative of a larger problem. We benefit by
handling animals humanely and producing safe and wholesome products. By
contrast, it seems HSUS believes it benefits by trying to take an
isolated animal welfare problem and turn it into a food safety
scare.
"Finally, we pose a question: can an organization that's failed in its
mission to protect the well-being of animals, as shown by their failure
to report for months to USDA or to the plant what they observed in the
Hallmark/Westland case, be taken seriously about food safety?"
-- P. Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C.
correspondent
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At $3.552/gal., the U.S. average retail diesel price rose
15.6¢/gal. (as of Feb. 25) to its highest point ever, eclipsing the
previous record by almost 11¢, and $1.001 above a year ago.
Meanwhile the average retail price for regular gasoline jumped 8.8¢
to $3.13/gal., 74.7¢ over last year.
All regions showed increases in diesel prices, and all but the Rocky
Mountains set all-time highs. The East Coast surged 16.4¢ to
$3.608, while the Midwest was up 16¢ to $3.525, the Gulf Coast
added 14.3¢ to $3.51 and the Rocky Mountains was up 12.3¢ to
$3.473. The West Coast increased 15.5¢ to $3.609, while California
rose 16.1¢ to $3.672.
Meanwhile, for gasoline, the East Coast rose 10.2¢ to $3.148, the
Lower Atlantic added 11.5¢ for an all-time high of $3.153. The
Midwest moved up 3.4¢ to $3.08, the Gulf Coast added 11.5¢ to
$3.056, and the Rocky Mountains jumped 9.2¢ to $3.051. The West
Coast shot up 12.8¢ to $3.265, while California rose 13.7¢ to
$3.328.
-- Energy Information Administration
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Citing Congress' failure to pass comprehensive immigration reform,
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Michael Chertoff and
U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey held a joint news conference to
discuss their efforts on immigration enforcement and border-security
efforts.
Among the announcements were: this week, a proposed regulation will be
published that will increase civil fines on employers who knowingly hire
illegal immigrants by 25%, the maximum allowed by law and the first
increase since 1999. "We're also working with DHS to increase criminal
prosecutions against the most egregious employer offenders," Mukasey
said.
In addition, work on the Southwest border continues. "Just two months
ago, Congress appropriated a total of $22 million to support our
prosecutors and U.S. marshals on the Southwest border," Mukasey said.
That money will hire as many as 50 new federal prosecutors and 100
deputy U.S. marshals. And the administration is seeking an additional
$100 million to further increase the ranks of federal prosecutors and
marshals on the border.
According to Chertoff, DHS has completed more than 300 miles of
pedestrian and vehicle fencing along the Mexican border, with a goal of
670 total miles by the end of the year. In addition, DHS is close to
publishing a new no-match rule to address issues raised last year in a
lawsuit that put the no-match efforts on hold, he said.
-- Burt Rutherford
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The Livestock Marketing Association (LMA), with aid from various
industry groups, filed a friend-of-the-court brief encouraging the U.S.
Supreme Court to hear an appeal of a decision by 7th Circuit Court last
year that effectively shuttered the Cavel International horse processing
plant in DeKalb, IL.
When the appeals court upheld an Illinois law that closed the plant, it
"failed to address the adverse impact" of the law, LMA said in its
brief. As a result, "tens of thousands of horses...will die each year
because they are at the end of their useful lives, (and) which will now
die of neglect or be killed using procedures which are outside the
protection accorded by the Humane Slaughter Act," the brief said.
Joining LMA in the brief were the National Cattlemen's Beef Association,
Kansas Livestock Association, Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers
Association and Texas Cattle Feeders Association.
-- LMA release
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Every spring, smoke from prescribed burns on Kansas' Flint Hills has
the potential to affect air quality in eastern Kansas and surrounding
states. But a new method of smoke modeling being researched at Kansas
State University (KSU) could help manage the extent and impact of smoke
plumes.
-- Click on headline to read the rest of this
KSU news release
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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Majority Leader Harry
Reid (D-NV) met with the chairmen of the Senate and House Ag Committees,
the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, and the chairman of the
House Ways and Means Committee to indicate their strong desire to get
the farm bill done. Indications are the funding for the farm bill will
be $10 billion above baseline.
The next step is for the leaders of the Senate Finance Committee and the
House Ways and Means Committee to reach an agreement on how the farm
bill will be funded (offsets). This will be a very critical meeting if
we are to get a farm bill done.
-- P. Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C.
correspondent
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As more is learned about the Hallmark/Westland beef recall (see last
weeks' issue of BEEF Cow-Calf Weekly), a number of Congressional
hearings have been called to review USDA's and Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) recall policies, as well as investigate the
developments and USDA's response to the Hallmark/Westland recall of 143
million lbs. of fresh and frozen beef.
The House Energy and Commerce's subcommittee on Oversight and
Investigation held a hearing on "Contaminated Food: Private Sector
Accountability." The hearing focused on FDA and USDA's oversight of the
private sector and private sector's compliance with their standards. The
hearing also focused on perceived lapses in accountability and
regulations for producers and processors.
A number of members stated strong concerns about recurring recalls and a
failing inspection system. Some members stated they don't believe the
current voluntary recall system is working and a mandatory recall policy
should be implemented. Others suggested a single food agency.
Witnesses included companies that have experienced recent recalls --
ConAgra Foods, Butterball, Bumble Bee Foods, Dole Food Co., and New Era
Canning Co. Hallmark/Westland was invited to testify but didn't attend.
Others testifying were Grocery Manufacturers Association and Humane
Society of the U.S. (HSUS).
In its testimony before the House Energy and Commerce's hearing on food
recalls, HSUS asked Congress to pass H.R. 661, the "Downed Animal and
Food Safety Protection Act," and H.R. 1726, the "Farm Animal Stewardship
Purchasing Act." H.R. 661 would implement a comprehensive ban on
processing "downed" animals, and would include non-ambulatory animals
(cattle, swine, and sheep).
Meanwhile, the Farm Animal Stewardship Purchasing Act would set basic
animal welfare standards for producers who sell food to the National
School Lunch Program and other federal programs.
-- P. Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C.
correspondent
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In storing colostrum: - Use 1-quart Ziploc®
bags
- Freeze bags lying flat -- you want as much surface area as
possible for thawing.
- Freeze in a freezer that's not "frost-free." Frost-free freezers go
through mini-thaw cycles over the course of the year. Thawing and
freezing reduces colostrum quality.
- Don't store colostrum for more than one year.
In thawing colostrum:
- Plunging Ziploc bags into 100°F water for 20-30 minutes is
ideal. Patience is important, which Glenn Selk, Oklahoma State
University Extension animal reproductive specialist, recognizes can be
in short supply in the middle of the night. But it's important.
"That's the reason you're putting it into the calf; to get those intact
proteins to his lower gut to be absorbed and to get him some disease
protection," he says.
- Microwave -- but don't use high power. Ohio State University
research shows it deteriorates immunoglobulin proteins. Plus, really hot
spots can develop in some areas, while other areas are still thawing.
If possible, use half power or lower. The defrost cycle works well, but
it doesn't speed the thawing process, which is why a microwave is used
in the first place.
-- Alaina Burt
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Having "successfully dealt with the limited number of outbreaks
recorded in 2007," the Scientific Commission for Animal Diseases of the
World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has recommended to the
International Committee of the OIE to reinstate FMD-free status for the
UK and Cyprus, effective Feb. 19 and 21, respectively.
The FMD-free status of both countries was suspended last year following
FMD outbreaks in the county of Surrey in Great Britain (Aug. 4) and in
the village of Dromolaxia in Cyprus (Nov. 6).
In a related item, the animal health company Merial has recovered its
permit to use the FMD and bluetongue viruses at its British Pirbright
laboratory. A leak at the government research lab was blamed as the
source of last summer's FMD outbreak in southern England, and the permit
was removed. Reinstatement of the permit means Merial can reinitiate
production of its vaccines against both diseases.
-- European Commission
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USDA predicts U.S. ag exports will reach a record $101 billion for
fiscal year 2008. That's a $10-billion increase over the November 2008
projection.
Higher wheat, coarse grain and soybean prices account for over half of
the projected increase since November. USDA Secretary Ed Schafer said,
"We also see further increases in high-value product exports such as
fresh and processed fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, pork, beef,
poultry meat, and many grocery products. Exports of animal and
horticultural products are forecast to increase a combined $3.5 billion
in 2008 to record levels."
-- P. Scott Shearer, Washington, D.C.
correspondent
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Planning for calving is a lot like formulating a battle plan. It can
fall apart when the first shot is fired, but preparation and planning
for contingencies often makes for the most optimum results.
-- Click on headline to read the rest of this
story by Dave Smith, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; and Joe Roybal
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The Beef Cattle Institute at Kansas State University will conduct
the International Beef Cattle Welfare Symposium May 28-30 in Manhattan.
The symposium begins May 28 with a seminar on cattle handling, then
heads to sessions where cattlemen can discuss the strides that have been
made by the beef industry and new areas of opportunities for
improvement.
Cost is $140 for the symposium and cattle-handling session, or $100 for
the symposium only. Visit www.isbcw.beefcattleinstitute.org
for more info.
-- Burt Rutherford
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One of the Southeast's largest cattle exhibitions, sales and
tradeshows is March 7-9 at Middle Tennessee State University's Tennessee
Livestock Center in Murfreesboro.
The Tennessee Beef Agribition features new products and the latest
industry info and trends. For more info, contact Quintin Smith at
615-207-0830 or Phyllis Ferguson at 615-274-6267.
-- Southeast Farm Press
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Regarding the treatment of the downer dairy cows in the Chino, CA
plant, my 45 years in the beef industry tell me that the subject cow
should never have left the producer's operation. I'm not defending the
individuals who abused the cow but I am stating that most of this type
of abuse can be controlled by producers. Producers and haulers have the
responsibility to insure that the animals they load for shipment are
strong and healthy. That these incidents still happen after all of the
years of producer training provided by the industry's Beef Quality
Assurance program is sad.
Hank Wilbur
Greenland, MI
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During the week I'm chairman and CEO of a large national food
company dealing with dairy products. I've been in the business 38 years
and have run plants, conversion facilities and various distribution
companies. I've dealt with a myriad of regulatory bodies across the
country at the county, state and federal level. And on weekends, I head
to our cow-calf operation.
I was appalled by the video and can only wonder what "tree-hugging city
slickers" must think. People who would do that to a living animal should
not be part of the food industry. I have fired men who hauled cattle and
showed up at the delivery point with stressed, thirsty and lame
critters.
The bottom line for me is we all have to self-regulate. I do things in
my operation that no one will ever see, but when I face the man
upstairs, I want to look him in the eye and let him know that each of
the many animals that have passed through my hands were given the best
treatment irregardless of their ultimate destination.
We all must be regulators. We must regulate ourselves, and be a positive
influence as we contribute to the food chain. When someone gets caught
and the overkill begins, I frankly have no pity for any of them. They
are merely reaping what they have sown. Everyone involved in letting
such conditions such as those in California exist should be ashamed. We
are our own worst enemy in this case.
Bing Graffunder
Lone Star Ranch
Mt. Vernon, TX
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