Video Feature: ABC News Atlanta Exposé on HSUS Donations

Farm Groups Fight Card Check Union Bill

Farm Groups Fight Card Check Union Bill

Matt Kaye

Hoosier AG Today

A coalition of farm groups is fighting organized labor’s top legislative priority this year, the Employee Free Choice Act, or card check. Hoosier and former USDA secretary and deputy secretary Chuck Conner, now National Council of Farmer Cooperatives chief, says card check will hurt his members and their 300-thousand employees.

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Recession + Consumers = Changes in Buying Habits

Recession + Consumers = Changes in Buying Habits

Kindra Gordon

Angus Journal

As a global recession continues to plague the 2009 economy, the beef industry is paying close attention to consumer buying habits, particularly their food purchases — and with good reason.

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An Alternative to Expensive Summer

An Alternative to Expensive Summer

Dr. Rick Rasby, Professor of Animal Science, Animal Science, University of Nebraska

The calls continue to come in asking about the feasibility of dry-lotting beef cows. Dry-lotting cow/calf pairs seems like a lot of work. In addition, cows belong on pasture in the spring and summer and one of the unique characteristics of cattle is they have the ability to convert forage to protein.

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Optimism about sale of Postville plant

Optimism about sale of Postville plant

TONY LEYS

Des Moines Register

State leaders say they are working aggressively to help attract a new, reputable owner for a bankrupt Postville meatpacking plant, and they are optimistic a sale will be announced soon.

Some locals have expressed skepticism about the state’s efforts to help attract a qualified buyer.

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Nebraska ag groups want livestock ID session in Omaha

Nebraska ag groups want livestock ID session in Omaha

Ken Anderson

Brownfield Network

Three Nebraska ag groups are supporting Senator Mike Johanns’ call for Omaha to be added to the USDA’s National Animal Identification System—NAIS—listening tour.

The Nebraska Farm Bureau, Nebraska Cattlemen and Nebraska Pork Producers Association issued a joint statement on the matter. Pork Producers executive director Larry Sitzman finds it odd that a Midwest location was not included on the tour.

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A commitment to quality beef

A commitment to quality beef

Elizabeth Barrett

Gothenburg Times

Feedlot owner touts holistic approach to caring for cattle and bolstering consumer confidence

When other families are opening presents on a snowy Christmas morning, Anne Burkholder or one of her employees don coveralls and rubber boots to care for cattle in the family feedlot at Willow Island.

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17th BSE-positive cow found in Canada

17th BSE-positive cow found in Canada

Bob Meyer

Brownfield Network

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has confirmed another BSE-positive cow has been found. This one was a six-year-old dairy cow in Alberta. The animal’s birth farm has been identified and an investigation is underway. No part of the carcass entered the human or animal food chain.

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Registration begins for June cattle conference

Registration begins for June cattle conference

The Des Moines Register

Registration has opened for the Iowa Beef Center summer conference on managing feedlot operations. Individuals are encouraged to sign up early to take advantage of reduced hotel and registration rates.

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46th annual Farm and Ranch Tour ready to roll

46th annual Farm and Ranch Tour ready to roll

The Athens Daily Review

All aboard! The 46th annual Henderson County Farm & Ranch Tour will be departing the Cain Center on Tuesday, May 19, at 9 a.m.

Coffee and donuts will be available beginning at 8 a.m.

The tour will culminate with a luncheon back at the Cain Center.

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Farms find niche, sell directly to consumers

Farms find niche, sell directly to consumers

WRAL

With fewer farms statewide, more farmers are trying to set their business apart and reach customers directly.

“We’re finding our niche of customers who are more interested in exactly where their food came from, how it was raised,” said Steve Mobley of Meadow Lane Farms, which specializes in beef cattle.

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Tuberculosis Case Identified on Indiana Cervid Farm

Tuberculosis Case Identified on Indiana Cervid Farm

Hoosier AG Today

  The Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH) is investigating a case of bovine tuberculosis in a farm-raised cervid herd in Southeastern Indiana. The disease is commonly called TB, and is formally known as Mycobacterium bovis. Cervid is a category of animals that includes elk and various species of deer.

A BOAH veterinarian found the TB infection in a red deer being processed for meat. A U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) laboratory test confirmed the disease.

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Farmer certifying ‘Natural’ producers

Farmer certifying ‘Natural’ producers

Watertown Daily Times

WHO: Stephen G. Winkler runs Lucki 7 Livestock Co., which covers 320 acres in Rodman.

He developed a Certified Natural NY LLC trademark to assure buyers that his pork, beef, chicken, eggs and vegetables are produced with no antibiotics, growth hormones or animal proteins. And he certifies other small producers who apply the Certified Natural NY label to their products.

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Foot Rot In Grazing Cattle On Wet Pastures

Foot Rot In Grazing Cattle On Wet Pastures

cattlenetwork.com

Many pastures in Oklahoma are now soggy from repeated rains and thunderstorms.  (Were we not fighting wildfires just a few weeks ago?)  Standing water and muddy conditions can increase the likelihood of “foot rot” in grazing cattle.

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Ohio producer recognized with top honor

Ohio producer recognized with top honor

Farm and Dairy Staff

 

An Ohio producer was honored with one of the top producer awards at the Beef Improvement Federation Research Symposium and Annual Meeting, April 30-May 3 in Sacramento, Calif.

Champion Hill

The Beef Improvement Federation named Champion Hill, Bidwell, Ohio, the 2009 Seedstock Producer of the Year.

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