Is average fair? GIPSA rule puts industry at risk
Gregg Doud
AG Weekly
The second oldest sport in the history of the cattle business is beating up on the packer. I’m guessing the oldest involved a cowboy on a horse trying to rope a steer.
No one likes the packer, which is actually strange when you think about it because “the packer” is an absolutely necessary entity during “the process” of converting beef with the hide on it to beef without the hide on it. Who likes to eat hide?
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Weaning Calves
Bob Larson
Angus Journal
In the life of a beef animal, the risk of sickness and death around the time of weaning is second only to the risks at calving and during the first few days of life. This is particularly true if the calves are transported shortly after weaning. Several major changes can occur at weaning, including removal of milk from the diet, removal from the care and attention of the dam, and placement into a new lot or pasture environment.
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Grass-finished meat presents challenges
STEVE BROWN
Capital Press
Labeling is a significant challenge in producing grass-finished beef, a livestock expert says.
Jeff Schahczenski, an agricultural specialist with the National Center for Appropriate Technology, described challenges to making such a venture profitable.
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Why Greener Beef Will Mean Less Grass, More Feedlots
Melanie Warner
BNET
Editor’s note: Stories of this ilk are included in the blog to inform those in our industry how agriculture is being presented to and perceived by the public.
As the beef industry grapples with ways to make its product more environmentally sustainable, one of the things that’s likely to happen — besides more obvious steps like methane capture operations and using manure to generate electricity — is that many beef producers around the world will migrate towards the U.S. model of confined feeding and hormones.
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Should cow/calf producers keep or sell their heifers?
TERRI ADAMS
The Prairie Star
With calves bringing $1.15 a pound, the decision to sell heifers or grow them is one that will be crossing the minds of many cattle producers this year. As they make the decision, there are some basic questions producers should ask.
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Purdue Economist says Elections Likely to Mean Status Quo for Agriculture
Hoosier AG Today
Farmers who favor continuation of federal commodity payments should come away from Tuesday’s election feeling good, a Purdue University agricultural economist said. While Republicans regained control of the U.S. House of Representatives and Democrats held onto the majority in the Senate, the new agricultural committees in each chamber aren’t likely to touch farm subsidy programs, said Otto Doering, a farm policy specialist.
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Dillon Feuz: Is backgrounding calves profitable?
Dillon M. Feuz
Tri State Livestock News
A couple of years ago I wrote an article on financial versus economic costs. I was tempted to just use that article again, because it may provide the key to be able to answer the question posed in the title. For those who didn’t read that article, or who can’t remember it, I will refresh your memory with the definition of financial versus economic costs.
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Symposium features experts on beef cattle
High Plains Journal
The 2010 Missouri Livestock Symposium, which will be held Dec. 3 and 4 in Kirksville, Mo., will feature internationally recognized speakers on several topics of interest to beef producers. Bill White, Ph.D., of New York will talk about the role that Plum Island and the Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory plays in keeping our livestock industry healthy.
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Senator Ben Nelson asks President to open trade talks
KITV
Nebraska’s Senator Ben Nelson has asked President Obama to bring up beef trade talks to Japan and Korea as he begins his trip to Asia.
In 2003 Japan and Korea halted US beef imports after they discovered one of the animals carried Mad Cow Disease.
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Mushrush elected to lead Red Angus
High Plains Journal
Joe Mushrush of Strong City, Kan., was elected president of the Red Angus Association of America at the National Red Angus Convention in Springfield, Mo., Sept. 16 to 17. Previously he served as a director for six years and on the executive committee for the past four years.
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