Ohio Beef Newsletter available

The June 28, issue # 493, of the Ohio BEEF Cattle letter is now posted to the web at: http://fairfield.osu.edu/ag/beef/beefJune28.html

While there may have been some high quality hay made early this year . . . that’s not been the case for most of us around Ohio in recent weeks. This week we discuss the “cost” of making hay, and also the issue of delayed hay harvest versus cutting it and having it rained on.

Articles this week include:
* Forage Focus: Hay – To Mow, or Not to Mow?
* The Cost of Making Hay
* New Diagnostic Testing for Johne’s Disease in Ohio
* Weekly Roberts Agricultural Commodity Market Report

Stan
———-
Stan Smith
Program Assistant, Agriculture
OSU Extension, Fairfield County
831 College Ave., Suite D
Lancaster, OH 43130

e-mail: smith.263@osu.edu
voice: 740.653.5419 ext. 24
fax: 740.687.7010

Senate Takes Action Regarding Beef Trade with Japan

Senate Takes Action Regarding Beef Trade with Japan

Angus e-list

Members of the Senate took retaliatory action against Japan June 22 in response to a delay in beef trade resumption.

Although the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a trade agreement with Japan last week, the Senate Appropriations Committee attached a statement to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2007 Agriculture Appropriations Bill calling for sanctions on Japanese products if Japan does not resume imports of U.S. beef by the enactment of the bill.

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) announced its support of the legislation, as well as Senate bill S. 3548, a bill introduced June 21 by Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) and Kent Conrad (D-N.D.), calling for tariffs on Japanese exports if Japan does not open its borders to U.S. beef by Aug. 31, 2006.

Problematic pastures: Tall fescue threatens wildlife

Problematic pastures: Tall fescue threatens wildlife

Habitat loss, livestock difficulties are associated with dense grass covering many fields in Missouri.

By BILL GRAHAM
The Kansas City Star

Bob and Karli Foreman’s 160-acre hobby farm near Smithville seemed perfect for wildlife.

Fescue grass kept the pastures a friendly green.

“But I’d never been able to get quail here,” Foreman said, “even though I’d planted food plots.”

Now the Foremans know why.

Tall fescue — the green giant that once helped build Missouri’s almost $1 billion cow and calf and beef cattle industry — is also an ecological nightmare and livestock health hazard.

“In the eastern United States, fescue is the number one threat to wildlife,” said Steve Clubine, grasslands biologist for the Missouri Department of Conservation.

FULL STORY

Seminar aimed at increasing food safety

Seminar aimed at increasing food safety

Liz Mitchell
Staff Writer, Culpeper Star-Exponent (VA)
Tuesday, June 27, 2006

If you’re interested in food safety, today’s organic seminar is for you.

Located at Bealeton’s newest retail and slaughtering service, called Fauquier’s Finest Country Butcher Shop, several speakers will educate interested farmers on how they can regulate food safety and improve relations with beef consumers.

Jess Peterson, the director of government relations for Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund (R-CALF) United Stockgrowers of America, will be speaking on beef labeling and the importance of identifying the beef’s country of origin.

Shae Dodson, spokesperson for the Montana-based R-CALF, said U.S. Congress passed a law in 2002 requiring origin labels on all beef products. However, at the request of meatpackers stating the new program would be too expensive, the implementation of “Country Of Origin Labeling,” or COOL, has been delayed until 2008.

Dodson says R-CALF argues that if all imported beef bear a mark of origin, then U.S.-produced beef would not need a label, which would only increase costs for foreign producers.

FULL STORY

Farmers, ranchers exploring bio-fuels

Farmers, ranchers exploring bio-fuels

BY SCOTT BLAKE
FLORIDA TODAY

KISSIMMEE — – Florida’s agricultural industry could play a key role in developing bio-fuels that someday could have far-reaching effects for consumers, agricultural officials said Monday.

They said using the state’s farms and ranches for production of ethanol, methane and other bio-fuels could be a way to help keep agricultural profitable while meeting the nation’s needs for alternative energy sources.

FULL STORY

Fodder for thought

Fodder for thought

Pueblo grower touts wheat grass for cattle

By CHRIS WOODKA
THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN

ROCKY FORD – A Pueblo County grower is sold on the health benefits of wheat grass and says it could give cattle producers something to chew on as well.

Richard Sandquist, who raises gourmet hydroponic lettuce at his Vineland greenhouse, last week gave the Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District a sales pitch for growing cattle feed indoors in trays as a way to maximize water resources.

Hydroponics is growing plants without soil, usually in a greenhouse.

“They’ve been using this system in Australia for 10 years,” Sandquist said. “They’re really fodder factories. A 2,500-square-foot greenhouse can produce 2 tons of feed per day.”

FULL STORY

Waiting for rain

Waiting for rain

By LAUREN DONOVAN
Bismarck Tribune

ELGIN – Last time folks around Elgin saw good rain, the Easter Bunny brought it.

That’s 10 very long weeks ago, and people are counting. They’re counting far fewer hay bales an acre and they’re counting the ever-dwindling number of days before it’s too late for parched grass and wheat to recover.

They’re looking anxiously to the west, brows creased. Rain comes from that direction, when it comes.

FULL STORY