September’s Beef Management Calendar Beefcast

September’s Beef Management Calendar Beefcast

Matt Claeys, beef cattle extension specialist, offers tips for management in this presentation.

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BeefTalk: A Cow’s Production Needs to Cover Expenses

BeefTalk: A Cow’s Production Needs to Cover Expenses

By Kris Ringwall, Beef Specialist

NDSU Extension Service

There seems to be many recent events that could be termed critical, if not tragic. As people, we encounter difficulty more frequently than any of us really deserve. In agriculture, the situation is one of uncertainty and adversity, not guaranteed sustenance.

The recent drought is only the last on a relatively long list of natural calamities that impact agricultural producers. Currently not only do those involved have little to no moisture, but nature’s wrath and fire are literally burning what remains. The tragedy is exponentially confounded when what stored forage remains is burned.

FULL STORY

Officials: US Ag Aid Package Too Late For Many Oklahoma Producers

Officials: US Ag Aid Package Too Late For Many Oklahoma Producers

Cattlenetwork.com

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP)–An $800 million federal aid package for farmers and ranchers is too little, too late for many Oklahomans who have had to sell livestock early for lack of water and feed, cattle industry experts and political officials said Wednesday.

“When you have 200 cows and you have to sell 100 and hang onto the young ones because of grass and water, that leaves you with half a factory,” Bill Barnhart, owner of the OKC West Livestock Market, said during a cattle sale in El Reno.

Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns announced the aid package Tuesday while visiting a ranch in South Dakota. The package includes $50 million in block grants to hard-hit livestock producers.

FULL STORY

Family Farms Act Offers Interest Break For Missouri ‘Small Farmers’

Family Farms Act Offers Interest Break For Missouri ‘Small Farmers’

Angus e-list

Missouri House Bill No. 1349, also known as the “Family Farms Act,” was signed into law June 29 by Missouri Governor Matt Blunt as part of Senate Bill 1017. Effective Aug. 28, the Family Farms Act waives the interest payment for the first year on qualified loans for the purchase of breeding livestock by a Missouri-resident “small farmer,” which it defines as one who has less than $250,000 in gross sales per year. Each small farmer/family is eligible for only one loan, for only one type of livestock.

The maximum amount of the loan for each type of livestock is as follows.

1) $75,000 for beef cattle

2) $75,000 for dairy cattle

3) $35,000 for swine

4) $30,000 for sheep and goats

The loan shall be submitted for approval by an agricultural and small business development authority. That authority will take into consideration the eligible borrower’s ability to repay the loan; the general economic conditions of the area in which the farm is located; the prospect of financial return for the small farmer for the type of livestock for which the family loan is sought; and other factors the authority may establish.

FULL STORY

50 Years In Saint Joe

50 Years In Saint Joe

Story by Shelia Stannard,

Angus Journal

For half a century, Saint Joseph, Mo., community members have passed the brick building on Frederick Avenue with “American Angus Association” lettering on the front — many wondering what happens within its walls. On June 28, the community had the opportunity to learn more about the Association and its purpose during an open house celebrating the first 50 years of the Association headquarters being located in Saint Joseph.

FULL STORY

Barely Baleage

Barely Baleage

Hay and Forage Magazine

by Neil Tietz

Kenny Schmidt and Sean Hartung had 400 acres of alfalfa down, and rain was eminent. At just over 20% moisture, the crop wouldn’t quite make dry hay. But they baled it anyway, and wrapped it with a neighbor’s tube-line wrapper.

“It was kind of a crap shoot because we weren’t sure what we would come up with,” says Schmidt, of Haven, KS. “But we really liked it when we took it out of the wrap. It was something we wanted to keep doing.”

That happened in 2004. Last year they made more low-moisture baleage, always aiming for 20-24% moisture. This year they bought a wrapper and plan to put up at least a third of their production that way. They claim the forage is softer than dry hay, and dairy clients say it’s more palatable. One told them his herd’s production jumped when he started feeding it.

FULL STORY

USDA Selects Orion’s Rhapsody to Track Animal Diseases

USDA Selects Orion’s Rhapsody to Track Animal Diseases

Mycattle.com

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Aug 29, 2006 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Orion Health, a leading provider of clinical workflow and integration technology for the healthcare sector, announces today that the United States Department of Agriculture, Animal Plant Health Inspection Services, Veterinary Services has selected Orion Health’s Rhapsody Integration Engine to help its National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) integrate test results and track animal diseases.

To proactively monitor livestock for the prevention of deadly and economically damaging diseases, the USDA began establishing the NAHLN in 2002. Approved laboratories across the nation contribute test results to the national system, allowing for the tracking of animal disease and providing critical laboratory data which alerts the national system to animal disease outbreaks and other adverse animal health situations, including bio-terrorism events. Laboratories regularly test for prion or “mad cow” diseases, exotic Newcastle Disease, and Avian Influenza among other diseases.

FULL STORY

Energy costs add to producers’ risks

Energy costs add to producers’ risks

By Doug Rich

High Plains Journal

Unless you took your vacation on the far side of moon this summer, you know that gasoline and diesel prices are going through the roof. You also know that ethanol production is the biggest thing in agriculture and it will impact your operation whether you have invested in an ethanol plant or not.

Both of these realities carry a certain amount of risk for producers in the High Plains and across the country. Farm Foundation, the Risk Management Agency, and USDA’s Office of Energy Policy and New Uses, held an Energy in Agriculture meeting in Kansas City, Mo., earlier this summer to consider energy related risk in agriculture.

FULL STORY

Going Forward With BQA

Going Forward With BQA

By Clint Peck Senior Editor

Beef Magazine

The U.S. beef industry has changed a great deal since the forerunners of today’s Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) programs were initiated nearly two decades ago. And, there’s a movement afoot to ensure national and state BQA programs stay on the same track with changes in the industry.

Gary Smith, Colorado State University Monfort Chair and professor of meat sciences, says BQA programming has been instrumental in building beef demand in the U.S. and elsewhere. He says it’s important at this juncture to look back at BQA’s history and remember that early beef-safety-assurance programs were aimed at assuring freedom from violative chemical residues in beef. Originally called “Beef Safety Assurance,” the program’s early emphasis was on assuring the real and perceived safety of beef.

FULL STORY

Ranchers hurt by drought may get aid

Ranchers hurt by drought may get aid

The state could hear today how much of a $50 million federal relief fund that affected livestock farmers can expect to see.

Matt McKinney, Minneapolis Star Tribune

Minnesota’s drought-stricken livestock farmers may get a bit of federal rain today: The state is expecting to learn how much of a $50 million pot of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) relief will come to cattle ranchers who have seen some of the hottest, driest weather on record.

The hot weather had some ranchers selling their cattle prematurely, or even selling entire herds, as hay and water supplies dried up, said Chuck Feikema, president of the Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association.

“Up in the northern part of the state it’s going to be a benefit to them, but is it going to recoup all of their losses? Probably not,” Feikema said.

The USDA is expected to send a letter to Gov. Tim Pawlenty today outlining how much money will come to Minnesota and the conditions for distributing it to livestock farmers.

FULL STORY

Ohio Beef Newsletter available

Ohio Beef Newsletter available

The Issue # 502 August 30, 2006, Ohio Beef Newsletter is available at:

http://fairfield.osu.edu/ag/beef/beef.html

Topics this month include:

• Fall Calf Price Outlook
  
  
• Factors Affecting Sale Price of Calves
  
  
• Forage Focus: Hay harvest less expensive when animals do the work
  
  
• Livestock Mortality Composting Workshop Scheduled
  
  
• OCA to Hold Two Bull Consignment Sales in 2007 With New Sale to be Held in Zanesville

BEEF Cattle is a weekly publication of Ohio State University Extension in Fairfield County and the OSU Beef Team. Contributors include members of the Beef Team and other beef cattle specialists and economists from across the U.S.