They are weeds, not a flower (HSUS)

They are weeds, not a flower (HSUS)

High Plains Journal

From time to time, people make little statements that prompt a whole line of thinking. That happened to me at the World Pork Expo in Des Moines two weeks ago.

Someone was discussing how the Humane Society of the United States, an animal rights organization, seems to be so successful at camouflaging themselves as something else. They want to abolish hunting and animal agriculture; yet, most Americans seem to believe they want nothing more than better treatment for animals.

They are an invasive species that will only stop when they have been eliminated or when they accomplish their goal.
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Warm season grasses an alternative to rain-plagued fescue

Warm season grasses an alternative to rain-plagued fescue

David Burton

Springfield News Leader

Harvest has been challenging for hay producers this year due to the abundance of sporadic rain events and cloudy weather.

The majority of grass hay produced in Missouri is fescue, which matures in early to mid-June.

That means the best time to harvest this crop is mid-May through the beginning of June, according to Tim Schnakenberg, agronomy specialist with University of Missouri Extension.

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Responding to Flood Issues on the Farm

Responding to Flood Issues on the Farm

Mark Evans, Agriculture & Natural Resources Educator, Clay & Owen counties, CED Owen County

The Brazil Times

This morning, a conference call for producers affected by flooding was conducted by Purdue Extension and the Indiana State Department of Agriculture. The following is a summary of the issues discussed that seemed pertinent to Owen and Clay counties.

Locally, it would not be suggested to try to replant corn. In most every case except where a stand was totally or mostly wiped out, a poor stand will have a better outcome than a replanted stand at this time. Other issues with corn include the mud found in the whorl. Some producers wanted to mow the corn with the idea that the growing point is below the mowing height and one could rid the mud from the plant.

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Impact of tornadoes causing hay baling problems

Impact of tornadoes causing hay baling problems

High Plains Journal

Weather this spring has been turbulent, unpredictable and devastating. Many parts of Arkansas experienced destructive tornadoes. These tornadoes spread all types of debris across the countryside.

“Much of this material landed on pastures and in hay meadows,” Dr. Tom Troxel, extension animal science professor with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, said.

Items such as fiberglass insulation, metal, wood and other items are posing a problem for cattle producers who are now baling hay in many parts of the state, he said. It’s not practical to pick up every bit of debris and trash that was blown onto farmland by the tornadoes.

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Cattle Handling: Common Design Flaws Of Existing Corrals

Cattle Handling: Common Design Flaws Of Existing Corrals

cattlenetwork.com

Common design flaws of existing corrals are:

* Pens too large

* Inadequate number of pens for sorting

* Poor placement of gates

* Not enough gates

* Confusing animal flow to and from the working facility

Smaller pens may be needed as hospital pens and to quarantine newly arrived animals. Provide a source of water and shade in one of the holding pens as a sick or quarantine area. You may want to take into account in what order you want to work cattle groups and thus this may affect pen placement. Keep in mind the fact that current pen placement affects possible corral expansion in the future.

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Virginia Angus Association to Host Field Day

Virginia Angus Association to Host Field Day

American Angus Assn.

Angus enthusiasts are encouraged to attend the Virginia Angus Association’s field day, Saturday, August 23, 2008. Attendees will have the opportunity to enjoy fellowship and a complementary lunch while participating in this year’s event that features industry speakers and exhibits. Zach Tucker, Four Locust Angus, Keysville, Va., will host the single-day event, which begins at 10:30 a.m.

Bryce Schumann, American Angus Association® chief executive officer, will present an update and overview of the American Angus Association’s programs. Schumann was recently appointed Association CEO prior to serving seven years as the director of member services. Also presenting is Jim Johnson, National Director, Sales and Distribution for Pfizer Animal Genetics-Bovigen. Johnson will discuss “Utilizing DNA Technology, Today and Tomorrow.” Johnson has worked for Bovigen for the past four years; prior to joining Bovigen he worked for Genex and the Virginia Cattlemen’s Association.

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Beef cow slaughter up due to high inputs, good market

Beef cow slaughter up due to high inputs, good market

Katie Allen

Brownfield Network

High feed and energy costs aren’t the only factors causing the nation’s cattle producers to take more cows to market. Kevin Good, senior market analyst for Cattle-Fax, says it’s a combination of many factors.

“Overall, we are seeing more cows move,” Good says. “Your higher input costs are definitely a big driver – feed and fuel and all the costs associated with production.”

But Good says the high input costs are matched by lower calf revenues and higher returns on culled cows.

“So it’s a combination of higher input costs, lower revenue from the calf side and at the same time the harvest cow is bringing a little bit more money,” he says.

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Wis.Farmers Say Erosion Controls Help In Withstanding Severe Flooding

Wis.Farmers Say Erosion Controls Help In Withstanding Severe Flooding

WQOW

Cambria area farmer Carl Stiemsma credits grass waterways he maintains in his crop fields for minimizing the damage from this month’s “gully-washer” rains and severe flooding in Columbia County.

He says he has a lot of those grass waterways and he might get some more.

According to Stiemsma, if his waterways were planted in crops instead of soil-saving grasses, the crops and soil would have been swept away onto roadways or neighboring fields. And that means the yield in his fields of corn, soybeans, green beans, wheat and other crops would have been drastically reduced.

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Cattle Identification: Record Keeping “It’s The COOL Thing To Do!”

Cattle Identification: Record Keeping “It’s The COOL Thing To Do!”

cattlenetwork.com

There are many reasons why beef producers should keep good records and animal ID. The list starts with the fact that records are a management tool that adds value to your calf crop. Accurate records are also helpful in tax reporting, obtaining credit and yes, even traceability and disease investigation. The current situation with bovine tuberculosis in Minnesota and the requirement of mandatory records has some producers spooked for no reason. Producers need to realize that the most important reason for record keeping is good management not government mandates. Maybe now is a good time to start.

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Cattlemen Ask EPA to Reduce Renewable Fuels Mandate

Cattlemen Ask EPA to Reduce Renewable Fuels Mandate

Nebraska.tv

The following is a press release from the Nebraska Cattlemen’s Association:

Nebraska Cattlemen has sent comments to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency administrator asking that the annual renewable fuels mandate (RFS) within the Clean Air Act be reduced to 4.5 billion gallons.

NC’s letter supports the petition from the state of Texas to reduce the requirements of section 211(o)(2)(B)(i)(I) of the Clean Air Act to 4.5 billion gallons per year or an alternative relief.

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Block JBS Swift deals, senator urges

Block JBS Swift deals, senator urges

Christopher S. Rugaber

A key Democratic senator today urged the Justice Department to block the purchase of two U.S. meatpackers by Brazilian beef processor JBS Swift.

The acquisitions would make JBS Swift the largest beef processor in the U.S., and could harm domestic cattle ranchers and beef consumers by substantially reducing competition, Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis., wrote in a letter to Thomas Barnett, the head of the Justice Department’s antitrust division.

JBS Swift became the third-largest beef processor in the U.S. after purchasing Greeley-based Swift & Co. last year.

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U.S. ranchers happy to see added foreign market

U.S. ranchers happy to see added foreign market

KTIC

U.S. cattle producers facing skyrocketing costs and stagnant domestic demand say they need overseas markets like South Korea in order to avoid substantial dips in their bottom lines.

The U.S. last week reached an agreement with South Korea that allows American beef from cattle younger than 30 months to be sent to the Asian country. An April agreement that permitted beef from older cattle stirred thousands of Koreans to protest, forcing officials to renegotiate the trade pact.

Ranchers are likely to rely on the impending South Korean deal and other emerging markets to offset soaring costs for feed and fuel that have led to sales losses of $70 to $100 per head.

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Foreign markets vital, cattle ranchers say

Foreign markets vital, cattle ranchers say

Betsy Blaney

Abilene Reporter News

U.S. cattle producers facing skyrocketing costs and stagnant domestic demand say they need overseas markets such as South Korea to avoid substantial dips in their bottom lines.

The U.S. last week reached an agreement with South Korea that allows American beef from cattle younger than 30 months to be sent to the Asian country. An April agreement that permitted beef from older cattle stirred thousands of Koreans to protest, forcing officials to renegotiate the trade pact.

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South Korea to allow restart of US beef imports Thursday

South Korea to allow restart of US beef imports Thursday

The Edge

South Korea will allow the resumption of US beef imports starting Thursday, the ruling party said on Wednesday, implementing an unpopular deal that sparked street protests and caused a crisis for the government.

Analysts expect South Korea to proceed with caution in resuming imports because any misstep by President Lee Myung-bak could lead to sharp backlash and further delay his pro-business economic reforms for Asia’s fourth largest economy.

South Korea and the United States at the weekend said they had reached a private-sector deal to restrict trade in US beef to cattle under 30 months old and forbid exports of parts that are thought to pose a higher risk of mad cow disease.

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Texas governor trying to slash ethanol production

Texas governor trying to slash ethanol production

SUZANNE GAMBOA

Baltimore Sun

Texas Gov. Rick Perry, supported by livestock producers concerned about rising feed prices, stepped up his effort Tuesday to pressure the federal government to cut ethanol production requirements in half.

The Republican governor told a roomful of mostly supporters at the National Press Club that requiring increases in ethanol production and uses of it as motor fuel is “no longer a good idea. It’s hurting America. It’s hurting our families.”

Perry is one of a number of politicians and others who have been calling for a reversal of the Renewable Fuel Standard that Congress approved last year. Opponents of the standard say the push to turn more corn into ethanol is raising food prices and the cost of feed for livestock.

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