Rep. Frank Lucas Sees Tax Increases, Higher Costs with Cap-and-Trade Legislation

Rep. Frank Lucas Sees Tax Increases, Higher Costs with Cap-and-Trade Legislation

Chris Clayton

Progressive Farmer

Frank Lucas, ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee, sees a major fight facing production agriculture in order to get ag practices acknowledged in any climate-change bill. Lucas also suspects that a cap-and-trade plan will require taxes to change how people use energy.

Lucas, R-Okla., represents nearly half of Oklahoma’s land mass, an area that often struggles to get enough moisture and also is known as “tornado alley.”

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BeefTalk: What Is EDI?

BeefTalk: What Is EDI?

Kris Ringwall, Beef Specialist, NDSU Extension Service

EDI simply is the processes that allow different data sets to be transferred or shared among individuals or others to meet a need.

The beef industry is struggling with data and data tracking. This statement, while met with a wide range of pro and con reaction, does point to the fact that there is slippage occurring.

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Thune says EPA move brings ‘cow tax’ closer to reality

Thune says EPA move brings ‘cow tax’ closer to reality

Seth Tupper

The Daily Republic

South Dakota Sen. John Thune thinks a recent government declaration about carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases is a step toward the creation of a “cow tax,” but South Dakota’s other senator, Tim Johnson, disagrees.

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Behind the Scenes Look at Smith and Wollensky’s Prime Rib

Behind the Scenes Look at Smith and Wollensky’s Prime Rib

Nick Solares

Serious Eats

I suppose it’s a bit morbid to ask what your death row meal might be but on the other hand, the concept of determining one’s last bite on earth has a strange, perhaps macabre charm to it. I have eaten an awful lot of high grade beef in the last few years.

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UT Beef Field Day June 11

UT Beef Field Day June 11

Delta Farm Press

Cattle management and hay production seminars will be of interest to cattle producers attending the 2009 UT Beef and Forage Field Day.

The event is being held June 11 by the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture at the Blount Unit of the East Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center near Knoxville.

Activities will begin with registration and a trade show at 7:00 a.m.

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Livestock student managed farm ends first year

Livestock student managed farm ends first year

Susan Hodges

Vermilion Standard

Students from the animal science class at Lakeland College had a new challenge this year as they took part in a student managed animal farm project.

“The student management farm concept has been going on in the crop sciences for nearly 20 years and a number of us have wanted to do this on the livestock side of our school for a number of years and we finally initiated that this year,” said Larry Bingham, instructor with the college.

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FDA to Implement Feed Ban Despite Public Objections

FDA to Implement Feed Ban Despite Public Objections

KTIC

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) criticized a decision by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to proceed with implementation of a new feed ban on April 27, 2009, despite numerous objections from farmers, ranchers, states, and members of Congress.

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Completed bovine genome sequence opens door to better cattle production

Completed bovine genome sequence opens door to better cattle production

A University of Missouri researcher worked with international teams to sequence the bovine genome and study the diversity among breeds. The research from the completed genome will provide new information about mammalian evolution, cattle genetics and could result in improved cattle production. The results appear this week in two articles in the journal Science.

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EPA Finding Could Challenge Agriculture

EPA Finding Could Challenge Agriculture

By Rick Jordahl

Pork Magazine

Last week, the Environmental Protection Agency issued a proposed rule that greenhouse gases contribute to air pollution and may endanger public health or welfare. The ruling is now set to enter a 60-day public comment period and if upheld, the EPA would then act to regulate emissions.

Many within the livestock industry are concerned about potential consequences that may result from further EPA regulation. If the EPA’s definition of greenhouse gases includes methane emitted by livestock, animal agriculture could be impacted in a big way.

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Sustaining farms, big and small

Sustaining farms, big and small

Plenty Magazine

One of the most interesting aspects of American agriculture to me is the nearly schizophrenic variety of its manifestations, with both the most mind-boggling of the big and the boutiquiest of the precious small, both fighting for representation. Equally revealing is how government responds to their demands. This week’s reading of sustainable-foods news uncovers plenty of proof that both camps are alive and kicking.

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Cow genome ‘to transform farming’

Cow genome ‘to transform farming’

Victoria Gill

Science reporter, BBC News

The genome of a female Hereford cow has been sequenced, which could be a starting point for major improvements in the agricultural industry.

Analysing this blueprint of DNA code for the chemical building blocks of the animal is revealing the unique role that many of the genes play.

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Quality Forages Necessary for Top Herd Performance

Quality Forages Necessary for Top Herd Performance

Stephen B. Blezinger, Ph.D., PAS

Cattle Today

Over the last few weeks I have received a number of calls from producers indicating they are unhappy with how their cattle are coming out of this past winter. Across the board they have commented that their herds lost more weight than normal and that they are concerned about rebreeding. This has been especially true of the heifers.

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Tetanus May Be A Problem Following Band Castrating Of Bulls

Tetanus May Be A Problem Following Band Castrating Of Bulls

cattlenetwork.com

Cattlemen using bands to castrate bulls must adhere to proper vaccination procedures and timing of vaccine in order to obtain protection against tetanus. Banding has become a popular castration means, particularly for larger bull calves. The type of necrotic lesion that develops on the scrotum is conducive for the tetanus organism (Clostridium tetani) to grow and produce toxin that can result in classic signs of severe muscle tetany. Cases of tetanus seven to ten days following banding are not uncommon, even though a dose of tetanus toxoid was administered. Death can result only a day or two after signs of tetanus are apparent.

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Improving Reproduction Management, Part 1

Improving Reproduction Management, Part 1

 John Grimes, OSU Extension Educator, Highland County

If you want to start a lively discussion with a group of cattle breeders, ask one of the following two questions: (1.) “What production traits are important to you?” and (2.) “What time of year do you prefer to calve?” We do not have adequate time or space in this article to address the merits of various production traits. However, I would like to make a case for reproduction rates being the most important trait for any cattle breeder to focus upon. Emphasis on any given production trait will be meaningless unless the female conceives and has a live calf every 12 months. Timing and length of the calving season will have a huge impact on eventual reproduction rates.

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Bull Selection 101

Bull Selection 101

By:  John L. Evans, Ph.D., Extension Beef Cattle Breeding Specialist, Department of Animal Science, Oklahoma State University

For many cattle producers, this is a time of year when important decisions are made regarding the cow herd.  Many producers begin to receive sale catalogs, view sale publications, and may be receiving calls from previous bull suppliers.  It is important for producers to make sound judgments about their herd sires.  A poor bull buying decision might leave a producer with a product they don’t need or don’t want in their herd.  On the other hand, a good bull buying decision will increase the producer’s chances of having a more profitable calf crop.

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