HSUS Challenges American Agriculture

HSUS Challenges American Agriculture

AgWired

The President of the Humane Society of the United States, HSUS, Wayne Pacelle, spoke to the National Association of Farm Broadcasting this evening. I would characterize his comments as a challenge to everyone involved in agriculture and especially animal agriculture. On the one hand he suggested that we should join with them on areas of common agreement but then on the other hand he made it very clear that the world is changing and farmers have to accept it that things are different. Kind of like saying that we have no choice but to succumb to their agenda so why not make it easy.

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Grass Tetany Season is Here

Grass Tetany Season is Here

Mark A. McCann, Ph.D., Animal & Poultry Sciences, VA Tech

Early spring is usually the peak period for the occurrence of grass tetany in lactating beef cows in Virginia. Grass tetany is caused by low blood levels of magnesium and is worsened by high levels of nitrogen and potassium and low levels of calcium and magnesium intake. The lush new growth of cool season perennials and annuals consumed by spring calving cows is a recipe for trouble. Heavy nitrogen and potassium fertilization intensify the problem. This makes it more of an issue in the poultry production areas where litter is used routinely as a pasture fertilizer.

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Calf Versus Yearling

Calf Versus Yearling

cattlenetwork.com

When corn prices jumped from around $2 per bushel in the fall of 2007 to $3, then $5, then to more than $6, it became clear livestock production would change. Conventional wisdom says one fairly obvious change would be to keep more cattle on forage for longer times, reducing the time they spend in feedlots eating expensive corn.

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Mixed Results for Texas Fever Tick Eradication Effort

Mixed Results for Texas Fever Tick Eradication Effort

Thebeefsite.com

The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) has released from temporary preventive quarantine more than 375,000 acres in Maverick, Dimmit and Webb counties.

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Financial Outlook Not all Gloom and Doom

Financial Outlook Not all Gloom and Doom

Cattle Today

Eighty-four percent of U.S. agricultural professionals surveyed say the probability that many producers will experience financial stress in the next three years is “high or very high.”

This from a recently completed survey of 2,300 professionals – agricultural producers, agricultural economists, consultants, educators and lenders – in all 50 states.

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Raising animals naturally

Raising animals naturally

Michael Hastings

Godanriver.com

Lee Menius grew up on a farm where animals were raised the conventional way for many years. Now he’s trying something different.

Since World War II, his family had bred beef cattle in Rowan County with antibiotics and hormones. Then they sold them to feedlot operations where they would be raised on grain instead of a grass diet.

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Student busy on the ranch and at school

Student busy on the ranch and at school

ELIZABETH KALFSBEEK

Daily Democrat

Logan Ornbaun is busier than most. When he’s not helping calf his heifers, he’s growing 70 acres of organic rice, or planting a special vetch oat mix in the field, or concocting custom cattle feeds which he sells to local ranchers, or he’s catching up on his school work for Pierce High School, or … well, you get the idea.

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Tips for healthy calves

Tips for healthy calves

Ponoka News

Keeping newborn calves dry and clean is easier said than done, but is worth the effort. Dry calves are warmer, healthier and grow better. Wet calves lose body heat rapidly, and use a lot of energy just to maintain body temperature. Weakened calves are more susceptible to calfhood diseases.

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Proposed animal gas tax revisited because of EPA finding

Proposed animal gas tax revisited because of EPA finding

Pat Kopecki

Wilson County News

Agriculture leaders across the nation are closely watching the April 17 announcement by the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The findings of the administrator included a report that six greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide and methane, “threaten the public health and welfare of current and future generations.”

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As Big Ag’s grade-A meat promoter, Charlie Arnot cooks up opposition to industry reform

As Big Ag’s grade-A meat promoter, Charlie Arnot cooks up opposition to industry reform

Peter Rugg

The Pitch

Charlie Arnot’s dining options are limited today.

He keeps an office in a nondescript business complex with few other tenants near Kansas City International Airport, so he can get in and out of town quickly.

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Is EPA’s “Cow Tax” Real Or Just A Good Rumor?

Is EPA’s “Cow Tax” Real Or Just A Good Rumor?

cattlenetwork.com

We’ve all heard the coffee shop rumors that EPA will impose a cow gas tax on every livestock producer to reverse global warming. That is great fodder to chew, but what are the real proposals, what would they do, and who would be affected? Once those issues are clear, agriculture can make an appropriate response.

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Cattle research debunks muscle myth

Cattle research debunks muscle myth

ABC Rural (AU)

New research has debunked the long-held belief that beef heifers with less muscle are more fertile and productive.

A 12-year study at the Glen Innes Agricultural Research Station in NSW has examined the genes responsible for increased muscularity in cattle.

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Same Cow, No Matter How You Slice It?

Same Cow, No Matter How You Slice It?

KIM SEVERSON

New York Times

ON a stainless steel table in the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association test kitchen, a meat scientist named Bridget Wasser began dissecting a piece of beef shoulder as big as a couch cushion.

Her knife danced between long, thick muscles, then she flipped the whole thing open like book. After a tug and one final slice, she set before her visitor the Denver steak.

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Texans raise beef cattle the old-fashioned way

Texans raise beef cattle the old-fashioned way

Judith McGinnis

Times Record News

Curiosity is the only thing that might make Gary and Lauren Nitschke’s cattle come to the truck when the couple set out to check pastures. Unlike cattle raised by conventional methods, these grass-fed Angus and Charolais have no expectation of sweet feed or other treats falling from the tail gate.

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Japan Prime Target for U.S. Meat Promotions

Japan Prime Target for U.S. Meat Promotions

Cattle Today

While the sluggish U.S. economy places downward pressure on middle meat prices, USMEF has been undertaking efforts to promote an expanded range of beef cuts in targeted overseas markets to help maximize the cutout value for producers.

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