What if It Weren’t Called Pink Slime?

What if It Weren’t Called Pink Slime?

Philip M. Boffey

New York Times

Editors Note:  Although this article was first published in 2012, in light of recent headlines it bears reading again.

The first casualties of the hamburger ingredient contemptuously dubbed “pink slime” will likely not be anyone who eats it but rather the workers who make it. Beef Products Inc. announced last week that it will close three of its four plants and lay off about 650 workers by May 25. It had little choice.

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Grass Hay Production Practices Simply Stated

Grass Hay Production Practices Simply Stated

Daren Redfearn

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Even though winter feeding has the greatest costs associated with keeping livestock, some hay feeding is inevitable even for the most cost-efficient livestock producers. Several hay management options are available that can reduce the associated costs of extended hay feeding during the winter.

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The Ups and Downs of Mineral Consumption

The Ups and Downs of Mineral Consumption

Dr. Ken McMillan

DTN

Salt is what drives cattle to minerals. I have seen several cases where producers have salt blocks and a complete mineral out at the same time. This can lead to inconsistent intake of the mineral. You have to do the math to be sure your cows are getting the recommended consumption.

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Injunction interrupts beef checkoff collection: Montana Beef Council will seek permission from payers

Injunction interrupts beef checkoff collection: Montana Beef Council will seek permission from payers

The Fence Post

On May 2, 2016, a national organization, Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, United Stockgrowers of America, filed a complaint in the District Court for the District of Montana Great Falls Division, seeking declaratory and injunctive relief, against Sonny Perdue, Secretary of Agriculture for the United States Department of Agriculture.

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Brazil proves it wasn’t ready to meet U.S. beef standards

Brazil proves it wasn’t ready to meet U.S. beef standards

Bill Tomson

Agri-Pulse

It was an unprecedented move in 2013 when the U.S. and Brazil announced simultaneously that they were lifting their bans on each other’s beef. Critics were quick to warn back then that Brazilian standards weren’t up to the task and it turns out that they may have been right.

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Would a “Heat-Resistant” Cow Mean Better Beef?

Would a "Heat-Resistant" Cow Mean Better Beef?

Food and Wine

The key to good beef, you might think, is the quality of the cut—or, barring that, even a good marinade. But University of Florida scientists have another idea. They believe climate—and more importantly, climate tolerance—plays a large part in how tasty a cow’s meat can become, and so, they’re trying to create a "heat-resistant" breed of beef cattle.

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Reap livestock returns from oats

Reap livestock returns from oats

Lauren Peterson

Hay and Forage Grower

Although harvest is typically an end point, some producers may choose to head right back to the field with the grain drill in an effort to better meet fall and winter livestock forage needs. When planted after wheat harvest, oats is a quality and relatively cheap feed option when in need of a single grazing or cutting in late fall.

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Take These Steps to Optimize Implant Results

Take These Steps to Optimize Implant Results

Gary Sides

Zoetis

While it’s a challenging time in the cattle industry, as a progressive cattle producer you still have opportunities to add value to your final product. Using growth implants is one of the most profitable tools available to help you achieve this goal — returning far more in weight gain and feed efficiency than the cost of the implant itself.

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EPA to repeal and replace WOTUS

EPA to repeal and replace WOTUS

Mark Dorenkamp

Brownfield News Network

The Trump Administration has taken the next step in rescinding the controversial Waters of the U.S. Rule (WOTUS). EPA administrator Scott Pruitt says his agency intends to write a new Clean Water Rule that returns power to the states and provides regulatory certainty to U.S. farmers and businesses.

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ABC Settles With Meat Producer in ‘Pink Slime’ Defamation Case

ABC Settles With Meat Producer in ‘Pink Slime’ Defamation Case

Daniel Victor

New York Times

ABC reached a settlement on Wednesday with a South Dakota meat producer that accused the network of defamation following its news reports about so-called pink slime in 2012. The agreement ends what was expected to be an eight-week jury trial, which began on June 5. The terms of the settlement were not disclosed.

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