Dr. Michael Moore, professional services veterinarian with Novartis Animal Health, offers some scour prevention tips for cattle producers. He also discusses advances in vaccine technology, explaining how producers can leverage several key advantages of modern inactivated vaccines for safe and effective control of diseases BVD, IBR, BRSV and Lepto hardjo-bovis.
Scours prevention tips for cattle producers
November 29, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Another solid week for soybean export inspections
November 29, 2010 By Leave a Comment
It was another mixed week for grain and oilseed export inspections. USDA reports corn inspections for the week ending November 25 were smaller than expected while soybeans and wheat were inside estimates. Soybean inspections were above what’s needed weekly to meet USDA projections for the 2010/11 marketing year but corn and wheat fell short of their respective marks.
Wheat came out at 20.818 million bushels, up 850,000 from the week ending November 18 and 3.907 million higher than the week ending November 26, 2009. At this point in the 2010/11 marketing year, wheat inspections are 548.877 million bushels, compared to 429.891 million in 2009/10.
Corn was reported at 23.877 million bushels, down 6.965 million from the previous week and 6.524 million lower than a year ago. So far this marketing year, corn inspections are 407.861 million bushels, compared to 410.125 million this time last year.
Soybeans were pegged at 48.948 million bushels, 8.700 million less than the prior week but 117,000 more than last year. For the marketing year to date, soybean inspections are 570.851 million bushels, compared to 491.470 million a year ago.
Sorghum inspections were, officially, 0 bushels. That compares to 3.172 million bushels the week before and 2.680 million a year ago. 2010/11 sorghum inspections are 35.392 million bushels, compared to 44.119 million in 2009/10.
USDA asked to approve GMO apple
November 29, 2010 By 1 Comment
A Canadian biotechnology company has asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture to approve a genetically modified apple that won’t turn brown soon after it is sliced.
The company licensed the non-browning technology from Australian researchers who pioneered it in potatoes. Theirs’ is the first petition the USDA has received for GMO apples.
U.S. apple growers are taking a wait-and-see approach to the new technology. Todd Fryhover, president of the apple commission in Washington State, says, quote, “Genetically modified—that’s a bad word in our industry”, end quote. He says the industry needs a lot more information on the technology before deciding if it’s a good idea.
USB annual meeting and CONNECTIONS 2010
November 29, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Coming up on December 6 and 7 representatives of the soybean industry will meet in St. Louis for CONNECTIONS 2010, an event that’s held every two years. And then on December 8 and 9, the United Soybean Board will hold their December board meeting where, new board members will be seated, officers elected and committee’s assigned.
Fertilizer demand may rise for 2011 growing season
November 29, 2010 By Leave a Comment
It’s anticipated that fertilizer demand will be up for the coming growing season. Kathy Mathers with The Fertilizer Institute says demand for grains is pushing the demand for nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. She says all three will see demand growth of four to ten percent. She also anticipates that shipping fertilizers by rail will cost more, while sea shipping rates will fall. Mathers says growers have a lot invested in seed and equipment. “Make sure that you’re feeding that seed, which is often times a very Olympic level seed, an Olympic level diet,” says Mathers.
More tips on ‘winterizing’ you horse
November 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment
It’s important to keep horses safe and healthy during cold winter months. Of course, providing good shelter and good feed is at the top of the list. But University of Nebraska-Lincoln extension horse specialist Kathy Anderson says there are other things to think about as well, including de-worming, vaccinating, and trimming and resetting hooves.
Losey urging emails to Treasury about HSUS
November 26, 2010 By 1 Comment
The retired attorney and part-time Washington lobbyist who started questioning the tax-exempt status of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) two years ago is launching another letter/email campaign.
Frank Losey is urging people concerned about the excessive lobbying of HSUS, a “non-profit” organization, to write letters or send emails to the Office of the Inspector General for Tax Administration of the U.S. Department of Treasury regarding its investigation into HSUS…
“Saying, ‘Hey, this has been going on for two years. Isn’t there some way you can expedite to ensure that the integrity of the compliance program for tax-exempt public charities is maintained?’”
That office has oversight of the Internal Revenue Service which is also investigating the HSUS. Under current law, tax-exempt, non-profit groups cannot engage in excessive lobbying.
Losey says the HSUS has bragged about its lobbying efforts to influence laws and regulations and over the past two years he has submitted some14-hundred documents to the IRS…
“One is left with the inescapable conclusion, from my perspective and I think an objective perspective, that they have far exceeded the bounds, the limited amount of lobbying that a public charity can do.”
Losey says the recent campaign to pass the HSUS-financed Proposition B restricting Missouri dog breeders is but one example…
“Mr. Pacelle almost became obsessed with Missouri, making multiple trips to Missouri and almost every other day on the web page he was talking about Missouri, urging people to vote ‘yes’ for Proposition B.”
Proposition B narrowly passed on mostly urban votes. Losey tells Brownfield that forms to submit letters or emails to the Treasury Department are at the Sportsmen’s and Animal Owners’ Voting Alliance website and at “petbreeders and owners dot com”.
Red meat production slipped in October
November 26, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 4.27 billion pounds in October, down 3% from the 4.39 billion pounds produced in October 2009.
Beef production, at 2.24 billion pounds, was 2% below the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.87 million head, down 1% from October 2009. The average live weight was down 14 pounds from the previous year, at 1,298 pounds.
Veal production totaled 11.4 million pounds, 7% below October a year ago. Calf slaughter totaled 71,400 head, down 15% from October 2009. The average live weight was up 26 pounds from last year, at 275 pounds.
Pork production totaled 2.00 billion pounds, down 4% from the previous year. Hog kill totaled 9.73 million head, down 6%from October 2009. The average live weight was up 4 pounds from the previous year, at 276 pounds.
Lamb and mutton production, at 13.1 million pounds, was down 8% from October 2009. Sheep slaughter totaled 202,300 head, 8% below last year. The average live weight was 130 pounds, down 1 pound from October a year ago.
The National Ag Statistics Service reports that for the January through October period, commercial red meat production in the U.S. was 40.4 billion pounds, down 2% from 2009. Year-to-date accumulated beef production was down slightly from last year, veal was down 2%, pork was down 4% from last year, and lamb and mutton production was down 4%.
Read the full NASS report here:
Closing Grain and Livestock Futures: November 26, 2010
November 26, 2010 By Leave a Comment
December corn closed at $5.38 and 1/4, down 1/2 cent
January soybeans closed at $12.38 and 1/2, down 16 and 1/2 cents
December soybean meal closed at $336.80, down $3.40
December soybean oil closed at 49.90, down 34 points
December wheat closed at $6.478 and 1/4, up 3/4 cent
December live cattle closed at $102.22, up 30 cents
December lean hogs closed at $70.35, down 2 cents
January crude oil closed at $83.76, down 10 cents
December cotton closed at 116.06, down 333 points
December Class III milk closed at $13.70, down 17 cents (Wednesday)
Dow Jones Industrial Average: 11,092.00, down 95.28 points
A slow day in futures and cash livestock markets
November 26, 2010 By Leave a Comment
The feedlot cattle trade was at a standstill on Friday with most business completed on Wednesday. Slaughter cattle in the South were 3.00 to 4.00 higher than a week ago at 101.00 to 102.50. In the North the market was 2.00 to 4.00 higher on a dressed basis at 160.00, and 100.00 to 102.00 live. Packer demand was very good, and slaughter rates continue strong as kill days were cut short because of Thanksgiving. Based on this week’s success feedlot operators are expected to price the new show lists higher on Monday. Confirmed negotiated sales this week were around 174,035 head. The weekly cattle slaughter is estimated at 582,000 head, 100,000 less than last week, but 45,000 more than a year ago.
Boxed beef cutout values were firm on light demand and offerings. Choice beef was up .75 at 161.85, and select was up .78 at 151.24
Feeder cattle receipts at Missouri auctions this week totaled 33,192 head. Compared to last week feeder steers under 600 pounds sold steady to 2.00 higher, over 600 pounds 3.00 to 5.00 higher, feeder heifers sold steady to 3.00 higher. Had there been enough fall moisture to provide mud, temperatures this past week would have made it frozen. Cold temperatures weren’t enough to keep producers from hauling cattle or buyers from showing up at sales even with the shortened holiday week. Feeder steers medium and large 1: 864 head weighing 578 pounds averaged 119.43 per hundredweight. 1278 steers tipping the scale at an average of 776 pounds brought 118.47 per hundredweight. 630 heifers averaging 574 pounds traded at 107.28 and 565 head weighing 779 traded at 108.91.
Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle contracts settled .30 to 62 points higher with the prices supported by constructive fundamentals and fund buying energy. Higher boxed beef cutout values at midday and higher cash cattle prices this week were also supportive. December was up .30 at 102.25, and February was .62 higher at 106.22.
Feeder cattle ended the session .30 to 47 higher following the lead of the live pit and mostly higher feeder cattle prices at auctions this week. Dec ember ended .47 higher at 118.75, and March was up .37 at 119.37.
Lean hogs settled 45 points lower to 45 higher. The lean trade seemed torn between residual buying interest on one hand and profit taking on the other. There was some profit taking in the nearby contracts, while the late 2011 contracts finished in the black. December was down 02 at 70.35, and February was .45 lower at 7715.
Barrows and gilts in the Iowa/Minnesota direct trade closed .09 higher at 64.59 on a carcass basis, the West was up .02 at 61.74, and the East closed .36 higher at 64.40. Missouri direct base carcass meat price was steady from 56.00 to 58.00.
Hog slaughter for the week is estimated at 2,064,000 head, 262,000 less than last week, but 22,000 more than a year ago. Iowa barrows and gilts averaged 27 pounds last week, .4 pounds below the previous week, for the third consecutive weekly decline. While weights remain 4.5 pounds above last year, it appears the seasonal top has been established with lighter scale weights ahead.
Pork carcass cutout value was down .09 at 79.33. Pork trading was very slow, with light demand and light to moderate offerings.
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