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U.S. poultry production jumps 10%

February 25, 2011 By 1 Comment

According to the Ag Department, U.S. poultry production for January was 3.638 billion pounds, 10% more than in January 2010.

The total preliminary live weight of all poultry came out at 4.833 billion pounds, also up 10% on the year including a 10% increase in chicken, a 9% rise in turkeys and a 16% increase for ducks. Chicken accounted for most of the total at 4.237 billion pounds, followed by turkeys at 581.192 million and ducks at 14.430 million pounds.

Young chickens averaged 5.85 pounds per bird, 4% heavier than last year, turkeys averaged 30.84 pounds, up 1% and ducks were unchanged at 6.88 pounds.

January’s chicken slaughter totaled 724.758 million head, 6% more than January 2010, the turkey kill was 18.85 million head, 8% above last year and duck slaughter was 2.1 million head, up 16% on the year.

Ante-mortem condemnations were 13.035 million pounds or .27% of the inspected live weight and post-mortem condemnations were 38.171 million pounds or 1.04% of the total.

USDA’s monthly cold storage reported showed poultry supplies up 11% on the year with a 23% rise in chicken stocks offsetting a 16% decline in turkey.

Filed Under: Markets, News Tagged With: , ,

U.S. red meat production up 3% on the year

February 25, 2011 By 1 Comment

USDA reports commercial red meat production during January totaled 4.042 billion pounds, an increase of 3% from a year ago, but that does include record low monthly totals for veal, lamb and mutton.

Beef was pegged at 2.124 billion pounds, 2% above last year, with slaughter up 1% and the average live weight increasing 11 pounds.

Pork came out at 1.896 billion pounds, 5% more than January 2010, with the slaughter up 1% and the average live weight 6 pounds heavier.

Veal totaled 10.8 million pounds, a 7% decrease, with slaughter down 13% but the average live weight up 24 pounds.

Lamb and mutton were reported at 11.2 million pounds, with slaughter dropping 14% and the average live weight up 1 pound.

USDA’s cold storage report out earlier this month showed a larger than expected increase in U.S. red meat supplies.

Filed Under: Markets, News Tagged With: , , ,

Tips for preventing and controlling ‘Trich’ in cattle

February 25, 2011 By 1 Comment

Trichomoniasis, often called ‘Trich’, is a venereal disease of cattle that causes infertility and abortions, and results in extended breeding seasons and diminished calf crops—all of which cost livestock producers valuable income.  Trich has seen a strong resurgence in recent years, and according to veterinarian Dr. Mac Devin of Boehringer Ingelheim, it has also expanded beyond its normal geographic range.  At the recent Cattle Industry Convention in Denver, Dr. Devin gave Brownfield’s Ken Anderson some tips on preventing and controlling the disease.

AUDIO: Dr. Mac Devin (3 min MP3)

Filed Under: Feature Programs, Managing for Profit Tagged With: , , ,

Organic Farming Conference is underway

February 24, 2011 By 1 Comment

The 22nd annual Organic Farming Conference is underway at the La Crosse Center in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Hosted by the Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service (MOSES) the conference features more than 70 workshops for organic producers, featured speakers, a trade show and plenty of good food and social time. We talked with MOSES executive director Faye Jones at the conference Thursday evening and she says things are going very well again this year.

The conference runs 7 a.m. to midnight on Friday and 7 to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday.  More information on the conference is available here:

AUDIO: Jones talks about the conference 3:45 mp3

Filed Under: Events/Organizations, News Tagged With: , ,

Wisconsin Johne’s deadline approaching

February 24, 2011 By 1 Comment

A reminder from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture; producers have until March 1 to submit invoices for reimbursement in the Johne’s Disease Control Program. These are for 2010 expenses related to developing herd plans, testing, and vaccination.

Residual funding will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis to producers who previously applied to be part of the program. The original deadline was February 1, about 1,200 producers applied to be part of the reimbursement program, but many who applied did not submit invoices. Others did not submit all of the expenses for which they are eligible; these producers may qualify for additional funds.

Eligible expenses include veterinary trip charges for vaccination, testing, and herd planning; Johne’s eartags, and laboratory fees. Applications must be postmarked by March 1.

A complete list of eligible expenses and other information available here:

Filed Under: News, USDA/Government Tagged With: , ,

Ethanol and food prices at Outlook Forum

February 24, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Former President Bill Clinton told attendees at the USDA Outlook Conference on Thursday that while he supports the production of ethanol to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, he cautioned not to use too much corn. Clinton says the use does affect corn prices and too much use could drive food prices higher and high food prices are already contributing to social unrest and riots around the world.

Renewable fuels advocates contend high oil prices are the biggest driver behind high food prices and cutting back on ethanol production will push oil demand and prices even higher. The Renewable Fuels Association notes U.S. farmers are producing more grain and livestock feed for export than previous generations. RFA says they do welcome Mr. Clinton’s support for the continued advancement of a wide variety of feedstocks and technology in the ethanol industry.

Filed Under: News, Renewable Energy Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Which way will dairy go?

February 24, 2011 By 1 Comment

A mixed day in the dairy markets on Thursday, after losing a half-cent on Wednesday, cash cheese barrels gained a penny to $1.95 on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange on Thursday. Blocks held steady at $1.985. That snapped a streak of 23-straight increases for blocks. Class III futures fell with the May through August contracts all closing below $17.00. Daily Dairy Report notes futures for the second quarter have lost an average $1.46 in the last five days.

Some of the losses have been attributed to the latest Cold Storage Report showing another increase in cheese stocks. A little additional pressure from the commodity markets on Thursday; grain prices backed-off a bit as oil settled below $100 in New York. Lower grain prices could mean farmers hang on to cows and they produce more milk. The U.S. dairy herd added 32,000 head over December and January and more than half of those additional cows were in the southwest. Milk production in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado and Idaho increased 6.6 percent in January compared to a year ago.

Filed Under: Dairy, News Tagged With: , , ,

Sorghum profitability calculators now online

February 24, 2011 By 1 Comment

The Sorghum Checkoff has made three sorghum profitability calculators available online to help sorghum growers determine the value the crop can offer their operations.

Potential return on investment with sorghum, market expansion opportunities and comparing the value of additional marketplaces can all be calculated. Go to www.sorghumcheckoff.com and use the Sorghum Production tab to find and download the calculators. They’re also available on DVD by contacting the Sorghum Checkoff.

Filed Under: Crops, News Tagged With: , ,

Ill. growers to nominate varieties for testing

February 24, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The Illinois Soybean Association is asking growers to help decide the soybean varieties on which yield trials will be conducted. Production research coordinator Linda Lee says the Varietal Information Program for Soybeans (VIPS) helps growers by testing well beyond yield.

“There’s protein and oil content, several diseases, nine diseases that are found throughout Illinois; also some emerging diseases, like root knot nematode,” Lee told Brownfield Thursday. “The information is collected not just at one location, but at 13 locations across the state, so there’s data that’s going to be close to each farmer in the state.”

Data recovered from the trials, conducted by the University Of Illinois Department Of Crop Sciences, Southern Illinois University and USDA’s Agricultural Research Service, are some of the most complete in the Midwest, according to Lee, because of the nominations received not only from seed providers, but also from growers.

“The Illinois Variety Trials have the most diverse company participation of any variety trial program in the Midwest,” said Lee, “and that’s because of this program, because farmers are asking for these varieties to be included in the trials.”

Growers can nominate varieties they’d like tested on the web at www.vipsoybeans.org. The nomination deadline is Monday.

AUDIO: Linda Lee (3 min. MP3)

Filed Under: Crops, News Tagged With: , , , ,

USDA leaves corn, soybean acreage outlooks unchanged for now

February 24, 2011 By Leave a Comment

USDA’s left its projections for 2011 U.S. corn and soybean acreage unchanged.

At its annual outlook conference this week, Chief Economist Joe Glauber confirmed the estimates of 92 million acres of corn and 78 million acres of beans that were originally made in the baseline projections earlier this month.

The Ag Department has wheat at 57 million acres, also steady with those baseline projections, but it did cut cotton and rice, down to 12.75 million acres and 2.88 million acres, respectively.

The total planted area projection for all crops is almost 255 million acres, up 9.8 million from last year and potentially the highest since 1998.

USDA’s 2011 prospective plantings report is out March 31.

Filed Under: Markets, News Tagged With: , , , , , , ,
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