Carol Lorenzen is a professor and meat extension specialist with the University of Missouri.

“I’m not sure the consumer is getting that message,” Lorenzen tells Brownfield, “We have seen the plants that have been making this reducing their workforce and even closing.”

Lorenzen says it would be a different way of processing for regular beef plants to pick up the slack.

“It does have some specialized equipment. There are some other processes that are similar to this. Right now, I think that the future of Lean Finely Textured Beef is in question,” Lorenzen says, “Hopefully, because of the education that has been put forth by a lot of people and the media that maybe consumers will accept (it) in the future.”

Lorenzen says there are some processors who use different ways of killing bacteria in the product other than the “puff” of food grade ammonia used during the LFTB process.

That’s the federal legislation that would establish a national standard for hen housing in the egg industry.

UEP says the web site—eggbill.com—provides information to help legislators, consumers, the foodservice and retail industry and others learn more about the legislation, which would codify an agreement between UEP and the Humane Society of the United States.

The legislation, which would transition egg production in the U.S. from conventional cages to enriched colony cages by the end of 2029, has been introduced in the House.  UEP says it expects similar legislation to be introduced in the Senate soon.

Boxed beef cutout values are higher in the noon report, with the choice up .73 at 195.01, and select is .49 higher at 187.53.

Feeder cattle receipts at the Ozarks Regional Stockyards at West plains, Missouri totaled 5253 head. Compared to last week, steer and heifer calves were unevenly steady to 2.0-0 lower, although larger uniform bunches of top end quality were steady to 2.00 higher, some instances of 5.00 better. Yearling steers over 650 lbs. were firm to mostly 2.00 higher, yearling heifers over 600 lbs. were mostly 2.00 to 3.00 higher. The supply was moderate to heavy. Feeder steers medium and large 1 weighing 531 lbs. average 188.38 per hundredweight. 573 lb. heifers averaged 171.98.

Barrows and gilts in the Iowa/Minnesota direct trade are .97 lower; the West is down .86 with both at 83.40 on a carcass basis, Eastern barrows and gilts are 1.57 lower at 80.88. Missouri direct base carcass meat price is 1.00 to 6.00 higher from 77.00 to 81.00. Terminal hogs are steady to 1.00 lower from 55.00 to 57.00.

Hog buyers aggressively increased country spending yesterday, possibly suggesting that packers are shorter bought than previously thought.

“My aunt nominated me and I didn’t realize also that my kids wrote an essay and nominated me so it’s a real honor that they would want to do that. But,” she tells Brownfield Ag News, “There are so many farm moms out there that do what I do, it’s just amazing to me that I would have been spot-lighted for this honor.”

Debbie Lyons-Blythe is a mother of five who runs Blythe Angus near White City, Kansas. While her husband maintains a job off the farm, Debbie runs the day to day operations of their business – they raise 250 registered Angus cows and sell registered bulls, and, have a commercial heifer development program.

She says their children – ages 16 to 21 – have all have had a role in the farming operations.

“You know,” says Lyons-Blythe, “If they want to come back to the farm they’ve got to have some skills on the farm. And, so, we felt like it was really important that they be a part of not only the labor but the decision-making as well so we’ve tried to include them at every step.”

Lyons-Blythe – a Kansas State journalism major – is a blogger and tries to educate consumers along the way: Her online blog is Life on a Kansas Cattle Ranch.

She serves on the board of directors for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the Kansas Livestock Association and is an active member of the American Angus Association. Lyons-Blythe has received a 10-thousand dollar cash prize from Monsanto as one of five regional winners and the overall winner.

AUDIO: Debbie Lyons-Blythe (9:00 mp3)

Life on a Kansas Cattle Ranch

Frozen beef came out at 517.528 million pounds, up 3% on the month when the average guess was for a less than 1% increase, and 17% more than this time last year. Boneless beef cuts made up most of the total at 446.062 million pounds.

Pork in cold storage was pegged at 659.532 million pounds, 8% above a month ago and 20% larger than a year ago. That’s just below the all-time end of April record of 663.4 million pounds set in 2008. The closely watched pork belly stocks were pegged at 74.780 million tons, an increase of 13% on the month and 41% on the year.

Chicken supplies were also larger than expected, despite improved export demand and slower production projections. The average pre-report estimate was 597.6 million pounds. Chicken totaled 606.583 million pounds, 6% more than last month but 18% less than last year, with all poultry at 1.048 billion pounds.

Poultry and livestock slaughter numbers are out Friday.