Brownfield

GIPSA proposal concerns seedstock producer

Ken Anderson — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 14:40:14 +0000

North Platte, Nebraska seedstock producer Bill Rishel has put pencil to paper on the proposed GIPSA rule on marketing contracts—and he doesn’t like what he sees. Rishel figures, if enacted, the rule would have a very negative financial impact on both him and his customers.

AUDIO: Bill Rishel (5 min MP3)

CBB members reject ’separation’ recommendation

Ken Anderson — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 14:02:25 +0000

At the Cattle Industry Summer Conference in Denver, members of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board have voted 62-30 to disapprove of the recommendation from the Cattlemen’s Beef Board Executive Committee that the Federation of State Beef Councils be separated from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

That decision followed earlier action by directors of the Federation of State Beef Councils, who overwhelmingly passed (59-3) a “straw poll” resolution that reads as follows:

“…the Federation should operate in a more independent structure while maintaining the synergies and efficiencies of the current relationship with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association—and strongly opposes the recent actions of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board Executive Committee, including the separation recommendation.”

The directors then passed a separate resolution calling on the chairman and vice-chairman of the Federation to form a committee to develop recommendations on how to build “a more independent structure” for the Federation. Both resolutions will be officially considered by Federation directors at their Saturday business meeting.

Beef exports are a bright spot

Ken Anderson — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 13:32:06 +0000

Somewhat lost in the all of the discussions about the beef checkoff is the fact that cattlemen are having one their best summers in some time. Prices are at profitable levels and ample rainfall across much of the U.S. has been great for pastures. Another bright spot has been beef exports. We discussed that topic with the new sr. vice president of marketing and communications for the U.S. Meat Export Federation, Dan Halstrom.

AUDIO: Dan Halstrom (4 min MP3)

NCBA watching Congress, FDA on antibiotics

Ken Anderson — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 13:12:39 +0000

It doesn’t appear that legislation in Congress to limit antibiotics use is going anywhere in 2010. But NCBA chief veterinarian Dr. Elizabeth Parker says proponents of the measure aren’t going away. And Parker says she is just as concerned with recent moves by the FDA to get more involved in the antibiotics issue. She tells Brownfield the impact of tougher restrictions on the cattle industry would be huge.

AUDIO: Dr. Elizabeth Parker (4 min MP3)

NCBA CEO delivers emotional speech

Ken Anderson — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 13:02:33 +0000

Addressing the forum of the Federation of State Beef Councils on Friday, the CEO of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Forrest Roberts, talked about the current acrimony in the cattle industry and urged attendees to pull together. He also assured the cattlemen that all concerns arising from the compliance review of NCBA’s checkoff spending will be addressed and, if necessary, corrected. As he finished, Roberts received a standing ovation from those assembled.

AUDIO: Forrest Roberts speech (10 min MP3)

Cattlemen work to move past disputes

Ken Anderson — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 22:55:57 +0000

If you’re fascinated by the internal workings of ag organizations, then Friday’s events at the Cattle Industry Summer Conference in Denver would have been right up your alley. Two big meetings were on the agenda—a forum of the Federation of State Beef Councils and a Cattlemen’s Beef Board Update Session. Both meetings were standing room only as members of NCBA, the Federation and the Cattlemen’s Beef Board debated the issues that have divided the organizations and caused so much controversy in recent weeks.

When the dust finally settled on Friday, here’s where things stood.

Directors of the Federation of State Beef Councils overwhelmingly passed (59-3) a “straw poll” resolution that reads as follows:

AUDIO: Excerpts from Federation of State Beef Councils forum (10 min MP3)

The directors then passed a separate resolution calling on the chairman and vice-chairman of the Federation to form a committee to develop recommendations on how to build “a more independent structure” for the Federation. Both “straw poll” resolutions will be considered by Federation directors at their Saturday business meeting.

Later in the day, members of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board voted 62-30 to disapprove of the recommendation from the Cattlemen’s Beef Board Executive Committee that the Federation of State Beef Councils be separated from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

Earlier in the day Friday, we discussed the issues with Tom Jones of Arkansas, vice chair of the Beef Board.

AUDIO: Tom Jones (4 min MP3)

Another big meeting will take place Saturday afternoon when the NCBA Board of Directors and the CBB hold their “official” business meetings here in Denver.

Cattle rancher Dave Hamilton of Thedford, Nebraska has been actively involved in the various cattle organizations over the years. He served on the CBB Executive Committee in the early 90’s. He currently serves on the board of NCBA’s Federation Division and is on the NCBA Executive Committee. He is also chair of the Nebraska Beef Council. Following the big meetings on Friday, we asked Hamilton to give us his perspective on what has taken place so far.

AUDIO: Dave Hamilton (6 min MP3)

EPA stop-sell orders on tainted herbicide

Julie Harker — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 22:42:04 +0000

Several companies have been ordered to stop selling and distributing herbicide because of a batch the EPA believes is responsible for damaging eight-thousand acres of soybeans in northeast Kansas. Samples indicated the herbicide – Warthog 2 EC – was tainted with another herbicide, Dicamba, which is used to combat broadleaf weeds and can be harmful to legumes, including soybeans.

According to an EPA news release, EPA Region Seven issued the stop sale-use-or-removal-orders to HPI Products of St. Joseph, Missouri ; Pony Express Warehouse in St. Joseph, which received the product from HPI; and to the pesticide’s registrant, J. Oliver Products of Hernando, Mississippi.

During the week of July 12th, the Kansas Department of Agriculture responded to “multiple complaints” from farmers near Beattie, Kansas who said their soybean crops had been damaged after an application of Warthog 2 EC that was purchased from Frontier Chemical, a dealership in Beattie.

On July 20th, the Missouri Department of Agriculture launched an investigation of HPI Products in Missouri which showed stocks of Warthog 2 EC tainted with the other herbicide, Dicamba.

Kansas and Mississippi Agriculture Departments have placed state stop-sale-distribution orders on Frontier Chemical and J. Oliver products.

Further, the EPA says it has “encouraged J. Oliver Products to consider issuing a broad recall of any quantities of the product that may have already been distributed.”

Land O’Lakes contributes to agribusiness center

Bob Meyer — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 21:34:13 +0000

Land O’Lakes Foundation has contributed $15,000 toward the creation of the Central Wisconsin Agribusiness Innovation Center (CWAIC), a multi-purpose facility that will serve as a business incubator for emerging companies in agribusiness, renewable energy, biotechnology, food processing and related industries.

Scheduled for construction in early 2011, the CWAIC building will contain incubator and laboratory space, a distance learning center and computer lab, public meeting and event space, leased offices, a commercial test/classroom kitchen and multiple “smart” classrooms. The building will be the first installation in the development of a 71-acre agribusiness park along State Highway 29 near Owen.

Adjoining land has also been offered to house Wisconsin Farm Technology Days should the show ever decide to establish a permanent site.

Farming a little more profitable in July

Bob Meyer — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 21:31:26 +0000

The Preliminary Index of Prices Received by Farmers in July was 3.6 percent higher than June. The National Ag Statistics Service says the Crop Index increased 4.1 percent and the Livestock Index was 1.6 percent higher than a month ago. Producers were paid more for corn, wheat, milk and lettuce, less for onions, strawberries, grapes and cantaloupes.

In the Crop Index: the all wheat price averaged $4.74 per bushel up 57 cents from June; corn averaged $3.55 up 14 cents from last month; soybeans increased 34 cents to $9.79 per bushel; sorghum grain 53 cents higher at $5.90 per cwt while the all hay price slipped $2.00 to $112 per ton.

In the Livestock Index: the July hog price averaged $57.80 per cwt, down 50 cents from June; beef increased 30 cents to average $90.60 per cwt; all milk price up 50 cents to $16.00 per cwt; broilers were unchanged at 51 cents per pound while turkeys increased 2.7 cents to 64.4 per pound.

The Index of Prices Paid in July was unchanged from June. Higher prices for feeder cattle, concentrates, feed grains and other services were offset by lower prices for diesel, LP gas, fertilizer, milk cows and feeder pigs.

Compared to a year ago, the prices received by farmers are 10 percent higher while the prices paid are 2.2 percent above July of 2009.

Read the full NASS report here

What constitutes “natural” chicken?

Bob Meyer — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 21:29:10 +0000

USDA is looking at changing the rules regarding the use of “natural” on the labeling of chicken. Currently if chicken is not flavored artificially or preserved with chemicals it can be labeled as “natural”. But some processors and others say that still allows for it to be injected with water or other solutions accounting for up to 15 percent of the chicken’s weight. The practice could also increase sodium content.

Tyson Foods and Pilgrim’s Pride are among processors who use “natural” labels on chicken injected with salt water. Tyson says their national research found consumers didn’t mind as long at the added ingredients were considered natural. Perdue Farms, a member of the Truthful Labeling Coalition argues that under no circumstances is it acceptable to label chicken injected with water, broth or any other solution as “natural”. Senator Barbara Boxer of California called for a change in labeling to help consumers make an informed choice.

Expectations are USDA will propose new rules this fall.