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Red meat and egg production up in Ohio

April 5, 2012 By Leave a Comment

The Ohio field office of the National Ag Statistics Service (NASS) reports commercial red meat production in Ohio during February was up 4 percent from a year ago at 22.7 million pounds. Compared to February 2011 total live weight of cattle was 11.2 million pounds, up 6 percent, hogs showed a 4 percent increase to 21.2 million, sheep and lambs were 13 percent higher at 63 thousand pounds.

Nationwide, commercial red meat production totaled 3.91 billion pounds, up 3 percent from February 2011.

Ohio’s egg production during February totaled 596 million eggs, that was a 9 percent drop from January, but a 4 percent increase from 2011. During February there were almost 28 million layers on Ohio farms.

Egg production in the U.S. in February totaled 7.24 billion, a 3 percent increase from last year.

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

UEP head defends egg bill

March 28, 2012 By 1 Comment

The president and CEO of United Egg Producers (UEP), Gene Gregory, has  taken a lot of heat in recent months—mostly from other segments of animal agriculture—for UEP’s decision to compromise with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) on the issue of cage size for egg-laying hens. 

But Gregory continues to defend the compromise—and the so-called “egg bill” now pending in Congress—saying that federal standards are necessary to ensure the future survivability of the U.S. egg industry.

Many livestock organizations are still not convinced that HSUS can be trusted–but Gregory says, to this point, it’s been a good partnership.

“Our dealings with them through this process have been surprising to me.  It’s been far better than we dreamed it would be—and they have been excellent partners,” Gregory says. “So hopefully—hopefully—that will carry on.”

Can the egg bill make it through Congress?  Gregory acknowledges that opposition to the egg bill by the beef and pork industries is going to make it more difficult.

“Were it not for their lobbying efforts against us, we would have lots more co-sponsors.  So if we don’t pass the legislation, it will be primarily because of that livestock—or other agricultural opposition—I think.”

Gregory says they had originally hoped to see a vote on the egg bill by this summer, but admits that is not likely to happen in this election year.

Gregory’s comments came in an interview with Brownfield at the National Institute for Animal Agriculture conference in Denver.

AUDIO: Gene Gregory (9:08 MP3)

 

Filed Under: Events/Organizations, Livestock, News, Top Stories Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

UEP chief on the ‘partnership’ with HSUS

March 27, 2012 By Leave a Comment

The president and CEO of United Egg Producers (UEP), Gene Gregory, has received a lot of criticism in recent months—mostly from other segments of animal agriculture—for UEP’s decision to compromise with HSUS on the issue of cage size for egg-laying hens.  Gregory continues to defend the compromise—and the “egg bill” now pending in Congress—saying that national standards are necessary to ensure the future survivability of the U.S. egg industry.

At the NIAA conference in Denver, we asked Gregory about the partnership with HSUS, whether he thinks the animal rights group can be trusted, and the chances of getting the egg bill through Congress.

AUDIO: Gene Gregory (9:08 MP3)

 

 

 

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AVMA exec board supports ‘egg bill’

February 20, 2012 By Leave a Comment

The executive board of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has voted to support the controversial “egg bill” in Congress.

That legislation, which would require the U.S. egg industry to convert hen housing from conventional cage systems to colony cages by the end of 2029, would implement an agreement made between The Humane Society of the United States and United Egg Producers (UEP).

In an email to its stakeholders, the AVMA executive board says that despite having what it calls “significant concerns” with the creation of federal regulations on animal housing and management, the welfare of the animals was the most important factor behind its decision.

In a news release, UEP says it welcomes the AVMA’s endorsement of the legislation.   UEP says the legislation will provide a stable future for egg farmers and will allow America’s national egg sales and distribution system to be maintained, rather than being impacted by conflicting and competing state laws.

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

NCBA will fight the ‘egg bill’ in Congress

February 3, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Saying it would set “a dangerous precedent”, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association vice president of government affairs Colin Woodall says they will fight against passage of the so-called egg bill that has been introduced in Congress.

That legislation, the result of the an agreement between the United Egg Producers and the Humane Society of the United States, would require larger cages for egg-laying hens.

We discussed NCBA’s concerns with Woodall at the Cattle Industry Convention in Nashville.

AUDIO: Colin Woodall (2:26 MP3)

 

Filed Under: Feature Programs, Rural Issues Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Groups urge rejection of HSUS-UEP deal

December 30, 2011 By 1 Comment

Several livestock and poultry groups have sent a joint letter to Congress, urging it to reject the agreement on hen housing reached by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and the United Egg Producers (UEP). 

The groups say the agreement would impose “costly and unnecessary animal rights mandates” on the U.S. egg industry and would cost the egg industry nearly 10 billion dollars.   They say it would also increase prices and limit choice for consumers.  

However, the immediate past chairman of UEP defends the agreement made with HSUS.  Indiana egg farmer Bob Krouse, president of Midwest Poultry Services, says it was of interest to both groups. 

“It’s one of the rare instances where their goals and our goals intersected,” Krouse says, “and we thought we had a much better chance of seeing this become law if we worked together on it, than if we continued to fight each other.” 

The agreement calls for egg producers to transition from conventional cage housing to “enriched” colony cages, by 2029.  Ninety-five percent of all eggs are produced in conventional cages today. 

The transition would be enforced by federal legislation in the form of an amendment to the U.S. Egg Products Inspection Act.  

Krouse says the letter isn’t about the specifics the amendment would have on egg production—but rather the potential it could possibly have on other animal ag species in the future.  

But, he says, it’s still disappointing.  “We’re disappointed as egg farmers that we’re not seeing the support that we really need from other fellow farmers,” Krouse says. “We understand their concerns—but this is a solution for egg farmers—and if we had a better solution, we would be proposing it.” 

The letter was signed by the Egg Farmers of America, American Farm Bureau Federation, National Farmers Union, American Sheep Industry Association, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, National Milk Producers Federation, National Pork Producers Council and National Turkey Federation.

Brownfield’s Meghan Grebner contributed to this story.

 

Filed Under: Events/Organizations, Livestock, News, Top Stories, USDA/Government Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Ohio egg production

September 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Ohio’s egg production during August totaled 634 million eggs, unchanged from July, but a 3 percent drop from August 2010. Layer numbers totaled 27.7 million.

Nationally egg production during August totaled 7.74 billion, a slight drop from a year ago.

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Nebraska ag groups prepare for potential showdown with HSUS

September 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Nebraska ag groups have taken another step forward in preparation for a potential showdown with animal rights activists—specifically the Humane Society of the United States.

At Husker Harvest Days this week, they officially unveiled the new coalition called We Support Agriculture (WSA)—the stated purpose being to defend agriculture against attacks and misinformation about modern technology used to raise livestock.

Nebraska Farm Bureau spokesman Jay Rempe says while they’re not certain of HSUS’ plans for an animal welfare ballot initiative in the state, it’s best to prepared.

“I can’t guess what they’ll do—only they know what they’re going to do—all I can say is the activities and the things that they’ve done in Nebraska pattern what they’ve done in other states,” Rempe says. “They’re starting some activity in the state and we need to be ready and be prepared for that.”

Brownfield asked Pete McClymont of Nebraska Cattlemen if compromise with HSUS would ever be an option for the state’s livestock industry.

“Their track record doesn’t bear us being at the table with somebody that wants to put all of these guys behind me out of business,” McClymont says. “So, no, we won’t talk to them—won’t engage them—and that’s not an option for us.”

McClymont says although the landscape in Nebraska has evolved over the years, with major growth in the urban areas of Omaha and Lincoln, he’s confident most Nebraskan’s are strongly supportive of the state’s livestock industry.

Responding to the WSA activities at Husker Harvest Days, HSUS CEO Wayne Pacelle told the Omaha World-Herald that those fears are misplaced, if not manufactured outright.

“I have said many times, on the record, that we have no plans to conduct a ballot measure in Nebraska,” he said. “They’re fabricating a controversy that does not exist.”

Pacelle called the Nebraska effort “a charade” and said Nebraska agriculture was unwilling to address animal welfare problems.

“We think responsible farmers and ranchers should be on the forefront of animal welfare, and they shouldn’t be positioning themselves as hostile to proper care of animals, which is what Nebraska ag leaders have been doing.”

AUDIO: HHD WSA news conference–McClymont and Rempe comments (8:02 MP3)

After the news conference, we visited with one of the members of the coalition, Tim Beebee with Michael Foods Egg Products Company of Wakefield, Nebraska. Bebee was representing the Nebraska Poultry Industries organization at the event.   We talked about the recent compromise between United Egg Producers and HSUS and its potential impact on egg producers.

AUDIO: Tim Bebee (3:52 MP3)

 

Filed Under: Feature Programs, Rural Issues Tagged With: , , , , ,

HSUS, United Egg agree on federal standards

July 7, 2011 By 3 Comments

The chairman of the United Egg Producers says today is an historic moment as the egg industry agrees with the Humane Society of the United States – to improve the environment of all egg laying hens through enriched cage systems. Until now, the HSUS has called for cage-free egg production. At a news conference this morning, Bob Krouse, a family farmer in Northern Indiana, said their memorandum of understanding with the HSUS – calling for a national standard through federal legislation – is a natural progression of animal agriculture’s commitment to animal care.

The agreement calls for increasing the size of cages from 67 inches to 124 inches of enriched cage space over the next 15 to 18 years for all egg laying hens in the U.S.

HSUS president Wayne Pacelle said the unprecedented agreement pushing for a national standard means the HSUS will cease litigation and planned ballot measures in Washington and Oregon. Pacelle says this agreement also means an end to its “undercover videos.” He said that it’s clear that “the American public supports animal agriculture and it supports animal welfare” and this agreement satisfies both – and it’s the “clearest way forward.”

Krouse says the UEP is “committed to working together for the good of the hens” in its care. He says “a national standard is far superior than a patchwork of state laws and regulations that would be cumbersome” for their customers and “confusing to consumers.”

If passed, the legislation would supersede state laws that have already been passed – in Arizona, California, Michigan and Ohio – requiring increased space and environmental enrichments for egg laying hens.

The UEP estimates the changes will cost producers an estimated 4-Billion dollars.

The UEP estimates the changes will cost producers an estimated 4-Billion dollars and says that will mean increased costs for consumers. But, Krouse says consumers have demonstrated that they are willing to pay more for non-conventionally produced eggs.

The National Pork Producers Council says a one-size-fits-all national standard that preempts state regulations on animal agriculture would be a dangerous precedent for poultry and livestock producers.

AUDIO: Wayne Pacelle (HSUS), Bob Krouse (UEP), others (59:00 mp3)

Filed Under: Livestock, News, Top Stories Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Washington cage-free initiative looks likely

June 15, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The Humane Society of the United States says it has enough signatures to place its cage-free chicken initiative on the November general election ballot in Washington State—that according to a report on capitalpress.com.

If that is the case, Washington voters will be asked to decide whether or not to ban the housing of egg-laying hens in cages by 2018.  

If it succeeds, the initiative would apparently supersede legislation that has already been passed and signed into law in Washington.  That new law, which is supported by the Northwest Poultry Council, requires egg producers to convert to larger colony-type cages.

HSUS is planning a similar initiative in Oregon.

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