News Update

News Update
Feb. 22, 2008

Minnesota’s Additional TB-Infected Herd Means Status Downgrade

The Minnesota Board of Animal Health announced Feb. 19 that a Beltrami County beef cattle herd tested positive for bovine tuberculosis (TB).

This is the fourth positive herd detected since October 2007, and the Minnesota board said it will likely result in the downgrade of Minnesota’s bovine TB status from Modified Accredited Advanced (MAA) to Modified Accredited (MA), as required by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Code of Federal Regulations.

Since bovine TB was discovered in a northwest Minnesota beef cattle herd in July 2005, the disease investigation has found 11 infected beef cattle herds, all in Roseau and Beltrami counties. USDA regulations prescribe a downgrade in status when more than three herds are discovered within a 12-month period.

By dropping from MAA to MA, Minnesota moves to the third of five status levels and two steps down from the highest status level, TB-Free. When the downgrade becomes official, state producers will have to adhere to stricter federal and state testing requirements when shipping cattle or bison. The USDA will require all breeding animals to be tested for bovine TB within 60 days prior to shipment and a whole herd test within the previous 12 months. All feeder animals must have a TB test prior to movement. Cattle and bison are exempt from the testing requirement if they are moving interstate to a federally-inspected harvesting facility. An MA status may also require surveillance testing of dairy herds that sell milk.

“All Minnesota producers planning to ship animals interstate should still contact their veterinarian to determine state import requirements prior to movement,” said Minnesota Board of Animal Health Executive Director and State Veterinarian Bill Hartmann. “Individual state import requirements may differ from federal requirements, so it’s important to verify them prior to shipment.”

At the Feb. 13 meeting of the Minnesota Board of Animal Health, members approved a motion to proceed with obtaining split-state status in order to allow the majority of the state to upgrade its status, while the counties surrounding the core area affected by TB would remain MA.

In the upcoming days, the Board will send approximately 42,000 letters to cattle producers, veterinarians and auction markets across the state explaining the situation and changes to interstate movement requirements. In addition, animal health officials will convene several meetings to give producers an opportunity to hear from the Board and other state and federal agencies that are managing the eradication campaign. The meeting schedule is as follows:

Lewiston – Feb. 25, 10 a.m. – Lewiston Sales, 21241 Dutchman’s Crossing Rd.
Pipestone – Feb. 25, 7 p.m. – Pipestone Livestock Auction, E. Highway 30
Melrose – Feb. 26, 10 a.m. – City Center, 225 E. 1st St. N.
Grygla – Feb. 26, 7 p.m. – Grygla School, 114 N. Fladeland Ave.
Thief River Falls – Feb. 27, 9 a.m. – Northland Community and Technical College, 1101 Highway One E.

For more information on TB and upcoming producer meetings, visit www.bah.state.mn.us.

— Release provided by the Minnesota Board of Animal Health.

Oil Prices Hold at $98-Plus

Although the Energy Information Administration reported Thursday a rise in U.S. crude inventories, oil prices still settled above $98 per barrel Friday, The Associated Press (AP) reported today.

According to the article, prices have spiked recently, with investors attracted to oil due to inflation and the decreasing value of the U.S. dollar. However, AP reports, many analysts believe rising crude oil supplies and a seemingly falling demand could mean an eventual drop in oil prices. In London, the trading day began with gasoline futures almost unchanged at $2.52 per gallon.

Kansas Lawmakers Redefine Trucking Regulations

The Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC) has altered its definition of interstate commerce to exempt farmers and ranchers hauling ag products within the state from commercial trucking regulations, the Kansas Livestock Association (KLA) reports.

Policy released by the commission states farmers and ranchers hauling crops or livestock to market within Kansas are not considered to be engaged in interstate commerce unless there is clear evidence the producer intends to do so. According to the KLA legal affairs staff, which worked to help convince KCC the change of definition was necessary, the practical effect of the new policy will result in no change from current enforcement practices.

“This clarification will allow Kansas ag producers to continue transporting farm products to the marketplace in a safe and efficient manner,” said KLA President Tracy Brunner, a cattleman from Ramona.

KCC announced last year it had defined hauling cattle to an auction or grain to the elevator as the first leg of interstate commerce. This raised concerns among ag producers, who would have been required, under the KCC definition, to obtain a U.S. Department of Transportation number on all vehicles with a weight rating over 10,000 pounds (lb.) Annual vehicle inspections would have become mandatory, as would medical cards for farm and ranch drivers. In addition, producers would have had to comply with the Unified Carrier Registration, which has a minimum fee of $39 per year. KCC had planned to begin enforcement in 2009.

KLA leaders will maintain communications with KCC as discussions continue on how regulations should be enforced for ag products and hazardous materials transported interstate.

— Release provided by the Kansas Livestock Association.

Beef checkoff introduces five new beef cuts from the chuck.

The checkoff-funded Beef Innovations Group (BIG) has just launched five bright, new stars among their team of new beef cuts as a result of extensive chuck roll optimization efforts.

The new cuts include:

The Delmonico Steak (chuck eye steak) — Extremely tender and juicy; exceptional beef flavor and taste similar to a ribeye;
The Denver Cut — Tender, flavorful, versatile; the fourth most tender muscle; perfectly marbled for a restaurant-quality steak experience;
America’s Beef Roast — Great beef flavor; dry roast application; an impressive roast that is affordable and simple to prepare;
Boneless Country-Style Beef Chuck Ribs — Flavorful, juicy, meaty and tender; these meaty boneless ribs are extremely convenient and perfect for backyard cookouts; and
Country-Style Beef Roast — Fully-cooked; a premium, flavorful roast that is perfect for time-challenged families; great with barbecue sauce.

The new product development process hinges on work completed in 2006. The following year, the BIG team then created product names, conducted consumer validation of those names and sensory testing on the cuts. This process was then followed by meetings with key meat processors, exploring culinary applications and recipe development, meetings with chefs and retailers, additional consumer testing and ultimately, the launch into consumer markets.

The new cuts represent “the next big stars” to the program that began in the late 1990s with the checkoff’s groundbreaking muscle profiling research. Chuck roll optimization research will also result in two new cuts in a subsequent fall 2008 launch — the Sierra Cut and Beef Strips.

Visit www.beefinnovationsgroup.com for cutting guides, cooking applications and sell sheets.

— Release provided by CBB

USDA Raises Ag Exports Forecast to $101B for 2008

At the USDA Agricultural Outlook Forum, Secretary Ed Schafer announced Feb. 21 that U.S. agricultural exports are forecast to reach a record $101 billion for fiscal year (FY) 2008, up $10 billion from November’s forecast and an unprecedented $19 billion above 2007. This latest forecast builds off of unprecedented consecutive year-to-year record exports since 2004. Higher wheat, coarse grain and soybean prices account for just over half of the revision since November. “Based on current market conditions, bulk grains, oilseeds and cotton exports should rise $13.2 billion and account for 70% of the overall increase in export value for 2008. Higher prices account for most of this increase, but export volumes are also generally higher,” Schafer said. “Coarse grains are forecast to rise 10.9 million tons to 70 million tons, and wheat should rise 2.3 million tons.”

Schafer said USDA is also forecasting further increases in high-value product exports such as fresh and processed fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, pork, beef, poultry meat and many grocery products. Exports of animal and horticultural products are forecast to rise a combined $3.5 billion in 2008 to record levels.

“With U.S. agricultural imports forecast at $76.5 billion, we expect a $24.5 billion trade surplus,” Schafer said.

The next quarterly report will be issued on May 31.

— compiled by Crystal Albers, associate editor, Angus Productions Inc.