News Update
April 28, 2008

CBB Officers Charged with Evaluating Beef Checkoff Program

There has been much discussion within the beef industry about potential improvements to the Beef Checkoff Program. U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) officials recently spoke with Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB) officers about their responsibility to develop and recommend changes to the Beef Promotion and Research Act and Order to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.

Dave Bateman, fourth-generation farmer-feeder from Oregon, Ill., and chairman of the CBB, says this requested evaluation of the checkoff is a function of being a Beef Board officer — a continual process in meeting the needs of today’s producers.

“As the program administrator, the Beef Board is authorized by USDA to provide information to the Secretary that could be used to improve the program after 20 years of operation. So, the Board is asking industry organizations for their suggestions before it completes its report,” Bateman says. “The ultimate goal is to meet the needs of the marketplace through the Beef Checkoff Program and meet our obligations to producers in terms of giving them the most bang for their dollar invested.”

During the coming months, the Beef Board will request suggested improvements from more than 100 national industry organizations, state beef councils, certified nominating organizations and national breed associations. Bateman says it’s a big information-gathering process, “but many players have a stake in the beef industry and we want to hear from them.”

The information gathered will come back to the Beef Board for analysis by the officers before turning it over to CBB’s Administrative Subcommittee. The Administrative Subcommittee will take the information and make recommendations to bring to the Beef Board Executive Committee, which will report to the Secretary. The recommendation process is to be completed by Nov. 30.

Bateman notes that should producers make any significant changes to the Act and the Order, such as agreeing to an increase after more than two decades, producers would have to vote on this change. If an increase were to be approved, producers on the Beef Board and state beef councils would carefully analyze where it would have the biggest effect and produce the most benefit to the industry.

For more information about checkoff-funded efforts, visit www.beefboard.org.

— Release provided by Cattlemen’s Beef Board.

FDA Amends Feed Rules

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is amending the agency’s regulations to prohibit the use of certain cattle origin materials in the food or feed of animals, according to a notice published in the Federal Register April 25.

These materials include the following: the entire carcass of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE)-positive cattle; the brains and spinal cords from cattle 30 months of age and older; the entire carcass of cattle not inspected and passed for human consumption that are 30 months of age or older from which brains and spinal cords were not removed; tallow that is derived from BSE-positive cattle; tallow that is derived from other materials prohibited by this rule that contains more than 0.15% insoluble impurities; and mechanically separated beef that is derived from the materials prohibited by this rule.

The final rule is effective April 27, 2009.

To view the final rule in its entirety, visit http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/08-1180.htm.

— Release provided by American Meat Institute.

Wheat Producers Should Maximize Effectiveness of Fungicide Applications

Windy conditions this time of year make for very few days that are suitable for spraying, so timing is critical for getting the most bang for the buck with fungicide applications.

Throw in a finite number of aerial applicators and some wheat growers may be left on the waiting list for spraying.

“To ensure that fungicides are applied in a timely fashion, some wheat producers may want to consider using ground-application equipment,” said Jeff Edwards, Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service wheat agronomist.

Narrow tires and wide booms will help to minimize damage to wheat. Usually, not all the wheat in the tire tracks will be destroyed.

“Consider a sprayer with 12-inch (in.) tires and a 60-foot (ft.) boom width,” Edwards said. “The tires will run over 2 feet of wheat for every 60 feet, or approximately 3.3%. The same rig with a 90-foot boom will run over 2.2%.”

Edwards said actual yield loss from tire traffic likely will be less, but that these figures can be used as a worst-case scenario.

Recent rains and dews provided moisture for foliar disease infection of wheat fields. Reports of leaf rust have become more frequent around Oklahoma.

“This is a concern because while the price of wheat is not as high as a month ago, it is still far higher than normal,” said Bob Hunger, a wheat pathologist with Oklahoma State University (OSU) Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. “The yield potential in many wheat fields across Oklahoma is in excess of 40 bushels (bu.) per acre.”

Leaf rust has the potential to decrease yield and is most damaging when it is severe early. A fungicide will only protect yield potential and will not restore yield once it is lost to a disease such as leaf rust.

“If a producer waits until leaves are covered with rust pustules, it’s too late for the fungicide to protect the yield potential because the damage has already been done,” Hunger said.

Producers looking for additional information on fungicide applications for control of foliar diseases in wheat should contact their local OSU Cooperative Extension county office and ask for Current Report No. 7668, “Foliar Fungicides and Wheat Production in Oklahoma.”

The OSU report is also available at http://osufacts.okstate.edu.

— Release provided by Oklahoma State University.

Pineywood Cattle Congress set for May 9 in San Augustine

The upcoming Pineywoods Cattle Congress, set for May 9, will take a two-pronged approach, said Cary Sims, Texas AgriLife Extension Service agent for San Augustine County.

“In the morning, we’ll deal with bull selection; in the afternoon, Bermuda grass establishment and management,” said Sims, co-organizer of the multi-county event.

The morning session will be conducted by Jason Banta, AgriLife Extension beef cattle specialist. His talking points will include the criteria used in bull selection, with an explanation on how to use expected progeny differences (EPDs), individual performance data, ultrasound data and other selection information.

“I will also discuss the importance of conducting breeding soundness exams (sometimes referred to as BSE),” Banta said.

In the second morning presentation, James Weatherly with the Eastex Veterinary Clinic will give a demonstration on bull fertility testing.

The afternoon sessions will be conducted by Larry Redmon, AgriLife Extension state forage specialist, and Daryl Evans with Dow Chemical’s AgriSciences division.

Evans will review the most current herbicide update laws and regulations. Redmon will discuss the latest advances in Bermuda grass varieties and their establishment. Tom Ross, local rancher, will give a demonstration of Bermuda grass sprigging.

Three continuing education units for holders of Texas Department of Agriculture pesticide applicators licenses will be offered: one in laws and regulations, one in integrated pest management and one in general.

The conference will be at the Jack Nichols Ranch, located west of San Augustine. Cost is $10 and includes a catered lunch. Registration will begin at 9 a.m., and the conference will adjourn by 3:30 p.m. RSVP is requested for an accurate lunch count, Sims said.

To RSVP, contact one of the following AgriLife Extension offices: Nacogdoches County — http://nacogdoches-tx.tamu.edu/, 936-560-7711; San Augustine County — http://sanaugustine-tx.tamu.edu/, 936-275-3644; Angelina County — http://angelina-tx.tamu.edu/, 936-632-8239; Sabine County — http://sabine-tx.tamu.edu/, 409-787-3752; Shelby County — http://shelby-tx.tamu.edu/, 936-598-7744; or Panola County — http://panola-tx.tamu.edu/, 903-693-0380.

— Release provided by Texas AgriLife Extension Service. 

— compiled by Tosha Powell, assistant editor, Angus Productions Inc.