News Update

News Update
May 12, 2008

South Korea delays dispatching beef inspectors to U.S.

Seoul said it has delayed sending inspectors to evaluate U.S. beef harvest facilities, citing scheduling conflicts.

“The dispatch of inspectors was put off due to differences on the issue of scheduling their visits,” an anonymous South Korea official told reporters.

The inspectors were slated to begin auditing U.S. beef plants on Monday to ensure compliance with Seoul’s standards ahead of the scheduled resumption of imports of U.S. beef on Thursday.

The delay comes as protests over the safety of U.S. beef intensify, and minority political parties threaten to file a lawsuit to stop the resumption of beef trade and scuttle the pending free-trade agreement between the two countries unless Seoul agrees to re-negotiate the new beef protocol.

Members of Korea’s foreign affairs committee were scheduled to hold a hearing on the free-trade deal on Tuesday and Wednesday.

“We plan to make clear that the beef deal was struck in haste for the sake of passing the Free-Trade Agreement (FTA), endangering public health,” Lee Hwa-young, a member of the main opposition United Democratic Party (UDP), said, according to Yonhap News.

Korea’s ruling party won 153 of the 299 seats in parliamentary election last month. UDP won only 81.

It’s not too late to be counted in the 2007 Agriculture Census

Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer today reminded America’s farmers and ranchers that they should still plan to respond to the 2007 Census of Agriculture either by Internet or postal mail.

“More than two million responses have already been received,” Schafer said. “I sincerely thank those who have fulfilled their responsibility by completing and returning their census forms. However, a good number of producers have not been heard from, so I’m encouraging everyone to help make this the most accurate Census of Agriculture on record.”

Conducted every five years, the Census of Agriculture is the only source of consistent and comprehensive agricultural data for every state and county in the nation. That information is used by town planners, policy makers, agribusinesses and others to make important growth-generating decisions that will shape rural communities for future generations.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) has already sent a second reminder mailing. Representatives from NASS’s 46 field offices are now beginning to call and visit producers who have not responded.

“We need to hear from everyone, no matter how big or small their operation is, and no matter what they farm, where they farm or how they farm. As we say, it’s your voice, your future and your responsibility,” Schafer said.

Whether or not they are actively engaged in agricultural activity, everyone who received a Census of Agriculture form is required by law to respond. Forms can be returned by mail or submitted online. For more information, or for assistance with completing the 2007 Census of Agriculture, call toll-free 888-424-7828 or visit www.agcensus.usda.gov.

— Release provided by USDA

Stockmen’s Association will host Spring Roundup series

The North Dakota Stockmen’s Association (NDSA) members and guests are invited to the NDSA Spring Roundups, “TEAM: Together Everyone Achieves More,” to learn about how state and national industry organizations work together to represent producers and the important role grassroots cattlemen and women play on the team. Meetings will take place June 8-13 in White Earth, Amidon, New Salem, Lisbon, Hatton, and Gackle, respectively.

“Teamwork is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon goals, whether it is on the baseball field, in the board room or in the beef industry,” said NDSA President Mark Huseth. “When people work together, what may have seemed impossible can be a grand slam.”

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Vice President Bill Donald of Melville, Mont., and NCBA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Terry Stokes of Centennial, Colo., will bring the national perspective to the meetings. Donald will speak June 8 and 9; Stokes will speak June 10-13. Roundup guests will also hear from Huseth and NDSA Executive Vice President Wade Moser, who will offer NDSA issue updates at each meeting.

The Spring Roundups include free informational programs, socials, suppers and opportunities to recommend director candidates to the NDSA Nominating Committees. At each location, the social begins at 5 p.m. local time. Supper follows at 6 p.m., with a program and an NDSA Nominating Committee meeting immediately afterward.

Following are details about the individual Spring Roundups:

District 1

The District 1 Spring Roundup will be June 12 at Tobiason Lake near Hatton. From the junction of Highways 15 and 18 (south of Larimore and west of Northwood), go seven miles south and one mile west. To get there from Hatton, go 11 miles west on County Road (CR) 23 and then one mile north. To get there from Finley, go 10 miles east on Highway 200 to CR 8, or Golden Lake Road, then eight miles north and one mile west. Watch for signs in all cases.

Gerald Stokka, a Pfizer Animal Health senior veterinarian, will also address the crowd with a talk about summertime herd health.

District 2

The District 2 Spring Roundup will be June 11 at the Lisbon Golf Course in Lisbon. A golf scramble will precede the meeting at 2 p.m.

District 3

The District 3 Spring Roundup will be June 13 at the American Legion Hall in Gackle. A golf scramble will precede the meeting at 2 p.m. at the Gackle Golf Course. The golf course is located three miles south of Gackle.

District 4

The District 4 Spring Roundup will be June 10 at the Morton County Fairgrounds in New Salem.

District 5

The District 5 Spring Roundup will be June 9 at the Slope County Fairgrounds in Amidon.

District 6

The District 6 Spring Roundup will be June 8 at Feiring’s Angus Ranch, located three miles east of White Earth.

Morgan Houge of New Town will sing before the program.

The Spring Roundups are open to all who are interested.

— Release provided by NDSA.

Junior Beef Expo will have a reproductive focus

The 2008 North Dakota Junior Beef Expo will emphasize heifer pregnancy and reproduction as part of its Cattlemen’s College, said NDSA Member Services Director Tracey Koester. The multi-breed junior beef field day will be at the Upper Missouri Valley Fairgrounds in Williston, N.D., June 28-29.

As part of the program, J.J. Hovde of Hovde Veterinary Clinic in Sidney, Mont., will demonstrate pregnancy ultrasound on several heifers and determine their calves’ fetal age and gender. He will also offer tips to help prepare a heifer for breeding and maintain her pregnancy.

After Hovde’s presentation, Dave Dockter, a Select Sires beef specialist, will discuss prebreeding nutrition, estrus synchronization and sire selection.

“Reproduction is one of the most economically important traits on a ranch,” Koester said. “That’s why the Junior Beef Expo Planning Committee wants to equip youth with the information they need to ensure their show heifers become productive cows and profit centers for their herds.”

The Dectomax Carcass Merit Contest will also be offered. It will include an ultrasound evaluation of all steers and a two-grid analysis of the animals’ carcass traits. Following the results from the Centralized Ultrasound Processing (CUP) Lab, each steer will be ranked based on profitability measures on a high-quality and a high-cutability grid.

The Junior Beef Expo will also include photography and showmanship contests, a junior show, silent auction, scavenger hunt and coloring activity.

All exhibitors who hold NDSA memberships or family memberships will have a chance at a $100 drawing. All exhibitors will have a chance at five $100 prizes from Agweek and receive show premiums, an exhibitor T-shirt and free meal tickets.

The Junior Beef Expo is open to youth through age 21 and is sanctioned by the North Dakota Junior Point Show Association.

To be eligible for the scholarship, which is being donated by Mark and Sonya Owan of Williston in memory of Richard Jensen of Williston, youth must be at least enrolling high school seniors and have participated in the show at least two years. Entry forms, rules and applications for a $200 Junior Beef Expo Scholarship can be downloaded from www.ndstockmen.org. The entry deadline is June 2.

For more information on either the Spring Roundups or the Junior Beef Expo, contact Mark Huseth, NDSA president, mehuseth@rrt.net; Julie Schaff Ellingson, NDSA communications director, stockman@ndstockmen.org; Wade Moser, NDSA executive vice president, ndsa@ndstockmen.org; or call 701-223-2522 or email www.ndstockmen.org

— compiled by Mathew Elliott, assistant editor, Angus Productions Inc.