News Update
Aug. 24, 2009

Short bits …

• The Wichita Eagle reported Saturday that the number of cattle in Kansas feedlots with more than 1,000-head capacity was down 4% from year-ago levels Aug. 1. See article.
  
  
• The American Simmental Association will host a cattle conference at Purdue University Aug. 28-29 to discuss adding value to cattle, effectively using information provided by ultrasound, feeding cows effectively and lowering costs. Producers from Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin are expected to attend. Click here for more.
  
  
• The Associated Press (AP) reported Saturday that grasshoppers are forcing some U.S. cattlemen to sell cattle, with Nebraska, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana and Idaho feeling the worst of the infestation. Click here for more.

North Dakota Stockmen’s Foundation Awards Disaster Relief

Thirty-two North Dakota ranch families will be receiving financial assistance from the North Dakota Stockmen’s Foundation (NDSF) to replace or repair fences, buildings or other ranch infrastructure damaged during the 2008-2009 winter and springs.

The National Cattlemen’s Foundation (NCF), with the financial support of Pfizer Animal Health and several private donors throughout the nation, coordinated the grassroots disaster relief effort on North Dakota’s behalf after the year’s relentless blizzards and floods killed nearly 100,000 head of cattle and destroyed thousands of miles of fence and other infrastructure on North Dakota ranches. The NDSF distributed the disaster relief funds earlier this week.

“Winter and spring took their toll on many ranchers this year,” said Zap, N.D., cattleman and NDSF President Jack Reich. “We are grateful to the National Cattlemen’s Foundation for coordinating this program and to every donor who pitched in to help their fellow cattle producers recoup, rebuild and rise from the disaster.”

The 32 recipients were chosen from a large pool of applicants by an NDSF selection committee.

“North Dakota cattle producers endured a lot this winter and spring, and their applications were filled with their stories of tragedy and triumph,” Reich said. “We are proud to assist some of those families, and wish all those who were impacted the best as they work to return to normalcy.”

The NDSF, a support arm of the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association, was designed to assist with beef-related research, education, leadership and building objectives. To make a tax-deductible donation or to purchase a fundraising raffle ticket for an engraved commemorative rifle, call 701-223-2522.

— Provided by the North Dakota Stockmen’s Ass’n.

Checkoff’s Attempt To Educate TIME Magazine Editor Falls On Deaf Ears

TIME magazine posted an article “Getting Real About the High Price of Cheap Food” by reporter Bryan Walsh to its web site Friday. The article repeats a wide range of “factory farming” claims, including the common myths about modern beef production’s over-reliance on corn and antibiotics, the distorting effect of farm subsidies and poor farm animal living conditions. It’s the cover story for the Aug. 31 print edition, which already is available at some newsstands and will be arriving in subscriber mailboxes early next week. The cover artwork is a package of ground beef that carries the warning: “CAUTION. This hamburger may be hazardous to your health.”

The issues management and media relations teams of the Beef Checkoff Program heard from a TIME research assistant at the end of July about a pending article. At that time, it was positioned as an article Walsh was writing about food safety and antibiotics. The research assistant specifically wanted the industry’s comment on the Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act (PAMTA) and antibiotic use in the beef industry. Through actions by the Beef Checkoff Program, an interview was arranged, after which Walsh contacted the team directly to fact check how much it costs to raise a steer to harvest weight. When pressed, Walsh revealed his story would address other issues, including beef and nutrition and the environment. Again, Walsh was told he needed to hear from beef industry experts before running his story.

Five interviews were then arranged for Walsh within a three-hour time period on the afternoon of the 19th, and the team provided him with fact sheets and research about beef choices, beef nutrition and the environment. Interviews were set up to discuss beef’s important role in a healthy diet with Shalene McNeill, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) executive director of human nutrition research; production agriculture and the different choices of beef with Tom Field, NCBA executive director of producer education; and livestock production and the environment with Jude Capper, assistant professor at Washington State University. Additionally, interviews were set up for Walsh with two feedlot operators: Anne Burkholder of Will Feed Inc., in Cozad, Neb., and Gary Teague of Teague Diversified Inc., in Fort Morgan, Colo.

Out of the six expert spokespeople offered, Walsh included only one quote about antibiotic use: “[Resistance] is the result of human use and not related to veterinary use.” In addition, TIME’s description of feedlot conditions blatantly disregarded the great information about the care that goes into raising cattle that was provided by Teague and Burkholder.

To counter this attempt to spread misinformation about the beef industry, cattle producers should urge the public to find information refuting these types of claims at ExploreBeef.org. More information about the beef checkoff can be found at www.mybeefcheckoff.com.

— Provided by the Beef Checkoff Program.

Registration Deadline Nears for Michigan State Cattlemen’s Boot Camp

Michigan State University (MSU) will help host a Cattlemen’s Boot Camp Sept. 22-23 in East Lansing. Co-hosted with the American Angus Association and the Angus Foundation, the one-day session is open to all seedstock and commercial cattle producers. The registration deadline is Sept. 1.

Grazing management, herd health, animal welfare, marketing and end-product merit are just a few of the topics that will be discussed by industry experts from MSU, the American Angus Association, Certified Angus Beef LLC (CAB), and the Michigan Beef Industry Commission. In addition, hands-on sessions on identification methods, body condition scoring, cattle handling and administering vaccinations will be covered.

Registration is $75, and covers meals and materials. Enrollment is limited, so register today to ensure your space in this Boot Camp. Printable registration forms and online registration is available at www.angus.org.

A hotel block has been established for the Boot Camp attendees at the Comfort Inn in Okemos. A negotiated rate of $79 is available until Sept. 12. Call the hotel directly at 517-347-6690 and ask for the MSU Animal Science and Angus Association block.

For more information or to register, contact the American Angus Association at 816-383-5100 or go to www.angus.org. Cattlemen’s Boot Camps are just one of several educational events planned by the American Angus Association and funded by the Angus Foundation, which supports education, youth and research.

— Provided by the American Angus Ass’n.

— Compiled by Shauna Rose Hermel, editor, Angus Productions Inc.