News Update
Oct. 26, 2009

Beef Exporters Challenge U.S./EU Deal on Hormones

According to a Reuters report, Australia and other beef exporters have expressed concern that a deal settling a dispute over a European Union (EU) ban on imports of hormone-treated beef had been slanted to favor U.S. suppliers.

At a meeting Oct. 23 of the World Trade Organization’s dispute settlement body, Reuters reported, Australia said it welcomed assurances that a new EU import quota for high-quality beef was open to all countries, noting that to date only the United States had secured access to the quota. Other countries, including New Zealand, Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina, made similar statements, Reuters reported.

Boehringer Ingelheim to Acquire Portion of Fort Dodge Animal Health

Boehringer Ingelheim, Ingelheim, Germany, a global pharmaceutical group of companies, together with its U.S. animal health business Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc., Saint Joseph, Mo., announced today that it has closed its deal with Pfizer to acquire a significant portion of the Fort Dodge Animal Health business. The acquisition, which includes products in the U.S., Australia, Canada and South Africa, as well as two manufacturing and research facilities located in Fort Dodge, Iowa, significantly increases the size of Boehringer Ingelheim’s companion animal and cattle portfolios and strengthens the company’s position as a leading vaccine supplier. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Products being acquired in Europe are still subject to approval by European anti-trust authorities.

“Boehringer Ingelheim and Fort Dodge share a strong commitment to innovation and this will continue to be the imperative basis of all our activities as we move forward,” said Hubertus von Baumbach, member of the Board of Managing Directors of Boehringer Ingelheim responsible for finance and animal health. “With the closing of this deal, our attention now turns to ensuring a seamless integration of the highly committed teams of people, as well as the transition of the product portfolio. We aim to jointly execute a robust business strategy that ensures the continued growth of our animal health business in the U.S. and globally by continuously providing innovation to our customers.”

As part of the deal, Boehringer Ingelheim will acquire the Duramune® line of vaccines for dogs, the Fel-O-Vax® line of vaccines for cats, and the Rabvac® line of rabies vaccines manufactured and sold in the U.S., Canada and Australia. In addition, a portfolio of pet and equine pharmaceutical products currently sold in the U.S. is also included in the deal. The company will also acquire cattle vaccines in the U.S. and Canada including the Triangle®, Pyramid®, and Presponse® vaccine lines. Pharmaceutical products being acquired include Cydectin® (moxidectin) for cattle and sheep as well as Polyflex® (ampicillin sodium). The dairy portfolio includes the key brands Today® and Tomorrow®.  Several Canadian swine vaccines are included in the acquisition as are some cattle vaccines sold in Europe and South Africa.

— Release provided by Boehringer Ingelheim.

Graziers to Meet at Lake Ozark, Mo., Nov. 2-3

Topics ranging from the size of cows used for grazing pastures to studying dung beetles as indicators of grassland health are on the agenda for the annual meeting of the Missouri Forage and Grassland Council (MFGC), Nov. 2-3, at the Lake of the Ozarks.

Keynote speaker Kirk Gadzia will discuss “Managing for Healthy Land, Healthy Animals and Happy People.” Gadzia is co-author of the book Rangeland Health, published in 1994 by the National Academy of Sciences.

Walt Davis will tell of the “Dung Beetle’s Role in Pasture Ecosystems.” Davis, a fifth-generation rancher in Oklahoma, works to lower inputs and increase sustainability. He also teaches seminars on resource management.

University of Missouri (MU) scientists will discuss how to use improved forage for livestock. Beef Geneticist Bob Weaber will describe the “Economic Impact of Cow Biological Type.”

“My goal is to get producers thinking about matching cow genetic potential to the pasture productivity. The aim will be to limit supplemental feeding and cut input costs,” Weaber said.

There is a debate among graziers on cow size, but the literature shows there isn’t one biological type of cow that is most efficient in all environments, he said.

“Big cows aren’t always bad and small cows aren’t always good,” Weaber said. “I’ll discuss ways for producers to optimize productivity.” Methods include selection for moderate levels of growth, reducing mature-cow size and considering milking potential. He will explain how producers can use crossbreeding, or heterosis, to boost production.

In addition to speakers and farmer panels, there will be a trade show by suppliers of forage seed and hardware for management-intensive grazing (MiG) systems.

The meeting, which will take place at the Resort at Port Arrowhead, starts with sign-in at 10 a.m., Nov. 2. David Davis, MFGC president and MU forage scientist, will deliver the welcome and introductions at 10:45 a.m. An awards banquet will take place that evening. The program starts again the next day at 8 a.m. and ends at 2:45 p.m.

Advance registration is required. Registration fee for MFGC members is $90 or $135 for couples. Nonmembers add $30. For details, contact Joetta Roberts at 573-499-0886 or mfgc@mchsi.com. For room reservations, call the resort at 1-800-532-3575.

Additional information, including a meeting agenda, is available at http://agebb.missouri.edu/mfgc/mfgcannconf.htm.

— Release by Duane Dailey, University of Missouri Cooperative Media Group.

Deputy Secretary to Continue National Conversation on USDA’s Initiative

Monday, Oct. 26, Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan continued her tour of colleges and universities at the University of Georgia to discuss USDA’s new ‘Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food’ initiative. Merrigan’s ‘Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food’ College Tour is intended to help educate the next generation of farmers, ranchers and consumers, and let them participate in the national conversation about how to develop local and regional food systems to support small and mid-sized farms and reinvigorate rural communities.

The initiative includes such topics as supporting local farmers and community food groups; strengthening rural communities; enhancing direct marketing and farmers’ promotion programs; promoting healthy eating; protecting natural resources; and helping schools connect with locally grown foods. The initiative emphasizes the need for a fundamental and critical reconnection between producers and consumers. The effort builds on the 2008 Farm Bill, which provides for increases and flexibility for USDA programs in an effort to promote local foods.

To date, Merrigan’s college tour has included visits to Rutgers University and Iowa State University. To learn about the ‘Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food’ initiative, visit www.usda.gov/knowyourfarmer.

— Release provided by USDA.

High Plains Ag Conference Set for Dec. 2 in Lubbock, Texas

Plans are being finalized for the Texas AgriLife Extension Service’s High Plains Ag Conference set for 8:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. Dec. 2 at the Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Lubbock. The center is located at 1102 E. Farm-to-Market 1294.

“It’s still a bit early, but we want folks to have plenty of time to plan to attend this key event,” said Robert Scott, AgriLife Extension agent in Lubbock County. “We’re finalizing the program now, but we already have a top slate of speakers booked. Participants will also be able to earn five Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units for the day. We know things get busy during the holidays. That’s why we wanted to get the word out early.”

Individual preregistration received by Nov. 30 is $35 and includes lunch. Late registration is $45 with no lunch guarantee.

For more information, contact Scott at 806-775-1680, or r-scott@ag.tamu.edu.

— Release by Steve Byrns, Texas A&M University Extension.

— Compiled by Linda Robbins, assistant editor, Angus Productions Inc.