News Update
Nov. 16, 2009

Live Meeting Coverage Planned

American Angus Association® members who cannot make it to the 126th Annual Convention of Delegates Monday, Nov. 16 can still watch the meeting. Advanced Video Auctions will provide live streaming video of the Annual Meeting beginning at 1:30 p.m., Monday, at www.advancedvideoauctions.com/. Those wishing to view the meeting may log in and click on the Angus Convention Broadcast tab on the left-hand side of the site.

Effects of Poor Nutrition in Beef Cattle May be Delayed

So far, 2009 has been a great year for forage production in Kentucky with plenty of grass for grazing and even plenty to spare for hay making. Most farmers still have accumulated pasture to graze over the winter as well. But the previous two years of drought conditions still might have an effect on cows.

“The problem is the delayed effects of poor nutrition,” said Roy Burris, University of Kentucky (UK) College of Agriculture beef specialist. “Last winter we were suffering from a feed shortage caused by two consecutive years of drought conditions, which caused us to maintain our cows in less than optimum conditions.”

Burris said pregnancy rates for spring-calving cows are lower than usual this year. Farmers should pregnancy-check their herds to identify open cows, then plan ahead for their winter feeding program.

“Plan to give cows some supplemental feed from calving time until grass is adequate to maintain good body condition going into the next breeding season,” he said. “Farmers should have adequate hay supplies, but they should still calculate their needs to be sure.”

If farmers need additional hay, Burris said it’s cheaper this year, and they should still have time to construct a feeding pad from geotextile fabric gravel to minimize waste.

Farmers should probably sell open cows after feeding them long enough to put some weight on them.

Poor nutrition in previous years manifests itself in thin, bred cows who need to regain body condition, and producers can do this by putting them on some good accumulated fescue pasture to get them in good body condition by early May for the spring breeding season.

“You could also keep a few more heifers to replace some of the cows that were liquidated in the previous two years,” Burris said. “Also, producers could consider a short, postweaning feeding period for their feeder calves instead of taking them from the cow to the market and, they could still consign to CPH-45 sales if they hurry.”
Burris said producers routinely should carry over some hay they have stored inside and remember to feed outside hay first.

“Hopefully, you’ll have some inside hay left over, and you can use that in case of a pasture or hay shortage next year,” he added. “You don’t have to ‘zero-out’ your hay supply this winter if some of it is stored inside.”

The low pregnancy rates this year may surprise some producers, but Burris said he’s observed over several years that “wet years will disappoint you and dry, though not drought, years will surprise you.”

He said farmers should realize cows that are moderate in size and milking ability have a better chance of rebreeding after times of limited feed than their larger, heavy-milking counterparts do.

— Release by UK College of Agriculture.

Justice Department And USDA Set Dates for Workshops to Explore Competition and Regulatory Issues in the Agriculture Industry

The Department of Justice (DOJ) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced today the dates and locations of joint public workshops that will explore competition and regulatory issues in the agriculture industry. The workshops, which were first announced by Attorney General Eric Holder and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Aug. 5, 2009, are the first joint DOJ/USDA workshops ever to be held to discuss competition and regulatory issues in the agriculture industry. The all-day workshops, which will begin in March 2010, will be held in Alabama, Colorado, Iowa, Washington, D.C. and Wisconsin.

The goals of the workshops are to promote dialogue among interested parties and foster learning with respect to the appropriate legal and economic analyses of these issues, as well as to listen to and learn from parties with experience in the agriculture sector.

Each workshop may feature keynote speakers, general expert panels, and break-out panels that will address more narrowly-focused issues. At each workshop, the public will have an opportunity to ask questions and provide comments.

The attendance and participation of the public is encouraged throughout the series of workshops. With the goals of generating further dialogue and understanding the issues, the workshops will involve farmers, ranchers, processors, consumer groups, agribusinesses, government officials, and academics. This collection of stakeholders will create a forum for discussion and will ensure various industry perspectives.

The DOJ and USDA are also asking for comments in advance of the workshops. Interested parties should submit written comments in both paper and electronic form to the Department of Justice no later than Dec. 31, 2009. All comments received will be publicly posted. Two paper copies should be addressed to the Legal Policy Section, Antitrust Division, U.S. Department of Justice, 450 5th Street, NW, Suite 11700, Washington, D.C. 20001. The electronic version of each comment should be submitted to agriculturalworkshops@usdoj.gov.

Additional updates and information, including agendas and speakers, will be posted on the Antitrust Division’s events web site at www.usdoj.gov/atr/events.htm.

— Release provided by USDA.

Ag Leadership Class Applications Due March 15

The Texas Agricultural Lifetime Leadership (TALL) Program is seeking applicants for its new class which will begin in June. TALL is a two-year leadership development program managed by the Texas AgriLife Extension Service. Applications for the newest class, Class XII, are due March 15. Application forms may be found online at http://tall.tamu.edu/.

“Texas agriculture has a need for individuals who can lead our industry as it faces new and unique challenges. These individuals will provide the leadership, insight and direction to ensure the viability for the future,” said Jim Mazurkiewicz, AgriLife Extension leadership program director.

The age of applicants may be from 25-50 years, he said.

The program invests 455 hours of intensive training per person in seminars, speakers and domestic and international trips during the two years, Mazurkiewicz added. Class XII will travel to India.

The course is the equivalent of 38 credit hours or a master’s degree in agriculture. The typical class size is about 25, and tuition is $2,000.

Participants include traditional crop producers and ranchers, bankers and lawyers, as well as those who work in lumber and landscaping industries.

— Release by Kathleen Phillips, Texas AgriLife Extension Service News.

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