News Update
Dec. 8, 2009

UK College of Agriculture Issues Livestock Cold Stress Alert

A strong storm system is poised to arrive in Western Kentucky today and move across the state through Thursday. University of Kentucky (UK) College of Agriculture Meteorologist Tom Priddy said to expect high winds tonight through Thursday, a situation that should put livestock owners on alert.

“A strong low-pressure system will enter our Western region today,” he said. “The affects of the strong storm system will spread rainfall throughout Kentucky by mid-afternoon Wednesday. Some heavy rainfall can be expected with the approaching system, as well as a slight chance for thunderstorms.”

Priddy said the storm system will exit the state by early Thursday morning and any precipitation falling Wednesday night into Thursday should be a wintry mix.

“Prior to and during the passing of the low-pressure system, temperatures will warm up,” he said. “However, there are some frigid temperatures coming in behind the system and clearing skies.”

The combination of cold air and high winds could produce wind chills in the single digits and put parts of Kentucky into periods of dangerous and emergency categories for livestock cold stress after the initial system passes through.

Roy Burris, beef specialist at the UK Research and Education Center in Princeton, said producers can weather the storm with a few simple strategies.

“The biggest thing for producers to do is to make sure animals have good hay and feed and that they have a good wind break,” he said. “It doesn’t have to mean putting animals up in the barn; you could simply give them access to lower pastures that get them out of the wind.”

Burris said keeping cattle dry, fed and comfortable goes a long way in protecting them from cold spells like this.

“Most producers have weaned their calves and most fall calves have been born by now,” he said. “So really you just need to keep their bellies full and keep them out of the wind.”

— Release by Aimee Nielson, UK College of Agriculture.

KLA General Membership Completes Policy Process

Ranchers, feeders and dairy producers addressed business concerns through policy approved at the Kansas Livestock Association (KLA) Convention, Dec. 3-4 in Wichita, Kan. KLA members voted to endorse resolutions dealing with taxes, livestock marketing, transportation issues and water policy, among other issues.

“These resolutions were built on member input, starting with roundtable discussions across the state this fall, continuing through committee and council meetings at the convention and ultimately gaining approval from the general KLA membership during the annual meeting,” said KLA President Mark Smith, a rancher and farmer from Sharon Springs.

A number of resolutions have application to the state’s current budget challenges. As lawmakers look for additional revenue going into the 2010 Kansas legislative session, KLA members support continued sales tax exemptions for inputs and livestock. These include exemptions on new and used farm machinery, grain storage facilities, drying and cleaning equipment, repair parts and the service and labor on repairs. Kansas would be at a disadvantage to surrounding states if these exemptions were lost.

KLA members support continuation of the Kansas Animal Health Department (KAHD) as a stand-alone agency. This policy is based on the belief that effectively protecting the health of the state’s livestock population is important to the overall economy, and KAHD, as a stand-alone agency, is best suited to the task.

A viable transportation system is the subject of one resolution. Members support passage of a new, comprehensive transportation plan for Kansas. Language suggests the new plan should prioritize the maintenance of existing transportation systems and the construction of major infrastructure projects connecting the economic activities of Kansas with other states.

KLA members adopted a new resolution supporting the prohibition on harvesting nonambulatory cattle for human consumption. This policy suggests nonambulatory cattle should be humanely euthanized.

Long-standing policy opposing government regulations that narrow the business interests or limit the management and marketing freedoms of individual producers was retained. Another resolution charges KLA with guarding members’ freedom of choice to conduct business and utilize marketing programs as they see fit.

A new resolution suggests futures contract specifications match industry needs and facilitate convergence of futures prices with the cash market. KLA members believe this is necessary for a meaningful risk management system.

Proposed changes to the Clean Water Act (CWA) are opposed in KLA policy. Members oppose expanding CWA jurisdiction by redefining “waters of the U.S.” The resolution also opposes amendments to CWA that would usurp state primacy issues or impair state water allocations, management systems and property rights.

— Provided by KLA.

EPA Formally Declares Greenhouse Gases a Danger to Public Health

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a final rule today stating that greenhouse gases (GHGs) are a threat to the public health and welfare of the American people and that GHG emissions from on-road vehicles contribute to that threat. EPA’s rule includes six greenhouse gases – carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride. The ruling will allow the EPA to move forward with the GHG standards proposed earlier this year for new light-duty vehicles and to regulate global-warming gases even without legislation in the U.S. Congress.

During the 60-day public comment period, EPA received more than 380,000 comments. The American Meat Institute (AMI) also commented on the Endangerment Finding, stating that AMI does not support EPA’s Endangerment Finding as the proposed rule (now final rule) was mostly based on future GHG concentrations, anticipated climate changes, and adverse public health and welfare effects that are expected to result from elevated temperatures, air quality changes, effects of extreme events on society, climate-sensitive diseases and aeroallergens.

Additionally, AMI does not support regulating GHG emissions under the Clean Air Act because it could lead to serious economic consequences not only for AMI member companies but for the entire U.S. economy. This final rule could expose large sectors of the economy to significant corporate liability for producing products that purportedly endanger health and welfare.

This final rule will go into effect 30 days after publication in the Federal Register, which is expected in a few days.

For more information on the EPA’s findings, go to www.epa.gov/climatechange/endangerment.html.

— Release by AMI.

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