News Update
May 11, 2010

Notice

Friday morning (May 14), several of the websites will be unavailable for use due to maintenance. This includes www.angus.org, www.njaa.info, www.angusjournal.com, www.angusfoundation.org and the AAA Login website.

USDA Announces New Performance Standards

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced new performance standards aimed at reducing the prevalence of Salmonella and Campylobacter in young chickens (broilers) and turkeys, as well as a compliance guide on known practices for preharvest management to reduce E. coli O157:H7 contamination in cattle.

The proposed performance standards are expected to be published in the Federal Register in the next few days.  The notice, however, is available now by visiting www.fsis.usda.gov/OPPDE/rdad/FRPubs/2009-0034.pdf.

According to USDA, the performance standards a plant must achieve are based on the percentage of samples testing positive for a given pathogen. The standards were developed using new baseline studies that measure the prevalence of Salmonella and Campylobacter in broiler and turkey carcasses.

“AMI supports performance standards that are science-based, achievable and have a positive impact on public health,” American Meat Institute (AMI) Executive Vice President James Hodges, said.  “We look forward to reviewing the Federal Register notice in detail to determine if indeed the new performance standards meet this criterion in an open and transparent manner.”

In addition to the new proposed standards, USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) released a compliance guide on known practices for preharvest management to reduce E. coli O157:H7 contamination in cattle, as well as the third edition of a compliance guide for poultry harvest, including recommendations for controlling Salmonella and Campylobacter.  Both compliance guides may be viewed on FSIS’s website at http://bit.ly/c7mpq5.

FSIS is seeking public comment on the proposed performance standards and compliance guidelines.

As outlined in a USDA press release, comments regarding the compliance guides document must be received within the 60-day comment period through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov, or by mail to: Docket Clerk, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, Room 2-2127, George Washington Carver Center, 5601 Sunnyside Avenue, Mailstop 5474, Beltsville, MD 20705-5474. All submissions received through the Federal eRulemaking Portal or by mail must reference the Food Safety and Inspection Service and include the docket number “FSIS-2009-0034.”

— Release by AMI.

USDA Estimates Record Corn Production, Supplies

USDA put out its first estimate of the size of this year’s corn crop today, and, not surprisingly, it projects an all-time record 13.4 billion bushels (bu.) of corn.

In fact, much of the report was as expected. Over the past two generations, corn farmers have shown an amazing ability to produce more grains — corn included — per acre of land. In 2010, that trend shows no sign of slowing.

Still, the numbers that USDA is projecting are quite impressive and go a long way toward putting an end to the food fight between corporate livestock interests and American farmers and ethanol producers.

Here are some of the key points from today’s report:

• Corn supplies are projected at a record 15.1 billion bu., 325 million higher than in 2009/2010. This is the first time corn supplies have ever surpassed the 15 billion bu. threshold.
  

• Corn production for 2010/2011 is projected at a record 13.4 billion bu., up 260 million from 2009/2010.
  

• USDA projects 88.8 million acres of corn to be planted, up slightly from 2009, but below corn acreage levels seen in the past.
  

• Yield expectations are 163.4 bu. per acre, 2.7 bu. higher than a yield number based on the trend from 1990-2009.
  

• Year-end surpluses for 2010/2011 are expected to be 1.8 billion bu., up from last year.
  

• Corn use for ethanol in the 2010/2011 marketing year (Sept. 1-Aug. 31) is expected to be 4.6 billion bu. This equates to 12.85 billion gallons of ethanol and more than 35 million metric tons of livestock feed products, including distillers grains.  

While corn for ethanol use continues to grow, so too do exports of both corn and DDGS. All of this increase in use comes simultaneously with a growth in year-end surpluses, demonstrating that there are sample supplies of corn available for feed and fuel use with nearly 2 billion bu. to spare.

It may also be worth noting that planting and emergence of the crop are all well ahead of historical averages.  Should farmers see a near-normal growing season — something that has eluded them in recent years — USDA’s first yield estimate likely will prove to be on the low side.  Consider that last year, despite an extremely late planting season and the worst harvest conditions in recent memory, farmers tallied a record average corn yield of 164.7 bu./acre.

Without ethanol production, rapidly growing supplies of corn would overburden the market, bottom out prices and force the federal government to spend billions in farm program payments.

— Release by USDA.

Free Beef Quality Training In Texas

Beef producers can get free training to help them become more competitive by attending the Texas Beef Quality Producer program in Marion on Saturday, May 22, at the Bexar Bowling Social Hall.

“The Texas Beef Quality Producer program teaches the principles of Beef Quality Assurance, a proven system of sensible management practices that help improve the quality and safety of beef,” explained Dave Scott, president of Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA).

“The program updates ranchers on changes occurring in the industry and what we must do to increase demand for our cattle. It clearly demonstrates how a producer’s actions on the ranch have a huge impact on the final beef product,” said Scott.

The session involves an intensive half-day of training. The certification program covers Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) principles, industry updates, recordkeeping, environmental stewardship and proper management practices associated with genetic selection, cattle handling, culling, vaccine and drug use.

Participants should RSVP by May 17 to TSCRA at 1-800-242-7820 or e-mail sfox@texascattleraisers.org or the Bexar County Extension Office at 210-467-6575.

Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. The program begins at 9 a.m. A complimentary lunch will be served.

The Bexar Bowling Social Hall is located at 15681 Bexar Bowling in Marion.

TBQP program is a collaborative effort of TSCRA, Texas Beef Council (TBC) and Texas AgriLife Extension Service.

— Release by TSCRA, TBC and Texas AgriLife Extension Service.