News Update
June 25, 2010

CBB Recommends Separating Federation and NCBA

The Federation of State Beef Councils would continue to be a strong checkoff entity but would be free from the influence of any policy organization if it were a separate entity from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA). That’s the conclusion of a recommendation from the Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB) Executive Committee this week.

Acting on concerns expressed by industry organizations and the expectations of the Federation included in U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack’s May 17 letter to NCBA, the CBB Executive Committee on June 22 unanimously approved a motion recommending separation of the Federation and NCBA. The motion states:

“The Federation should be a strong, independent, checkoff entity. The Federation should be separate from any policy organization, since all funds for the checkoff come from mandatory assessments of producers and importers. The checkoff is owned by, and responsible to, all producers and importers, and no specific organization. It is not the intent of the Executive Committee that this motion has any effect on the structure of state beef councils.”

“This recommendation by no means undermines the role of the Federation as a full partner in checkoff activities,” said Executive Committee Chairman Tom Jones, a producer in Arkansas. “The Federation division of NCBA does a tremendous job at managing national checkoff programs.

“We are in no way calling into question the quality of work produced, but because of increased input from industry organizations about the structure of the Federation as a division of a membership organization, we believe the Federation of State Beef Councils should exist independently,” Jones continued. “As NCBA looks at restructuring its organization, we believe a stronger Federation should be the cornerstone to any changes.”

The recommendation has been forwarded to NCBA leadership and to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for consideration.

— Release by the Beef Checkoff Program.

Red Meat Production, Beef Production Down for May

Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 3.73 billion pounds (lb.) in May, down 5% from the 3.92 billion lb. produced in May 2009, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Livestock Slaughter Report released this morning.

Beef production, at 2.09 billion lb., was 4% below the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.79 million head, down 2% from May 2009. The average live weight was down 15 lb. from the previous year, at 1,249 lb.

January to May 2010 commercial red meat production was 19.7 billion lb., down 2% from 2009. Accumulated beef production was down 1% compared to last year, veal was down 2%, pork was down 4% compared to last year, and lamb and mutton production was down 3%.

The whole report is available at www.usda.gov/nass/PUBS/TODAYRPT/lstk0610.txt.

North Dakota Lifts TB Testing Requirements for Most Minnesota Cattle

Minnesota producers moving beef cattle, goats and camelids into North Dakota will have fewer tuberculosis (TB)-testing requirements, effective immediately. North Dakota’s Board of Animal Health removed its TB testing requirement for most cattle crossing state lines on June 23 at a quarterly board meeting.

“We want to thank the North Dakota Board of Animal Health for acknowledging Minnesota’s TB eradication efforts, which was shown by their recent decision to lift test restrictions on the majority of Minnesota cattle entering their state,” said Minnesota Bovine TB Coordinator Joe Martin. “In conversations with the Board, we reiterated that it’s in everyone’s best interest that Minnesota continues to be vigilant in deer surveillance and testing and controlling the movement of cattle in our disease management area.”

Beef cattle producers in Minnesota’s Modified Accredited Advanced Zone will no longer need to TB-test their cattle herds prior to moving animals into the neighboring state. Dairy animals will still need a TB test for importation, a requirement North Dakota has in place for all states. Requirements for animals from the Modified Accredited (MA) Zone in northwestern Minnesota remain in effect.

“This decision will have an immediate market impact in terms of opening new opportunities for Minnesota cattle producers to market cattle at North Dakota sale locations and private-treaty sales without onerous test requirements,” Martin said.

The State of North Dakota will continue to require a certificate of veterinary inspection, an import permit number and official identification for animals from Minnesota. North Dakota State Veterinarian Susan Keller urges producers importing animals into their state to call 701-328- 2655 for detailed importation requirements.

This announcement is another step in the state’s proactive efforts to eradicate bovine TB, which include increased livestock testing, tightened restrictions on animal movement, fencing assistance and optional herd “buyouts” for livestock producers. As a result, Minnesota has achieved split-state status and continues to see solid progress in livestock production.

For additional information on Minnesota’s bovine TB response, please call the hotline at 1-877-668-2373 or visit www.mntbfree.com.

— Release by Minnesota Board of Animal Health.

Multi-County Beef, Range and Wildlife Workshop Slated for July 22 in Garden City

The Texas AgriLife Extension Service will conduct a multi-county beef cattle, range and wildlife workshop from 8:30 a.m. until 3:15 p.m. on July 22, beginning in Garden City’s Glasscock County Community Center.

The program will move to a nearby field site for part of the program beginning at 10:20 a.m., then return to the community center for lunch and the remainder of the program.

Four Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units will be available for those with a private applicators license (three general, one integrated pest management).

“We’ll be looking at a host of topics during the day that should be of interest to anyone who owns or operates rangeland in our area,” said Rebel Royall, AgriLife Extension agent in Glasscock County. “We’ve really tried to put together a program using those we consider to be our area’s real experts on the various topics they’ll present. It should be a day well-spent.”

The program is being conducted by the AgriLife Extension offices in Glasscock, Reagan, Upton and Sterling counties.

Topics and presenters will include:

• Basic Beef Herd Health Programs, Bruce Carpenter, AgriLife Extension livestock specialist, Fort Stockton.
  

• Texas Vet Lab Vaccination Programs and Products, Jack Yanez, account manager, Texas Vet Lab, San Angelo.
  

• Reading the Range, Carpenter and Alyson McDonald, AgriLife Extension range management specialist, Fort Stockton.
  

• Sprayer Calibration and Use, McDonald.
  

• Dow AgroScience Range Products and Use, Ralph Porter, account manager, Dow AgroSciences, Abilene.
  

• Brush Busters Techniques, McDonald.
  

• Problematic Wildlife Species in West Texas, John McEachern, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department biologist, San Angelo.

Preregistration is $10 by July 16 and $15 at the door, but with no lunch guarantee. The fee includes lunch for those who meet the preregistration deadline.

For more information and to RSVP call the AgriLife Extension office in Glasscock County at 432-354-2381.

— Release by Texas AgriLife Extension Service.

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