News Update
June 17, 2011

Russia Lifts Ban on N.C. Poultry

Russia lifted its ban on the import of North Carolina poultry Wednesday. The ban, put in place in March, stemmed from a preliminary finding of low-pathogenic avian influenza, according to USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

Japan also imposed a similar ban in March. As of late Thursday there was no update on the status of Japan’s ban on the USDA-FSIS website.

Poultry slaughtered between the dates of March 16 and June 15 are ineligible for export to Russia. Product that dates prior to March 16 and after June 15 may be exported.

— As reported by www.meatingplace.com.

Drought Tightens Grip on Georgia Farmers

The cotton seedling tried. But after sending its root more than 5 inches deep into the parched dirt, searching for moisture, it gave up and died.

“Some of (the cotton) sprouted and came up in places that had enough moisture for it to come up. … But it’s gotten so hot and dry now that it’s just killing it. When it’s breaking the dirt, it’s dying,” said Kyle Pollock, a 26-year-old Mitchell County farmer in southwest Georgia, holding the cotton seedling in his hand.

In an area of the state that hasn’t had “a good rain” in more than two months, Pollock runs his irrigation systems nonstop to keep his corn, cotton and peanuts alive. What he can’t irrigate, he said, “is pretty much gone.”

His 100 cows usually eat grass in his pasture this time of year. But the pasture has been brown for weeks. Instead, they are eating the last bales of hay Pollack saved from last year. He’s going to have to buy more hay or start selling off his herd.

Pollock’s situation in Mitchell County is not isolated. Most of the state is in severe to extreme drought. And crops and livestock across the state are suffering.

The corn situation is “really bad,” said Dewey Lee, an agronomist with the University of Georgia (UGA) Cooperative Extension. Corn that hasn’t had irrigation water applied to it isn’t going to survive, except in some of the north Georgia counties that have received rain. Even with irrigation, some farmers are struggling to provide fields with enough water to reach high yields.

“Water supplies are tightening in Georgia and, unfortunately, a large portion of the corn crop is at the most critical stages of water demand,” Lee said. “It is still dry and very hot. Any stress now guarantees some yield loss depending on the length of the plant stress and its growth stage.”

One-third of the state’s corn crop is in poor to very poor condition, according to a June 13 report by the Georgia Agricultural Statistics Service (GASS).

“The drought is having a significant negative impact on our cattle industry,” said Curt Lacy, a UGA Extension livestock economist.

Normally, cattle feed off pasture grass during summer. But right now, 70% of the state’s pastureland is rated poor to very poor, according to the GASS report. This means there isn’t enough grass for cattle to eat. Cattlemen are feeding baled hay to their herds, something they typically only do during winter when pasture grass is dormant. It’s costing them, Lacy said.

On average, it costs 50¢ per day to feed a cow on a day when pastures are in good condition. It costs $1.50 per day to maintain that cow with hay during drought conditions.

“And, remember, that during droughts like this, the economic effects persist long after it starts raining again,” Lacy said. “Cows have trouble conceiving or they abort. Cattle are more susceptible to diseases.”

Just six years on his own as a farmer, Pollock has been hit twice by crippling drought. In 2007, the state — as it is now — was in the grips of record-setting dry weather, which doesn’t seem like that long ago, he said.

“It really is discouraging,” Pollock said. “You put all this hard work and time into it, and it burns up. … Makes me wonder if I want to keep on trying to do this.”

— Release by Brad Haire, University of Georgia.

Drought Management for Georgia Cattlemen Workshop Set

Georgia is locked in the grip of a severe drought. Most of the state’s pasture and hayfields are in poor to very poor condition. Many livestock producers are struggling to feed their herds. In Tifton, Ga., June 20, University of Georgia (UGA) livestock specialists will discuss ways cattlemen can deal with drought.

The free meeting will start at 6 p.m. at the UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center and will be broadcast on the web. For more information or directions to view the meeting online, see the website www.georgiaforages.com. Or, contact your local UGA Cooperative Extension office at 1-800-ASK-UGA1.

— Release by Brad Haire, University of Georgia.

AMI Joins Industry Groups Urging USDA to Finalize Comprehensive BSE Rule

American Meat Institute (AMI) joined the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) and the National Meat Association in urging the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to move forward with a comprehensive BSE rule that would give the organization the legal authority to base its decisions on whether to open the U.S. market to beef imports from other countries on the international guidelines established by the World Organization of Animal Health (OIE).

Currently, the United States applies bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE)-related import restrictions to beef imports from the European Union (EU), despite the fact that most countries in the EU have been given the same BSE risk classification as the United States by the OIE.

A number of EU member states are linking their support for the approval of lactic acid as a carcass wash to the publication by USDA of its comprehensive BSE rule. Approval of lactic acid is essential to the second phase of a memorandum of understanding on beef trade between the two countries, which has resulted in a 150% increase in EU imports of U.S. high-quality beef since August 2009.

“We continue to face BSE-related barriers to U.S. beef exports in a number of countries around the world,” the letter to Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack stated. “Implementation of the comprehensive rule would not only permit USDA to respond to those countries in the EU that are interested in exporting beef and veal to the United States, but in our view it should also put the U.S. government in a stronger position to press other countries to follow the OIE’s guidelines and adopt science-based BSE policies.”

To view the letter, go to http://www.meatami.com/ht/a/GetDocumentAction/i/69954.

— Release by AMI.

Missouri Ag Disaster Relief Fund Announced

The Missouri Department of Agriculture recently announced an agriculture disaster relief fund to help Missouri farmers recover from severe storms, floods and tornadoes that have affected thousands of families and businesses this year. The Missouri Agriculture Disaster Relief Fund will address the immediate needs of farm families, extend grants to nonprofit organizations for infrastructure repair and clean up and help individuals or organizations with major disaster grants.

During a meeting on Tuesday, Monsanto presented Gov. Jay Nixon with the first contribution — a check for $100,000 for the agriculture disaster relief fund to help Missouri farmers. In addition, the Republic of China (Taiwan) has also contributed $50,000 to the disaster fund to help producers recover.

“Our state has seen great devastation this year where thousands of families have been impacted by severe weather and flooding. This new disaster relief fund will help Missouri farm families get back on their feet and begin rebuilding their homes, businesses and lives,” said Director of Agriculture Jon Hagler. “We are grateful for the significant contributions made by Monsanto and the Republic of China (Taiwan) that will go towards keeping our state’s agriculture industry resilient. It remains a priority of the Missouri Department of Agriculture and our partners to do everything we can to assist those devastated by natural disasters, now and into the future.”

The Missouri Agriculture Disaster Relief Fund, administered by the Missouri Agricultural and Small Business Development Authority, will offer assistance for the following:

Immediate need — This grant of $500 is available to Missouri farm families recovering from a natural disaster and is designed to help those most devastated by the disaster meet their most urgent needs. The grant may be used for household or agricultural purposes and is available on a first come, first serve basis as long as funding for this purpose is available. The farm family must have been directly impacted by a natural disaster and have suffered physical and/or economic loss.

Grants to organizations — Up to $5,000 is available for nonprofit organizations, counties, municipalities and other political subdivisions for infrastructure repair, clean-up or other projects that assist in recovery for the farm community.

Major Disaster Grant — Funding in amounts greater than $5,000 is available on a special needs basis. Any individual or organization may apply for these grants, but organizations who can serve a large number of producers will be given priority.

“Missouri farmers are our state’s frontline leaders in providing food, feed, fiber and fuel to our world. This year they have been especially hard hit by the natural disasters that have struck our state,” said Brett Begemann, executive vice president and chief commercial officer for Monsanto Co. “Monsanto is donating $100,000 to the Missouri Agriculture Disaster Relief Fund to help farmers throughout Monsanto’s home state as they re-build. We encourage other companies, farm organizations, farmers and the community at large to contribute to this worthy cause.”

“On behalf of the government of the Republic of China, we are grieved by the loss of so many lives and we would like to extend our condolences to the families of the victims. Our thoughts are with you and the people of Missouri at this difficult time,” said Director General Jacqueline H. Liu of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Kansas City. “Taiwan and Missouri have enjoyed a long and lasting sister-state relationship and we will contribute $50,000 to the Missouri Agriculture Relief Fund to help ease the pain and suffering incurred by so many.”

Those interested in donating to the fund can do so by electronic check or credit card by visiting http://MDA.mo.gov or http://AgriMissouri.com. Donations qualify as a charitable contribution under Section 170 of the Internal Revenue Code. Applications for disaster relief funding can be accessed on http://MDA.mo.gov or http://AgriMissouri.com or by contacting the Missouri Agricultural and Small Business Development Authority at 573-751-2129 or masbda@mda.mo.gov.

— Release by Missouri Department of Agriculture.

— Compiled by Katie Gazda, Angus Productions Inc.