News Update
September 15, 2011
National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection to Meet on Preharvest Measures
USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced Thursday, Sept. 15, a two-day public meeting of the National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection (NACMPI) to review and discuss agency preharvest and validation performance measures.
The meetings will be Sept. 22 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sept. 23 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Registration will begin on-site at 8:30 a.m. each day.
These meetings will expand on the preharvest discussions begun at the 2010 NACMPI meeting and will more thoroughly explore options to prevent hazards from entering establishments on source animals or products. After the issues are presented to the full committee, NACMPI will divide into two subcommittees, meet and develop recommendations. Each subcommittee will provide a report of their comments and recommendations to the full committee before it concludes activities Sept. 23.
Meeting location details and agenda will be accessible at the NACMPI website at: www.fsis.usda.gov/About_FSIS/NACMPI.
Established in 1971, the 17-member NACMPI meets on food safety concerns and advises the Secretary of Agriculture on matters affecting federal and state inspection program activities. It also contributes to USDA’s regulatory policy development. Recommendations are sent to USDA’s Undersecretary for Food Safety for consideration and review by the Secretary of Agriculture.
For meeting information, contact Sally Fernandez at 202-690-6524 or via email at: sally.fernandez@fsis.usda.gov.
FSIS welcomes comments through Nov. 1, 2011, on the topics discussed at the NACMPI public meeting. Comments may be submitted via email to: NACMPI@fsis.usda.gov or by mail sent to National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection, USDA, FSIS, 14th & Independence Avenue, SW, Room 1175, South Building, Washington, DC 20250. All submissions must include the Agency name and docket number FSIS-2011-0019.
USDA Air Quality Task Force to Hold Meeting at K-State
The USDA’s Agricultural Air Quality Task Force (AAQTF) will hold a meeting open to the public at Kansas State University (K-State) Sept. 21-22, 2011. At the meeting, the AAQTF will continue discussions on critical air quality issues relating to agriculture, said Chuck Rice, university distinguished professor of agronomy and member of the task force.
Special emphasis will be placed on obtaining a greater understanding about the relationship between agricultural production and air quality, Rice said.
The meeting will convene at 8 a.m. on both days, Wednesday and Thursday, and conclude at 5 p.m. on Wednesday and 4 p.m. on Thursday. A public comment period is scheduled.
The meeting will take place at the K-State Alumni Center, located at the corner of 17th and Anderson Avenue in Manhattan.
The AAQTF was created in accordance with the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform (FAIR) Act of 1996, which directed the chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to establish a task force to address agricultural air quality issues. The task force consists of leaders in farming, industry, health, and science. This task force advises the Secretary of Agriculture on matters related to agricultural air quality.
2012 National Western Stock Show Tickets on Sale Saturday, Sept. 17
Tickets for the 106th National Western Stock Show (NWSS) Jan. 7-22, 2012, will go on sale Saturday, Sept. 17.
“We’re very excited about our newest event for opening day,” said Paul Andrews, new president and CEO of the NWSS.
“The ‘Colorado Versus the World Rodeo Competition will feature our own Colorado Rodeo Champions versus Rodeo Champions of the World in three opening-day rodeos known as Super Saturday.”
During its 16-day run, the 2012 National Western will present 19 Pro Rodeos; the PBR Bull Riding Denver Chute-Out Touring Pro Finale; Mexican Rodeo Extravaganzas; Martin Luther King Jr. African-American Heritage Rodeo; An Evening of Dancing Horses®; National Western’s New Wild West Shows; $15,000 RAM Invitational Freestyle Reining; $10,000 Gambler’s Choice Open Jumper Stake; 9NEWS Super Dogs; and $40,000 Grand Prix and Draft Horse Performances with tickets starting at just $12.
General admission starts at $2 for kids 3-11 and $8 for adults.
Tickets go on sale Sept. 17 at the following locations:
- Online: www.nationalwestern.com, phone: 1-888-551-5004<
- In person: National Western Box Office, 4655 Humboldt Street, Denver, CO 80216
- King Soopers, Coors Field, Rockies Dugout Store
- For groups of 15 and more, call 303-295-3959, or email groups@nationalwestern.com
Internet, phone orders and King Soopers are subject to service charges.
South Dakota Stockgrowers To Host Annual Convention and Trade Show
The South Dakota Stockgrowers Association (SDSA) will host their 120th Annual Convention and Trade Show Sept. 21-24 at the Ramkota Convention Center in Rapid City, S.D.
Stockgrowers President Kenny Fox, Belvidere, said, “Our convention, as with all of our meetings, is open to the public. In fact, we encourage consumers as well as ranchers, farmers and business people to come on in. There is something for everyone.”
Fox stated that “One of the most important parts of the convention is the annual meeting, which begins at 1:30 Friday. This is a member-driven organization and this annual meeting is where the members set the stage for the coming year. So if you are a member, or if you would like to be a member, please plan to attend this meeting and let your voice be heard.”
According to Executive Director Margaret Nachtigall, the convention kicks off with a combination Past President’s and Cattlewomen’s 60th Anniversary dinner Sept. 21. Entertainment for the evening will be provided by the ever-popular Yvonne Hollenbeck, Clearfield, S.D., as she recites poetry and shares the humorous side of being a ranch wife.
Nachtigall said, “We have a great lineup of speakers and vendors this year. We are excited to be able to bring Edward Avalos, USDA undersecretary of marketing and regulatory programs from Washington, D.C. This is of special interest to the livestock industry since he oversees the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) and the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA), all agencies involved in the livestock industry. Avalos will be speaking at the Recognition Banquet Friday at 6:30.”
“We have a gold mine of speakers close to home, also. For instance, we have four panels offering information. Thursday at 8:15 the Property Rights Committee will address the new production-based property tax with rancher Bill Kluck, legislator Larry Rhoden and Meade County Director of Equalization, Kirk Chaffee. Then at 9:30 the Brand and Theft Committee will visit with Livestock Auction Owner/brand board member Scott Vance and the South Dakota Brand Board Executive Secretary Larry Stearns.
“Bill Bullard R-CALF CEO, always a very popular speaker, will be addressing convention attendees at 10:45 Thursday during the Animal Health & ID Committee meeting. He most certainly will be updating us on the new Animal Disease Traceability program. And R-CALF President George Chambers, Carrollton, Ga., is another very informational communicator and will be on deck with us as our Thursday night dinner speaker.”
“At lunch on Thursday we’ll see a video of the Argentina/Chile trip last year and hear about the upcoming trip to Ireland from Silvia Christen and Bill Walsh. The Marketing Committee meets at 1:30 Thursday with our third panel consisting of rancher Bob Fortune, Belvidere; rancher Vaughn Meyer, Reva; and Beef Industry Council Executive Director Ron Frederick, Mission. I’m quite sure this panel will discuss and answer questions regarding the Beef Checkoff – another very interesting panel.
“Thursday afternoon we will be privileged to hear Tom Troxel, executive director of the Black Hills Multiple Use Coalition as he speaks to the Federal Lands Committee at 2:30.
“Following the Thursday afternoon coffee/tea break we will hear Tony Leif, Pierre, director of Game Fish and Parks Wildlife Division.”
As we move in to Friday, we are honored to have as our inspirational breakfast speaker Pastor Harold Delbridge, Red Owl. He brings the message in country language and is not only a minister, but a rodeo announcer, auctioneer and just all-around good ranch neighbor. If you haven’t heard Harold speak, don’t miss this.
“Jeri Lynn Bakken, Lemmon, is regional community organizer for the Western Organization of Resource Councils and will be bringing her message on trade to the Trade Committee Meeting at 8 a.m. Friday morning. Jeri Lynn speaks with a passion for her work.
“Our fourth committee with a panel is the Ag & Natural Resources Committee meeting at 9:15 Friday. Members of that panel are Bob Budd, Lander, Wyo., with Wyoming Wildlife & Natural Resources Trust; rancher Ray Gilbert, Buffalo; and Dan Rasmussen, Belvidere; all experts on grazing programs. This will be a very informative program for anyone who needs the optimum output from their land and still improving it.
“At 10:45 Friday Barry Dunn, dean of Ag and Biological Sciences at South Dakota State University will speak to the Education, Taxation, Legislation Committee. With Dunn having an extremely long list of accomplishments and degrees, mostly in agriculture, he is still known to many as a West River rancher. He is a very interesting speaker.”
Nachtigall said “this convention is an educational experience as well as a fun time — we have an ice cream social following Friday’s lunch — we have a silent auction with items at each sponsor booth — we will have an exciting live auction following Friday night’s banquet. If you play a musical instrument, bring it along. There may be a chance for an impromptu jam session on Thursday night.”
Fox stated that “besides having a great group of speakers for this year’s convention, we also are proud of a long list of sponsors — both banner sponsors and vendor booth sponsors. We will allow plenty of time to visit each and we urge you to do so. Please thank them and give them your business — they are who make this convention possible.”
For more information or a copy of the agenda please call the office at 605-342-0429; email the Stockgrowers at Stockgrowers@midconetwork.com or go to our website at www.southdakotastockgrowers.org.
Daily Livestock Report – Market Comments
The drought in the Southern Plains continues to push more cows to market, threaten the beef industry, and, more importantly, the livelihood of cattle ranchers and their families in the coming years. The negative impact seen in the weekly data for beef cow slaughter is staggering. Since July 1, beef cow slaughter in Region 6 (which includes Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Louisiana and Arkansas) has totaled 226,300 head, 72,200 head or 47% higher than the comparable period a year ago. During the same period, total U.S. beef cow slaughter was up 17%. The high slaughter rates in Region 6 accounted for almost 75% of the increase in U.S. beef cow slaughter.
A map is prepared by the Livestock Marketing Center every year and it outlines the change in beef cow inventories from one year to the next. As of Jan. 1, 2011, the beef cow inventory in Texas had declined by 115,000 head; in Oklahoma it was down 37,000 head. The high beef cow slaughter rates we have seen this year all but assure that the beef cow inventories in these states will be even smaller on Jan. 1, 2012. So far this year, cow-calf producers in Region 6 have sent to market 140,000 more cows than they did a year ago. And that is only through the end of August. The fear among many in the industry is that drought conditions will continue to squeeze producers this fall. Of particular concern is what happens with wheat grazing. A recent article by Derrell Peel at OSU highlighted the issue, particularly with regard to stocker operations in Oklahoma that rely on wheat grazing for the next few months. The issue is critical for Texas producers, as well. Winter wheat acreage in these states declined sharply in 2009-2010 and it showed minimal growth for 2010-2011. Given current exceptional drought conditions, the fear is that farmers will not be able to get the wheat crop in the ground early enough to provide sufficient forage. High wheat prices also will limit wheat acres planted for forage only (graze out).
The latest USDA crop progress report showed that for the week ending Sept. 11, 1% of the wheat crop in Oklahoma had been planted, compared to the five-year average at 8%. In Texas, 2% of the wheat crop had been planted compared to the 9% average for this time of year. Poor pasture conditions and overall high grain prices are starting to show up in hay values. August prices for hay other than alfalfa were quoted at $127 per ton, 32% higher than a year ago. In some areas producers are paying significantly more. Sharply higher hay prices and limited wheat grazing opportunities could push cow-calf producers to liquidate ever more cows in the coming weeks. That will boost beef production in the short term but make for a smaller beef supply at least through 2014.
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