News Update
February 27, 2012
USDA Touts Beef-Marketing Efforts
The USDA has been taking extra steps to meet the needs and ensure the success of some of its most important customers — U.S. exporters.
"Overall, U.S. farmers and ranchers are experiencing their best period in history in terms of agricultural exports, and USDA's support is an important part of that success," said Rebecca Blue, acting deputy undersecretary for marketing and regulatory programs. "To ensure continued success, APHIS (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service) took a hard look at where it can improve processes to serve its many stakeholders, and facilitating exports was an obvious choice."
Responding to a surge in demand in 2011 from Russia, Turkey and Kazakhstan for live cattle exports from the United States, USDA's APHIS approved seven temporary export inspection facilities, or EIFs, to supplement the work done at the Agency's approved permanent facilities. These facilities reduce the distance animals have to travel prior to export and help exporters meet strict shipping deadlines.
With the establishment of EIFs, APHIS has been able to keep commerce moving, adapting to a level of cattle exports that doubled in 2011 on top of a 50% increase in 2010. Last year, APHIS processed 25 shipments — totaling about 17,000 head of livestock, mostly dairy cattle — through a temporary EIF in Turner, Maine. In December alone, APHIS' new approach helped facilitate shipments of more than 7,100 cattle from Galveston, Texas, to Kazakhstan and Russia. The Agency is continuing to work with exporters on upcoming shipments of cattle.
Animals that are approved through temporary facilities are inspected by APHIS personnel and must meet the same animal health and welfare standards as animals exported through permanent facilities.
Kansas Legislative Deadlines
The state Legislature's first "house-of-origin" deadline occurred last week. This cutoff date is when bills must pass the House or Senate if they are to be considered further this session. Several bills of interest to the livestock industry are still alive.
Immigration and labor — Bills relating to immigration and labor likely will be debated in the House in the next few weeks. Kansas Livestock Association (KLA) continues to coordinate with a business coalition to support HB 2712 and SB 399, which would allow the state to support work authorization for undocumented persons who have resided in Kansas for at least five years. Other bills that would require employers to use a federal E-verify system or call for local law enforcement to check residential status when there is a reasonable suspicion that an individual is undocumented are opposed by KLA and the business coalition.
Wind erosion — The Senate approved SB 357 last week, which would rewrite a 1930s-era statute that gives county commissioners nearly limitless authority to curb wind erosion. The Senate Agriculture Committee adopted a KLA-supported amendment to add private property right protections and ensure any actions taken by county commissioners would be guided by sound science. The bill now advances to the House for consideration.
Income tax reform — The House Tax Committee passed its version of income tax reform last week. SB 177 would reduce the rates on the three existing tax brackets and use future annual state general fund (SGF) growth above 2% to further reduce income taxes. The plan would allow 0.6¢ of the 2010 1¢ sales tax increase to expire in 2013, but diverts 0.4¢ of the increase from the State Highway Fund into the SGF. SB 177 also would eliminate all tax credit refunds, limiting the amount of credits that can be claimed to the taxpayer's actual tax liability. The House is expected to vote on SB 177 in the near future.
Animal Health — KLA testified in support of a bill last week that would strengthen the Farm Animal and Research Facilities Protection Act. SB 414 clarifies animal activists concealing their identity or lying on a job application cannot avail themselves to the defense that they were given permission to work on or enter the facility. The bill also clarifies controlled shooting preserves in Kansas may not provide sport hunting of feral swine. SB 414 will be debated further by the Senate Agriculture Committee.
For more information visit www.kla.org.
Midwest Dairy and Beef Husbandry
Conference Scheduled for March
The care and well-being of dairy and beef cattle is the focus of the upcoming Midwest Dairy and Beef Husbandry Conference scheduled for March 1 at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wis. Dairy and beef producers, their employees, veterinarians, and anyone working with cattle are encouraged to attend this conference offered by the University of Wisconsin (UW) Extension.
The conference includes live dairy and beef cattle handling demonstrations by Ben Bartlett, who will share the why and how of low-stress cattle handling. Bartlett is a veterinarian and cattle producer who has worked with cattle for more than 50 years. He will demonstrate and discuss his philosophy on handling cattle, which includes: less is more, slower is faster, and it is possible to out-think a cow.
The conference includes presentations by nationally known experts on cattle comfort and pain management. Featured speakers include:
- Nigel Cook, clinical associate professor in the UW–Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, who will discuss strategies to reduce lameness and increase cow comfort. Cook will also present an overview of the Dairy Initiative introduced at the UW–Madison School Of Veterinary Medicine.
- Hans Coetzee, Iowa State University associate professor, will discuss pain management in cattle along with management practices that can be used to reduce pain in cattle. Coetzee will also lead a breakout session on castration pain management.
Other breakout sessions include:
- Dehorning and Pain Management presented by Sandy Stuttgen, UW Extension agriculture agent, and Edie Brandt, De Pere Vet Service
- Caring for Compromised Cattle by Amy Radunz, UW Extension beef specialist
- Dairy Beef Residues by Dave Rhoda, Wisconsin Veterinary Medical Association
The conference concludes with a producer panel moderated by Jim Massey, editor of Country Today, focusing on "Telling Agriculture's Story." Three producers will share their insight into understanding the public's perception of agriculture and what they are doing on their operations to help boost consumer confidence in animal agriculture products.
Cost to attend this conference is $50 per person and includes a noon meal. The registration deadline was Feb. 20. An additional $5 late fee will be charged for registrations received after this date. A registration discount is available for groups of 20 or more. Six veterinary CEU credits will also be available for an additional fee of $25.
Participants can register for the conference directly online or print out a brochure and registration form at the Midwest Dairy and Beef Cattle Husbandry Conference website at http://fyi.uwex.edu/animalhusbandryconference/.
Program supporters for this conference include the UW Extension Dairy and Beef Teams, Wisconsin Farm Bureau, Equity Livestock and Priefert Ranch Equipment. More information about the program can be found at http://fyi.uwex.edu/animalhusbandryconference/ or by contacting Mark Mayer, UW Extension Green County dairy and livestock agent at mark.mayer@ces.uwex.edu or 608-328-9440.
Workshop Looks at Global Influences on Agriculture in Iowa
The world of agriculture is influenced by many changing factors — climate, world economy and food, feed and fuel discussions, to name a few. Iowa farmers, with Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach providing relevant university research, have met past challenges. At the workshop Mega Trends in Agriculture March 28 in Rockwell City, ISU Extension and Outreach specialists will update farmers with current research so they can position themselves for the next decade.
"At this workshop we'll share current information from university researchers to look at what is happening now and what is expected to happen," said Kris Kohl, ISU Extension and Outreach ag engineer. "We'll explore the big picture of what is happening in agriculture, look at how the Corn Belt is going to grow and what actions farmers should consider now to be in a position to capitalize on the changes."
The program is planned for March 28 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Calhoun County Extension Office in Rockwell City. Program speakers include Chad Hart, ISU Extension and Outreach economist and grain marketing specialist; Tom Olsen, ISU Extension and Outreach farm management specialist; and Kohl.
The Mega Trends in Agriculture program will examine the following topics:
- The world economy and how Iowa fits in
- Ethanol, oil and corn — the fight between feed, food and fuel
- The changing environment CO2 — friend or foe? Will Iowa be a winner or loser, and what can Iowa farmers do to be the winners?
The cost for the program is $30 per person or $40 per couple, which includes lunch. To register, call the Calhoun County Extension office at 712-297-8611. For more information, contact Kohl at 712-732-5056.
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