News Update
May 11, 2012
Baca Statement: Nutrition and Horticulture
Subcommittee Hearing
The U.S. House Agriculture Committee Subcommittee on Nutrition and Horticulture held a hearing to review nutrition and specialty crop programs in advance of the 2012 Farm Bill. Subcommittee Ranking Member Joe Baca, D-Calif., made the following statement.
"The $33 billion in cuts to federal nutrition programs approved by the Agriculture Committee last month sets an unfortunate precedent that disregards the health and well-being of millions of struggling Americans. As the committee begins to work in earnest on the 2012 Farm Bill, it is critical that we work to protect our nutrition safety net, promote consumption of healthy fruits and vegetables in schools across all 50 states, and ensure that no one in America goes hungry.
"Today's hearing served as an important reminder of the need for a strong SNAP program. As our witnesses made clear, SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) continues to be one of the most efficient and effective government programs, and is a critical lifeline for the health and nutrition of 46 million plus Americans.
"Moving forward, it is also essential the House Agriculture Committee protect the progress made in specialty crop programs in the 2008 Farm Bill. Today's hearing provided ample evidence that our current specialty crop support initiatives work well, and are vital to the continued strength of America's agriculture economy."
Peterson Statement: House Reconciliation Act
U.S. House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Collin C. Peterson, D-Minn., made the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 5652, the Sequester Replacement Reconciliation Act of 2012. The Act cuts $35.8 billion from nutrition programs under Agriculture Committee jurisdiction. Peterson voted against the bill.
"Everything must be on the table if we are going to have a serious conversation about getting our budget under control. Refusing to consider large budget items like defense and choosing instead to slash nutrition programs that feed millions of hard-working families is not the way to balance our budget. Since we know this isn't going anywhere, the only thing that will likely come out of this vote is an even more divided Congress.
"The farm bill expires this fall and while the Agriculture Committee has a strong history of bipartisanship, I worry that if we continue down this partisan path, it will be far more difficult to pass a farm bill this year."
New BQA Videos Available for Cattle Producers, Educators
The beef checkoff's Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program recently released two educational videos geared toward cattle producers and quality assurance educators.
The first of the two videos titled "BQA Cattle Handling Tips for Cow-Calf Producers," was created to demonstrate how to handle different types of cattle (bulls, cows, heifers, calves and pairs) on cow-calf, stocker and seedstock operations. Experts Ron Gill, Curt Pate, John Maas and others take producers though different production settings and the changing cycle of a cattle operation to understand how the handler and the cattle react to these differing situations.
The second of the video series titled "BQA Facilities Design," was created to help farmers, ranchers and cattle feeders of any size operation better understand how to properly design facilities to best suit their needs.
"The BQA program continually strives to help producers better their operations, whether it be with animal care, cattle handling or record keeping," says Andy Salinas, cow-calf producer from Marion, Mich., and vice chairman of the industry's producer education committee. "These instructional videos are just another way to teach producers about best management practices to ensure beef quality and keep consumers putting beef on their dinner tables."
Both videos can be viewed at www.bqa.org or on the National BQA YouTube channel.
For more about your checkoff investment, visit MyBeefCheckoff.com.
Beef Production Expected to Decline Next Year
According to the USDA's latest WASDE report, total U.S. meat production in 2013 is projected to be above 2012 as higher pork and poultry production more than offsets continued declines in beef production. Lower forecast feed costs and relatively strong, albeit declining hog, broiler and turkey prices are expected to provide incentives for continued pork and poultry expansion.
Beef production will decline in 2013 due to tighter supplies of fed cattle and lower cow slaughter.
Pork production is expected to increase at about the same rate as 2012 as producers increase farrowings modestly, but the number of pigs per litter continues to grow. Broiler and turkey production for 2013 are also forecast higher as producers benefit from lower feed costs; however, increasing production will weigh on broiler and turkey prices, moderating the rate of expansion.
The total meat production forecast for 2012 is raised from last month as production of beef, pork, broiler and turkey is forecast higher. Beef production is raised on heavier carcass weights and larger expected cow slaughter.
Pork production is raised fractionally on slightly heavier carcass weights. Broiler and turkey production forecasts for 2012 are raised on first-quarter production data; production forecasts for subsequent quarters are unchanged.
Tight U.S. beef supplies and high cattle prices are expected to constrain beef exports in 2013. Pork exports are expected to gain in 2013 as supplies increase and hog prices decline. Broiler exports are forecast lower in the face of improving domestic demand. Beef imports are expected to be higher in 2012 as U.S. cow slaughter declines in response to reduced cow inventories and increased retention. Pork imports are forecast unchanged from 2012.
The beef export forecast for 2012 is reduced from last month on expected weaker first-quarter exports. Forecasts for subsequent quarters are unchanged. The pork export forecast is raised marginally as stronger expected first-quarter exports more than offset a slightly weaker forecast for the second half of the year. Broiler exports are raised on higher expected first-quarter shipments.
For 2013, cattle prices are forecast above 2012 due to tight supplies of fed cattle. Hog, broiler and turkey prices are forecast to decline from 2012 as production increases for all three meats. Egg prices are forecast higher on lower production. The cattle price forecast for 2012 is reduced from last month based on recent declines in cattle prices. The hog price forecast is reduced on weaker pork demand. Broiler prices are reduced, but turkey and egg prices are forecast higher.
Characteristics of Small-scale U.S. Livestock Operations
In 2011, the USDA National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) conducted the Small-scale U.S. Livestock Operations study. The study focused on livestock operations with annual sales from $10,000 to $499,999 in which the predominant agricultural enterprise was a livestock/animal species such as cattle, poultry, goats, sheep, swine, horses, aquaculture or other farm animals raised for sale or home use. There are approximately 350,000 farms in the United States that fit this definition. Data for the study were collected April 17 to May 18, 2011, from 8,123 of these farms distributed across all 50 States.
Operation characteristics: Nearly nine of 10 operations had beef cattle and almost half had more than one type of livestock. About one-half of small-scale operations were residential/lifestyle farms in which the operator's primary occupation was off-farm. About one fourth were farming occupation farms; and about one-fourth were retirement farms.
The primary operator was at least 65 years old on 37% of small-scale livestock operations and at least 65 years old on 30% percent of all U.S. farm operations. A total of 9% of small-scale livestock operations had a female primary operator compared with 14% percent of all U.S. farm operations. A total of 4% percent of primary operators on small-scale livestock operations were of Spanish, Hispanic or Latino origin compared with 2.5% of operators on all U.S. farm operations.
Marketing: An auction/sale barn was the most common channel used to market animals or products (88%). About one of four operations marketed animals or products directly to individuals or consumers. Access to slaughter facilities can be a challenge for small-scale operations that want to directly market meat and poultry products to consumers, since some regions of the United States do not have enough slaughter facilities to meet these needs.
The full report on characteristics of small-scale livestock operations can be viewed at: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/nahms/smallscale/downloads/
Small_scale_is_GenChar.pdf.
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