News Update
July 25, 2012
NCBA Hails House Passage of Youth Labor Legislation
The Department of Labor (DOL), April 26, 2012, withdrew its proposed rule regarding youth in agriculture. The National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA), along with an overwhelming majority of congressional leaders, doesn't believe pulling back the proposed rule does enough to provide certainty to America's farm and ranch families. Consequently, Congressman Tom Latham (R-Iowa) introduced the Preserving America's Family Farm Act (H.R. 4157), which passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a voice vote.
H.R. 4157 prohibits the Secretary of Labor from finalizing or enforcing its previously proposed rule, which would have prevented youth from engaging in day-to-day farm and ranch activities.
NCBA President J.D. Alexander commended passage of the legislation. He said the administration's proposed rule could have restricted, and in some instances totally prevented, America's youth from working on family farms and ranches.
"This is a victory for farm and ranch families throughout the country. This ridiculous rule would have prevented the next generation of farmers and ranchers from acquiring skills and passion for this very noble profession. It also would have restricted urban kids from working on farms and acquiring a solid work ethic and enthusiasm for this very diverse industry," said Alexander. "We absolutely have to have a sensible regulatory environment in Washington, D.C. We should not have to worry about negligent rules being promulgated by out-of-touch regulatory agencies. It is unfortunate that we need legislation to prevent these nonsensical regulations, but with this administration's track record, it is necessary to trust but verify."
For more information and the full release, click here.
Producers in 1,369 Counties, 31 States Are Eligible
for Disaster Assistance
Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack July 25 designated 76 additional counties in six states as primary natural disaster areas due to damage and losses caused by drought and excessive heat. During the 2012 crop year, the USDA has designated 1,369 counties across 31 states as disaster areas — 1,234 due to drought — making all qualified farm operators in the areas eligible for low-interest emergency loans. The additional counties designated today are in the states of Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Nebraska and Wisconsin. The U.S. Drought Monitor currently reports that two-thirds of the continental United States is in a moderate to exceptional drought.
During the week ending July 22, the portion of the U.S. corn crop rated in very poor to poor condition climbed to 45%, according to USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Soybeans rated very poor to poor rose to 35%. Such ratings for both commodities have increased for seven consecutive weeks. During the same period, from June 3 to July 22, the portion of the U.S. corn rated good to excellent fell from 72% to 26%. Soybeans rated good to excellent tumbled from 65% to 31%. The current corn and soybean ratings represent the lowest conditions at any time of year since 1988. At the same time, more than half — or 55% — of the nation's pastures and rangeland are rated in very poor or poor condition.
2012 MU Beef Tour Set for Aug. 25
The 2012 Beef Tour will be Saturday, Aug. 25, in the Mount Vernon, Mo., area. The tour will begin at 12:30 p.m. at Darrel Franson's Shiloh Land & Cattle Co., 9235 Lawrence 1180, Mount Vernon.
The tour is conducted in the manner of a "progressive supper," with groups beginning at the first stop, listening to presentations from the owner and other related guest speakers, then progressing to the other locations. The tour will conclude with a complimentary beef dinner at the last stop, the University of Missouri (MU) Southwest Research Center.
The 2012 Beef Tour is the 16th annual tour sponsored by the MU Extension Commercial Agriculture Program (CA), under the direction of Rex Ricketts.
Owner-operators featured on the 2012 tour include Darrel Franson of Shiloh Land & Cattle Co.; Jackie Moore of Jackie Moore Ranch; Scynthia and Dustin Schnake of Schnake Ranch; and Clif and Alice Harrington of Avery Harrington, a partnership.
Darrel Franson will demonstrate his rolling pasture grazing procedure and talk about the philosophy behind his grazing operation.
"I'm a grass farmer," Franson says. "The calf is the means by which I get my grass to market."
Attendees will learn about Moore's young calf operation and his controlled experiments with various supplemental feeds.
The Schnakes and the Harringtons will offer attendees a look at an operation dependent upon a leasing agreement. They will share their experience in devising a lease that was beneficial to both parties and offer advice on what they consider the "keys to success" in a lease agreement.
Researchers at the Southwest Research Center and guest speakers will update visitors on their progress with various forages such as novel endophyte-infected fescues, and demonstrate their RFI program. Other anticipated guest speakers at the cattle operations or Southwest Center will address the importance of vaccinations and nutrition, and examine the cause (heredity or environment) of slick and hairy coats.
For more information, contact Eldon Cole at colee@missouri.edu, 417-466-3102; Andy McCorkill at mccorkilla@missouri.educ, 417-345-7551; or Justin Sexten at sextenj@missouri.edu, 573-882-8154.
The Ag Minute: Futures Markets Must Function with Confidence
to Allow Farmers to Effectively Manage Risk
This week during the Ag Minute, Chairman Frank Lucas discussed the efforts of the House Agriculture Committee to examine the circumstances surrounding the collapse of Peregrine Financial Group Inc. and the estimated $220 million shortfall in client funds. The company filed for bankruptcy shortly after regulators froze their operations through emergency enforcement actions. Tomorrow, the House Agriculture Committee will hold the first hearing on the matter. Chairman Lucas stresses that his priority is ensuring that customers have their money returned and confidence in the futures markets is restored.
For more information and to listen to the Ag Minute, click here.
Smithfield Foods to Import Corn From Brazil
As drought pushes U.S. corn prices into record territory, Smithfield Foods will import corn from Brazil, a company spokeswoman confirmed to Meatingplace.com.
There have been no volume figures shared by the Virginia-based company or when exactly the first shipment will arrive.
Analysts say while it is unusual for U.S.-based livestock producers to import South American feed supplies, it could right now be less expensive to do so than buy corn grown in the Midwestern states.
The Smithfield decision comes amidst the worst drought in decades in the U.S. Corn Belt, which has pushed corn futures prices above $8 per bushel for September delivery.
Unlike small hog producers who might also grow their own corn, large producers like Smithfield must purchase massive amounts of corn and soybean meal to feed their hogs.
Paulo Molinari, consultant at Brazil-based Safras e Mercado, said corn at Brazilian port cities is currently at about $290 per metric ton, compared with $345 at the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. Shipping corn to the U.S. from Brazil adds around $30 to $40 per ton.
"There's never been this big of a difference in price," Molinari affirmed. "Brazilian corn is almost always at the same level as in the Gulf of Mexico, if not higher."
McDonald's Focuses on Calorie Reduction with New Menu
This week McDonald's USA is introducing "Favorites Under 400 Calories" — a new menu platform featuring existing popular food and beverage choices at counters and drive-thrus nationwide. Select items from the new menu are also spotlighted in McDonald's "Win When USA Wins Gold" promotion, which brings customers the fun of the London 2012 Olympic Games through a unique online experience.
" 'Favorites Under 400 Calories' is one more way we're making nutrition information accessible. Like our mobile app, this platform aims to empower our customers and employees to make choices that are right for their nutrition needs," said Neil Golden, chief marketing officer, McDonald's USA, in a news release. "We've found that customers are surprised to learn about the calorie content of some of their favorite menu options at McDonald's. In fact, customers may be surprised to know that about 80% of national menu choices are under 400 calories for the standard recipe."
For more information and the full release, click here.
U of M to Survey Deer Hunters on Bovine TB Management
An upcoming survey of Minnesota deer hunters aims to help state natural resource leaders make more informed decisions about wildlife disease response and deer management.
The University of Minnesota, in collaboration with Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) researchers, will soon send a survey to 2,000 randomly selected deer hunters who hunted in and around the state's bovine tuberculosis (TB) management area of northwest Minnesota. The survey will assess the state's response to managing the bovine TB outbreak in wild deer. It also will address related risk factors, deer population goals and future deer management alternatives.
"Survey results will help us better understand how our clientele perceived our actions and identify potential process improvements for the future," said Lou Cornicelli, DNR wildlife research manager. "Now is a good time to conduct the survey as Minnesota has regained its bovine TB-free status for cattle, and our agency is in what we hope to be the last year of wild deer disease surveillance."
Bovine TB was discovered in cattle and free-ranging deer in 2005. The DNR and other agencies took aggressive actions to eliminate the disease. These actions, which included aggressive strategies to reduce deer densities in critical areas, helped Minnesota regain its Bovine TB-free status six years after the discovery of an infected beef herd.
For the full release, click here.
2012 Kentucky Equine Survey Enters Final Fundraising Push
As the 2012 Kentucky Equine Survey enters the final stages of data collection, a second and vitally important piece of the project intensifies. The deadline is a little more than a month away for the project to secure funds from the state's equine industry in order to receive matching funding from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund.
The University of Kentucky's (UK) Ag Equine Programs and the Kentucky Horse Council have partnered on the 2012 Kentucky Equine Survey, a statewide comprehensive survey of all breeds of horses. The study is being conducted in conjunction with the University of Louisville's Equine Business Program and the Kentucky field office of the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). The last comprehensive study of this type was conducted in 1977.
"We just crossed over the halfway point of raising $100,000 from Kentucky's equine industry, and wholeheartedly thank our industry partners who have led these efforts," said Jill Stowe, associate professor in agricultural economics at UK and project lead. "Our Sept. 1 deadline for raising the remaining funds is coming quickly, and we are looking for other industry partners to step up and help this important project reach its full potential."
For more information and the full release, click here.
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