News Update
April 30, 2013
Cattlemen’s Boot Camp
Set for Clemson University
Cattle producers should mark their calendars for an educational opportunity slated for June 3-4 at the Poole Ag Center in Clemson, S.C. The Cattlemen’s Boot Camp is a 1½ day event hosted by Clemson University, the American
Angus Association, and the Angus Foundation and is open to all seedstock and commercial cattle producers.
Grazing management, herd health, marketing, reproductive performance and bull buying strategies are a few of the topics that will be discussed by industry experts from Clemson University, the American Angus Association, Certified Angus Beef LLC (CAB), University of Nebraska–Lincoln and the University of Georgia.
The $75 registration covers all meals and educational materials. Enrollment is limited, so register by May 20 to ensure a place in the Boot Camp. A hotel block is established for the Boot Camp attendees at the James F. Martin Inn. Call the hotel at 888-654-9020 and use Group Folio #10905 to receive the University rate.
For more information or to register, contact the American Angus Association at 816-383-5100 or go to www.angus.org. Cattlemen’s Boot Camps are just one of several educational events planned by the American Angus Association and funded by the Angus Foundation, which supports education, youth and research.
Cow Slaughter Rates Affecting Cattle Numbers
Both beef production and slaughter have been larger in recent weeks, helping to make the decrease in the year-to-date total less than many analysts expected.
Total beef production for the year to date has decreased 1.3% and total slaughter is down 2.1% compared to the same period last year.
“A significant part of the total slaughter number is the result of increased cow slaughter,” said Derrell Peel, Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension livestock marketing specialist. “Year-to-date slaughter of steers, heifers and bulls are all down from last year. Only cow slaughter is up, at 1.2% so far this year.”
Peel believes the numbers are the result of several factors, most notably unexpected beef herd liquidation and structural change in the North American dairy industry.
For example, the closure of a major cow slaughter plant in Quebec, Canada, last year has had an effect on U.S. cow slaughter, as well as the trade flow of cattle and beef between the United States and Canada.
“A significant part of the 4.4% increase in dairy cow slaughter this year is likely due to increased imports of Canadian dairy cows,” Peel said. “Previously, these cows were slaughtered in Canada and much of the processing beef shipped to the United States.”
Though the data are incomplete, there are indications that the flow of processing beef — such as trimming for ground beef — has reversed with Canada, which is now deficit in processing beef. “The incomplete nature of trade and domestic slaughter data make it difficult to assess what is happening to the U.S. dairy cow herd,” Peel said. “However, it is clear that this structural change must be considered, otherwise it would be easy to draw incorrect conclusions about changes in the U.S. dairy cow herd.”
After five weeks of year-over-year increases, beef cow slaughter in the United States decreased only 2.1% for the year to date. Unexpected beef herd liquidation is implied by the fact that beef cow slaughter has increased nearly 14% year over year for the last five weeks.
For more information and the full release, click here.
NCBA Awards State Partners for Outstanding Recruiting Efforts
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) awarded three state cattlemen’s associations for their outstanding recruitment efforts during the Spring Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C., last week. In all, 14 states met the criteria to qualify for the award drawing for the choice of a one-year lease for either a New Holland BR7090 round baler or a New Holland T6 175 tractor.
NCBA recognizes the importance of a strong partnership with its state affiliate organizations, and, in an effort to recognize the efforts of state partners, has joined forces with New Holland Ag to reward recruiters for their outstanding efforts on behalf of the national organization. Vice President of New Holland North America Abe Hughes emphasized the importance of working together on behalf of the beef industry and the company’s commitment to helping strengthen all of agriculture.
“New Holland is proud to support the membership successes of NCBA state affiliates with the equipment lease program. We are committed to help NCBA grow in 2013 and accomplish their goals to protect and strengthen the cattle industry,” said Hughes.
The 14 state affiliates that reached NCBA’s recruitment goals and qualified for the drawing for a one-year lease for a New Holland tractor or baler were: Arizona Cattle Feeders, Arkansas Cattlemen’s, California Cattlemen’s, Colorado Livestock, Hawaii Cattlemen’s, Kansas Livestock, Nebraska Cattlemen, North Carolina Cattlemen, Ohio Cattlemen’s, Oklahoma Cattlemen’s, Texas Cattle Feeders, Utah Cattlemen’s, Washington Cattle Feeders and Wisconsin Cattlemen’s.
For more information and the full release, click here.
New Senate Bill Could Solve Internet Sales Tax
Issues, MU Expert Says
This week, the United States Senate overrode a filibuster and elected to debate the Marketplace Fairness Act, which, if passed, would provide states with a mechanism to tax online transactions that they cannot tax under current federal law. Currently, a U.S. Supreme Court ruling only allows states to levy sales and use taxes on businesses with physical presences in the state. For example, Amazon.com does not charge sales tax in Missouri because it is physically located in California. However, Wal-Mart charges sales tax, since it has stores in Missouri. Andrew Wesemann, a doctoral student in the University of Missouri Truman School of Public Affairs, says that if the bill that is currently being considered in the Senate is passed, states will have a means for collecting tax revenue from entities that have, to date, been able to avoid the tax.
Wesemann, along with researchers from the MU Institute of Public Policy, submitted a report in 2012 to Missouri state legislators that recommended many of the ideas included in the Marketplace Fairness Act. The act is co-sponsored in the U.S. Senate by Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.). The MU report found that Missouri lost approximately $259 million annually in sales tax revenue due to the lack of an Internet sales tax. Wesemann says the Marketplace Fairness Act could help solve issues that currently surround the levying of Internet sales taxes, if those states agreed to meet certain requirements.
“Before states could begin taxing out-of-state retailers and sellers, states would have to agree on a simplified system to ensure that the taxes are allocated efficiently across state borders,” Wesemann said.
The Marketplace Fairness Act would require states that decide to levy Internet sales taxes to either join the existing Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement or create their own system that meets certain guidelines. For more information and the full release, click here.
Who Will Provide the Solutions We Need?
Vance Publishing’s 40 Under 40 Awards will recognize the young leaders in the agriculture industry who will be instrumental in meeting the 2050 challenge. Nominees should be the most innovative people in agriculture under the age of 40 — from animal and crop production, biotechnology and University researchers to food and nutrition technology, agricultural equipment, agronomy and beyond.
To be eligible for the 40 Under 40 Awards, individuals must be nominated by a colleague or fellow professional active within America’s food system. Nominees must be 40 years old or younger by July 30, 2013. Deadline for nomination is July 30, 2013.
Nominees must be involved (owner, co-owner, employee, consultant, student) with a business involved in food production, food processing, food safety, food research, food transportation or a group, organization, association or university that serves those industries.
Examples of qualifying businesses:
- Produce production or production supply, transportation (fresh cut or processing)
- Food animal production — Farm, ranch, feedlot, dairy, pork production unit, crop farm, veterinarians, nutritionists, consultants
- Processors — packers, meat or milk processors, retailers, fruit and vegetable processors
- Food safety, quality and production research
- Food (fruit and vegetable, food animal) transportation
- Associations and non-governmental organizations
- Academia and extension
- Government and allied industry organizations
For questions, media inquiries and sponsorship opportunities contact Shonda Atwater at 913-438-8700 or 40under40@vancepublishing.com.
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