News Update
August 2, 2013
A New Label at the Meatcase
Twenty-six percent of all the beef sold in the United States is mechanically tenderized, which carries with it the risk of driving pathogens that might be on the surface, such as E. coli O157:H7, into the meat cut’s interior, where cooking may not reach high enough temperatures to kill them.
As a result of these food-safety concerns and pressure from consumer advocacy groups, in early June 2013 the USDA’s Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) published an interim rule proposing that mechanically tenderized beef be labeled as such.
Published to USDA’s Federal Register on June 10, 2013, the interim rule, which is officially titled “Descriptive Designation for Needle- or blade-tenderized (Mechanically Tenderized) Beef Products,” is subject to a comment period, which ends on Aug.10. After reviewing comments, USDA aims to implement a final version next year.
For more information, please read the article “A New Label at the Meatcase?” by Kindra Gordon in the September Angus Journal.
House Republicans’ Nutrition Agreement
Makes Bill More Difficult
National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson issued the following statement in response to the U.S. House of Representatives’ agreement on farm bill nutrition program cuts:
“Rather than try to reach a workable figure in reducing funding for important social safety-net programs, the House Republican leadership has taken a hardline political stance by proposing a $40 billion cut to the nutrition title of the farm bill.
“This is not progress. Instead of offering a strategy that would cut even deeper into efforts to help those in need, House leadership should appoint conferees to start the process of reaching a compromise with the Senate’s farm programs in August.
“The farm bill extension expires on Sept. 30, and any delay beyond that date will add unnecessary uncertainty to the livelihoods of America’s farmers, ranchers, rural communities and the more than 16 million people who are employed in agriculture.
Time is limited and few legislative days will be available in September. The House Majority should stop making the farm bill even more difficult and start the conference process by naming conferees immediately.”
Continued EU Market Access for American
Producers of High-quality Beef Announced
U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman and Ag. Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the European Union (EU) will continue to provide U.S. beef producers with significant access, at zero duty, to the EU market for high-quality beef produced from non-hormone-treated cattle. The United States and the European Union are planning to extend for two years Phase 2 of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in 2009 in connection with the United States’ long-running dispute with the European Union over its ban on beef from cattle treated with certain growth-promoting hormones.
In the year since Phase 2 began, U.S. beef shipments under the quota were an estimated $200 million, up 300% from the value of exports in the year before the MOU entered into force. Under the extension, the EU would maintain until Aug. 2, 2015, its duty-free tariff rate quota for high-quality beef, established pursuant to the MOU between the United States of America and the European Commission Regarding the Importation of Beef from Animals not Treated with Certain Growth Promoting Hormones, at the Phase 2 quantity of 45,000 metric tons per year.
“I am very pleased that American ranchers and meat processors will be allowed to ship substantial quantities of high-quality U.S. beef into a market worth millions of dollars to their bottom lines,” said Ambassador Froman. “Before the memorandum of understanding was signed, the EU’s beef market had been largely closed for far too long. The substantial market access that we have achieved since 2009 shows what we can accomplish with practical, problem-solving approaches to trade barriers.”
For more information, please view the full release here.
Kansas State Fair Angus Show Designated an ROV Show
In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Angus Show at the Kansas State Fair, the American Angus Association has designated the 2013 Open Angus Show a Roll of Victory (ROV) point show. Kansas Angus Association members, Angus breeders, show enthusiasts and juniors are encouraged to participate in the Kansas State Fair Open Angus Show Saturday, Sept. 14, in Hutchinson. Brad Gohr, Madras, Ore., will evaluate the show.
The Angus bull and female champions will be eligible to represent the Angus breed in the supreme drive competing for cash and prizes. If fitting and showing is not your thing but you would like to still participate, consider entering in the special pen cow-calf show. Pairs in the pen show are not shown on halter and are not traditionally fitted. The entry deadline is Aug. 15; late entries are accepted, but additional fees apply.
For entry forms, schedule and online entry, visit www.kansassatefair.com or call Debbie at 620-669-3614. For more information on ROV Angus shows visit www.angus.org.
Beef Producers Should Strive to
Maintain Proper Levels of Legumes in Forage Stands
Maintaining grass and legume pastures as well as hay fields are important management factors for feeding beef cattle. Many beef producers plant a mixture of grass and legumes during hay field establishment — but over time legumes can die out and become a lower percentage of the forage stand.
Legumes generally contain lower fiber content with slightly higher energy and protein values than grasses. Consequently, cattle must consume more grass forage to attain the same quantities of energy and protein as compared to legume forages. Unfortunately, cattle cannot consume grass forages at the same rate as legumes due to fiber content differences.
Another benefit of maintaining legumes in a mixed forage stand comes from their ability to fix nitrogen. Rhizobia bacteria nodulate the roots of legumes and convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia nitrogen for fertilization of the legume plant. Nitrogen becomes available to the grasses as root and aerial portions of the legume plants die and decompose into the soil. In pasture situations, animals consuming the legume plants will release nitrogen in urine and manure to feed the grass plants.
Legumes should make up 40%-60% of the forage stand. During hay production, the top portion of the plant is removed from the field along with the contained nitrogen. Hay fields should contain legume percentages closer to 60% to compensate for the lost nitrogen. Pasture systems allow for more recycling of nutrients as nitrogen is excreted back onto the fields in the form of manure and urine. Maintaining a legume stand near 40% is the desired target for pasture.
For more information, please view the full article here.
Red Brand Surpasses $1 Million in FFA
Support Through Funding Initiative
Red Brand’s Home Grown program has propelled the company into an elite position with the National FFA by surpassing $1 million in financial support for the student-based educational organization.
In 2010, Keystone Steel and Wire Co., maker of Red Brand fence, launched Home Grown, a program designed to benefit FFA through its Red Brand ag fencing sales division. The grass-roots funding initiative was created as a way for retailers and communities to connect with their local FFA chapters and generate funds based on fence orders. Red Brand donates $1 to a designated local chapter on behalf of the retail sponsor for each roll of fence ordered.
Each year more than 700 local chapters receive an average of $400 as a result of Home Grown. “More than 500 retailers participate annually, and the number continues to increase each year, illustrating just how valuable this program has become,” said Dain Rakestraw, marketing manager for Red Brand. “Not only does a dealer’s Home Grown participation help to raise funds for their local FFA chapter, they also help raise awareness and educate their local community about the important role that FFA plays in the lives of our future ag leaders.”
For more information about the Home Grown program, please view the program page here.
Sales of FFA-licensed Products Support Ag Education
The Ranchmate work gloves are designed to offer superior hand protection for farming, ranching, fencing, gardening and other tasks. The gloves are manufactured in the USA of full-grain cowhide, and are form-fitting and water-resistant. Under agreement with the National FFA Organization, four styles of the gloves will each feature the FFA-licensed motto or logo, and every sale of these gloves will support the FFA.
“As innovators in fencing and true advocates for American agriculture, we feel it is fitting that we can offer a quality product that supports future farmers and ranchers,” said Ryan Ruhlman, manager of new business development and marketing communications for Preformed Line Products (PLP). “We believe that farmers, ranchers, gardeners and do-it-yourselfers everywhere will love these gloves, and we are proud to pay it forward to the FFA. We believe that agricultural education ultimately benefits all of our communities.”
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