News Update
September 16, 2013
The Future of COOL
The requirement of more specific country-of-origin labels, a ruling upheld recently in U.S. district court, could mean that more information will be available for meat consumers to make purchasing decisions, but also could lead to economic loss for the U.S. meat industry and its trading partners.
On Sept. 11, a U.S. district judge refused to stop the government from requiring more specific labels on beef, pork, poultry and lamb products sold in stores. The ruling was a win for advocates of mandatory country-of-origin labeling (COOL) policy and a loss to U.S. meat packers and others wanting to abolish the policy, who view COOL as a low-benefit, high-cost scenario.
COOL, a controversial U.S. food and agricultural labeling policy, has been in limbo since its mandatory implementation in 2009. The policy requires that most fresh foods, including meat, indicate the country or countries where the product was born, grown, raised and slaughtered on the product’s label.
Not long after the mandatory implementation, Canada and Mexico approached the World Trade Organization (WTO) to challenge COOL, as the countries believed the law hindered trade with the United States and violated the North American Free Trade Agreement. The WTO sided with Canada and Mexico, which led to the United States revising its COOL policy last May.
For more information, please view the full release here.
AFBF Objects to Inflammatory Attacks in Privacy Suit
The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) responded Sept. 13 to the inflammatory tactics of three environmental activist organizations who have asked to intervene in AFBF’s recent privacy lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). AFBF’s suit in federal court in Minnesota seeks to protect farmers’ and ranchers’ personal information from disclosure by EPA under the Freedom of Information Act.
While AFBF did not oppose the groups’ request to intervene in the case, it filed a response objecting to the false accusations about poultry and livestock farmers. AFBF also objected to the groups’ efforts to detract the court’s attention from the important privacy questions presented in the case.
“Instead of addressing important issues of whether farmers and ranchers are entitled to the same privacy protections for their homes that other citizens enjoy, these groups are trying to make this case into a referendum on whether livestock and poultry farmers are adequately regulated under the Clean Water Act,” said AFBF President Bob Stallman. “Their brief is filled with exaggeration and fabrication about how livestock and poultry farmers operate their farms and how they are regulated. Those statements have nothing to do with this case and are purely an effort to vilify family farmers in the court and in the press.”
For more information, please view the full release here.
Protect Newborn Calves From Flies During Fall Calving
Heat and high humidity levels that returned to the Midwest brought nuisance flies to beef cattle. Producers who have begun fall calving season should give special attention to newborn calves. Biting flies are the most dangerous to newborn calves. Particularly, stable flies and horn flies are of greatest concern due to their ability to overwhelm newborns.
If conditions are favorable for high fly populations, newborns are at great risk. Fly predation on newborn calves can render them nearly incapacitated and result in death. Flies can be attracted by the embryonic fluid and then attack newborns. Flies will concentrate at the part in the hair along the topline and continue until the hide is destroyed and flesh is exposed. Flies will also attack the navel area and continue feeding until this area is also irritated and flesh exposed.
The best combat against these serious fly strikes is an aggressive, good mothering cow. According to Michigan State University Extension, cows that aggressively and completely lick calves clean and dry from embryonic fluid will have fewer calves overtaken by fly strikes. Producers should be aware of the potentially devastating feasting that flies can impose and have several products on hand. Fly spray should be applied to newborn calves if flies are present on the animal at high and nuisance levels. Screw worm sprays can be used on open wounds to protect from maggot development. Wound salves or creams are useful if infestation has been so great as to expose flesh.
For more information, please view the full release here.
Randall County Ag Show and Crops Tour Set
for Sept. 24 in Canyon
The 37th annual Randall County Ag Show and Crops Tour is scheduled for Sept. 24 in Canyon, according to J.D. Ragland, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service agriculture and natural resource agent in Randall County.
Registration, coffee and doughnuts will begin at 8:30 a.m., sponsored by Panhandle-Plains Land Bank of Amarillo. The morning portion will be in the Dillehay Education Room of the Kuhlman Extension Center, AgriLife Extension’s office for Randall County.
The program is free with the sponsorship of Happy State Bank. The morning program, starting at 9 a.m. includes: Farm Bill: What We Know and What We Don’t Know by Steve Amosson, AgriLife Extension economist, Amarillo; AgriLife Farm Assist Program and Estate Planning Update by DeDe Jones, AgriLife Extension risk management specialist, Amarillo; Farm Insurance Program and Requirements by Rachel Myers, Great Plains Ag Credit, Claude; Water Laws/Regulations and Its Impact on Ag Producers by Lynn Tate, High Plains Underground Water District Board, Amarillo; Managing Native Pastures after Recent Rains by Ted McCollum, AgriLife Extension beef cattle specialist, Amarillo and Weed Control in Native Pastures by Jody Stockett, Dow representative.
The noon luncheon will include an awards program and the presentation Water Issues and Update from Water District, by Tate. The afternoon tour, on buses sponsored by the Palo Duro Soil and Water Conservation District of Canyon, will depart from the AgriLife Extension office and include three stops.
Three Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units — 0.5 in drift minimization and 2.5 general — will be available to private applicators attending the event.
For more information, please view the Angus Journal’s Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events here.
New $1,000 Truck Incentive Available for FB Members
Effective immediately and continuing through April 1, Chevrolet and GMC are offering exclusively to Farm Bureau members in participating states an additional $1,000 incentive on the acquisition of any new 2013 or 2014 regular cab, heavy duty (2500/3500 series) truck. This is in addition to the standard $500 Farm Bureau incentive, which brings the total Farm Bureau incentive on Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra HD models to $1,500.
The $1,500 Farm Bureau discount can be added to Chevrolet and GMC retail and Business Choice incentives that are available at time of purchase.
“The end of one year and the beginning of the next is when farmers, ranchers and other business owners are managing their taxes,” said American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman. “The timing of new equipment purchases — including trucks — can be an important tool in an effective tax-management strategy,” he added.
Farm Bureau members are eligible for the added discount if they have been members for at least 60 consecutive days in a state that participates in the FB Member Advantage! program with General Motors. Farm Bureau members in all but nine states are eligible when the 60-day membership requirement is met.
To take advantage of the applicable Farm Bureau discount on these or any other new Chevrolet (except Volt), Buick or GMC vehicles, members log onto fbverify.com/gm and enter their membership number and ZIP code. If eligible, the information will be verified and a certificate will appear that must be printed and taken to the dealership of choice for presentation to the sales person.
For more information, please view the full release here.
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