News Update

June 16, 2017

Make Treatment Plans a Priority

It is “calf-working time” in Oklahoma, which should serve as a valuable reminder for producers to get with their veterinarians to review, revise or — if one does not exist — develop a treatment protocol plan for their specific cattle operations.

Some may consider a treatment protocol plan as being something feedyards and larger stocker operations do; however, it is a valuable management practice for large and small cow-calf producers and a key part of the Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program, remind animal agriculture professionals with the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service.

BQA is a nationally coordinated, state-implemented program that provides systematic information to U.S. beef producers and beef consumers about how commonsense husbandry techniques can be coupled with accepted scientific knowledge to raise cattle under optimum management and environmental conditions.

“A treatment protocol plan is easy to do, straightforward, and takes guesswork and faulty memories out of the equation,” said Dana Zook, Oklahoma State University (OSU) Cooperative Extension area livestock specialist.

Continue reading this Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA article online.

— Adapted from an article by Donald Stotts, Oklahoma State University.

USMEF Statement on U.S. Beef Access to China

On June 12, U.S. beef was added to the list of products eligible for export to China. Details are posted in the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service Export Library and in the Export Verification Program administered by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service.

U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) President and CEO Philip Seng issued the following statement:

“USMEF is pleased to see these important steps completed that will soon allow U.S. beef shipments to China to resume, ending a suspension that has lasted more than 13 years. We thank our U.S. government officials for their tireless efforts on this issue, and now look forward to exporting U.S. beef to this very important market.

“It is important to note that the market-opening agreement includes requirements that will involve a period of adjustment for the U.S. industry. Meeting these requirements will add costs and this will mean that U.S. beef is priced at a premium compared to other suppliers in the market. With that said, China holds exciting potential for the U.S. beef industry and for buyers in the market who have waited a very long time for the return of high-quality U.S. beef.”

For more information, read the full USMEF news release online.

— Adapted from a release by the U.S. Meat Export Federation.

R-CALF USA to USTR: Make Seven Improvements to NAFTA

In comprehensive comments submitted June 12 to the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund United Stockgrowers of America (R-CALF USA) states the 24-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) benefited transnational meatpackers at the expense of the majority of U.S. cattlemen, meaning all those who sell exclusively U.S.-born and -raised cattle.

The group explained that NAFTA gave transnational packers access to cheaper-priced cattle and beef from Canada and Mexico that are direct substitutes for U.S. cattle and beef. Plus, because packers do not have to disclose the origins of imported beef to consumers, bringing additional supplies of cheaper cattle and beef into the domestic market lowers the price for domestic cattle.

It acknowledged that a minority group of cattlemen, those whose business models include buying cheaper imported cattle and later selling them to packers at prices comparable to domestic cattle, have also benefited from NAFTA. The group explains the reason imported cattle can later be sold at domestic prices is because the origin of the resulting meat is not disclosed to U.S. consumers.

View the R-CALF news release online.

— Adapted from a release by R-CALF USA.

NACD Submits Comments On USDA Reorganization Plan

The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) submitted detailed feedback June 13 on the USDA’s plan to reorganize. Among NACD’s chief concerns with the reorganization is how it may affect the millions of American landowners that rely on technical assistance and conservation planning provided by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the nation’s 3,000 conservation districts.

“In its current configuration, USDA has successfully engaged producers and landowners nationwide to identify and address their local natural resource concerns,” NACD President Brent Van Dyke said. “We do not want to see the reorganization undermine this work or reduce capacity at NRCS.”

For this reason, NACD asks USDA to accommodate NRCS’ unique need for local offices now and throughout the reorganization process.

“NRCS’ ability to create highly specialized conservation plans is only possible if NRCS offices are geographically close to producers and their operations,” NACD CEO Jeremy Peters said. “Consolidating NRCS offices undercuts the local and personal aspect of conservation planning that is critical to conservation delivery and cannot be replicated or replaced by the private sector or technological improvements.”

Learn more in the NACD news release online.

— Adapted from a release by National Association of Conservation Districts.

‘Our Food Link’ Grants Help Farmers and Ranchers
Connect with Consumers

Five Farm Bureaus were selected from a competitive pool of applicants to each receive a $500 grant from the American Farm Bureau (AFB) Women’s Leadership Program to help fund “Our Food Link” projects.

Grant winners demonstrated a strong connection between the food system and agriculture, while creatively engaging consumers in a way that encourages them to learn more about food production.

“Congratulations to all the Farm Bureaus selected for grants,” said Sherry Saylor, an Arizona row crop farmer who chairs the AFB Women’s Leadership Committee. “We’re pleased to support these Farm Bureaus in their efforts to connect with consumers and share the story of modern food production.”

Farm Bureaus selected to receive the grants are listed below, followed by project titles.

Craig County Farm Bureau (Virginia) — School Garden Project
Doniphan County Farm Bureau (Kansas) — Freezer Meals-Slow Cooker Cooking
Ellis County Farm Bureau (Kansas) — Lunch with a Farmer
Tulare County Farm Bureau (California) — Grocery Cart Race
Utah Farm Bureau Federation – Connecting Agriculture to YOU!

Our Food Link (www.fb.org/programs/ourfoodlink/) is a year-round program that county and state Farm Bureaus can use to innovatively reach consumers of all ages and backgrounds with information on food production.

For more information, read the Farm Bureau news release online.

— Adapted from a release by the American Farm Bureau Federation.

— Compiled by Paige Nelson, field editor, Angus Media.