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61st Mississippi Cattlemen's Association Convention & Trade Show!
February 1 & 2, Regency Hotel & Conference Center
BCIA Annual Meeting
Pfizer Cattlemen's College
Trade Show Door Prizes
County Awards
Scholarship Luncheon
"A Taste of Beef" Auction
President's Banquet
Click here for registration and agenda.
BE THERE!!
 Taste of Beef Auction
Held in conjunction with the "Taste of Beef" event on Friday evening, February 1st, this year's auction will feature a $3,000 credit on an Angus or Brangus bull from Coldwater Cattle Company, Holly Springs. Proceeds from the bull will benefit the Dudley Bozeman Memorial Scholarship Endowment. We thank Coldwater and all the donors who support the Cattlemen's Foundation, CattleWomen's Association and Cattlemen's scholarship program. Coldwater will also donate a bull to the NCBA PAC/PEF All-Breed Bull and Horse Auction to be held in conjunction with the 2008 Cattle Industry Convention & Trade Show in Reno.
The "Taste of Beef" is scheduled for 6:00 pm on Friday, February 1st, in the Forestry Building at the Ag Museum.
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Beef Team 2008 
Ten Mississippi State University students spent two days last week training for a semester working as the 2008 Beef Team. Classes ranging from meat cutting to nutrition and communications helped prepare team members for various promotions at statewide events. Tuesday's training concluded with an "Iron Chef" competition. The team is sponsored by the MSU departments of Animal & Dairy Sciences; Communications; Food Science, Nutrition & Health Promotion; and the Mississippi Beef Council | |
| Australian Beef Exports to Japan Fell in 2007
According to Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA), Australian beef exports to Japan in 2007 fell 6.9 percent to 377,864 mt.
"The fall was largely due to the high Australian dollar, competition from U.S. and buyers' unwilling to cover the rising cost of producing grain-fed beef," according to the MLA.
Australia has experienced severe drought conditions that have caused a decline in cattle numbers and slaughter weights and an increase in feedgrain costs.
Chilled Australian beef shipments to Japan in 2007 fell below 200,000 mt for the first time in four years. from USMEF
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Horse Exports to Mexico Up Over 300 Percent
Since all three U.S. horse slaughter operations were ordered closed last year, the number of horses exported to Mexico for slaughter has increased 312 percent, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. As of Dec. 20, 2007, 44,475 horses had been shipped to Mexico for processing for human consumption compared with 10,783 shipped at the same time in 2006. Citing inhumane treatment, animal-rights groups such as the Humane Society of the United States have called for a ban on exporting horses for slaughter. The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act, currently pending in Congress, would prevent any horse slaughter facility from operating in the United States as well as prohibit the shipment of horses to other countries for processing. The AVMA and other opponents of the bill contend that actions of the anti-horse-slaughter coalition, led by HSUS, have, in fact, led to the current welfare crisis. Unwanted horses fared much better when they were transported under government supervision to U.S.-regulated facilities and humanely euthanized, they say. from Drovers
"Beef, It's What's For Dinner" Advertising Campaign Invites Consumers to Discover the Power of Protein
The Beef Checkoff Program is strengthening its award-winning advertising campaign by building on the core equities consumers recognize and love about beef. Powerful Beefscapes is a fresh iteration of the successful "Beef. It's What's for Dinner" campaign, which is one of the most recognizable taglines in advertising history. In fact, approximately 88 percent of Americans instantly recognize the slogan.
With a budget of roughly $15 million, the campaign encourages Americans to "Discover the Power of Protein in the Land of Lean Beef" and will reach 86 percent of the consumer target via radio, billboards and 39 national consumer magazines in 2008. "By leveraging checkoff dollars, we were able to create a campaign to remind consumers that they can, indeed, reclaim the dinner they love," said John Dudley, beef producer from Comanche, Texas and former chair of the Beef Checkoff's Advertising Committee.
Visit www.BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com to discover the power of protein in the land of lean beef, view each of the print ads, new corresponding recipes and hear the new radio advertising. |
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Trade Exports Update
NCBA's Chief Economist Gregg Doud says U.S. beef exports to our NAFTA trading partners continue to expand and should set new records for both Mexico and Canada for 2007. Year-end trade data won't be finalized for quite some time, but Doud offers a quick overview of where things currently stand:
Without full access to Japan and Korea, Mexico remains the top destination for U.S. beef and beef variety meat exports. It is likely that 2007 will exceed last year's record of $1.2 billion in sales. Through October, exports to Mexico were down two percent in volume, but they were up four percent in value. Another key feature is that the per pound value of U.S. beef exports to Mexico continues to grow from about $1.40/lb in 2003 to more than $1.70/lb today.
Year-to-date exports to Canada are up 33 percent in volume and 36 percent in value. Driven by the decline in the value of the U.S. dollar, the record pace of U.S. beef exports to Canada should end up very near $600 million in 2007, easily making Canada our second largest customer. This would exceed any previous year by roughly $150 million.
The forecast for U.S. beef outside the "Big 4" (NAFTA plus Japan and Korea) markets predicts an increase of 22 percent based upon trade data through October. Vietnam is up 276 percent with ASEAN (Vietnam, Philippines, Singapore Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia) up 210 percent. Exports to the EU are up 144 percent; Central/South America is up 58 percent; and the Caribbean is up 15 percent.
Through October, we exported 80,530 metric tons to the Middle East, up 7 percent on the year. This is mostly variety meat trade, with the United States now sending more variety meats (mostly livers) to Egypt (72,000 mt year to date) than we ever sent to Russia (60,000 mt in 2003). Angola is the third largest market for U.S. variety meats at 8,000 mt, and Mexico is consistently our top destination for beef variety meats at 139,000 mt.
U.S. beef producers remain flat out angry that South Korea and China still won't buy U.S. beef, and that access to Japan is running at a pace about one-fifth below where it should be due to BSE-related trade restrictions. Sales to the rest of the world will likely set new records again in 2008. However, this will be overshadowed by the $6-8/cwt still missing in fed cattle prices due to the lack of access to South Korea and Japan. Also, the fact that U.S. beef may not be available for travelers to this summer's Olympic Games in China strikes an offensive tone among U.S. cattlemen.
We already have over 15,000 mt on the books in the first week of this year to Mexico because of a change in Mexico's tax law in 2007. In the coming year, industry analysts see continued (4-5 percent) growth in business to Mexico and another huge year for exports into Canada. Growth in exports to the EU is certainly a hot topic at the moment, and the big wild card is Russia where exporters are seeing interest in U.S. beef (rounds) begin to open up rather than the traditional beef variety meat (liver) exports.
Congressional Schedule
Following the holiday recess, the House of Representatives is scheduled to reconvene today and the Senate is scheduled to reconvene on January 22nd.
On Implementation of NAFTA, Conner Urges Continued Trade Expansion
Now that the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is fully implemented (effective January 1, 2008), Acting Agriculture Secretary Chuck Conner touted the Administration's pro-trade agenda with an eye toward continuing that success with Colombia and Panama.
The U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement and the Panama Trade Promotion Agreement are trade deals that still await Congressional approval. The Peru Trade Promotion Agreement was passed by Congress and signed by President Bush in December.
"In this hemisphere, the positive lessons from NAFTA have helped facilitate the move toward the free flow of agricultural products between an ever expanding number of countries," said Conner. "Our recently concluded trade agreements with Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Peru, and, pending Congressional approval, Colombia and Panama, will strengthen democratic institutions, strip away barriers to trade, eliminate tariffs, open markets, and promote investment, economic growth and opportunity."
NCBA is urging for passage of the Colombia and Panama free trade agreements. These extremely well negotiated agreements reduce - and eventually eliminate - all tariffs for U.S. beef, giving U.S. producers the ability to compete aggressively against Argentinean and Brazilian beef in these markets.
"Since its inception in 1994, NAFTA has been a remarkable success story for all three partners," said Conner. "It has contributed to significant increases in agricultural trade and investment between the United States, Canada and Mexico and has benefited farmers, ranchers and consumers throughout North America." |
2008 Cattle Industry Annual Convention, February 6-9! -The 2008 Cattle Industry Annual Convention and Trade Show will be held February 6-9 in Reno, Nevada. The meeting will feature joint and individual meetings by NCBA, Cattlemen's Beef Promotion & Research Board, American National CattleWomen, Inc., Cattle-Fax and the National Cattlemen's Foundation.
This is the time of year when NCBA's producer-members gather to discuss our industry's priority issues at issue forums and committee meetings. On February 9th, members will vote on policy for the coming year at NCBA's Board of Directors Meeting.
The pre-registration deadline is approaching. Don't miss this most important meeting for the cattle industry. Register by January 11th to receive significant discounts off of the onsite registration fees. For more information and for a complete schedule of events visit our website at www.beefusa.org. | |
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Cattle Market Notes
Friday, January 11, 2008
Dr. John Anderson, Mississippi State University -
Last week's 5-Area average fed steer price (live) was $94.53 actually a bit more than $2 higher than the prior week. The strength in the cash market last week fueled hopes for still higher prices this week. Feeders spent most of the week asking $96 or better against offers of $92. On Friday, with livestock futures in the tank, feeders finally took what was offered but only in limited trade. In very light business on Friday, live prices were $92 in the South ($3 lower), and dressed prices were $146 to $148 in the North ($3 to $4 lower).
Auctions were back in business this week, most for the first time since before Christmas. Compared to the last sale of 2007, at Oklahoma City feeder steer and heifer prices were $2 to $5 lower. Prices on stocker steers were steady to $2 lower, and prices on stocker heifers were $3 to $5 lower. At Arkansas auctions this week, prices on all classes of feeders and stockers were called $2 to $6 lower. At Georgia auctions, feeder steer prices were $1 to $3 lower; feeder heifer prices were $1 to $4 lower.
At Mississippi auctions this week steer prices were called $2 to $5 lower, and heifer prices were called $1 to $4 lower. Receipts were just under 8,000 head, up about 500 head from the same week a year ago.
Steer prices at Mississippi auctions this week were reported as follows: 250-300 pounds, $135-$145; 300-400 pounds, $125-$135; 400-450 pounds, $115-$125; 450-500 pounds, $100-$115; 500-600 pounds, $90-$100; 600-700 pounds, $85-$90; 700-800 pounds, $80-$85.
Live Cattle futures were mixed this week. On Friday, $92 cash prices took a significant bite out of the February contract, which closed at just under $92 for the week.
Feeder cattle futures got knocked around pretty hard by grain futures again this week. A pull-back in corn futures on Thursday was met with a dramatic jump in feeder futures.
This was not to last, however, as Friday's Supply and Demand Estimates report surprised everyone with a sharp drop in expected corn ending stocks. Corn locked limit up, and feeder futures melted away, with contracts though May giving back all of Thursday's gain and then some. Feeder Cattle futures closing prices on Friday (with change from last Friday's close in parentheses): January $99.50 (-0.82); March $102.50 (-0.85); April $105.70 (-0.65); May $108.05 (-0.05).
. Dr. Anderson's complete report can be accessed from www.mscattlemen.org |
Don't Miss NCBA's Cattlemen to Cattlemen - On this week's Cattlemen to Cattlemen, beginning at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, January 15th,
On this week's edition of NCBA's Cattlemen to Cattlemen we'll take a look at the history of the Beef Improvement Federation to learn more about the important role it plays in our industry. The BIF works to standardize programs and methodology in the Beef Industry. To learn more visit: http://www.beefimprovement.org.
The show will be rebroadcast Wednesday at 3:30 a.m. and Saturday at 9:00 a.m. Make sure you tune in to NCBA's Cattlemen to Cattlemen on RFD-TV. For more information or to check out past episodes, visit www.cattlementocattlemen.org
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Southeast Producers Feel the Hurt of Record Drought
Without adequate rain to maintain pastures and grow hay and forage, the worst drought on record in the Southeast is continuing to hammer the area's cattle producers. Some producers are reporting that feed costs have more than doubled, leaving many struggling to keep up with the rising cost of inputs.
Many producers have been forced to liquidate their herds because they can no longer afford to feed them. Drinking water for cattle is also in short supply as ponds and creeks dry up, forcing producers to purchase water for cattle, along with feed. In addition, producers are reporting that in many instances cattle are as much as 100 pounds lighter than normal.
It is estimated that up to one quarter of the United States' calf production is in the Southeast, the area comprised by Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Florida. The USDA says cattle processing is up 19 percent in this region compared to the same timeframe in 2006.
For NCBA, disaster assistance for cattle producers is always a top priority. NCBA worked with Congress to make available $600 million in disaster assistance payments as part of last summer's Emergency Supplemental Bill. Subsequently, NCBA worked to extend the eligibility date for assistance to include producers, such as those in the Southeast, who were hurt by natural disasters in 2007. In the Senate version of the Farm Bill, NCBA is supporting legislative language calling for a permanent disaster assistance program. This Permanent Disaster Relief Trust Fund (PDRTF) would end the current ad hoc nature of agriculture disaster assistance programs, and instead have one permanent program that could provide aide to producers when they need it most. |
Calendar of Events
January
15 Tishoming CCA
17 Marshall CCA
17 Lee CCA
17 Noxubee CCA
19 Panola CCA
25 Hinds CCA
February
1 & 2 - MCA Convention & Trade Show
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