Bull Sale Thursday
Producers will have the opportunity to select from 32 bulls at the BCIA Spring Sale and Hinds Bull Test Sale held at the Hinds Community College Sale Arena in Raymond. The sale begins at noon and will offer Hereford, Brangus, Angus, Gelbvieh, and Charolais bulls. |
Able Inducted
Dr. Bill Able has been inducted into the Mississippi State University Judging Team Hall of Fame. Able began his livestock team coaching career as a graduate student at MSU and went on to become one of the nation's top coaches and livestock judges. He has the most wins at the International Livestock Judging Contest of any coach in history.
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| Beef Team
The MSU Beef Team was in action last week at the annual meeting of the Mississippi Association of Family and Consumer Sciences. Team members prepared an Asian Stir Fry dish on stage while describing the versatility of beef. Afterwards, participants sampled the dish.
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Making Tracks 2008 Set
Watch for your application for the Wax Youth Leadership Camp in the April Cattle Business in Mississippi magazine. Dates for this year's camp are June 23 - 25. |
Young Cattlemen's Conference
Plans are under way for MCA's Young Cattlemen's Conference on April 10, 11, & 12 in Jackson. Nominations are being taken now for producers, ages 25 to 45, who want to learn more about the beef industry and the issues facing it.
Funded by the Mississippi Cattlemen's Foundation, the conference provides attendees a view of the issues facing the beef industry from legislative matters to the challenges facing our channel marketing partners who deliver beef to the consumer.
Arriving on Thursday evening, April 10th and finish by noon Saturday, YCC will be a worthwhile event for anyone interested in the cattle business.
County associations are encouraged to nominate one of their young cattlemen to help develop leaders for the coming years. | |
Instrument Beef Grading
USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced February 28th that it is now officially grading beef carcasses with the assistance of specially designed electronic instruments that predict quality and yield grade attributes.
AMS officials have been working with technology providers, academia, beef packers and representatives of the U.S. cattle and beef industry over the past several years to refine instrument grading technology to ensure accuracy, repeatability, system integrity and capability of operating under plant conditions.
"This is a tool that is going to allow more accurate measurement of the beef carcass, which ultimately is what determines value," says Bucky Gwartney, NCBA's executive director of product enhancement research. "This technology will still have USDA oversight - which is important - but it will produce a more consistent value signal back to the producer. At the end of the day, that will allow the producer to make more timely improvements to their cattle and offer a more consistent quality product for consumers." from meatingplace.com |
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Canada Announces 12th BSE Case
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) announced Tuesday, February 26th it has confirmed Canada's 12th case of BSE in a 6-year-old Alberta dairy cow. CFIA reports that no part of the animal entered the human food or animal feed supply.
The CFIA said in a statement that the animal's age and location are consistent with previous cases detected in Canada, and it is not expected to affect Canada's Controlled Risk country status, as recognized by the World Organization for Animal Health. "The periodic detection of a small number of cases is fully expected," said the CFIA. |
Ag Secretary Resists Banning Downer Cows
The agriculture secretary on Thursday resisted calls at a Senate hearing for a complete ban on so-called downer cattle - those unable to walk - from entering the food supply.
He rejected senators' calls to completely ban from slaughter any cattle unable to walk, contending they occasionally could enter the food supply safely, in accordance with USDA rules, after an additional inspection by a veterinarian. "Downer" cows are at higher risk of carrying E. coli and salmonella bacteria and of having the wasting neurological illness known as "mad cow disease."
The standoff came at a Senate subcommittee hearing triggered by practices at Westland/Hallmark Meat of Chino, Calif., after 143 million pounds of beef processed there was recalled, including 50 million pounds shipped to school cafeterias. Undercover video shot by the Humane Society of the United States showed downer cows being forced to slaughter by workers who poked them with electric prods or rolled them with forklifts. Ffrom cattlenetwork.com |
Chuck Roll Becomes Latest "BIG" Star
The checkoff-funded Beef Innovations Group (B.I.G.) has just launched five bright, new stars among their team of new beef cuts as a result of extensive chuck roll optimization efforts.
The new cuts include:
The Delmonico Steak (Chuck Eye Steak) -- Extremely tender and juicy; exceptional beef flavor and taste similar to a Ribeye
The Denver Cut -- Tender, flavorful, versatile; the fourth most tender muscle; perfectly marbled for a restaurant-quality steak experience
America's Beef Roast -- Great beef flavor; dry roast application; an impressive roast that is affordable and simple to prepare
Boneless Country-Style Beef Chuck Ribs -- Flavorful, juicy, meaty and tender; these meaty boneless ribs are extremely convenient and perfect for backyard cookouts
Country-Style Beef Roast -- Fully-cooked; a premium, flavorful roast that is perfect for time-challenged families; great with barbecue sauce. |
New Korean President Aims to Resolve Beef Trade Issues
In media reports, New Korean President Lee Myung-bak has said he wants to resolve differences with the U.S. government over the beef trade issue prior his U.S. visit in April. The Korean government is expected to expand the age range and types of beef eligible for export to Korea.
U.S. beef producers continue to urge both governments to get together as soon as possible to iron out a deal that fully opens the Korean market and paves the way for U.S. congressional consideration of the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement. |
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House Passes Andean Trade Preferences
The U.S. House approved a 10-month extension of the Andean Trade Preference Act (ATPA), which eliminates most tariffs on goods from Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. The measure must now be quickly approved by the Senate before the current preferences expire at the end of this week.
NCBA opposed a long-term extension of the ATPA because it provides duty-free access for almost all imports from Andean countries but doesn't provide equal access for U.S. products. NCBA is a staunch supporter of the pending Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement, which rectifies this imbalance, and which would provide for immediate duty-free and quota-free access for prime and choice graded U.S. beef.
Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer said the extension "would provide a bridge while we work to secure Congressional passage of the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement and to implement the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement." Schafer also asked that the U.S. Senate pass the extension and then move forward to pass the U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement. "The U.S.-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement will replace one-way with two-way free trade by providing U.S. farmers, ranchers and businesses with duty-free access to that market," said Schafer.
NCBA Calls for USDA to Update Nutrition Resources
NCBA sent a letter February 28th to Senate Appropriations Committee member Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) urging her support in allocating funds to update USDA's Nutrient Composition Handbook for Beef. In addition to the Food Guide Pyramid and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the Nutrient Composition Handbook for Beef offers consumers important information about the nutritional aspects of foods.
"Unfortunately, USDA has not updated this handbook in decades, and as such, the information is out-dated and incorrect," says NCBA's Executive Director of Legislative Affairs Colin Woodall. "This out-dated information is being distributed to consumers across the country who use it to make dietary choices. We believe that the consumer should have up-to-date nutritional information to base their decisions on."
The cattle industry has worked hard to improve beef quality. In recent years, through research efforts, the beef industry has been able to produce at least 19 cuts of beef that are leaner than a skinless chicken thigh and 29 total cuts of beef that are considered "lean". "The American consumer does not have all the facts they need to understand that beef is part of a healthy diet," says Woodall. NCBA has called for USDA's Agricultural Research Service to update this information as part of its Fiscal Year 2009 Agriculture Appropriations request.
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Cattle Market Notes
Friday, February 29, 2008
Dr. John Anderson, Mississippi State University -
This week, fed cattle trade became active on Friday in the Northern Plains and western Corn Belt. Prices were mostly $93 live and $148 to $149 dressed. This is about $3 higher than last week in these regions. In the South, feeders were holding out for more through mid-afternoon Friday. Cattle slaughter is expected to be a good bit higher than last week, with estimated slaughter this week at 630,000 head compared to 620,000 head a week ago and 623,000 a year ago.
Feeder prices appeared to be mostly steady to higher this week, with a few exceptions. At Oklahoma City, prices on feeder steers were steady to $1 higher while prices on stocker steers were steady to $2 lower. Feeder and stocker heifer prices were steady to $1 higher. Receipts at OKC were very large this week (over 15,000 head) reflecting big numbers coming off of wheat pasture.
At Arkansas auctions this week, prices on steers were steady. Prices on heifers were firm to $3 higher. At Georgia auctions, feeder steer and heifer prices were steady to $2 higher.
At Mississippi auctions this week steer prices were $1 to $5 lower, and heifer prices were $1 to $3 higher. Receipts were 5,907 head, down from 6,303 the same week a year ago. Steer prices at Mississippi auctions this week were reported as follows: 200-300 pounds, $130-$143; 300-400 pounds, $120-$135; 400-500 pounds, $110-$120; 500-600 pounds, $100-$110; 600-700 pounds, $90-$100; 700-800 pounds, $80-$90. Slaughter cow prices were $1 to $3 lower this week.
Live cattle futures were mixed this week. After starting the week higher, contracts through June lost ground after mid-week. April lost almost $1 on Wednesday as funds rolled long positions into June. April and June were lower again on Friday but still managed small weekly gains. Closing prices on Friday (with change from last Friday's close in parentheses) were as follows: April $94.32 (+0.35); June $95.32 (+0.92); August $98.57 (+1.67); October $103.50 (+1.48); December $104.60 (+1.60).
Feeders finished the week on a weak note. With corn sharply higher on Thursday, feeder contracts suffered moderate losses. On Friday, with cash fed cattle moving higher and corn mostly standing pat, feeder cattle futures continued to decline on technical pressure. The nearby March contract was down a full dollar on Friday, with more deferred contracts posting losses from 10 to 50 cents. Feeder Cattle futures closing prices on Friday (with change from last Friday's Week Ending Friday, February 29, 2008 close in parentheses): March $103.65 (-0.27); April $106.95 (-0.35); May $110.42 (-0.23); August $113.00 (+1.00).
March Chicago Wheat ended the week at $10.73 after trading as high as $13 earlier in the week. March corn futures closed on Friday at $5.46, up 23 ¾ cents from last Friday's close.
Dr. Anderson's complete report can be accessed from www.mscattlemen.org |
Don't Miss NCBA's Cattlemen to Cattlemen - On this week's episode, airing Tuesday, March 4 at 7:30 p.m., Cattlemen to Cattlemen takes a look at the serious drought conditions affecting the southeast section of the country. Plus, we get the spring forecast from Dr. Art Douglas. Also, we visit a cattle producer in central Kentucky and learn more about premises registration. And just in time for Saint Patrick's Day - our culinary expert has a great corned beef recipe!
NCBA's Cattlemen to Cattlemen on RFD-TV provides weekly news and features for cattle producers across the country. The show is rebroadcast Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m. and Sundays at 11 p.m. Be sure to tune into NCBA's Cattlemen to Cattlemen on channel RFD-TV. For more information or to check out past episodes, visit www.cattlementocattlemen.org. Th e show will 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 |
Calendar of Events
March
6 Hinds Bull Test/ BCIA Spring Bull Sale
6 Hinds CCA
8 Pike CCA Field Day
13-15 AI School
20 Covington CCA
22 Miss. Beef Agribition
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