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Eighty producers attended the recent Beef Quality Assurance meeting at Producers' Stockyard in Tylertown. The BQA program will be repeated this Thursday at Glenwild Stockyard in Grenada at 6:30 p.m. To reserve your place at this informative meeting, call Glenwild or the Mississippi Beef Council office at 601-353-4520.
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Catch Up
If you have missed an issue of Monday Memo, check out the archives at: MCA's Monday Memo |
| Cattle Industry Summer Conference
State cattlemen joined producers from across the nation at last week's Cattle Industry Summer Conference in Denver. Larry Jefcoat represented the Mississippi Beef Council and Joe Magee represented MCA at the National Cattlemen's Beef Association Board of Directors meeting Saturday. Clifford Dance of Winona was appointed to a task force charged with reviewing the governance structure of NCBA. Magee and Jefcoat are shown here with NCBA President-Elect Gary Voogt. |
| Pickering Receives Veterinary Medical Award
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) presented Congressman Pickering with the first-ever AVMA Advocacy Award at its 145th annual convention in New Orleans on Sunday, July 20. Over the last decade, Congressman Pickering has also been the most active Member of Congress in successfully advocating legislation important to Veterinary medicine in the United States. He has led Congress in passing four major pieces of legislation including the Animal Drug Availability Act, Animal Drug User Fee Act, Minor Use and Minor Species Act and the National Veterinary Medical Services Act. |
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Animal Rights Activitists Step Up Attacks
Law Gives Police Powers to Activists
Animal rights and vegetarian activists could have the authority to enter and search California farm buildings and arrest producers for suspected violations of animal welfare laws if California voters approve a ballot initiative this fall.
This is the conclusion of attorneys who are analyzing the legal consequences of the initiative for agricultural and food interests in California, whose "Californians for SAFE Food" coalition is organized to educate Californians on the initiative and urge them to vote no on the measure.
The initiative is directed at the treatment of farm animals and, if passed, would require that farm animals not be confined or tethered in a manner that prevents an animal from lying down, standing up, turning around and fully extending its limbs.
The initiative is directed at cage housing systems for hens and sow and veal calf stalls, but recent studies found that even most barn, or cage-free, housing systems for hens would be prohibited under the requirement. from Feedstuffs Foodlink
Humane Food Choices
To assist consumers with making "humane food choices" at grocery stores, the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) has released a survey that ranks 23 U.S. supermarket systems by the availability of humanely produced products on their shelves.
WSPA also said it has launched a web site that details the results and explains and rates humane food labels based on "their verifiable impact on animal welfare."
WSPA said Whole Foods Market Inc. scored the highest, followed by Wegman's Food Markets Inc.; Wal-Mart Stores Inc. scored the lowest.
Chicago Anti-meat Ads
Animal-rights group posts anti-meat ads on Chicago mass transit
"How Much Cruelty Can You Swallow?" is the theme of 600 anti-meat ads from Chicago-based animal-rights group Mercy for Animals in the city's elevated trains, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.
The ads, slated to be displayed for two months, depict cows, pigs and hens in cramped, dirty cages and gestation crates.
"Our goal is not shock value," Nathan Runkle, the group's executive director, told the Sun-Times. "These really are rather mild images of what happens to farmed animals. We haven't shown the gory slaughterhouse photos that I think people would be even more shocked and appalled by." from meatingplace.com | |
Cattlemen Meet in Denver
Members of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) voted Saturday to oppose government intervention in the renewable fuels marketplace and to support immediate efforts to significantly reduce the impacts of that intervention on the cattle industry.
The vote, taken at the 2008 Cattle Industry Summer Conference, amends current NCBA policy to allow for more engagement in the debate over renewable fuels, as well as active promotion of a market-based system of renewable energy.
"NCBA is an organization of cattlemen and for cattlemen that is always working on solutions to challenges facing the industry," said Andy Groseta, a beef producer from Cottonwood, Ariz., and NCBA president. "The decisions made at this meeting allow us to create a more favorable business climate and aggressively oppose policies that would negatively impact cattle producers."
Other resolutions included beef quality assurance efforts, cattle health, conservation, climate change and national security policies. Amendments and resolutions approved at this meeting are interim policy until they can be voted on by the Board of Directors at the Cattle Industry Convention in Phoenix, Ariz. in January of 2009.
Checkoff Discussions
The Federation of State Beef Councils Division of NCBA held discussions during the meeting about the importance of qualified state beef councils working together and maintaining a coordinated state and national program to increase beef demand and improve the business climate for beef.
"We leave here with a renewed sense of purpose and unity to support an effective state and national checkoff partnership," said JD. Alexander of Pilger, Neb., Federation Division Vice Chairman. "With limited resources, it's even more important that we find the most effective and efficient ways of investing in programs to increase beef demand."
Also during the Summer Conference, joint checkoff committees with members representing the Cattlemen's Beef Board, the Federation of State Beef Councils, individual state beef councils and other groups met to review and recommend programs in research, information, education and promotion that can help increase demand for beef. The programs are funded through the $1-per-head beef checkoff.
Expressing his optimism about the future of the cattle industry, Groseta pointed to positive trends, including increased producer support of the Beef Checkoff Program. Seventy-four percent of producers say they approve the program, as compared to 72 percent who approved in January 2008.
More than 850 cattlemen and women attended the 2008 Cattle Industry Summer Conference and participated in meetings of the NCBA, the Beef Board and the American National CattleWomen. The 2008 Cattle Industry Convention and Trade Show will be held in Phoenix, Ariz., Jan. 28-31, 2009. | |
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Cattle
Market Notes
Friday, July 18, 2008
Dr. John Anderson
Mississippi State
University
Last week, fed cattle prices came in at $99 to $100 on a live basis - down $1 or $2 from the prior week. For the week, live prices in the south were mostly $97 to $98. Calf prices around the country were mostly steady or higher this week. At Mississippi auctions prices on steers were steady to $3 higher; and prices on heifers were steady. Feeder steer prices in Mississippi were as follows: 250-300 pounds, $109-$117; 300-400 pounds, $103-$112; 400-500 pounds, $96-$107; 500-600 pounds, $98-$107; 600-700 pounds, $96-$106; 700-800 pounds, $85-$92. Feeders ended the week higher, enjoying a strong push higher on Friday as corn capped off a very rough week with another day of big losses. Wholesale beef prices didn't look too impressive. On Friday, the Choice cutout worked out to $168.26, down $3.45 from last Friday. The Select cutout was $160.76, down $3.04 from last Friday.
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Calendar of Events
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July
24 BQA Meeting,
Grenada S/Y
24 Hinds CCA
31 Stone CCA
31 Covington Field Day
August
2 Claiborne Field Day
4 Homeplace Producers
Board Sale, Hattiesburg
7 Brown Loam Field Day
14 Copiah CCA
21 Jones CCA
26, 27 Pasture & Forage
Short Course |
| Here's Your
Beef Sign
The 4' X 8' metal beef signs are now available from the Mississippi Beef Council for only $100 each and they will be customized for your farm or business.
For details, contact the Beef Council office at
601-353-4520 or missbc@bellsouth.net
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Members Only
Wilson Dodge in Jackson is offering Mississippi Cattlemen's Association members a special deal on Dodge trucks and cars.
MCA members can buy a Dodge vehicle for $100 over dealer cost during this special promotion.
Show your Cattle Business in Mississippi magazine, with your name and address label as proof of membership and take advantage of this great deal!
Call the MCA office or Angie at Wilson Dodge, 601-914-4277, for details. |
Mark Your Calendar Today!!
Stockmanship & Stewardship
Mississippi
State Fairgrounds
November 22, 2008
MCA Convention & Trade Show
February 6 & 7, 2009
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