Monday Memo - November 14

Monday Memo

State News

Last Chance!

Polls Close at Midnight Tomorrow

Vote for you r favorite steakhouse today!

Current top 10:

Cowbell's        Starkville
Duke's             Pelahatchie
Harvey's          Starkville
Huck's Place   Columbus
Reed Pierce's   Byrum
Russell's          Corinth
The Porter Ave. Bistro   Ocean Springs
The Veranda   Starkville
Two Rivers       Canton
Wynndale         Terry

Bus Tour to Nashville

bus tour
Attend the 2012 Cattle Industry Convention & Trade Show with the MCA Bus Tour. Ticket includes registration, admission to the trade show and dinner at the Grand Ole Opry.

Click for details.

Traceability Meeting Thursday

All livestock market operators and cattle producers are invited to a meeting at the MCA office on November 17th to discuss USDA's proposal for animal traceability
State Veterinarian Dr. Jim Watson will update everyone on the latest information and how it will affect livestock owners in Mississippi.

Join us at 1:00 p.m. on the 17th for this timely information. The meeting will be available on the MSU distance learning network so contact your local Extension Service office to request their facility and equipment.

Lawrence County Safety Day
Lawrence1

Lawrence County cattlemen grilled for the annual Farm Safety Day in Monticello.
Over 200 students learned tips on safe cooking, handling and purchasing of ground beef for their family.

Johne's Disease

Johne's Disease is a growing problem in the nation's cowherd. Get the latest information in the Mississippi newsletter, now available online.

FSA County Committee Elections

Elegible voters in counties where USDA Farm Service Agency county committee elections are being held, are reminded that ballots must be postmarked by Dec. 5.
Ballots were mailed to eligible voters on November 4. Call your local FSA office if they have not received a ballot, but believe you should have.
County committee members provide input and make important decisions on the local administration of disaster, commodity price support and conservation programs. We urge all eligible voters to exercise their right to vote.

National News

Wal-Mart Going Choice

Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer announced last week that it is now selling choice-grade beef at all of its 3,800 U.S. locations after ramping up selections for the past three months. In keeping with its focus on low prices, Wal-Mart traditionally has sold only select-grade beef.
With over $130 billion in U.S. grocery sales, the new strategy has already had an impact on the choice-select spread. Choice beef has gotten more expensive, while select has become cheaper. The result is the price difference between the two grades of meat has exploded to 19 cents a pound from 3 cents a pound just a few months ago.
Choice and select ratings are placed on beef by federal inspectors on a voluntary basis. About 63% of meat graded for quality is classified as choice, while 29% is classified as select. The remainder is prime or one of several lower grades.

11.14.11

Riley

Market Notes

Dr. John Michael Riley

November 11, 2011

Cash Cattle:

Cash fed cattle were higher this week. In Texas, live prices were at $124-$125.50/cwt. In Kansas, live cattle sold for $125/cwt. Nebraska live and dressed cattle were $127/cwt and $200/cwt, respectively. In Oklahoma City, feeder steers and heifers were steady to $2/cwt higher, steer calves were $1-$3/cwt higher, and heifer calves were steady. In Mississippi, feeder steers and heifers sold $1-$2/cwt higher, cull cows and bulls were steady.

Beef:

Choice and Select both moved higher for the third straight week as retailers continue to position inventories for the holidays. Choice and Select carcasses averaged $189.92/cwt and $171.43/cwt, respectively, up $2.39 and down $1.85.

Calendar

November

15 Madison CCA

15 Webster CCA

15 Franklin CCA

17 Lauderdale CCA

SAVE THE DATE

November 17

Animal Traceabliity
Meeting
MCA office

November 17

MAFES Sale
MSU

December 1

Herd HealthShort Course

BCIA
Newsletter