Your Corral Need Some Help?
Mississippi State's Extension Service will hold the Beef Cattle Operation Facilities Workshop in 4 locations on March 13th.
Dr. Jane Parish will present an in-depth look at design and operation of cattle handling facilities along with ideas on hay and feed storage. Fence construction, watering systems and other additions to improve efficiency will be discussed.
This will be a great workshop for anyone planning to upgrade their facilities. Sites will be Biloxi, Oxford, Raymond and MSU.
Click for details. |
Convention Auction
This heifer will be among the items auctioned at the "Taste of Beef" event Friday, February 10th.
Donated by Punkin Ridge Polled Herefords of Beaumont, proceeds of the sale of this open heifer will benefit the Mississippi Junior Cattlemen's Association.
Contact MCA for tickets to enjoy "A Taste of Beef".
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House Ag Committee
Speaker Phillip Gunn announced last week that Preston Sullivan would chair the House Agriculture Committee and Bill Pigott will serve as Vice-Chairman. Congratulations to both.
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Mississippi Beef Agribition
Bull and heifer consignments are being accepted for the 15th Annual Mississippi Beef Agribition Sale to be held Saturday, March 24th at the Lee County Agri-Center in Verona.
For details, contact Mike Howell at: office - 662-566-2201, cell - 662-871-8468, mhowell@ext.msstate.edu .
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Fed Beef Challenge
The Mississippi Fed Beef Challenge is accepting entries for the 2012 contest.
Cattle must be delivered to Mississippi State University on April 9 or 10.
Contact Dr. Brandi Bourg for details. |
USDA Supply & Demand Report
USDA released their monthly Cattle on Feed report last Friday afternoon. The number of cattle in feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 head or greater on January 1 was 11.861 million. This was 3.0% above the same month in 2011.
The number was in-line with pre-report expectations of a 3.3% increase. Placements into feedlots during December was lower versus 2011 by 5.9%. Again, this was expected.
Marketings were moderately higher than the average pre-report estimate at 1.796 million head, a drop of 1.9% from 2011 compared to an expected 3% decline. Upon digging further into the report, placements across weight groups were down 15, 25 and 20 thousand head for the 600-699, 700-799, and 800 plus weight categories, respectively. Cattle placed weighing less than 600 pounds were even with 2011.
The report marks the first substantial decline in placements since the June report which showed May placements down 11%. The report will likely be viewed as neutral when markets open today as all figures were on target with expectations. source: MSU Ag Econ
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Cow Chow
Recently launched, "Cow Chow: Exploring What Cattle Eat," a Beef Checkoff-funded, interactive game that shows how proper cattle diets help farmers and ranchers raise high-quality, great-tasting and nutritious beef you can feel good about. According to recent research funded by the Beef Checkoff, consumers are curious about what cattle eat. This subject is highly personal--people believe what cattle eat directly translates into the beef they ultimately eat and serve to their own families.
Cow Chow explores common consumer questions about what cattle eat, such as "Do grain-finished cattle eat only corn their entire lives?" Players choose a rancher (Bill or Jill) and navigate through a series of questions and watch videos to learn more about what cattle eat. As you navigate through the 10-question game and corresponding videos, you'll test your knowledge about what cattle eat from birth to the feedyard. The first-of-their-kind Cow Chow videos were filmed almost exclusively by cattle in Kansas, South Dakota, Texas and Florida wearing specially-rigged GoPro cameras.
Visit www.ExploreBeef.org/CowChow to play or check out a longer video showing what cattle. |
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| House Moving on Highway Bill
Last week, Speaker of the House John Boehner announced that he will keep his promise of considering a comprehensive transportation bill (aka Highway Bill) on the floor of the US House of Representatives prior to the President's Day recess. In order to meet that promise, there is a very good possibility that Rep. John Mica (R-FL), Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure (T&I), will introduce a Highway Bill at the end of this week with the full T&I Committee marking up the bill on Wednesday, February 1 or Thursday, February 2.
NCBA has been meeting with T&I Committee staff and personal staff of T&I Committee members to SUPPORT the following priorities to be included in the Highway Bill:
* Give states the option to increase truck weights with an additional axle (H.R. 763) or at least include a provision that allows for the purchase of permits for commercial vehicles to haul agricultural commodities up to 100,000 pounds
* The Senate took the easy way out and called for a two year study on truck weights. There are dozens of scientific safety studies that support increasing truck weights with an additional axle. We oppose any further studies and want action now.
* Provide an exemption for agriculture from Department of Transportation rules and regulations that treat farmers and ranchers like full time professional truck drivers (H.R. 2414 sponsored by Rep. Lankford (R-OK), H.R. 3265 sponsored by Rep. Graves (R-MO).
* We support the Farmers' Freedom Act of 2011 (H.R. 2414) sponsored by Congressman James Lankford (R-Okla.). This legislation exempts certain farm vehicles (including the individual operating the vehicle) from certain federal requirements (for a commercial driver's license, drug testing, medical certificates and hours of service) governing the operation of motor vehicles.
* We support H.R. 3265, sponsored by Congressman Sam Graves (R-Mo.), which waives certain driving restrictions during planting and harvest seasons for producers who are transporting agricultural goods.
NCBA has also been meeting with T&I Committee staff and personal staff of T&I Committee members to OPPOSE a controversial provision from being included in the Highway Bill:
* The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation recently marked up The Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Enhancement Act of 2011 (S. 1950). Included in S. 1950 is controversial language (Section 905) that prohibits the transportation of horses in double deck trailers, which sets a dangerous precedent for the transportation of all livestock and other agricultural goods. We strongly oppose any attempt to include language in the Highway Bill that prohibits transporting horses or any livestock in double deck trailers.
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MCA Convention
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Trade Show
February 10 & 11
Convention Schedule
Registration Form
On Friday, February 10th, Polly Ruhland, CEO for the Cattlemen's Beef Board, will update producers on the work of the beef checkoff program.
Pfizer Animal Health is again sponsoring Cattlemen's College at this year's MCA Convention.
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Market Notes
Dr. John Michael Riley
January 20, 2012
Cash Cattle:
Cash fed cattle trade remains slow in 2012, but unlike last week, enough sales took place to call some trends. Feeders appear to have won the battle as fed prices improved in light of lower boxed beef prices. In the Southern Plains and Kansas, live cattle were higher at $126/cwt - some at $127.50. In Nebraska, prices were called $125/cwt and $202-$205/cwt for live and dressed cattle, respectively. Feeder steers and heifers in Oklahoma City were steady, while steer calves were steady to $2/cwt lower and heifer calves were steady to $2/cwt higher. Feeder steers and heifers were $1-$2/cwt higher in Mississippi markets, while cows and bulls were steady.
Futures:
Live cattle futures prices improved this week. Higher cash prices and positioning ahead of the Cattle on Feed report outweighed lower beef prices. Feeder cattle futures improved despite higher corn prices. Nationally, feeder markets were steady to higher which, along with higher live cattle prices, added support. Corn markets took a dip Wednesday as rain fell on South American corn and a stronger dollar weighed on the market. Prices were higher on the week though as exports continue to look strong. Old crop corn gained ground on new crop (2012 crop) prices with the expectation that plantings will attempt to overcome the low carry-over currently in place.
Beef:
Wholesale beef prices were lower this week. Choice was once again down sharply at $182.54/cwt, down $5.38 - collectively Choice is down $11.25/cwt in 2012. Select was down $3.11/cwt at $174.89.
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Calendar
January
26 Stone CCA
26 Lowndes CCA
27 Hinds CCA
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