Junior Roundup
Hundreds of beef cattle arrived at the Dixie National Junior Roundup Sunday in preparation for classes beginning today. Market steers and showmanship competition will be held beginning at 8 a.m.
Commercial heifers and breeding classes will be shown Tuesday and Wednesday.
Champion market animals will sell Thursday in the Sale of Junior Champions. |
Convention Auction
The convention auction will feature 20 great items and here are just a few.
1) A Gulf Coast vacation and fishing trip will be among the items auctioned at the "Taste of Beef" event Friday, February 10th. The package includes three nights in a luxury 3-bedroom Orange Beach condo and a deep-sea fishing trip.
2) Support the MCBA PAC by bidding on a pair of Roper boots complements of Stetson/Roper. Choose from a catalog of popular styles valued at $500.
3) Purchase this heifer, donated by Punkin Ridge Polled Herefords of Beaumont, and support the Mississippi Junior Cattlemen's Association.
Contact MCA for tickets to enjoy "A Taste of Beef".
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Attend the Trade Show
Stop by the Dixie National Farm Expo in the Trade Mart - opening at 10:00 Friday and Saturday, for your chance to win this Mississippi State lick wheel feeder at the MIX 30 booth. |
Watch for Cattle Thieves
Lowndes County cattleman Doug Yelverton surprised a would-be cattle rustler last week when he arrived at a remote corral to find 2 bulls and 4 cows penned.
The thief escaped without the cattle and the Mississippi Agricultural & Livestock Theft Bureau is investigating the incident.
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Beef in the Restaurant
At Saturday's Cattlemen's College, Chef Louie Bruno will discuss the role beef plays in today's restaurant menu.
Then Chef Louie will demonstrate beef recipes in the Dixie National Farm Expo. |
MBCIA Annual Meeting
Attend the annual meeting of the Mississippi Beef Cattle Improvenent Assiciation at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, February 10th.
The meeting kicks off the MCA Convention in the Mississippi Trade Mart.
Click here for the February BCIA newsletter.
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Ralgro Wheels
Merck Animal Health, maker of Ralgro, is supporting the education funds of MCA, MJCA and MCWA with the return of empty Ralgro wheels at the MCA convention. Bring them with you on February 10 or give them to one of our officers. |
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Checkoff Support at 18-Year High
The overwhelming majority of beef and dairy producers say their beef checkoff has value for them in many ways:
* Four in five producers say the beef checkoff influences beef demand and is of value to them even in a weak economy.
* Three in four producers say the beef checkoff contributes to the profitability of their operations, is there for them in a crisis and represents their interests.
* Two in three beef producers believe the checkoff is well managed.
These are findings from a nationwide survey of 1,200 beef and dairy producers conducted by the independent firm Aspen Media & Market Research in late December 2011 and early January 2012. These findings may also help to explain why the beef checkoff approval level is at 76 percent - the highest level in 18 years.
"It's clear," says Joint Producer Communications Committee (JPCC) Chair Hank Maxey Jr., "that beef and dairy producers see more in their beef checkoff program than just paying for a few ads or a few promotions. Three in four of us wouldn't say it 'has helped contribute to the profitability of my operation' unless we could see it with our own eyes.
A copy of the research report is available online. |
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Partnering with Extremist Groups
Bad for Agriculture
Kristina Butts, NCBA executive director of legislative affairs, said while cattlemen make it their top priority to care for their animals, there are organizations that attempt to paint a different picture of animal agriculture.
Specifically, Butts discussed an agreement entered into by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and the United Egg Producers to seek federal legislation to mandate egg production practices. Butts said legislation introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congressman Kurt Schrader (D-Ore.) to codify that agreement creates a slippery slope to allow the federal government to mandate on-farm production practices for all sectors of the agricultural industry.
"This legislation opens up Pandora's Box on Capitol Hill. While this bill currently only applies to the egg industry, it's not a far stretch to see it applied to all animal agriculture," Butts said. "Cattlemen proactively worked with veterinarians and cattle health experts to develop production guidelines.
We worked together to improve our industry. Unfortunately, a one-size fits all federal mandate telling farmers and ranchers how to do their jobs is not acceptable."
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MCA Convention
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Trade Show
February 10 & 11
Convention Schedule
Registration Form
Pfizer Animal Health is again sponsoring Cattlemen's College at this year's MCA Convention.
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BQA Survey
Participate in the BQA Survey and help summarize production and management practices that are currently being used by cattle producers throughout the beef production industry.
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Market Notes
February 3, 2012
Dr. John Michael Riley
Cash Cattle:
The story seems to remain constant. Yet another week of slow cash cattle trade in the major feeding regions. Cattle in the Southern Plains was light with a few sales at $123/cwt. In Nebraska, live cattle were called at $124/cwt; dressed cattle were called at $198/cwt. Feeder steers over 750 pounds in Oklahoma City were steady to $2/cwt; those lower than 750 pounds were $1-$2/cwt higher; feeder heifers were called steady to $2/cwt higher. Calves in OKC were $3-$6/cwt higher. Feeder steers and heifers sold $2-$8 higher in Mississippi markets. Mississippi cull cows and bulls were $2-$5/cwt higher.
Futures:
Live cattle futures were mostly steady - nearby contracts were lower while more distant months were slightly higher. The weak cash market and depressed boxed beef prices for most of the new year appear to have finally overwhelmed the futures market. Good news came late in the week as the January jobs report revealed another month of growth. Total jobs added during January came in at 243,000, above the 150,000 that were expected, and the unemployment rate fell to 8.3% from 8.5% in December. Nearby feeder cattle futures were lower on the front month (March) but higher for all the remaining contract. The lower nearby contract was under pressure from the lower fed futures and higher corn, while the market continues to expect the supply side of the feeder cattle equation to keep prices up.
Nearby corn futures were modestly higher but the most deferred current crop contract (September) ended the week up 12.5 cents per bushel. Improvements in soybeans and exports along with late week weakness in the dollar provided the support. Beef:
Wholesale beef prices were slightly lower on the week. The Choice price moved higher through Wednesday before turning lower and ending the week at $183.34/cwt, down $0.92 from last week. Select ended the week at $178.41/cwt, down $0.60. |
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