OKC West Livestock Market Takes Direct Hit from Tornado

Livestock Marketing Assn., 6/3/2013 - The OKC West Livestock Market, Inc. in El Reno, Okla. was badly damaged by a EF 3 tornado on Friday evening. There were no injuries or fatalities at the market. Bill Barnhart, the General Manager of OKC West said they hope to be up and running with temporary facilities as soon as possible.

GRSB Working to Define Sustainable Beef

Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, 5/31/13 - Defining what constitutes sustainable beef production is not an easy task.  Given the vast differences in climate, available forages and grains, water resources, management practices and labor from one beef producing region to another around the globe, a definition must be constructed carefully in order to fully communicate the principles of sustainability and sustainable practices.

Working as a committee within the Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (GRSB), a group of  representatives from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, the European Union, and the United States met during April in Chicago, IL to begin work that will lead to GRSB's definition framework for sustainable beef; however more experts are needed.

Honing in on Consumer Habits Cattlemen's Beef Board, 6/1/2013 - Ground beef is the mainstay of consumers' weekday dinner meals, and more consumers say they eat ground beef vs. chicken breasts during the week - that is, except for Millennials. Those are findings of a recent checkoff-funded study that analyzed in-home protein consumption and looked at beef vs. chicken in terms of frequency of consumption, as well as what consumers eat for typical weekday dinners vs. weekend and special-occasion meals, where consumers shop for beef and how much they spend on meat and beef. Further findings indicate that steaks rule the special-occasion meals, chosen far more often than ground beef and all types of chicken for those meals - that is, except for Millennials. Millennial respondents in the study showed different consumption patterns from others, as well as different shopping and spending habits when it comes to meat protein. These types of research results are critical in planning checkoff programs, key audiences, and successful promotional tactics. Click here to see the executive summary of this study.

GIPSA NEWS - 5/29 & 6/04

• GIPSA Alleges Gary Wayne Tuttle Violated the Packers and Stockyards Act (PDF; 56Kb)
  
• GIPSA Alleges Paul E. Gibson, Jr., d/b/a G&S Livestock Co. Violated the Packers and Stockyards Act (PDF; 61Kb)
  
• GIPSA Alleges Jerry O. Smith Violated the Packers and Stockyards Act (PDF; 59Kb)
  
• GIPSA Alleges Christopher J. Bartels, d/b/a Bartels Packing, Bartels Packing, Inc., Walt's Wholesale Meats, Inc. Violated the Packers and Stockyards Act (PDF; 63Kb)

Changes to the CFIA Anthrax Program

Canadian Cattlemen's Assn., 6/3/2013 - Anthrax is a rapid, fatal disease caused by bacteria (Bacillus anthracis) that exist as inactive spores in the soil and can remain dormant for many years. Animals contract the disease when they consume infected soil, feed or water and spores become active within the animal, causing death within hours. Initial symptoms include weakness, fever, and excitability, followed by depression, difficulty breathing, lack of coordination and convulsions. There may also be a bloody discharge, which can further contaminate the soil. However, due to the rapid progression of the disease, death is often the first sign.

A few isolated cases of anthrax occur almost every year in Western Canada. These usually appear during a period of hot, dry weather following a period of wet weather or flooding which brings the spores to the surface of the soil. Conditions that increase the risk of soil consumption by cattle (i.e. tillage, drought, close cut hay) increase the risk of anthrax.

Cattle Farmer Dealt Suspended Sentence and Fined For Breaking Tuberculosis Testing Laws

Dorset Echo, 6/3/2013 - A CATTLE farmer has been given a suspended sentence and fined 1,000 for breaking laws on tuberculosis testing for livestock.

Andrew Morris Newsam, of Sydling Road, Cerne Abbas, pleaded guilty to 12 offences under the Cattle Identification Regulations 2007 and breaching the Tuberculosis Order 2007 when he appeared before Weymouth Magistrates Court. The 47-year-old was sentenced to 20 weeks' imprisonment, suspended for two years, and was ordered to pay 1,000 costs.

Canada Tells Dispute Settlement Body of Damaging Impact of COOL

Canadian Cattlemen's Assn., 6/3/2013 - The day after the U.S. implemented an amendment to the Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) regulations that actually increases the discrimination against imported cattle, Canada was in front of the Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) stating its displeasure over said regulatory changes.

At the May 24 meeting in Geneva, Canada stated its position that the regulatory changes have not brought the U.S. into compliance with the WTO Agreement as purported by the U.S., and that 'Canada is extremely disappointed with these regulatory changes.'

Statement from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Forecast for U.S. Agricultural Exports

USDA, 5/30/2013 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture released its fourth Outlook for U.S. Agriculture Trade in fiscal year 2013 today. USDA projects $139.5 billion in agricultural exports in FY 2013, which if realized would be a new record. Since 2009, U.S. agricultural exports have climbed from $96.3 billion in 2009 to the most-recent forecast of $139.5 billion.

Congress Reauthorizes the Animal Drug User Fee Act

NCBA, 6/4/2013 - The Animal Drug User Fee Act (ADUFA) passed the House of Representatives last night with a vote of 390-12. With the passage of ADUFA last month in the Senate, the legislation, which authorizes the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to collect fees for certain animal drug applications, now heads to the White House for the President's signature.

Reauthorization of ADUFA is one of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association's (NCBA) top policy priorities. NCBA President Scott George, a dairy and beef producer from Cody, Wyo., said the passage of ADUFA is important because new animal health technologies allow cattle producers and veterinarians to prevent, control and treat diseases to maintain a healthy herd.

Statement from Chairwoman Stabenow Regarding the Proposed Purchase of Smithfield Foods by Shuanghui International

Ag.senate.gov, 6/5/2013 - Senator Debbie Stabenow, Chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, issued the following statement today regarding the proposed acquisition of Virginia-based Smithfield Foods, the world's largest pork producer and processor, by Shuanghui International, a Chinese meat product company.

''American consumers have long been able to trust the food they buy in the supermarket. The U.S. produces the safest, most affordable food in the world because of the high standard to which we hold our food producers.

Donnelly Amendment Would Protect Farmers' Information

Brownfield Ag News, 6/4/2013 - Earlier this week farm and ranch organizations representing the nation's livestock and poultry producers shared a letter with U.S. Senators in support of Amendment #1011 to the 2013 Farm Bill.  The amendment, submitted by Senators Joe Donnelly of Indiana and Chuck Grassley of Iowa would protect farmers and ranchers  by prohibiting the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from disclosing their private and confidential information to the public.

Reid Files Cloture Motion on Farm Bill

Agri Pulse, 6/4/2013 - Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., filed a cloture motion late Tuesday for the farm bill after yet another day of political squabbling over which additional amendments should be allowed.

Reid's move sets a Thursday morning roll call vote on the motion to proceed with the bill. If 60 votes are cast in favor, it would drop the number of pending amendments from more than 100 to a handful, and possibly lead to final passage of S. 954 by the end of this week or early next.

Cattle Theft Bill Passes Assembly

Madera Tribune, 5/31/2013 - Proposed legislation that would increase the penalties on livestock theft unanimously passed the State Assembly on Thursday, clearing way for consideration in the Senate. Proposed by Assemblyman Frank Bigelow (R-O'Neals) in March, Assembly Bill 924 would amend current grand theft law to establish a fine of up to $5,000 for anyone convicted of rustling livestock.

Illinois Bill Protects Hunters from PETA and its Drones

Drovers Cattle Network, 5/31/2013 - A bill passed by the Illinois House and Senate will prevent PETA members from using unmanned aerial surveillance to disrupt hunters in the state. PETA announced plans in April to use drones to monitor farmers and hunters for any illegal activity. If signed by Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, the bill prohibits anyone from flying unmanned aircraft over state hunting grounds with intent to disrupt hunters.