Cattle Industry News

Congressional Session Bears Fruit for Cattlemen

Mandatory Price Reporting, Ag Appropriations to see action in November

Washington, D.C. (October 12, 2004) – The winding days of Congress’s pre-election session was fruitful for cattlemen as many long-supported provisions saw passage and are on their way to becoming law.

“Cattle producers are grateful to their friends in Washington for helping to steer some of these key provisions through the legislative process,” says National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) President and Kansas cattle producer Jan Lyons.  “The successes we saw this week will help cattlemen better run their businesses and operations for years to come.”

Some of the key bills passed include:

Disaster Relief:  Hurricane and drought relief measures were attached to the Military Construction Appropriations Bill, which passed the House on Saturday and the Senate on Monday. The $11.6 billion in emergency supplemental aid will provide funding for states hit by Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne, and by Tropical Storm Bonnie. Of that, approximately $230 million will be for the Emergency Watershed Protection program and the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP).  The ECP is the program that will help cattle producers most. The bill also contains $2.9 billion in funding for ranchers whose operations were hurt by drought.

American Jobs Creation Act:  This bill, passed late last week, contains a number of provisions important for cattlemen:
The Rancher Help Act extends from two years to four years the amount of time cattle producers have to reinvest in livestock without paying capital gains taxes on cattle sold due to drought or another natural disaster.
The Extension of Section 179 Expensing allows cattle producers to write off equipment purchases in the year of purchase without having to depreciate the expense over time.
The FSC/ETI measure corrects portions of the U.S. tax code that led the European Union to place high and ever increasing tariffs on U.S. exports due the U.S.’s current treatment of Foreign Sales Corporation (FSC) and Extra-Territorial Income (ETI). This bill should resolve this outstanding World Trade Organization dispute and remove tariffs from many U.S exports. 

Weeds Bill:  The long-supported Noxious Weed Control Act passed out of Congress late Sunday night. The measure has been championed by Senator Larry Craig (R-Idaho) and supported by cattlemen for nearly five years. The bill requires the Secretary of the Interior to establish a program to provide assistance through states to eligible weed management entities to control or eradicate harmful, nonnative weeds on public and private land.

“NCBA has been working for years with our friends in Congress on these common-sense measures which will help producers better operate their businesses and better compete in the marketplace,” says Lyons.  “Cattlemen can feel confident that they are well represented in Washington and that their voices are being heard.”

Despite these wins, there remains some unfinished business that cattlemen will have their eyes on when Congress returns to Washington Nov. 16. After working with key committees toward reauthorization of Mandatory Price Reporting during the past year, the measure was delayed in the Senate, and although it eventually passed the Senate, it was too late to see action in the House before adjournment.

“We’re very disappointed that Mandatory Price Reporting was not reauthorized before its sunset date of Oct. 22,” says NCBA’s Director of Legislative Affairs Bryan Dierlam.  “But there is little opposition to reauthorization, and we’re confident it will pass when the House reconvenes in November.”  USDA has said it will continue to collect information and implement Mandatory Price Reporting despite the sunset.

Also on the Congressional agenda for November is debate on an omnibus appropriations bill.  “This is when we will urge passage of many of our agriculture appropriations provisions, such as funding for our animal health infrastructure, nutrition and conservation programs,” says Dierlam.    – NCBA

Cattle- Fax Market Update

Market Highlights – Trading was slow to develop last week, with prices finally landing at steady to $1 higher. Live cattle sold at $83 to $85 in the South on Friday, and $83 to $84 in the North Thursday into Friday. On a dressed basis, sales occurred at mostly $131 to $132. Volumes were moderate at best nationwide. Boxed beef prices dropped further this past week, although movement was extremely active, especially at mid-week. Boxed beef prices did improve on Friday. Feeder cattle prices were steady, while calves were steady to $1 lower. The yearling run is just beginning to slow, while the calf run is nearing full swing. Slaughter cows were $1 to $2 lower. Corn prices traded steady to lower; harvest is progressing well, fueling speculation of the biggest crop in history this year.  In Missouri, 29,999 feeder cattle were reported sold through auction markets. Weighted average price for 552-lb steers was $118.22.                                                                                 -To join Cattle-Fax, call (800) 825-7525

Missouri Cattlemen’s Association News

MCA Seeking Award Nominations and Officer Applications

Award Nominations - Do you know someone who deserves recognition for the hard work they do for the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association?  Someone who works tirelessly to improve the Missouri cattle industry?  Do you know someone who has paved the way for those of us in the business?  If so, nominate that person for one of the following awards: Cattleman of the Year, Pioneer, or Industry.  The awards will be presented at the 2004 Missouri Cattle Industry Convention and Trade Show, which will be held December 9-12, 2004 at the Tan-Tar-A Resort in Osage Beach. 

Officer Applications – The nominating committee is currently taking applications for the 2005 MCA officer team.  This is an excellent leadership opportunity for members with the desire to become more involved.  Interviews and the announcement of the new officer team will also take place at the Missouri Cattle Industry Convention and Trade Show, December 9-12, 2004 at Tan-Tar-A. 

For more information, to apply for an office, or to make a nomination, please contact McKenzie Keedy or Brent Bryant at (888) 499-9162 or e-mail mckenzie@mocattle.com or brent@mocattle.com. 

Reward Offered for Information on Stolen Cattle in Camden County

MCA member Randall Pemberton of Richland, MO had 21 head of cattle stolen the evening of October 13, 2004.  The Missouri Cattlemen’s Association offers a reward of $2000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the theft of cattle belonging to an MCA member.  The Pemberton family is offering an additional $3000 reward, making a total of $5000 available for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible.

The cattle were stolen near Stoutland, MO on Highway H and included 11 head of mixed color steers weighing between 650-675 lbs and 10 mixed color heifers weighing around 600 lbs.  All cattle have a large “U” notched in left ear.

If you have information, please contact: Randall Pemberton at 573-765-5516 or the Camden County Sheriff’s Dept. at 573-346-2243. 

MCA Endorses Candidates for November 2, 2004 Election

Congressmen Roy Blunt, Sam Graves, Kenny Hulshof, and Ike Skelton, along with Senator Christopher “Kit” Bond, have received the official endorsement of the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association after completing the rigorous endorsement process by the MCA Board of Directors. 

Voting – the Privilege and Responsibility of Every Cattleman and Woman

Every day you make several important decisions that affect your cattle operation, your business, your lifestyle.  Perhaps the most important decision you will make this fall, however, is the decision to vote.  With several important races – from local offices to the presidential race – there has never been a more important time to vote than 2004. 

Make the most out of your privilege to vote – research the candidates.  Research their policy on the issues that affect you most – agricultural, environmental, taxes, etc.  Every vote counts!

Calendar of Events

Oct. 19             Polk and Dallas County Cattlemen – Smith’s Restaurant, south of Bolivar, 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 21             Dallas County Cattlemen – Eagles Center, Buffalo, 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 21             Johnson County Cattlemen – Johnson County Fairgrounds, 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 21             Newton County Cattlemen – Crowder College Ag Building, 7:00 p.m.

Oct. 21             Pettis County Cattlemen – MFA Agri-Services, Sedalia, 6:00 p.m.

Oct. 25             Benton County Cattlemen – Classic’s, east of Cole Camp, 6:30 p.m.

Nov. 2               Please take time to exercise your right to vote!

Nov. 8-9            Missouri Forage & Grassland Council Annual Meeting, Holiday Inn, Lake Ozark

Dec. 9-12          Missouri Cattle Industry Convention & Trade Show – Tan-Tar-A, Osage Beach, MO

The Fine Print

This newsletter is a publication of the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association. All rights reserved – this newsletter may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, without permission of the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association. Did someone forward this message to you? To subscribe yourself, send an email to cattleinfo@mocattle.com. 

Do you have questions, comments or suggestions?

Would you like to advertise in our newsletter? 

If so, please contact McKenzie Keedy at (573) 499-9162 or mckenzie@mocattle.com.