Cattle Industry News
Checkoff Litigation Update
Beef Checkoff Litigation Update – As both sides in the ongoing legal struggle over the beef checkoff prepare to argue their case before the U.S. Supreme Court, an update on the exact status of the suit seems appropriate. On August 20, 2004, briefs were filed from the U.S. Solicitor General, intervenors, and amicus curiae (friends of the court) arguing the position that the beef checkoff is indeed constitutional and that the Supreme Court should overturn the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals’ opinion.
There were several amicus curiae briefs filed in support of the beef checkoff. The three most prominent ones include an industry brief, a Congressional brief and one filed by the National Association of Attorneys General. The industry brief was spearheaded by the Texas Cattle Feeders, Texas Southwest Cattle Raisers, Texas Farm Bureau and the American Farm Bureau Federation. This brief was co-signed by seventy-eight state and national beef industry organizations, twenty-eight state Farm Bureaus, and seven other agriculture organizations. Collectively, these organizations represent hundreds of thousands of U.S. agricultural producers.
Thirty-three state Attorneys General, including Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon, also joined together to file a brief in support of the checkoff and to raise concerns of the potential impacts an adverse decision would have on state commodity promotion programs. Three members of Congress also filed an amicus brief supporting the checkoff.
The plaintiffs in this case (LMA/WORC) and their allies now have thirty-five days from August 20, 2004 to file their response. However, it would not be surprising for the plaintiffs to request an extension for filing their briefs. Once they are filed however, the Solicitor General and intervenors will have thirty-five days to file counter-arguments.
Oral arguments could still occur in December 2004, but if plaintiffs request and receive an extension for filing, it is possible that these won’t be scheduled until January 2005. The Supreme Court has already stipulated oral arguments will last one hour. That means that each of the primary parties – USDA (as represented by the Solicitor General) and LMA/WORC – will have just 30 minutes apiece.
For USDA, oral arguments will be given by someone from the Solicitor General’s team. If the intervenors are allowed time to present oral arguments, they will be given by an attorney from Hogan & Hartson, LLP, a leading international law firm with extensive experience with commodity checkoffs and Supreme Court cases. Last week LMA/WORC announced the hiring of Harvard Professor Laurence Tribe to present their oral arguments. Dr. Tribe also has extensive Supreme Court experience.
The best prediction we can make relative to a decision timeframe is that one will be made by the end of the next term, which will be June 30, 2005. For more information on beef checkoff litigation, please contact Steve Taylor, Missouri Beef Industry Council at (800) 441-6242 or NCBA’s Don Ricketts at (303) 694-0305. - Information provided in part by California Cattlemen’s Association
University Program Accepts Cattle and Hogs in Exchange for Tuition
Lindenwood University is using the age-old barter system to cover enrollment
fees as part of its Pork for Tuition program.
According to the
Kansas City Star, Lindenwood, located in St. Charles, Mo., a suburb of St.
Louis, allows students who demonstrate financial need to pay tuition with
livestock. Currently, only cattle and hogs are accepted. The livestock can be
processed at any U.S. Department of Agriculture-approved plant at cost to the
University, and the end product is later utilized by the school's cafeteria.
According to the report, the cafeteria serves pork roast, sausage, hamburger and
other meat entrees from the livestock its students provide.
The program is aimed
at helping rural families send their children to school. Tuition is $11,200 per
year, but students who qualify for the program are only required to provide
$2,200 worth of hogs or cattle at market rates. Typically, that translates into
about 15 300-pound hogs or two steers weighing 1,200 each, according to the
report.
The practice of
trading goods for college tuition is non-existent in public institutions because
of limitations associated with government funding. The National Association of
Independent Colleges and Universities says 15 or fewer private institutions
nationwide let families barter goods and services for tuition, many of which
have policies that are structured much more rigidly than the Pork for Tuition
program at Lindenwood.
Approximately 24
students have taken advantage of Pork for Tuition since its launch in 2000.
-
Kristin Gagnon, 8/24/04 for
Meatingplace.com
Cattle- Fax Market Update
Market Highlights – Fed cattle prices were lower on the week in a light to moderate trade. Southern values were mostly $82 live while Northern prices were $83-83.50 live and $131-132 dressed. Feeder cattle prices were down $1-2 and calves traded mostly steady. Cow and bull prices were also steady.
Grade mix reflects changes – The percentage of steer and heifer carcasses that grade Choice has increased substantially over the past few months. Approximately 55 percent of all graded carcasses are rolled as Choice compared to 51 percent a year ago and 52 percent for the 5-year average. At the same time, the percentage of carcasses called yield grade 4 has increased from about 5 percent in early June to over 8 percent in the most recent report. Both of these measures indicate that the cattle mix has become richer over the past two months. -To join Cattle-Fax, call (800) 825-7525
Missouri Cattlemen’s Association News
Confidentiality and Cost the Focus of Testimony USDA Animal ID Listening Session
Confidentiality and cost - these were the two themes repeated again and again by concerned livestock producers during the USDA National Animal ID listening session at Joplin Regional Stockyards last Friday.
With a full house of Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Kansas producers in attendance, Missouri Cattlemen’s President Rusty Kahrs, 1st Vice President Howard Hardecke and Southwest Regional VP Larry Moore testified on behalf of the Missouri Cattlemen's Association. Missouri Cattlewomen’s President Jean Riffle testified on behalf of the Missouri Cattlewomen’s Association.
MCA members made up the largest segment of the crowd with some members traveling several hours to attend. Under Secretary Bill Hawks and USDA Assistant Deputy Administrator Dr. Valerie Ragan heard over and over the importance of producer confidentiality, spreading the cost of the program from producer to plate, and making the system work for all producers large and small.
Testifying on the importance of confidentiality, MCA President Rusty Kahrs said “There are a lot of groups out there, intergovernmental agencies, DNR and EPA that would love to get their hands on our proprietary information. There are a lot of other groups out there, like Sierra Club, PETA, and other agri-terrorist groups that would love to have their hands on our information as well. So, let's hold that privately, let's keep it confidential and protect our interests.”
Howard Hardecke, MCA First Vice President, testified on the importance of a system that works for smaller producers, “We do want to make the cost to be such that it doesn't interfere with a lot of the small producers. That's our big concern. Missouri's average cattle herd is about 35 head, and we feel very strongly this should be a program that's very simple, that even the small producers can work with.”
In his testimony, Dr. Larry Moore, MCA Southwest Regional Vice President, addressed the difficulty of implementing a National Animal ID System. “Implementation of this program is not going to be easy. As a producer and a past market veterinarian, I see a lot of problems we need to approach and overcome to prevent interference with the present method of marketing our calves in this part of the country.” Larry continued, “Right now it would be almost impossible for a market veterinarian to identify every calf the way the marketing system is set up.”
MCA continues to work to insure any National Animal Identification System meets the criteria of producer confidentiality, reasonable cost, no additional liability and allows for the continuation of the business practices and traditions of our great Missouri Cattle Industry.
For those interested in Animal Identification but unable to attend the USDA Listening Session last Friday at Joplin Regional Stockyards, a complete transcript of the meeting is available online at http://aphisweb.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/issues/nais/transcripts/082704_MO_transcript.pdf.
MCA, CattleWomen Make Donation to Sedalia Senior Center
The Missouri Cattlemen’s Association Beef House provides more than the best beef in town during the Missouri State Fair – it helps to provide senior citizens in the Sedalia area with nutritious meals in the weeks following the fair. At the end of the 2004 Missouri State Fair, the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association Beef House donated cases of lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, and peppers to the Sedalia Senior Center. In addition, the American National CattleWomen, in conjunction with the Missouri CattleWomen and the Missouri Beef Industry Council, donated 98 three-pound boxes of beef patties.
The Sedalia Senior Center provides nutritious, hot meals Monday through Friday and delivers over 100 hot meals to seniors in their homes each day. In addition, they provide supper sacks for evening meals and frozen meals for weekends. The Sedalia Senior Center is committed to making sure seniors have a nutritious meal each day, regardless of their ability to pay.
“The donation of meat and produce from the cattlemen and women helped us tremendously to meet our budget for the month,” said Elle Wasson, Center Coordinator. For more information, contact Brent Bryant at (888) 499-9162 or Dawn Thurnau at (800) 441-6242.
Missouri Cattlemen’s Association Beef House: Success and Renovation
Last week’s edition of Prime Cuts featured the success of the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association Beef House during the 2004 Missouri State Fair:
The Missouri Cattlemen’s Association Beef House experienced great success during the 2004 Missouri State Fair. The Beef House broke records on all but 3 days, set a record for most beef meals served on a single day (3,580 meals on Saturday, August 14), and served over 25,000 great beef meals to fairgoers during the eleven days of the 2004 Missouri State Fair. Although final numbers are not yet in, we know 2004 was a very successful year for the Beef House.
This week, it’s time to focus on the renovation of the Beef House. Although it’s only a few weeks after the fair, renovations have already begun. All the signs, tables and chairs are gone from the Beef House. Soon the coolers, grills and equipment will go. Tuck pointing of the brick is in progress. Next August, the Beef House will have new floors, a new ceiling, central air conditioning and a brand-new kitchen, twice the size of the current kitchen. In addition, there will be a new handicap-accessible ramp on the north side of the building and a possible new outdoor seating area. Not only will the look of the Beef House change due to renovations, the traffic flow will be reversed. In 2005, be prepared to come in the door you once went out, and speed through the line to pick up your steak on the opposite side of the building. With a newly-renovated building and top-quality beef, 2005 is sure to be another exciting year for the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association Beef House.
Once again, thank you to each and every one of our 600-plus MCA volunteers, as well as the Beef House staff. Your hard work, dedication, and positive attitude helped to make 2004 the most successful year in Beef House history!
“Juice” Club to Give Away Heifers in Memory of Justin “Juice” McBee
The Juice Club is a non for profit organization started this year to honor the memory of Justin "Juice" McBee. Justin was a 19 year-old freshman at the University of Missouri who was killed in an automobile accident Thanksgiving morning of 2003. He is the son of Jerry and Joy McBee of Clark, MO. Justin was very involved in the cattle industry, especially showing cattle. The Juice Club is a mentoring program that will teach leadership, showmanship, grooming, selection, and overall aspects of the beef industry to Missouri youth. The Juice Club will give one heifer each to 5 individuals that apply and are chosen through an application and interview process the first year. More information follows:
Program Mission: To continue the Justin “Juice” McBee legacy of dedication to and growth of the agriculture industry, specifically beef cattle production, though mentoring and teaching interested youth in the state of Missouri.
Program Philosophy: Provide supervised agricultural experience projects and create fun interactive learning opportunities such as; fitting and grooming workshops, showmanship clinics, providing leadership and team building opportunities for young men and women interested in the beef cattle industry.
Program Description: A committee from the applicants that meet the eligibility will select five individuals. Those selected will be given a heifer in the fall of the year.
Individuals must donate back to the Juice Club the first live calf at weaning, approximately 205 days of age, out of the project. Individuals must meet and perform all eligibility requirements.
Program Requirements:
Application is available at: http://mocattle.com/juniors.htm
For More Information Contact: Jerry & Joy McBee • (573) 875-5589
- Information provided by Shannon Holohan, Juice Club President
Calendar of Events
Sept. 9-11 Carroll County Cattlemen’s Tractor Cruise
Sept. 11 Audrain Co. Cattlemen – Twin Lakes Lodge, 4:00 p.m.
Sept. 12 Polk Co. Cattlemen – Polk Co. Fairgrounds, 7:00 p.m.
Sept. 16 Johnson Co. Cattlemen – Johnson Co. Fairgrounds, 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 16 MCA Board of Directors Meeting – Columbia, 10:00 a.m.
Sept. 18 Southwest Missouri Tour, 1:30 p.m.
Sept. 21 Cass-Jackson Cattlemen – City Park, Harrisonville, 6:30 p.m.
Dec. 9-12 Missouri Cattle Industry Convention & Trade Show – Tan-Tar-A, Osage Beach, MO
Mailbox
To the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association:
Thank you for sponsoring the trophy for the Grand Champion Carcass Steer at the 2004 Missouri State Fair. I really appreciate it. It looks nice on my bookcase. Thanks for all you do for the youth in agriculture. It helps out a lot.
It was a fun fair for my family and I. My steer “Munchers” ended up doing pretty good. I hope I can find a good steer for next year and do it again.
Sincerely,
Ryan Nelson, Vandalia, MO
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