Tyson and
Conoco-Phillips Announce Fat to Fuel Initiative
Tyson foods announced an alliance with energy company Conoco-Phillips
this week to produce renewable diesel fuel from animal fat. The group plans to
convert beef, pork and poultry fat into fuel, and Tyson will begin modifying
plants to process the fat later this year. "We are firmly committed to
leveraging our leadership position in the food industry to identify and
commercialize renewable energy opportunities," says Richard L. Bond, Tyson's
president and chief executive officer. "This strategic alliance is a big win for
the entire agricultural sector because it paves the way for greater
participation of fats and oils in renewable fuels." For more information,
follow this link
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Drover’s Alert by Drover’s Journal
Moving Cattle
Safely from Ranch to Rail
Checkoff-funded training program aims to
mitigate injury to cattle in transit
Cattle are typically transported two to four times during their
lives, making travel the second most stressful event for them, next to severe
weather. And if careful animal-handling practices are not followed during
travel, stress can directly affect beef quality and cost producers money. A new
beef checkoff-funded DVD and print piece, Master Cattle Transporter Guide,
illustrates best practices to keep cattle safe and healthy as they move from
ranch to rail.
National beef quality audits show bruising and rough handling of cattle during transportation costs the industry more than $114 million a year in trimmed carcasses and dark cutters. Stress on feeder cattle during transit to feedlots or stocker yards can lead to increased sickness, limiting potential performance of those calves for the rest of their lives, noted Anne Burkholder, chair of the Nebraska Cattlemen’s Animal Health and Nutrition Committee.
Animal welfare practices during transit can clearly end in either positive or negative results for the entire production chain.
“Producers do everything in their power to provide the best possible care for their animals on their farms or ranches, but we need to remember that transporters also play a critical role in the health and welfare of the cattle we raise,” said Dr. Ran Smith, D.V.M., and chair of the national Beef Quality Assurance Advisory Board. “By using best practices, they can save the beef cattle industry millions of dollars a year.”
Total Beef Quality Assurance aims to recover lost profits by improving the cattle handling skills of producers and truck drivers, said Burkholder. With clear advice and demonstrations, the DVD covers cattle behavior, proper loading, unloading and driving. There are also details on truck and trailer cleaning and biosecurity protocols that are based on USDA’s Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) guidelines.
The print manual fits easily inside a glove box and highlights important points covered in the DVD, such as: Cattle handling guidelines, based on “point of balance” concept; Loading density diagrams for different types of trailers; Hot and cold weather handling considerations; Proper unloading of animals at their destination; and Checklist to assess fit cattle, as well as sick or downer cattle.
The DVD and print manual are sold together for $10, on a cost-recovery basis. Supplies are limited. For more information or to order a copy, contact 800-368-3138 or emailcustomerservice@beef.org.
The Master Transporter Guide was funded by the beef checkoff and developed through cooperative efforts of cattle experts at Colorado State University, University of Nebraska, Texas Cooperative Extension, Kansas State University, the Nebraska BQA program, and several transporters, feedlot owners and beef producers.
Registration
Open for Beef Improvement Federation Meeting in Colorado
The Rocky Mountains provide the backdrop for the annual meeting and
40th anniversary celebration of the Beef Improvement Federation. The meeting
will be held June 6-9 in Fort Collins, Colo. It will focus on the future of
genetic evaluation and improvement with a variety of presenters from around the
country.
"The BIF meeting is a great opportunity for cattlemen from around the country and the world to come together and discuss genetics and how to improve our industry,” says Altenburg, Colorado planning chairman.
The meeting will kick off with a Colorado Welcome Reception on Wednesday evening, June 6. The history of Artificial Insemination will be the focus of the National Association of Animal Breeders Symposium that evening as well.
On Thursday, June 7, participants will discuss “Performance Programs at a Crossroads” as speakers talk about the current performance programs’ cost and benefits and gather the audience’s views on the direction for future genetic improvement initiatives. Awards for the Commercial Producer of the Year will be presented, and committee meetings will be held in the afternoon.
Thursday also has a spouse/family tour slated to Estes Park and the historic Stanley Hotel, plus a trip to Rocky Mountain National Park. That evening, the group will experience “Foam on the Range” at the Colorado State University Equine Center for an evening of great conversation, a steak dinner, tasting the products of Colorado-produced ale and viewing cattle from area seedstock producers.
Friday focuses on “Challenges to Conventional Wisdom.” Presenters will lead the discussion on uses of genetics technology and changes seen in the quality grades of cattle. The Seedstock Producer of the Year will be named, and committee meetings will be held that afternoon. Friday evening, attendees can head up to Old Town Fort Collins to enjoy the local restaurants.
Producer tours will visit many Front Range locations throughout the day on Saturday, June 9. Two tours are offered. The first tour, “Beef Industry Players,” has stops at Kuner Feedlot, Five Rivers Cattle Feeding, Safeway’s Distribution Center and Aristocrat Angus Ranch, as well as lunch with National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and Cattle-Fax. The “Seedstock Alliances” tour features Walter Farms, Inc., Five Star Cattle Systems, Kuner Feedlot and Five Rivers Cattle Feeding.
The BIF Annual Research Symposium and Annual Meeting is hosted by Colorado State University, Colorado Livestock Association, Colorado Cattlemen’s Association and the Beef Improvement Federation.
The meeting will take place at the Hilton Fort Collins. To register and for program details go to www.beefimprovement.org under the conventions tab. Pre-registration is due May 15. For information contact Willie Altenburg, 970/568-7792, willie@rmi.net or Mark Enns at 970/491-2722, Mark.Enns@Colostate.edu. - Beef Improvement Federation
Missouri
Producers Encouraged to Report Crop Damage
Recent unseasonably cold temperatures have taken a toll on Missouri’s
spring crops. Many Missouri producers have suffered crop production losses due
to the freezing weather. Tim Kelley, executive director for Missouri Farm
Service Agency (FSA), said there are some actions producers must take
immediately to report their crop damage.
“Producers need to contact their local FSA office immediately to report any acres damaged by the weather,” Kelley said. “It is necessary to report failed acres before disposing of the crop.”
Producers who have their crops insured through a private crop insurance company should contact the insurance agent immediately and advise them of the damaged crops. Additionally, a CCC-576, Notice of Loss Application, must be completed in person at your local FSA office, and your failed acres reported.
For those crops covered under FSA’s Non-insured Assistance Program (NAP), producers should immediately contact their local FSA office to report the acres and file a Notice of Loss Application.
“Producers with NAP coverage should report their losses within 15 calendar days after the disaster conditions occurred, or damage to the crop became apparent.” Kelley said.
Crops not covered with a private insurance or NAP policy should still be reported to the local FSA office and producers should file a Notice of Loss Application. This will provide FSA with a historical record of your crop should disaster assistance become available.
For more information about reporting failed acres, contact your local FSA county office or visit www.fsa.usda.gov. - FSA
Farm Bill
Forum: Share your opinion!
Attention Farm Bill stakeholders. On Tuesday, May 1, in Columbia,
Mo., a forum will be held at the Stoney Creek Inn for those interested in policy
discussions. For more information, go to
http://www.iwla.org//index.php?id=21.
NRCS Seeks
Conservation Easement Proposals
The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has announced this
week that nearly $70 million is available to protect agricultural land
nationwide through the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP) in fiscal
year 2007. The NRCS will accept proposals through April 27th from groups
interested in working together to acquire conservation easements. They are
expected to announce final projects in June 2007.
FRPP provides matching funds to help purchase development
rights to keep productive farm and ranchland in agricultural uses. Working
through existing programs, USDA partners with State, tribal or local governments
and non-governmental organizations to acquire conservation easements or other
interests in land from landowners. USDA provides up to 50 percent of the fair
market easement value of the conservation easement.
To qualify, farmland must: be part of a pending offer from a State, tribe, or
local farmland protection program; be privately owned; have a conservation plan
for highly erodible land; be large enough to sustain agricultural production; be
accessible to markets for what the land produces; have adequate infrastructure
and agricultural support services; and have surrounding parcels of land that can
support long-term agricultural production. Proposals must be submitted by the
eligible entities to the appropriate NRCS State Office during the application
window. For more information online, go to:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/frpp. - Information provided by
NCBA
Hereford Juniors Encouraged
to Get Applications and Contest Entries in Soon
The John Wayne Memorial Scholarship, Junior Golden
Bull Award and Prospect Award applications are due May 1. Several other
applications and entries are due in June and July, including photography contest
submissions. Visit the
National Junior Hereford Association Web site for more information and
contact your state advisor for applications.
Download applications and forms:
John Wayne Memorial Scholarship application
Junior Golden Bull Award application
Photography contest entry form
- Information provided by the American Hereford Association
Angus
Enthusiasts Gear Up for the 2007 National Junior Angus Show
May 15 is Ownership and Entry Deadline
Angus youth should plan now for the 2007 National Junior Angus
Show (NJAS) July 1-7 in Tulsa, Okla. The Oklahoma and Arkansas Angus and junior
Angus associations will host “The American Dream.” The weeklong event features
the largest single-breed beef cattle show in the world, with more than 1,000
head of cattle exhibited by National Junior Angus Association (NJAA) members
ages 9-21 years old.
Youth will compete for top prizes in several divisions within the cattle show, including bred-and-owned heifers, bulls and cow-calf pairs; and owned heifers, cow-calf pairs and steers. The opportunity to enter steers in a carcass division also exists.
In addition to the cattle show, numerous educational competitions take place during the week. Contests allow the juniors to showcase their skills outside of the showring and include prepared and extemporaneous public speaking, quiz bowl, team sales, team fitting, livestock judging, photography, posters, creative writing, and graphic design. Another feature of the week is the American Angus Auxiliary-sponsored All-American Certified Angus Beef® (CAB®) Cook-Off.
Along with the cattle shows and competitions, a fitting and clipping clinic will be conducted and six members will be elected to the NJAA Board of Directors at the NJAA annual meeting.
Exhibitors and contestants at the NJAS must be NJAA members and be 9 years old, but not yet 21, by Jan. 1, 2007, to compete in the activities. The ownership and entry deadline is May 15, which is earlier than in past years. No late entries are accepted.
For more information about the 2007 NJAS or junior Angus programs, click here to download a story from the May Angus Journal that describes the contests, log on to www.njas.info or www.njaa.info, or contact the Junior Activities Department at 816-383-5100.
- American Angus Association
Missouri
Cattlemen's Update
Missouri Cattlemen’s
Association Offers Disaster Relief Program
The Missouri Cattlemen’s Association Board of Directors yesterday approved a
disaster relief funding package for Missouri cattle producers affected by winter
storms. The disaster relief program, which is funded by the National Cattlemen’s
Foundation Disaster Relief Fund, will provide reimbursement for qualifying items
to cattle producers in counties declared a federal disaster area. Qualifying
items include fencing supplies, generators and chainsaws used to repair damages
incurred during winter ice and snow storms. The Disaster Relief program
guidelines are as follows:
November 30, 2006:
Boone, Cole, Greene, Iron, St. Francois, Ste.
Genevieve, Washington, or St. Louis County.
January 12, 2007:
Barry, Barton, Callaway, Camden, Christian, Cole,
Crawford, Dade, Dallas, Dent, Franklin, Gasconade, Greene, Hickory, Jasper,
Laclede, Lawrence, Maries, McDonald, Miller, Moniteau, Newton, Osage, Phelps,
Polk, Pulaski, St. Charles, St. Clair, St. Louis, Stone, Warren, Webster,
Wright, Bates, Benton, Boone, Cedar, Cooper, Douglas, Henry, Iron, Jefferson,
Lincoln, Montgomery, Morgan, Taney, Texas, Vernon, or Washington County.
Fencing Supplies, Generator or Chainsaw
The Disaster Relief Program is available to all cattle producers in the counties listed above. Applications for the disaster relief program are available on the MCA website, www.mocattle.com, by calling MCA at (888) 499-9162, or from your local county cattlemen’s association. To qualify, applications must be postmarked by May 1, 2007. Disaster relief funds are a result of donations from individuals, associations, businesses and foundations to the National Cattlemen’s Foundation and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.
Missouri
Cattlemen's Association seeks Executive Vice President
The Missouri Cattlemen's Association is looking
for an aggressive individual to serve as Executive Vice President. The
individual should be knowledgeable of the beef industry. The individual will be
responsible for overall management of all association activities. Strong
communication skills are a must. Association and government affairs experience
is a plus.
Individual must have the willingness to travel and to support the interests of a member-driven organization.
Interested individuals should send cover letter and resume, by May 1, 2007, to:
Missouri
Cattlemen's Association
Merrel Breyer
2306 Bluff Creek Drive
Columbia, MO 65201
Quick Links
- For beef checkoff news and producer information go to
www.missouribeefcouncil.com and
www.mobeef.com.
Calendar of
Events
April 19 Mid-Missouri Cattlemen Annual Meeting – Miller
Co. Regional Stockyards, 6:30 p.m.
April 19 Greene County Cattlemen – Pinegar Arena, Springfield, 7:00
p.m.
April 19 Vernon County Cattlemen – Vernon County Fairgrounds, 7:00
p.m.
April 23 Macon County Cattlemen – Lolli Bros. Café, Macon, 7:00 p.m.
April 26 Newton County Cattlemen – Crowder College Ag Building, 7:00
p.m.
May 1 Southwest Cattlemen – Southwest Research Center, Mt. Vernon,
7:00 p.m.
May 15 Cass-Jackson Cattlemen – Elk’s Lodge, Harrisonville, 6:30
p.m.
For more cattle industry events, visit
www.mocattle.com/calendar.htm
The Fine
Print
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If so, please contact McKenzie Disselhorst at (573) 499-9162 or
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