MCA Works to Assess Problems, Help Producers in Southwest Missouri
Producers not affected by ice storm urged to donate or sell surplus hay
The staff and leadership of the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association have been working this week to assess the damage to beef operations in Southwest Missouri caused by the recent ice storm and to put together a disaster relief strategy for affected producers. In addition to requesting state and federal disaster relief funding, MCA has been working to get essential supplies, including hay, to producers in need.
Cattlemen and women in need of hay can utilize the following resources:
1. The Commercial Ag Hay List, which lists hay for sale in Missouri and surrounding states. The list is available at http://agebb.missouri.edu/haylst/ and is the most up-to-date list available.
2. The Missouri Department of Agriculture Hay Directory, which also lists hay for sale in Missouri and surrounding states. The MDA Hay Directory is available online at http://www.mda.mo.gov/Market/haydirectory.htm. A hard copy is also available by calling the Hay Hotline at (800) 877-4429.
Producers wishing to sell or donate extra hay to help fellow cattle producers may do the following:
1. Call the Hay Hotline at (800) 877-4429 to add your hay to the sale list.
2. Logon to the Commercial Ag Hay List at http://agebb.missouri.edu/haylst/ and submit a listing of your hay for sale.
3. Call the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association at (888) 499-9162 and ask for Brent Bryant (ext. 230), McKenzie Disselhorst (ext. 233) or Ken Disselhorst (ext. 243). The MCA staff will work with you to help sell or donate extra hay to producers in need.
Producers who have been affected by the storm are urged to call the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association at (888) 499-9162 or e-mail cattleinfo@mocattle.com to report damages and needs. Pictures of storm damage are also needed and should be e-mailed to cattleinfo@mocattle.com. Your pictures and reports will help us to better assess and respond to the needs of cattle producers affected by the storms.
The Missouri Cattlemen’s Association will continue to work to help cattlemen and women affected by the storm throughout the next several weeks. Please continue to read Prime Cuts for more information.
President Approves Blunt’s Request for Federal Disaster Declaration
Gov. Matt Blunt this week announced President George W. Bush granted his request for a major disaster declaration following the deadly ice storms that swept across the state over the past weekend. In addition to helping share the cost of recovery, the approval of Blunt's request opens the door for new federal resources for Missouri such as generators.
“I am pleased that President Bush quickly approved my request in order for federal assistance to immediately become available to help communities and local governments manage the largest mass care national disaster our state has experienced,” Blunt said. “My primary concern remains the safety of all Missourians. I encourage everyone in the affected areas to continue checking on their neighbors during this time as we work to assist those who have been impacted by these deadly ice storms.”
After declaring a state of emergency early Saturday, Blunt sent approximately 550 Missouri National Guard Troops to the Springfield and St. Louis areas in response to the storms. In addition, the governor provided extensive state resources to communities hit with the severe ice storms including access to dozens of large power generators and Meals-Ready-to-Eat.
The disaster declaration includes Barry, Barton, Callaway, Camden, Christian, Cole, Crawford, Dade, Dallas, Dent, Franklin, Gasconade, Greene, Hickory, Jasper, Laclede, Lawrence, Lincoln, Maries, McDonald, Miller, Montgomery, Newton, Osage, Phelps, Polk, Pulaski, St. Charles, St. Clair, St. Louis, Stone, Warren, Webster and Wright Counties and the City of St. Louis for debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance, under the Public Assistance program.
Blunt noted the severe winter storms caused eight deaths and knocked out power to over 330,000 Missourians. Local officials have established 89 shelters which have assisted approximately 3,000 citizens.
“The State Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency have established a Joint Field Office and will begin contacting local elected officials in the declared counties to help provide new resources, such as generators, and begin the reimbursement process,” Blunt said.
Southwest Missouri Producers Braced for Long Outage
Among the most
extensively affected areas from the winter storm that clobbered the Midwest is
the southwestern part of Missouri where power lines toppled and crews are
working around the clock to restore electricity to the customers who still have
none. Despite those efforts, an Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives
spokesman characterizes the length of the storm outage in days instead of in
hours. Barry Hart, the association’s executive vice president and CEO, says
extensive infrastructure damage from the major ice storm makes power restoration
especially difficult.
“As an example, one of our electric cooperatives, Ozark Electric Cooperative in
Mount Vernon has 2,000 of their poles that have broken off and are laying on the
ground,” Hart told Brownfield Tuesday. Poles have to be reset before the lines
can be re-energized, which is extending the time it takes to get customers back
on, according to Hart. The area especially hard-hit, said Hart, is a
100-mile-wide corridor with its center on I-44
“We’re telling our members in those areas prepare for the worst because we’ve
never seen a storm this bad,” said Hart.
- Brownfield
Cattlemen Continue to Assess Winter Storm Damage
It is estimated that as many as 20,000 cattle have been lost due to winter ice and snow storms in Colorado, Texas, New Mexico, Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Missouri according to estimates by cattle organizations in those states. “But that estimate doesn’t include the additional hardships our fellow cattlemen and women are facing with feed, fencing, sickness, lost production and the costs of rebuilding their livelihoods,” says Roxanne Johnson, Executive Director for the National Cattlemen's Foundation (NCF). Since January 4, the NCF has been coordinating a disaster relief fund to provide aid for cattlemen hit by the recent winter storms. Johnson says contributions to the disaster relief fund are coming in daily with nearly $30,000 raised to-date along with additional in-kind donations of hay and equipment.
To assist with this effort, contribute or get more information, contact NCBA’s Membership Department at 866-BEEF-USA (233-3872) or visit www.nationalcattlemensfoundation.org.
- NCBA
Cattle Industry News
FSIS to Extend Comment Period on Term ‘Natural’
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has extended the comment period on how to define the term “natural” until March 5.
FSIS conducted a public meeting Dec. 12, 2006, to discuss a petition to establish a definition for the voluntary claim “natural.” The agency also gathered comments on conditions under which the claim should be allowed to be used on the labels of meat and poultry products.
The original comment period closed on Jan. 11, 2007; however, FSIS has taken this action to respond to requests that were made at and after the Dec. 12, 2006, meeting. To view a transcript from the public meeting, visit FSIS’ web site at www.fsis.usda.gov/PDF/Natural_Claims_Transcripts.pdf.
CME and NCF Award 20 Students with Beef Industry Scholarship
Two Missouri students among top 20 winners
Twenty outstanding students pursuing careers in the beef industry have each been awarded a $1,500 scholarship provided by the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Inc. (CME) and the National Cattlemen’s Foundation (NCF). The CME has sponsored this scholarship program for 17 years.
Each scholarship winner wrote a 750-word essay that identified key issues confronting the beef industry and suggested possible ways of dealing with those issues.
Missouri’s scholarship winners are Travis Arp, a student at the University of Missouri – Columbia, and Andrew Vickers, a student at El Dorado Springs High School. Travis currently works part time at the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association as a Program Assistant. Congratulations to both Travis and Andrew!
Dr. Elizabeth Parker Joins NCBA as Chief Veterinarian
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) proudly announces that Dr. Elizabeth Parker has joined its team as chief veterinarian in Washington, D.C.
“We’re very
excited to have Elizabeth come on board and fill the role as our animal health
specialist,” said NCBA’s Vice President of Government Affairs Jay Truitt. “In
addition to her vast experience as a practicing veterinarian, Elizabeth worked
for many years on Capitol Hill, and she has a wealth of knowledge on the many
political issues affecting our industry.”
Parker’s experience includes working as a professional staff member on the House
Agriculture Committee and more recently as an international consultant for the
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
“Growing up on a family farm in Abilene, Texas, Elizabeth knows first-hand the challenges our members face every day on their operations,” says Truitt. “I’m confident she will prove to be an excellent resource for our members on animal health-related issues and a strong advocate of their priorities in Washington, D.C.”
In her new capacity, Parker will focus on issues related to animal health, animal welfare and food safety and security, especially those being debated within government agencies and in Congress. She will also serve as a valuable asset as the U.S. beef industry continues to work toward normalizing trade in the foreign marketplace.
Dr. Parker holds Bachelor of Science degrees in Biomedical Science and Veterinary Science, and a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine, all from Texas A&M University. Parker joined the NCBA team January 15. - NCBA
Apply Now for Hereford Internships
The AHA youth activities department, Hereford Publications Inc. (HPI) and CHB LLC are again offering summer internships.
The youth activities internship is for a college student interested in assisting with planning and execution of junior shows and leadership events. For more information, contact Chris Stephens at (816) 842-3757 or cstephens@hereford.org, or see the “Announcements” section at Hereford.org. The deadline to apply is Feb. 15.
HPI and AHA offer a communications internship for a college junior or senior who is pursuing a degree in agricultural journalism or agricultural communications. The intern works with the Hereford World editorial staff and the AHA communication team. For more information, contact Angie Stump Denton, Hereford World editor, at (785) 363-7263 or adenton@hereford.org, or see the “Announcements” section at Hereford.org. The deadline to apply is Feb. 15.
The CHB LLC internship application deadline is March 1. Candidates must be at least 21 years of age and enrolled in a two-year or four-year college. The intern’s primary responsibility is to help account managers with the sales and marketing of CHB. For more information, contact Connie Couch at (816) 842-3758 or ccouch@herefordbeef.org, or visit Herefordbeef.org. – American Hereford Association
Grazing Conference planned by Mark Twain Grazing Council
Interested in learning more about grazing close to home? The Mark Twain Grazing Council is sponsoring a one-day Grazing Conference Saturday, February 3, 2007, at the Quality Inn & Suites, Hannibal, Missouri. Conference participants will choose from a variety of sessions conducted by people with first-hand experience. Topics include: Greg Judy's "No Risk Ranching", innovative fencing and watering, dollars and cents of grass, by-product alternatives as a feed source, alternative forages, year-round fescue management, and co mingle grazing of ruminant animals. Keith Johnson of Purdue University, the lunch-time keynote speaker, will talk about improving the grazing operation. One of the conference highlights will be a farmers' panel of progressive area producers talking about their own operations. There will also be vendors on hand displaying new and innovative products.
The Mark Twain Grazing Council was formed by a group of livestock producers from Audrain, Marion, Monroe, Ralls, and Shelby counties interested in gaining knowledge about grazing operations and improving profitability of those operations. The Council first sponsored a grazing tour called "Graze Daze" at Birchwood Farms in Perry, Missouri. The "Graze Daze" was well attended and very informative.
Registration, which includes admittance to the trade show, continental breakfast, and luncheon, costs $20 in advance or $25 at the door.
Registration and program information is available at area agribusinesses and SWCD/NRCS offices in the five county area, or you may contact the Ralls County SWCD/NRCS office in New London, Missouri, at 573-985-8611 or "rallsconrcsswcd.blogspot.com". - Ralls Co. NRCS
2007 Ag Expo to Feature Youth Speaking Contest
Contest to be held February 10 in Sedalia
In conjunction with Ag Appreciation Week, the Sedalia Area Chamber of Commerce Ag Committee and Farm Credit Services of Sedalia are sponsoring a youth speaking contest open to all area youth ages 8-16. The theme of this year’s contest is “Voices of American Woman, Family, Friends, and Neighbors.”
The first place winner in two age categories will receive $75, second place will receive $50, and third place winner will receive $25. Contestants must submit an official entry form, available at the Chamber of Commerce office at 600 East Third Street, along with a copy of the speech by Monday, February 5 to the Chamber of Commerce. Contestants must present their speech to a judging panel on Saturday, February 10th, 2007 beginning at 9:30 a.m. at the 2007 Mid-Missouri Ag Expo. Speakers are to present a 3-4 minute speech, composed entirely by the contestant. Speeches not within the time limit will be deducted 10% of their final score. For more information about the contest and presentation tips please contact Terri Ballard at 660-826-2932 ext. 10.
Spring Forage Conference set for March 1 in Springfield
The 23rd annual Southwest Missouri Spring Forage Conference will be Thursday, March 1, 2007 at the University Plaza Hotel in Springfield. Each year this conference attracts an increasing number of people interested in learning more about management strategies for forages and livestock.
This year’s keynote speaker will be Dr. Garry Lacefield. Garry has been a University of Kentucky Extension Forage Specialist since 1974. He provides statewide leadership in forage management, production, and utilization. Dr. Lacefield is well known throughout the country and the world for his extensive knowledge of managing forages, as evident in the number of awards, publications, articles, and lectures. His topic for the noon luncheon is called “Forage Improvement: Results Require Investment”.
The conference will also feature several breakout sessions both in the morning and the afternoon. Topics will include: native warm-season grass pasture, weed and brush control, forage fertility alternatives, New Zealand grazing concepts, weather outlook, herd health, alternative marketing, planning your grazing system, urban and rural interface, low stress weaning techniques, and dung beetles. There will be a question-and-answer session with Dr Lacefield in the afternoon. More than 30 companies and organizations will have exhibits, and will have representatives available to discuss their products and services.
Conference registration begins at 8 a.m., with sessions running from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The cost is $25 per person in advance or $35 at the door. A catered meal is included. To pre-register (by February 22nd) or to get more information, contact the Greene County Soil and Water Conservation District at (417) 831-5246, extension 3. Conference information and a registration form are also available on the Internet at http://agebb.missouri.edu/sfc.
Missouri Agribusiness Academy Applications Now Available
The Missouri Department of Agriculture is now accepting applications for the 2007 Missouri Agribusiness Academy (MAbA), a youth leadership program designed for high school sophomores to explore career opportunities in agribusiness, government and production agriculture. MAbA helps to provide youth with a foundation in agricultural leadership and prepares them to meet the challenges and reap the rewards of Missouri's largest industry, agriculture.
Applications are available at www.mda.mo.gov and are due no later than Friday, Feb. 2, 2007. To be eligible for MAbA, academy members must be a high school sophomore and come from a farm family or be active in 4-H or FFA. - Missouri Department of Agriculture
New Reserved Camping at the 2007 Missouri State Fair
Beginning in 2007, the Missouri State Fair will offer reserved camping for fair patrons. Reservation costs are $275 and reserves a location in the reserved area in the southern section of the campground. Reservations can be made now through May 1, 2007 by visiting http://www.mostatefair.com/camp07.html. and reservations must be made for the duration of the State Fair. - Missouri Department of Agriculture
Calendar of Events
Jan. 18 Henry County Cattlemen – Urich Lion’s Club, 7:00 p.m.
Jan. 18 Mid-Missouri Cattlemen – Miller County Regional Stockyards, 6:00 p.m.
Jan. 18 Monroe County Cattlemen – Senior Center, Paris, 6:30 p.m.
Jan. 18 Greene County Cattlemen – Golden Corral on S. Glenstone, Springfield, 7:00 p.m.
Jan. 22 Macon County Cattlemen – Lolli Livestock Market Café, Macon, 6:30 p.m.
Jan. 22 Dallas County Cattlemen - Engles Senior Center, 6:30 p.m.
Jan. 23 Sullivan County Cattlemen – Milan Livestock Auction, 12:00 noon
Jan. 25 Randolph County Cattlemen - Sheltered Industries Building, Moberly, 6:30 p.m.
Jan. 27 Howard County Cattlemen – Fayette High School Commons, 6:30 p.m.
Feb. 3 Crawford County Cattlemen – Golden Echoes, Steelville, 6:00 p.m.
Feb. 3 Gentry County Cattlemen – Hundley Whaley Building, Albany, 5:30 p.m.
Feb. 5 Saline County Cattlemen - Bloomfield's Restaurant, Marshall, 7:00 p.m.
For more cattle industry events, visit www.mocattle.com/calendar.htm
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.
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If so, please contact McKenzie Disselhorst at (573) 499-9162 or mckenzie@mocattle.com.