News Update
August 3, 2012
Kansas Super Cow-calf Show Entries Due Aug. 15
Kansas commercial cow-calf producers are eligible to exhibit cattle in a special show Sept. 12 at the Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson. The Super Cow-Calf Show will feature pairs in pasture condition, with no fitting allowed.
An entry consists of one cow and her natural calf. No bull calves are allowed. The age of the cow and birth date of the calf must be known and provided by the exhibitor.
Cows and calves will be judged on type, structure, muscling, natural fleshing and soundness of udder, eyes, feet and legs. Cow weight and the calf's projected 205-day adjusted weight will be given to the judges.
A two-judge system will be used. Judges will independently score each cow and calf. The total score of both judges will be used to rank pairs in the respective divisions.
The grand champion pair will win $600 plus five straws of ABS semen, while the reserve will earn $400 and five straws of ABS semen. Third place wins $250, fourth place earns $150 and fifth place is worth $100. Prizes for the show are sponsored by: ABS, Sandra Utter, Pratt; Reno County Farm Bureau, South Hutchinson; Valley Vet LLC, Arnold Nagley, Marysville.
All cows and calves must be unloaded and processed by 11 a.m. Sept. 12. The show begins at 2 p.m. All entries must arrive and leave the same day.
The entry fee is $25 per pair. Entries are due to the Kansas State Fair by Aug. 15. For more information, go to www.kansasstatefair.com or call the Kansas State Fair office at 800-362-3247.
House Approves Disaster Aid Package
The House approved a $384 million disaster relief package for livestock producers Thursday (Aug. 2) by a vote of 223-197, but cattlemen can't expect that help anytime soon as the Senate isn't likely to pass similar legislation before its five-week August recess. Similar disaster aid was contained in the Farm Bill approved this summer by the House Agriculture Committee and passed earlier by the Senate. But the committee's Farm Bill has yet to reach the House floor.
The vote came the day after the USDA increased the number of counties designated as primary natural disaster areas due to worsening drought conditions.
While many crop farmers have insurance that provides some protection from the effects of the worst drought in a quarter-century, livestock producers are vulnerable to sharp increases in feed prices resulting from the dry weather. Some have had to liquidate stocks early because of the high maintenance costs.
Statement by National Agriculture Organizations Regarding House Disaster Assistance Legislation
The following statement was sent to congressional members by a coalition of organizations representing U.S. agriculture:
"The undersigned farm organizations support finding a path forward to reaching agreement on a new five-year farm bill before current program authorities expire on Sept. 30. We are disappointed that the House Republican leadership has decided to not move forward with the House Agriculture Committee's bill before adjourning for the August recess. That bill would provide the disaster relief our farm and ranch families need at this time.
"Instead, we understand the House may consider a separate disaster bill, under suspension of the rules on August 2, to make supplemental agricultural disaster assistance available for Fiscal Year 2012. Specifically, the bill retroactively extends the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP), the Livestock Forage Program (LFP), the Emergency Livestock Assistance Program (ELAP) and the Tree Assistance Program (TAP) so that producers are helped for Fiscal Year 2012. All of those programs expired in 2011. Offsets to pay for the disaster assistance would come from imposing caps on two conservation programs, the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)."
For the full statement, click here.
Drought Webinar to Help Answer Questions
Farmers and ranchers looking for information on emergency programs and financial advice on issues related to the drought are encouraged to participate in Nebraska Farm Bureau's drought webinar scheduled for Aug. 6 at 1 p.m. CDT.
"We've received a lot of calls about drought assistance and how to manage financial issues related to the drought," Nebraska Farm Bureau President Steve Nelson said. "The webinar will give those interested the chance to get more information on the help that is available and what they can do to try and manage some of the financial impacts."
The webinar will include presentations from Nebraska Farm Business Inc. Farm Financial Consultant Anthony Barrett and Nebraska Farm Service Agency Executive Director Dan Steinkrueger. Barrett will share insights on what farmers and ranchers can do to mitigate financial impacts of the drought from a tax perspective. Steinkrueger will provide background on emergency disaster programs administered by the Farm Service Agency, Nelson said.
"The drought has been difficult on many of Nebraska's farm and ranch families. We hope this will provide a service to those in need. The webinar is open to everyone, including non-Farm Bureau members. All you need to participate is a computer and an internet connection," Nelson said. "Space is limited to the first 100 participants, so register early."
Registration for the drought webinar is available through Nebraska Farm Bureau's website at www.nefb.org.
NFU Joins Coalition Calling For Drop-in Biofuels
Funding for Military
The National Farmer's Union (NFU) joined a coalition of agriculture, renewable energy, and national security organizations urging the U.S. Senate's Subcommittee for Defense Appropriations to support Department of Defense (DoD) funding for accelerated production of domestically produced, advanced, drop-in biofuels for military use.
In a letter addressed to Chairman Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, and Ranking Member Thad Cochran, R-Miss., the coalition noted the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) entered by the DoD with the U.S. departments of Agriculture and Energy last year that pledged a federal investment of $510 million in partnership with the private sector. Under the MOU's terms, $170 million would be provided by each participating agency.
"The purpose of the MOU is consistent with history. The U.S. military has worked with Congress to develop and deploy innovative technologies that have improved national security and strengthened American military superiority at sea, in the skies and on the battlefield," the coalition stated.
For the full release, click here.
House Passes Drought-relief Bill, but Congress Adjourns
The U.S. House of Representatives voted Thursday, Aug. 2, to pass a bill that would provide financial aid for some of the livestock producers reeling from damages caused by the worst drought in a half century.
The $383 million Agricultural Disaster Assistance Act of 2012, however, won't be taken up by the Democrat-controlled Senate until after Labor Day because Congress also adjourned for the summer. The Republican-controlled House was expected to approve the bill, which passed by a 223-197 vote, but it is likely to see opposition from lawmakers eager to pass a five-year farm bill and supporters of programs that stand to see funding cuts in order to accommodate the law.
Under the bill, cattle and sheep producers could receive as much as $100,000 apiece to curb rising feed costs and animal deaths. The bill would compensate them for 75% of the value of livestock killed by drought and 60% for feed costs for one to three months. The bill also includes $20 million for feed and water shortages for livestock, bees and farm-raised fish, as well as a program to help tree farmers recover losses.
More than half the continental United States in under moderate drought or worse, conditions not seen since 1956.
For more information and the full release, click here.
Bill Introduced to Ban EPA Aerial Surveillance
U.S. Senator Mike Johanns (R-Neb.) introduced legislation that would ban the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from conducting aerial surveillance for one year. The bill comes after EPA failed to fully respond to multiple requests for a clear, complete account of the size and scope of its surveillance program.
"I want to be very clear, this legislation does not affect EPA's ability to use traditional on-site inspections, but given EPA's track record of ignorance about agriculture, if not downright contempt for it, farmers and ranchers do not trust this agency," Johanns said in a speech on the Senate floor. "Until EPA takes a more commonsense, transparent, open approach, we need to step on the brakes.
"This bill does that. It places a one-year moratorium on EPA from using aerial surveillance. This will give the agency time to come clean about its activities nationwide and make the case that these flights are an appropriate use of agency authority and taxpayer money."
The legislation is similar to a bill introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Adrian Smith (R-Neb.).
Wisconsin Company Recalls Product Over
Foreign Material Concerns
Kenosha, Wis.-based Kenosha Beef International Ltd. is recalling approximately 37,600 pounds of frozen bacon cheeseburger patties because they may contain foreign materials (pieces of gasket material), the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced Thursday (Aug. 2).
The products subject to recall include two-pound cartons containing six patties of Sam's Choice Fireside Gourmet Black Angus Beef Patties Bacon and Aged Cheddar.
All products were produced June 11, 2012. The packages bear the establishment number "EST425B" and "best if used by" date code of 120812B ink-jetted on the carton end panel. The products were distributed in Indiana, Maine, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Wisconsin.
FSIS was alerted to the problem by the firm after the company received a consumer complaint. FSIS and the company have received no reports of injury or illnesses associated with consumption of this product.
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