Trade Rep, Ag Secretary Announce Agreement to Open Japan's Market to U.S. Beef 

United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk and United States Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the United States and Japan have agreed on new terms and conditions which pave the way for expanded exports of U.S. beef and beef products to Japan. Under these new terms, which enter into effect on February 1, 2013, Japan will now permit the import of beef from cattle less than 30 months of age, compared to the previous limit of 20 months, among other steps. It is estimated that these important changes will result in hundreds of millions of dollars in exports of U.S. beef to Japan in the coming years. This agreement also goes a long way toward normalizing trade with Japan by addressing long-standing restrictions that Japan introduced in response to bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).

"This is great news for cattlemen and women and is a significant milestone in our trading relationship with Japan," said National Cattlemen's Beef Association President J.D. Alexander. "Japan is a great market for U.S. beef and we look forward to continuing to meet Japanese consumer demands. This move is an important step forward in paving the way toward greater export opportunities to one of our largest export markets."

Through November 2012, Japan was the second largest export market for U.S. beef totaling $849 million and nearly 130,000 metric tons. Alexander added that this announcement is a shot in the arm to a market and producers facing continued drought, high input costs and increasing federal regulation.

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Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow applauded the agreement.  You can read her statement by clicking here.

Joe Parker of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raiser's association said the agreement was very positive for producers.  You can read his statement by clicking here.

U.S. Meat Export Federation President and CEO Phil Seng praised the two governments for making the agreement a reality.  Click here to read more from Phil Seng.  

One other late reaction came to us on Monday afternoon- from the office of Oklahoma Senator Jim Inhofe- of the move by Japan- Inhofe says "This is great news for Oklahoma's cattlemen.  We've always known our beef is safe and that Japan's actions to block it were unfounded.  Japan represents a great market for our ranchers, and this action will help them find new opportunities to grow their presence in Oklahoma as they again serve Japanese consumers."

Senators Introduce Extension of Agriculture Disaster Assistance Programs for 2012, 2013 

Senators Max Baucus (D-Mont.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Roy Blunt (R-M.O) introduced legislation this week to extend agriculture disaster assistance programs that expired at the end of the 2011 Fiscal Year and were not part of the nine month Farm Bill extension. The bill would backfill the programs for 2012 and extend them through 2013 while Congress works to pass a long-term Farm Bill. Without an extension many ranchers and farmers will be left with no support to recover from severe fires and drought that swept the country last year as well as early freezes for fruit growers.

"Montana ranchers work hard every day to support jobs across our state and put food on tables across the country, and we can't turn our backs on them during the worst drought in more than 50 years," Baucus said. "This bill is the right thing to do for our ranchers and the right thing to do for Montana jobs."

"We cannot allow farmers to be wiped out because of a few days of bad weather," said Sen. Stabenow, Chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry. "Agriculture supports nearly one in four jobs in Michigan and 16 million jobs nationwide, and when key parts of the industry are hit this badly it impacts our whole economy. Our nation is helping families who lost everything because of weather disasters like a hurricane in the Northeast, and it is only right we also help farming families who lost everything because of weather disasters." 

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Research Proves Early-Calving Heifers Add Dollars to the Bottom Line

Females that calve earlier in the season net more profit for their owners. Research from across the country proves it. Animal scientist Eric Mousel from Northwest Missouri State University says over their lifetimes, early-calving heifers will earn around $1,100 above salvage value. Those who calve later in the season return half as much.

"Those later calvers tend to drag down the profitability of the entire herd. So, probably one of the real focal points of the research is that it's interesting to see more productivity and longevity out of those early-calving heifers, but it really does make a difference on the bottom line," Mousel says.

What a producer does with this information depends on his setup. Some set a strict calving season cutoff. If a heifer doesn't fit into that 45-day window, for example, they head down the road.

Even more incentive to keep early-calving females is that they produce better-carcassed cattle, Mousel says.

"There has been a fair amount of research that has shown that carcass quality is really tied to longevity, it's tied to early-calving females. So, I think that's something we will see a lot more of in the future-a little more research and a little more implementation of selecting for these early females if for nothing else than the carcass quality."

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Cattle Raisers Convention Will Help Ranchers Navigate Rocky Road Ahead

Today's rancher is faced with 3 major challenges: a looming financial crisis that is slowing consumer demand for beef, the lowest cattle supplies since the 1940s, and a lingering drought that has expanded to other parts of the country. What this crossroad means for the cattle industry and how ranchers will manage through these difficult times will be the focus of the 136th annual Cattle Raisers Convention March 22-24 in Fort Worth, Texas.

"Ranchers are headed toward an unprecedented crossroads that is sure to be a critical point in the history of the Texas cattle industry," said Joe Parker Jr., rancher and TSCRA president. "The Cattle Raisers Convention will provide insight and analysis from industry experts on all 3 of these issues to ensure ranchers are prepared to operate their businesses well into the future."

Economist Don Reynolds will address ranchers at the opening general session of the convention. Reynolds will talk about the global economy prior to, during and following the financial crisis as well as the course the U.S. can take and what role the cattle industry will play moving forward. 

You'll find more information and a link to the convention site on our webpage by clicking here.

 

Canola TV: Canola College Coming to Enid

The interest in growing canola in Oklahoma continues to grow by leaps and bounds. Gene Neuens with Producers Cooperative Oil Mill in Oklahoma City spoke with me on the latest edition of Canola TV.   He says his company is partnering with the Great Plains Canola Association, Oklahoma State University, Kansas State University, and several other companies to present an educational event for current and prospective growers.

"Canola College-Taking Production to the Next Level" will be held March 28, 2013 in Enid. Neuens said he anticipates a large group of first-time and veteran canola producers at the day-long event.

"The main thing is education on growing canola. The first part is going to be for beginners. There are a lot of people who are just starting to grow it who need to get that type of education," Neuens said.

But, equally important are the producers who may have a few seasons under their belts and who are trying to maximize their production efforts. Neuens said two veteran canola producers, Bob Schrock and Jeff Scott, will offer a session for advanced growers, those who want to get the extra ten bushels per acre out of their crop.

"Those two are some of the bigger growers in the state and also Kansas. They've been growing canola for eight to ten years now. They've learned a lot by trial and error. That's how we've learned this crop. And they've been doing very well. So, they're going to talk about how to fertilize right. Maybe micronutrients and just the little hints about how to grow the extra few bushels of canola."

Click here for the latest episode of Canola TV.

LONGRANGE is New Deworming Option as Cattlemen Deal with Drought Issues

Drought conditions are persisting across most of cattle country, and it is very important for producers to pay close attention to their parasite control practices says Dr. Joe Dedrickson of Merial Animal Health.  He joins me on the latest Beef Buzz.

"This is one misconception that a lot of producers have that when it's real hot and dry that they don't have to worry about parasites. Parasites have the ability to move down under the soil in severe conditions like that and survive for long times. And just a little bit of rain, it seems like not much at all, it shows a little bit of growth, and they're back up there. And what it tends to do is concentrate them because the grass is so much shorter that you're getting to the parasites so much easier. So, parasite management in drought times is very important."

Dedrickson said his company, Merial, has come up with a new prescription dewormer, LONGRANGE. One subcutaneous injection results in anti-parasite action for 100 to 150 days.

"This is long enough to break the parasite lifecycle on grass and effectively reduce those parasite burdens on the pasture," Dedrickson said.    

Click here for more from Dr. Dedrickson on the Beef Buzz.  

Auctions Happening This Week- Messner Herefords, Big Iron and Roger Mills County Bull Sale

It's known as the oldest purebred cattle auction in the state of Oklahoma- the Messner family will be offering a strong set of Hereford genetics this coming Saturday, February second. There will be 150 bulls on offer- and 20 bred Hereford females- some with calves.  Click here for more details and a link over to their catalog.

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The next regular weekly auction for Big Iron starts the closing process at 10 AM central time this Wednesday morning- 104 items are available for this week's session- click here for more details and a chance to see the full listing of items available for this on line auction.

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This Saturday- Cheyenne, Oklahoma will be the site of another early in the year tradition- the 35th annual Roger Mills County Bull Sale. There are several breeds that will be a part of this year's event. We have just gotten the online location of the catalog for this year's sale-click here  for that catalog or call Lynda Lucas at 580-497-7366.