First Ever Beef Sustainability Assessment Documents Industry Progress 

Participants at the 2013 Cattle Industry Convention gathered today to hear the results of the first-ever Beef Industry Sustainability Assessment. The assessment, which was funded by the Beef Checkoff Program, marks the first time any industry has ever measured the sustainability of its entire supply chain. This important work positions the beef industry to lead the conversations about industry sustainability.

"Sustainability is, in fact, a journey. This particular journey started two years ago when the Beef Promotion Operating Committee decided to fund the sustainability assessment project," said Richard Gebhart, an Oklahoma cattleman and vice chairman of the checkoff's Producer Communications Working Group. "Raising cattle in a sustainable way has been important to the cattle industry for a long time, but this is the first opportunity we have had to use science to tell that story."

I spoke with Richard following the presentation. You can hear our full conversation by clicking here.

Gebhart says this sustainability assessment is much broader than most and will provide a wide range of data. He says it is built on a lifecycle assessment model.

"When you look at a lifecycle assessment model, you've got to look at the three pillars of sustainability. Classically, people talk about the economic, the environmental and the social impact in there. I prefer to talk about the financial, the environmental, and the social.

"Businesses or entities have to be financially stable or they're not going to be sustainable. And we all know about the environment, the externalities of not bringing those costs in there. But, more interesting to me is the social aspect... I think a lot of cattlemen would really be surprised-and I know they'd be proud-if they look at how much cattlemen contribute to the social fabric of our society."

You can read more of this story by clicking here. 

NCBA Frustrated with Russia Over Ractopamine Standard 

At the 2013 Cattle Industry Convention there's been a lot of discussion regarding Russia's ban of beef and pork imports from the United States over the issue of ractopamine. We talked with Colin Woodall, the vice president of government affairs with the National Cattlemen's Beef Associationabout the Russian moves that have blocked US beef from entering that country. Woodall said that's one of the international issues affecting U.S. producers that they are tracking.


"We've been very disappointed with Russia. If you'll recall, Congress passed Permanent Normal Trade Relations with Russia back at the end of 2012. We thought that was a great show of our willingness to come to the table and deal with them. Of course, they've also ascended to being a member of the World Trade Organization and as soon as all of that was done, the next thing you know they're turning around and shutting down beef and pork because of our use of ractopamine.   

Click here to read more- and a chance to hear our Thursday morning Beef Buzz featuring Colin- a part of our coverage from Tampa and the 2013 Cattle Industry Convention.

USDA Announces 2013 Loan Rates for Wheat, Feed Grains, Oilseeds, Honey, Pulses and Rice

The Commodity Credit Corporation has announced county loan rates for 2013 crops.  The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 provides for a continuation of the marketing assistance loan and loan deficiency payment programs for the 2013 crop year. Here is a brief list of the national loan rates established for particular crops: 
 

• Wheat - $2.94 per bushel
• Corn - $1.95 per bushel
• Grain Sorghum - $1.95 per bushel
• Barley - $1.95 per bushel
• Oats - $1.39 per bushel
• Soybeans - $5.00 per bushel
• Other Oilseeds - $10.09 per hundredweight for each "other oilseed"

For more on this story and links to the FSA's full list of loan rates, please click here.

 

Dave Sparks: Don't Let Toxic Plants Cull Your Herd the Hard Way

Dave Sparks, DVM, Oklahoma State University Extension Area Veterinarian writes in the latest Cow-Calf Newsletter:

The unique conditions leading into the spring of 2013 may be leading us into even more potential problems. A dry growing season last summer combined with poor forage growth in the fall has left almost no standing forage in many pastures. In short, as we approach spring there is not much out there, and if forecasts are correct conditions for spring growth may not be great either. On the cow side of the pasture/ livestock equation, in many cases we are looking at some mighty hungry individuals. Hay is scarce and expensive and concentrates are higher than many of us can remember them ever being. This has led many producers to design a management program to "get 'em through the winter" rather than meeting the cattle's nutritional requirements.

Under good growing conditions the primary plants have no trouble holding their own, but under poor or marginal conditions of soil fertility and moisture the less desirable species become much stronger competitors. Additionally in many of these pastures some of the perennial grasses and forbs have died, leaving a vacuum that undesirable species may well fill. Many of these undesirable species have the potential to be toxic to livestock if consumed in sufficient quantities. 

Click here for more from Dave Sparks.

 

RFA Chief Says American Ethanol Is 'Under Siege - and Fighting Back'

In an address to 1,100 participants in the National Ethanol Conference in Las Vegas, Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) President and CEO Bob Dinneen said, "The state of the ethanol industry can be summed up in five words: under siege and fighting back."

Explaining in his prepared remarks that "American ethanol is engaged in a Battle for the Barrel. The stakes are high; our adversaries are well-funded; and our challenges are legion," Dinneen said that the industry is fighting on three fronts: 

• Defending the major federal program for ethanol production, the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS);
• Promoting motor fuels consisting of 15 percent blends of ethanol with gasoline (E15); and
• Opening new markets for American ethanol overseas, while opposing protectionist policies in Brazil and the European Union (EU).

He said the RFS is under attack by "the angry birds at the National Chicken Council, the mad cows at the American Meat Institute, and the big spending oil companies.  He added, "Our adversaries are not dedicated to destroying the RFS because it has failed. Our adversaries are dedicated to destroying the RFS because it is succeeding."

You can read more of Bob Dinneen's prepared remarks for the Ethanol Conference by clicking here.

Data Shows Angus Calves at Auction Bring Record Premiums

Record-high calf prices last year spelled good news for most U.S. ranchers, but there was an extra bonus for many of them.

That came in the form of record-high premiums paid for Angus calves at auction compared to non-Angus contemporaries, as reported to Certified Angus Beef LLC (CAB). The database on more than 300,000 calves sold in 13,794 lots at 10 markets since 1999 is part of the company's "Here's the Premium" project.

"Everybody who sold calves enjoyed the market response to supply and demand, but some may not have noticed the price differentials still held," said Steve Suther, the CAB director of industry information who initiated the study.

Data from nine cooperating auction markets last fall showed the all-time high Angus premium in absolute terms. That was $5.30 per hundredweight (/cwt.) for the combination of 504-pound (lb.) heifers and 511-lb. steers sold in 660 lots. 

Click here for more on this story.

 

This N That- Sally Jewell, Superior and Soy Expo

On Wednesday, President Barack Obama announced his latest Cabinet pick for his second term- naming Sally Jewell as his choice to be his next Secretary of the Interior. Click here to read the President's remarks as he nominated the CEO of REI to replace Ken Salazar for this post. The cattle industry in the western states is nervous about what the second term of the Obama Adminstration may bring when it comes to grazing rights on Federal lands.  Jewell's attitudes on this issue are being explored by NCBA staff- according to Colin Woodall of the NCBA's Washington office- who did not offer any reaction to the nomination until the organization was able to do a little more research on this lady's credentials.

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Two reminders about Superior- first of all- at noon central time today, Superior will host a seminar on the Trade Show floor of the Cattle Industry Convention here in Tampa- Profit Simplified.  Click here for details- a great lineup of speakers are on board- and this seminar can be seen live on RFD TV today.

Tomorrow morning- the next regular video auction for Superior will be happening- starting time is 8:30 AM central time.  Superior will be offering a great set of cattle- with 34,000 to be offered for sale.  We have details on that for you to check out- click here for the details of this auction sale that will be coming from the Superior offices and studio in Ft. Worth.

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The 2013 edition of the Oklahoma Soy Expo is set for next Wednesday in Stillwater at the Wes Watkins Center on the OSU Campus. A great set of speakers are lined up- including Trent Loos who will be talking about ag advocacy in this country.  I saw Trent yesterday here in Tampa and kidded him about his seminar on soybean production in our state that he was planning on giving. We laughed and he said he's excited to be coming to OSU next week for the event.  In addition to a great program- there will be a trade show- lunch that will be provided and there is no registration fee.  Plan on coming- the program gets started at 8:45 AM and concludes mid afternoon. Click here for the complete agenda of the day's activities.