BIO President Calls for Food Policies Based on Sound Science, Not Fear and Confusion 

Initiative 522, the complicated and costly food labeling proposal, has been rejected by voters across Washington.

Jim Greenwood, President and CEO of the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), issued the following statement in response:

"Just like 27 million voters in California and Oregon, Washington voters saw how this burdensome and deceptive labeling scheme would have created more state bureaucracy, imposed new costs and burdens on local farmers and businesses, and increased food prices for Washington families.

"Food labels should convey valuable and accurate information to consumers. Mandatory initiatives to label all foods containing genetically modified ingredients would only serve to confuse consumers and raise food prices without any additional benefits.

"We will continue to explore solutions that provide consumers with valuable information about the foods we eat. One example is the GMO Answers website, where consumers' questions about GMOs and how our food is grown are asked and answered in a timely manner. Other informational resources include statements from credible scientific groups such as the American Medical Association and the World Health Organization, among others."  

Cattlefax's Randy Blach Says Trends Favoring Cattle Industry Now Coming Into Play

The trend is your friend. So say commodity traders and, now, so does Randy Blach of Cattlefax. He spoke at the Texas Cattle Feeders Association convention in Forth Worth and said that trends currently in place are becoming more favorable to the cattle business. Topping the list? Falling corn prices.   

"It's a big deal. We've obviously been short on corn over the last couple of years--over the last several years as we've had all the demand come in for ethanol. And then we had the drought on top of that. So, it's been impossible for the livestock industry to really catch a big enough corn crop in here to where we had production costs at levels where we could really make a living."

Blach said he believes the price of corn and other grains will remain relatively low for the near future and that will be good news to producers.

"I think that will be the case for all these grain markets. All these markets cycle and they'll cycle back down to where prices in our grain structure will be back, basically, at the cost of production for the next several years. As we go through that transition we should be able to generate some more positive operating margins for the next several years as a result of that."

Randy joins me on the latest Beef Buzz.  Click here to listen to our conversation or to read more of this story.

 

The National Farmers Union and the United States Cattlemens Association have asked conferees hammering out the final 2013 Farm Bill to leave the current Country of Origin Labeling law alone. 

Several conferees, including House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK), made comments during the committee's opening remarks last week that it was their intention to intervene and legislatively repeal COOL during the farm bill conference process.  The remarks came after the Canadian agriculture minister threatened trade sanctions if the U.S. did not repeal its COOL law.

In a statement released to the media, NFU President Roger Johnson said repealing COOL after the WTO had affirmed it as being compliant could seriously damage worldwide trade relations. 

Oklahoma Beef Checkoff Dollars Helping Sell Beef Globally

The US Meat Export Federation's Strategic Planning Conference is wrapping up today in Ft. Worth- and several representatives of the Oklahoma Beef Council are representing Oklahoma cattle producers at this meeting.  

Executive Director Heather Buckmaster, along with OBC Board Chairman R.D. Farr of Bartlesville and Board Member Becca McMillan of Ardmore, are in Ft. Worth for the sessions- and Buckmaster told me on Wednesday that the OBC Board decided a couple of years ago to dedicate more Oklahoma beef checkoff monies to the international market because "96% of the world's population is outside the United States." She adds that the checkoff resources are growing smaller because of inflation and smaller cattle populations- and that the money invested into the USMEF is leveraged several times to give the maximum bang for the buck. 

Click here to read more about our conversation with Heather- or you can listen to it at this link as well. 

OSU, Other Universities Develop Livestock and Poultry Mortality Management Learning Module

Oklahoma State University, Cornell University and North Dakota State University recently developed a livestock and poultry mortality management learning module for use by educators and ag Instructors.

This USDA NIFA funded project was initiated with a focus on young and beginning livestock and poultry producers and those that advise or educate them.

The curriculum includes a short narrative, frequently-asked questions, (including brief FAQ YouTube videos), fact sheets, web content, multimedia, quiz questions, in-class assignments, suggested contacts and a PowerPoint presentation.

All of these materials can be found by clicking here.
 

Understanding Values Placed on Cull Cows Improves Marketing Decisions

Glenn Selk, Oklahoma State University Emeritus Extension Animal Scientist, writes in the latest Cow-Calf Newsletter:

Drought has caused many cow herds to be culled extensively over the last two years. However, some culling of beef cows occurs in most herds every year. A few cows will become reproductively unsound, broken-mouths, bad udders, open, and/or just plain OLD. If feed resources are available, some producers may wish to market the culls after the first of the year for tax purposes.

The Beef Audits have generally shown that cull cows, bulls, and cull dairy cows make up about 20% of the beef available for consumption in the United States. About half of this group (or 10% of the beef supply) comes from cull beef cows. Cow herd budgets often show that cull cows and bulls make up about 20% of the gross income in a cow calf operation. Whether we are culling because of drought or to improve the productivity of the herd, it is important to understand the values placed on cull cows intended for slaughter.

The USDA market news service reports on four classes of cull cows. The four classes are divided primarily on fatness. The highest conditioned cull cows are reported as "Breakers". They usually are quite fleshy and generally have excellent dressing percentages. Body condition score 7 and above are required to be "Breakers."

Click here to read more. 

This 'N' That--Ratcliff Ranches Fall Production Sale & OSU Livestock Judging Team Update 

The Ratcliff Ranches Fall Production Sale is just around the corner.  It kicks off at noon Saturday in Vinita.  They're selling 800 head including nearly 75 Angus and SimAngus bulls featuring both heifer and performance bulls.  Also on the showlist are more than 150 head of consignment heifers, bred heifers, cows and cow-calf pairs.  For more information click here or call Heath Kohler at 918-244-8025.

Finally- a quick email note to pass along from the Coach of the Oklahoma State University Livestock Judging team Mark Johnson- Mark writes "The Oklahoma State University Livestock Judging team finished second by 7 points to Colorado State University at the American Royal Contest in Kansas City. OSU was the high team in the Sheep and Oral Reasons divisions.  

Brock Herren was the Third High Individual Overall. The team will compete in the National Championship contest in Louisville, Kentucky on November 18th.