Wheat Foods Council Celebrates 40 Years of Science-Based Nutrition Education 

The Wheat Foods Council (WFC), a non-profit organization dedicated to educating the public about the importance of grains, complex carbohydrates, and fiber, is celebrating 40 years of all things wheat foods.

"Wheat producers across the country joined together in 1972 to create the Wheat Foods Council as a national organization to promote the entire category of wheat-based foods, including baked goods, cereal, crackers, pasta, sweet goods and tortillas," said Wheat Foods Council President Judi Adams, MS, RD. "Since then, our organization has established itself as a leading source of science-based information on wheat and grain foods nutrition. Though the times have changed, we remain committed to our ongoing mission of increasing awareness of dietary grains as an essential component of a healthful diet."

"In the 40 years since its founding, the WFC has evolved into a leading authority on wheat and grain foods nutrition," added WFC Chair Brent Robertson, a wheat farmer in Perkins, Lincoln and Chase counties, NE. "As growers, we feel strongly about the part we play in delivering healthy, nutritious grain products to help feed people around the world. The Wheat Foods Council, with its grounding in sound nutrition science, provides an important resource to our ultimate customer - consumers - to assist them in better understanding the role wheat and grains play in a healthy diet."

Today, the WFC is comprised of more 35 member organizations, including grain producers, millers, baking suppliers, life science companies, and cereal manufacturers. The group reaches out to and partners with a range of audiences, including educators, consumers, chefs, health and nutrition professionals, and supermarket and retail dietitians.   

Chicken Industry Provides More than One Million Jobs and $197.5 Billion Impact to US Economy 

The National Chicken Council and the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association have made available a new economic impact study and website - www.chickenfeedsamerica.org - that highlights the positive impact the chicken industry has on jobs, wages and federal and state revenue in the United States.

A dynamic and integral part of the national economy, the chicken industry directly and indirectly provides 1,010,250 jobs, $47 billion in wages, $197.5 billion in economic activity and $17.2 billion in government revenue, according to the results of the new study.   

"While chicken farms and chicken processing plants are not located in every state or congressional district in this country, this study captures the fact that our industry's positive economic impact stretches from coast to coast and hits every sector of the U.S. economy," said NCC President Mike Brown. 

Click here to read more.

Keeping Cattle Happy Makes for Better Beef, Higher Profits

Cattle handling guru Curt Pate travels across the country teaching his low-stress handling techniques to ranchers and feed lot operators. He tells us in the latest Beef Buzz that research proves that lowering stress on cattle makes them happier, healthier, more profitable and produces a better eating experience.

"Any old-timer will tell you that. It doesn't have to be research. We all know that, but it's nice to have the research to back that up. So, we're finding things like exercising animals. We're actually going out and getting cattle out of the pens and doing a little exercise with them which also increases gain and all the things we're talking about."

Pate says some feedlots will let cattle out of the pens to run up and down the drovers' alleys or even run them through the chute to not only exercise their bodies but their minds as well.

"Those cattle get awful bored in the pen and they need to move out. That's the only thing that really changes. Think about this: An animal comes from a pasture where he probably gets looked at probably once or twice a year. And they survive and do pretty well. We put them in a feed yard with the best nutrition, the best facilities. Everything's the best yet the cattle have to be looked at daily.

"The only thing I see missing is mental stimulation and exercise. And I think if we add those things we're going to have a lot better deal in our feedyards."

You can listen to the latest Beef Buzz and read more of this story by clicking here.

Monsanto Corn and Soybean Seed Market Share Increases In 2012

Monsanto Company closed out the 2012 fiscal year with a per share growth of 25 percent fueled largely by increased sales of corn and soybean seed. The increased sales outpaced the growth in U.S. planted acreage according to a financial statement released by the company. Monsanto also notched higher sales in its international seeds and traits market. 

In the United States in 2012, Monsanto's branded seed volume grew by the largest increment in three years and outpaced market expansion. In corn, the company reached 27 million planted U.S. acres for its Genuity® Reduced Refuge Family.

In 2013, the company is targeting 36 million to 38 million acres for the Reduced Refuge Family. Executives say seed prices will increase five to ten percent next year due to increased demand for its premium products.

Click here to read more of this story.

 

Japanese Olympic Chefs Team Chooses U.S. Beef for International Culinary Event

When a team of Japan's finest chefs goes head-to-head with more than 1,000 chefs from around the world starting this week (Oct. 5-10) in Erfurt, Germany, it will be relying on U.S. beef to bring home the gold medal.

The International Exhibition of Culinary Art 2012 is a world-class event held every four years, in which more than 1,000 cooks and confectioners from 33 countries compete for medals and the Olympic championship title.

"Corn and soybean-fed U.S. beef is tender, tasty and juicy with just the right amount of marbling," said Japanese chef team captain Miura. "It is a perfect match for our main dish (U.S. beef fillet wrapped in burdock and veal-base mousse). The slow-roasting of U.S. beef brings out the beautiful balance in cherry red color as well as marbling and its taste."  

There's more to this story on our website.  Click here to go there.

Using Wheat Pasture as a Winter Supplement for Cows

Glenn Selk, Oklahoma State University Emeritus Extension Animal Scientist, writes in the latest Cow-Calf Newsletter about important considerations involving grazing of wheat pasture.

Last winter many Oklahoma cow calf producers utilized wheat pasture as a mainstay in the winter nutrition program for the cow herd. Assuming more fall rainfall comes to the Southern Plains, wheat pasture will again be a key source of protein and some energy for many cow herds in this part of the United States. If that rainfall occurs, grazing of wheat usually will start in late November or early December.

Limited grazing of wheat pasture has proven to be the best and also more efficient approach for utilizing this high-quality forage with mature beef cows. The protein requirements of a dry cow can be met by allowing her to graze on wheat pasture for one day and returning her to dry pasture grass or hay for 2 - 3 days. A pattern of one day on wheat and 1 day off, should meet the protein needs of the same cow after calving. Producers must be reminded that adequate forage must be available in the dry grass pastures or in the form of hay to provide much of the energy needs of the cows in the "off" days.

The day on wheat pasture should be defined as that amount of time required for the cow to graze her fill of wheat forage (3 - 5 hours) and not a full 24 hours. This short time on wheat allows the cow to gather adequate amounts of protein to carry her over the ensuing days on dry grass or hay. A 3 - 5 hour grazing limit helps to avoid the unnecessary loss of valuable forage due to trampling, bedding down and manure deposits. Under normal weather conditions in the fall, enough wheat forage should be accumulated by early December to supply the protein needs of about 1 to 1.5 cows per acre throughout the winter months when limit grazing is practiced. 

You can read more of Glenn's advice about wheat pasture for cows by clicking here.

 

This N That- Tulsa State Fair Cattle Grading Contest Results, Jere White Fund and Coldest Weather in a Coon's Age Coming

We have the results of the Tulsa State Fair Commercial Cattle Grading Contest that was held yesterday at the fairgrounds in and around the junior livestock show that got underway yesterday and continues today.  One of our longtime email sponsors, the American Farmers & Ranchers, helped sponsor the contest- and Laici Wedel with AFR tells us they had over 700 4-H and FFA members compete- top individual winners were Robyn Smalley of Nowata FFA in the FFA Division- and Zach Pitts in the 4-H Division- he's from Ok Union.  Click here for the complete list of top teams and top individuals from yesterday's contest.  

By the way- we look forward to seeing many of you in Tulsa this evening and/or tomorrow as they wrap up their Junior Livestock Show and celebrate with their Parade of Champions tonight and the Premium Sale of top winners tomorrow.  

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When tragedy strikes- the farm and ranch community circles up and helps take care of their own.  Our neighbors in Kansas are doing that right now in regards to Jere White. A fund has been created to help his family with expenses related to his hospitalization. White was critically injured in a motorcycle accident on September 28 in northwest Arkansas and remains hospitalized at Mercy Hospital in Springfield, MO. He is the executive director of the Kansas Corn Growers Association, Kansas Corn Commission and Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association based in Garnett, Kansas. 

If you know Jere and wish to contribute- here's the address:

Jere White Fund

c/o Bank of Greeley

PO Box 80

Greeley, KS 66033