House Ag Committee Tells Obama Administration to Not Delay on COOL Rule Changes After WTO Decision

Country of Origin Labeling came up during the mark up session by the House Agriculture Committee this past week in Washington.  GOP Congressman Randy Neugebauer of Texas teamed up with Democrat David Scott of Georgia to offer an amendment that would give a deadline to the Obama Administration in regards to adjusting the COOL implementation that sprang from the 2008 Farm law that was ruled trade distorting by the World Trade Organization.  Specifically, the WTO did confirm the right to require labeling, but agreed that U.S. COOL provides "less favourable treatment to imported Canadian cattle and hogs."

Amendment number 74 was a single paragraph that read as follows:

"This Amendment would require USDA to turn in a report not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry of the Senate and the Committee on Agriculture of the US House of Representatives detailing the steps the Secretary will take so that the United States is in compliance with the decision of the World Trade Organization regarding Country of Origin Labeling. (COOL)"

Neugebauer argued that the livestock industry deserved a speedy response to provide certainty of what the adjustments would do to their businesses- Ranking Minority Member Collin Peterson of the Full Committee defended the Administration, saying that they would do the right thing- and that they needed time to get it right.  

The Amendment was approved as a part of Title XII- the Misc. Provisions- you can hear highlights of the conversation between Neugebauer and Peterson on our Monday edition of the Beef Buzz- click here for that report.

And we invite you to check out previous Beef Buzzes on our website- the Beef Buzz is heard across our region on the Radio Oklahoma Network on our great lineup of radio stations.  

Conservation Districts Support Voluntary Conservation Partnerships Proposed by Fish and Wildlife Service 

National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) President Gene Schmidt submitted comments in response to the U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) advance notice of proposed rulemaking for Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants: Expanding Incentives for Voluntary Conservation Actions Under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

"Given NACD's mission and more than 70 years of experience working directly with private landowners, conservation districts have a unique understanding of how voluntary conservation actions yield positive results for all types of conservation, including conservation directly related to threatened and endangered species," Schmidt said. "Voluntary partnerships are the key to providing incentives for voluntary conservation actions related to threatened and endangered species under ESA."

NACD supports USFWS's movement for a voluntary approach to ESA, and for allowing private landowners to work through and identify opportunities for voluntary conservation actions occurring at the local level. The flexibility of Safe Harbor Agreements, Habitat Conservation Plans, and Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances speaks to the true intent of ESA; it is important that these programs maintain the integrity, flexibility, and ease-of-use that voluntary incentive-based programs achieve.  

You can read more of this story by clicking here.

Meat Industry Flash Mob Gathers in Bogota

With all the frenzy and excitement of a flash mob, a who's who of more than 100 of the Western Hemisphere's top red meat industry buyers and sellers assembled in Bogota this week and then dispersed. In the intervening 36 hours, relationships were made and renewed and enough American beef, pork and lamb changed hands to put a smile on the face of farmers and ranchers from Washington state to New England.

The event was the Second Annual Latin American Product Showcase, organized by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) with funding support provided by the USDA Market Access Program (MAP), the Nebraska Beef Council, the Pork Checkoff and the Illinois Soybean Association. It was a follow-up to the extremely successful showcase held one year ago in Panama.

The main attraction was more than 50 buyers representing 10 countries throughout Central and South America. Buzzing about them was a swarm of processors and exporters, ranging from international corporations to small, independent traders.

"This is a very targeted and efficient program," said Kurt Holdmeyer of AJC International Trading Corp. of Atlanta. "We have four people working the floor and they're all busy. We already knew many of the buyers here, but a lot changes in this industry in a year and we're making a lot of new contacts." 

Click here for more.

Maximizing Carcass Quality Calls for Good Genetics, Good Management

When it comes to finishing cattle in the feedlot, efficiency is everything. A slight improvement can mean the difference between profits and losses.

At the Darnall Feedlot in Nebraska, they combine the newest technology with simple techniques to achieve maximum efficiency.

"We work hard with our nutritionist to ensure they have a balanced diet," says Gary Darnall. "These cattle probably have a better-balanced diet than I do."

But maximum efficiency starts long before the cattle enter the feed yard.

"Efficiency in cattle is pretty much based on the genetics they have," says Lane Darnall. "We can improve on efficiency by making sure our rations are formulated right, that our mineral packages are correct for these cattle and make sure the environment that they live in day to day is clean and functional so they don't struggle to get to the bunk to eat. But the true efficiency comes from inside the cattle. What we have is the opportunity maximize all the genetic potential that they have."

Click here for more on this story including a video version on our website.

Governor Fallin, State Leaders to Visit Detroit to Pitch CNG Vehicle Initiative to U.S. Automakers

Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin, Oklahoma Secretary of Energy Michael Ming, and Oklahoma Secretary of Commerce Dave Lopez will visit Detroit on Monday to pitch a multi-state, bi-partisan compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicle initiative to U.S. auto manufacturers.

In April, Gov. Fallin and the governors of 12 other states sent letters to auto makers in the United States expressing their commitment to explore ways to purchase more CNG vehicles for their state fleets (see letters attached). The move is both a cost-saving measure for states and a means to incentivize the manufacture of affordable and functional CNG vehicles. The letter referred to a multi-state Request for Information (RFI), asking manufacturers to provide background and information in anticipation of a multi-state solicitation later this summer. Participating states include: Oklahoma, Colorado, Wyoming, Pennsylvania, Utah, Maine, New Mexico, West Virginia, Kentucky, Texas, Ohio, Mississippi and Louisiana.

The initiative, first announced by Governor Fallin and Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper, attempts to establish the demand and incentive for auto manufacturers in the United States to design and sell a suitable CNG-powered passenger vehicle that can be used both by public fleets and private sector consumers.   Gov. Hickenlooper will join the Oklahoma officials on the trip to Detroit.

You can read more about the governor's CNG initiative by clicking here.

Oklahoma Beef Quality Summit Registration Now Open

What is the second most-tender cut of beef in the beef carcass? How is tenderness measured and is aging really that important? In total dollars, what is the most valuable product produced from the beef carcass?

Answers to these questions and many more will be provided at the Oklahoma Beef Quality Summit classes which are scheduled for October 1-3 and October 3-5, 2012 on the Oklahoma State University campus in Stillwater. (The program begins at 4 p.m. on Day 1 and concludes at 1 p.m. on Day 3) Using the National Beef Quality Audit as the foundation, the Beef Quality Summit course offers participants the opportunity to see the causes and results of quality challenges facing the beef industry.

Summit attendees from ranchers to processors evaluate live cattle in an effort to predict quality and yield then follow the cattle through the harvest and grading process. As an attendee, you will actually fabricate a beef carcass into wholesale meat cuts.

Online registration is available by clicking here.
 

NFU Supports EPA FindingThat Grain Sorghum is Advanced Biofuel

National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson submitted comments to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on the Notice of Data Availability (NODA) Concerning Renewable Fuels Produced from Grain Sorghum under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Program.

"U.S. farmers can have a tremendous positive impact on the environment by producing advanced biofuel from grain sorghum," said Johnson. "EPA's analysis indicates that utilizing different process energy technology options reduces lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) impacts of ethanol produced from grain sorghum by 53 percent compared to the petroleum baseline."

In 2007, Congress passed the Renewable Fuels Standard 2 (RFS2), which requires the production of 36 billion gallons of renewable fuels by 2022 from both conventional and advanced sources of biofuel. NFU policy encourages full implementation of the RFS2 and requires any revisions to be based on the best available science subject to public review.

"NFU supports expanded use of other biofuels, and encourage the use of eligible feedstocks such as grain sorghum, millet, barley, oats and wheat to meet the requirements for other advanced biofuels under the RFS," said Johnson. "Based on our review of the NODA, we support the findings of EPA's analysis which indicates that grain sorghum qualifies as an advanced biofuel."