Other Than Comments, Little Chance to Stop EPA Water Rule, NCBA's McDonald Says 

As the juggernaut that is the Waters of the U.S. rule proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency advances, Ashley McDonald, environmental counsel for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, says it's time for agricultural producers to stand up and be counted during the comment period.

McDonald has reviewed the EPA's proposal to expand its jurisdiction to cover almost all water anywhere in the U.S. and she says there are a lot of problems ahead for farmers, but she encourages them to submit their comments to the EPA.

"That's really the only hope that we have for getting a change to this rule," McDonald says. "Ultimately, what we would like to see at NCBA, we would like to see them withdraw the rule. We think there are too many problems for them to individually fix every single one. Because, ultimately, what we think they've done here is to expand their jurisdiction to every wet spot in the country. We think that goes against Supreme Court rulings. We think that goes against common sense, frankly."

McDonald says that despite her hopes to the contrary, pushing through this EPA rule seems to be a priority for the Obama administration. She says that the EPA has long wanted to expand their jurisdiction over every drop of the country's water, but Congress voted down every attempt to grant the agency that power.

She says the faults with the proposed rule are too numerous to keep up with. It would regulate ditches and ponds, some as far as 20 miles from any moving source of water. McDonald says that the EPA's philosophy seems to be that since everything is somehow connected, therefore the EPA should be allowed to regulate practically everything.

McDonald says that such a notion, "flies in the face of the law itself."

Ashley joins me on the latest Beef Buzz.  Click here to listen in.

Smithfield Making Bacon- and Money- as They Post Record First-Quarter Profits

Smithfield Foods, Inc., reported on Wednesday a first-quarter net income nearly five times higher than the same time last year. The wholly owned subsidiary of China's WH Group Limited reported a net income of $105.3 million compared with $18.2 million last year. Sales during the period were up three percent to $3.4 billion.

Larry Pope, president and CEO of Smithfield, said, "Our results reflect outstanding execution at the operating level, better markets and an improved export environment owing, in good measure, to our strategic combination with WH Group. On that front, we are opportunistically pursuing exciting growth opportunities in the enormous and rapidly growing Chinese pork market that we expect will yield dividends for years to come."

Pope also said he was pleased with the company's progress in the packaged meats segment.  He said his company was "able to maintain margins in the face of historically high raw material prices. We are continuing to build our brands through investments in targeted, high-impact consumer marketing, as well as capital improvements in our manufacturing platform."

Click here to read more details from Smithfield's report of its earnings.

Biodiesel Producers Hit Hard by Policy Uncertainty; Nearly Six in Ten Have Idled Production

Policy setbacks in Washington are taking a major toll on the most successful advanced biofuel in the U.S., according to a nationwide survey of biodiesel producers released Wednesday.

The survey, conducted by the National Biodiesel Board, found that nearly 80 percent of U.S. biodiesel producers have scaled back production this year and more than half have idled production at a plant altogether. Additionally, two-thirds of producers said they have already reduced or anticipate reducing their workforce as a result of the downturn. The cutbacks come in the face of a weak Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) proposal from the EPA and Congress' failure to extend the biodiesel tax incentive.

Biodiesel producers and other advocates joined a group of U.S. Senators at a press conference Wednesday in calling for Congress and the Administration to act quickly to restore the industry's progress by supporting a strong RFS and reinstating the tax incentive.

You can read more of this story by clicking here.

 

Glenn Selk Explores Economic Advantages to Implanting Nursing Calves

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

Many new technologies have been made available to the beef industry over the last 75 years. Few have the potential return on investment as do growth promoting implants for nursing calves.   The term implant is used to refer to a group of products used in the cattle industry that increase rate of growth. Each type or brand of implant has its own specific applicator, which is used to properly administer the implant. Implants contain natural or synthetic anabolic compounds that produce physiological responses similar to hormones that are already produced in varying quantities in the body. Calves intended for "natural" or "organic" markets can not be implanted.

Implants cleared for use in nursing calves contain a lower dose of the active ingredient compared to products cleared for use with older cattle. These "calf" implants are typically administered when calves are between 2 and 4 months of age. Research summaries have shown than implants given during the suckling phase will increase average daily gain of steer calves by 0.1 pound per day. The response in heifer calves is slightly higher at 0.12 to 0.14 pound per day. Over 150 days of the remaining nursing period, this additional gain can amount to 15 pounds in improved weaning weights in steers and 18 to 21 pounds in weaned heifer calves. 

Click here for more from Glenn Selk.

 

Small Companies Eligible for Branded Products Promotion Program

Smaller U.S. companies that are seeking assistance in promoting their branded red meat products internationally are eligible to apply for the 2014 USMEF Branded Products Promotion Program.

The program provides financial assistance to small (less than 500 employees) for-profit companies or U.S. agricultural cooperatives that own a commodity brand, with the provision that products promoted under the program must contain at least 50 percent U.S. red meat.

During fiscal year 2013, the USMEF program, which utilizes funding from the USDA Market Access Program (MAP), provided support for 11 companies that targeted 13 international markets, ranging from Aruba, China and Germany to Indonesia, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates.

Cumulatively, the 2013 program helped produce more than 400 business contacts and 90 export trade leads, leading to significant increases in exports by the participating companies.

Click here for the rest of this article.

Oilseed Commission Seeks Candidates for District 3 Post

The Oklahoma Oilseed Commission will conduct an election for the commissioner position representing District 3 of the Commission. District 3 consists of the following counties: Woods, Alfalfa, Major, Blaine, Kingfisher, Canadian, Grant, Kay, Garfield, Noble, Logan, Payne, Oklahoma, and Lincoln. Voters in District 3 will elect one commissioner to serve a five (5) year term beginning July 1, 2014. The election will be conducted beginning May 22, 2014 and ending June 6, 2014.

Anyone who is at least 25 years of age, is a resident of Oklahoma, has been actually engaged in the production of oilseed (canola or sunflowers) in the state for a period of at least two (2) years and derives a portion of their income from the production of oilseed is eligible to serve on the Commission. Candidates must also reside and farm in one of the counties comprising District 3.

The five member Oklahoma Oilseed Commission administers the check off funds which are collected on oilseed grown in the state. An assessment determined by the Commission is collected and used to develop programs that will enhance oilseed production, provide for oilseed research, promote market development and education, and improve profitability of Oklahoma oilseed production.

You can read the rest of this story on our website by clicking here.

This N That- Superior Video Auction Gearing Up for Friday Sale and Ag in the Classroom Catching Their Breath After a Big Event

On Friday, it's the next regular "every other week" sale for the Superior Video Livestock Auction team- with 33,500 to be offered for sale tomorrow.

The lineup includes 300 Holstein steers & heifers  

8,800 Yearling Steers  

5,800 Yearling Heifers  

5,600 Weaned Calves  

12,000 Calves on Cows  

1,000 Replacement Heifers, Exposed Heifers, Bred Heifers and Bred Cows & Heifers.

For more information, you can call Superior at 800-422-2117 or click here for their website where a lot more information can be had about every lot being sold tomorrow.

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We got a great report via email from Dana Bessinger of Ag in the Classroom fame about their Oklahoma City area educational event held this past Thursday and Friday.  Dana writes "Our event  Kids, Kows, and More Super Ag Day was a big success. 884 metro-area students, 45 teachers, a couple of principals, and tons of parents attended.  

"The students were greet by a big green tractor, thanks to P&K Equipment and Scott Eisenhauer, where they took a class picture. The students learned about dairy, horses (thanks to Doug Sauter), chickens, sheep and wool, rabbits, fruits and vegetables, and general agriculture.  

"Thanks to our partners at Farm Bureau, My American Farm online learning games were shown to students. Oklahoma County OSU Extension provided scenes from the Farm to You exhibit. The Farm Bureau Women's Leadership Team gave away a bicycle every day! The faces on the winners were priceless.  

"Teachers received a barn full of Ag in the Classroom resources connecting the hands-on activities of the day to state standards. We appreciate the folks at the State Fair Park for providing a venue and the set-up for us. We plan to have this event again next year with even more students participating."

Here's Doug Sauter saying "Go ahead, pet him, he won't bite."

To see more pictures from the AITC Super Ag Day at State Fair Park last week, click here.