How Public Land Policies Affect the Cattle Industry

Joanna Schroeder

Charles Lyons is a cattle producer from Mountain Home, Idaho. Unlike most ranchers I spoke with during the Cattle Industry Summer Conference, Lyons is a first generation rancher who decided to try cowboying about 12 years ago. Also, being from Idaho, a state where 65 percent of the land is federally owned, he has a few different policy issues that are affecting his business.

“The thing that probably affects us most is public land policies,” said Lyons. “We’re 65 percent federally owned. For the majority of us, our ranches are tied into public land.”

Tied into that is water quality and he said the Environmental Protection Agency’s attempt at over regulating water quality is a problem. Lyons also said the Endangered Species Act, which keeps ranchers from being able to graze cattle on public lands, has been a challenge for him and other ranchers in the state.

But these bumps in the road don’t get him down. When asked what he is most optimistic about, he is excited to be one of the ranchers that helps to feed a growing population. Not only is he going to help feed the world, but he’s doing it in a very sustainable manner.

Listen to my interview with Charles Lyons:How Public Land Policies Affect the Cattle Industry

Photos from the conference are posted to this photo album: 2011 Cattle Industry Summer Conference Photo Album.

Ag Groups, Audio, Beef, Cattle Industry Conference, NCBA

Just Add Lard

Melissa Sandfort

I’m not a big fan of pie (I know, it’s un-American) but as I talked to my grandfather about this old lard press, his eyes lit up and I think he even licked his lips just a bit when he said, “Lard makes the best pie crusts.” Good thing Grandma was a good pie-maker.

Patented in 1897, this lard press had dual purposes. First, after fat had been cut into pieces, you’d heat it (melt it) and put it into this press. As the handle was cranked, the lard ran out of the tube at the end and they’d put it in gallon or half gallon syrup cans to harden and use for cooking purposes later. The residue that was left after the lard was pressed out was called cracklings.

Its second purpose was to fill sausage casings. You’d slip the casing over the end of the tube, tie the loose end and stuff the casing with ground sausage.

The only kind of pie my husband will probably see is from Sara Lee and I doubt if she uses lard.

Until we walk again …

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Cattle Association Trade Policy Update

Joanna Schroeder

Kent Bacus, Manager of Legislative Affairs for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), has a lot of important policies that he is working on in D.C. Since so many NCBA members who attended the Cattle Industry Summer Conference in Florida have various policy issues on the top of their minds, I thought it was high-time I learned more about them from the man who lives and breaths policy.

Today, one of Bacus’ key focal points is trade. He said that currently the two top buyers of American beef are in North America – Mexico and Canada. From there, he said that the far East is our next biggest customer and Korea, Japan and Taiwan our the industry’s fastest growing markets. Why? They like to buy a lot of animal parts that American’s don’t have a taste for including beef tongue and short ribs.

Bacus said our exports are doing incredibly well and currently about 10 percent of our beef is exported but the value add of these exports are tremendous. About $150 to $200 per head is credited to exports alone and Bacus said imagine how much that will increase when new markets are opened up.

Speaking of new markets, there are several trade agreements sitting on President Obama’s desk that need to be signed. Once this happens, it will allow exports in several countries including Columbia and Panama and should give the industry a good foothold in South America.

Learn more about the future of beef exports in my interview with Kent Bacus:Cattle Association Trade Policy Update

Photos from the conference are posted to this photo album: 2011 Cattle Industry Summer Conference Photo Album.

Ag Groups, Audio, Beef, Cattle Industry Conference, NCBA

Obama More than a Number at Wyffels

Cindy Zimmerman

He may have mispronounced their name at first, but it was still a great honor for Wyffels Hybrids to host President Obama during his Town Hall Meeting in Atkinson, Illinois on Wednesday.

“I want to thank the Waffles family for — (laughter) — Wyffels, rather, excuse me. I haven’t had lunch,” reads the official transcript of the president’s opening remarks at the Wyffels Hybrids Production Facility. Obama also noted that he “spent some time with some cows” at the Whiteside County Fair prior to arriving at Wyffels, so it was a very agriculture day for the POTUS. You can see some photos from the event on the Wyffels Facebook page.

The president got a couple of serious questions about agriculture during the meeting, starting with the very first one from a local corn and soybean grower, who was applauded by the crowd for telling Obama not to challenge the nation’s food producers with more rules and regulations. “We would prefer to start our day in a tractor cab or combine cab rather than filling out forms and permits to do what we’d like to do,” he told the president, noting particular concern about regulations regarding dust and water runoff.

“If you hear something is happening, but it hasn’t happened, don’t always believe what you hear,” Obama responded. “And I’m being perfectly honest, the lobbyists and the associations in Washington, they’ll get all ginned up and they’ll start sending out notices to everybody saying, look what’s coming down the pike. And a lot of times we are going to be applying common sense.” He suggested that if farmers have concerns about the administration “putting something in place that’s going to make it harder for you to farm, contact USDA. Talk to them directly. Find out what it is that you’re concerned about. My suspicion is a lot of times they’re going to be able to answer your questions and it will turn out that some of your fears are unfounded.”

That’s right, folks. If you’re worried about the impending rules and regs that the administration is considering that might impact your farming operation, you just give USDA a call and ask them about it and they will set you straight in no time.

Read the White House transcript of the meeting here and watch the video here.

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Cattle Producer Bob McCan Optimistic About Future

Joanna Schroeder

Bob McCan, a cattle producer from Victoria, Texas is optimistic about the future, despite the legislative challenges before the industry. He shared his views with me on the industry during the Cattle Industry Summer Conference.

There are many issues affecting the industry right now including proposed GIPSA rules, which he views as a major issue right now. He said the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s (NCBA) government affairs team has spent an inordinate amount of time working on this issue and he is confident that it can be resolved in a way that favors cattle producers.

When asked him what issue he thought was most affecting his business, McCan said, “I can probably encapsulate most of the issues to over regulation in one word. And that’s basically from all the regulatory authorities. This administration has been particularly restrictive and more or less abusive of the authority they have within the regulatory agencies. That has been a full-time job for our staff in Washington.”

Despite the challenges, McCan said he is confident that the industry is going to be able to work through these issues. However, he did point out the need to elect more agriculture friendly legislators in the next cycle and this goal is being addressed through the PAC.

Listen to my interview with Bob McCan here:Cattle Producer Bob McCan Optimistic About Industry Future

Photos from the conference are posted to this photo album: 2011 Cattle Industry Summer Conference Photo Album.

Ag Groups, Audio, Beef, Cattle Industry Conference, NCBA

Record Setting Conservation in Action Tour

Cindy Zimmerman

The 2011 CTIC Conservation In Action Tour on August 9 in northwest Ohio was one for the record books.

“We’re thrilled that we had to add an extra bus,” said one of the organizers of this year’s event, Steve Davis with the Ohio USDA NRCS. “We wanted to show people the agriculture in northwest Ohio, the good work that many Ohio farmers are doing, and also talk about the challenges that still lie ahead for us.”

Listen to my interview with Steve here: Steve Davis on CTIC Tour

“This is by far our largest tour ever,” said tour chairman Larry Clemens of The Nature Conservancy. “I think that as CTIC we’re learning that our tours are enjoyable for people, they’re gaining in reputation, and we’re going to have to make some adjustments on how to handle over 200 people in the future.” Despite the very large group, the tour went smoothly, on time and without a hitch. Next year’s tour is slated to be in the Mississippi Delta region.

Listen to my interview with Larry here: Larry Clemens on CTIC Tour

CTIC 2011 Conservation in Action Tour Photos

AgWired coverage of the CTIC Indian Creek Watershed Field Tour is sponsored by AGROTAIN
Audio, Conservation, CTIC, Environment

Seven Wonders of Corn Yield World

Cindy Zimmerman

Seven has always been considered to be the perfect number, so it’s no surprise that there are seven factors that make up the combination for consistent high yielding corn crops.

7 wonders corn worldA new website looks at “The Seven Wonders of the Corn Yield World,” based on the research of University of Illinois plant physiologist Dr. Fred Below.

Dr. Below has been on a quest to help all farmers achieve the Holy Grail of corn – consistent 300 bushel per acre yields – ever since he saw it happen more than 25 years ago. He has categorized the results of his research into seven management practices or “wonders” that can result in high yielding corn. His study helps growers answer the question of what the latest products and practices contribute to yield.

“Roughly speaking, the higher up on the Wonder list the more control that factor exerts over the Wonders that follow,” Below explains. “When combined, all of these factors contribute to big-yield gains.” In order of importance, they are:

1. Weather
2. Nitrogen/fertility
3. Hybrid selection
4. Previous crop
5. Plant population
6. Tillage
7. Growth regulators

Below will present his plots and detail the 7 Wonders of the Corn Yield World in person at the annual Farm Progress Show at the AGROTAIN exhibit (lot 1164 on Eleventh Street) Aug. 30 – Sept. 1 in Decatur, Ill. Below’s plots at the show were sponsored by AGROTAIN International, BASF, DEKALB and Mosaic.

I interviewed Fred about the 7 wonders earlier this year at the GROWMARK FS Green Plan Solutions “In Pursuit of Maximum Yields” conference. Listen to that interview here: Fred Below Interview

Audio, BASF, Corn, Farm Progress Show, GROWMARK

Boehringer Ingelheim Treats Clients Like Family

Cindy Zimmerman

It is always a pleasure to cover the Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica (BIVI) Swine Health Seminar in North Carolina and see so many young swine producers with their families. Makes me optimistic about the future of agriculture.

The big barefoot kid in this photo surrounded by smaller kids is BIVI’s Dan “The Man” Johnson, who is organizer of this great annual event on the beach in North Carolina that combines just the right amount of work and play. The producers spend a day getting swine health and industry updates on Friday and then get family activity time on Saturday. “We want to be more than a vendor to our customers,” Dan says. “We know that their families are important to our producers, so they are important to us as well.”

This year’s meeting had a pirate theme and concluded with a really fun and funny pirate magic show put on by No Sleeves Magic. It was great fun and the photos are proof!

BIVI Swine Health Seminar Photo Album

Boehringer Ingelheim, Swine

Farmers Educate NAMA Boot Camp

Chuck Zimmerman

National Agri-Marketing Association Boot Camp attendees heard directly from the farmer this morning. The first item on the agenda was a producer panel moderated by Tom Hudson, Successful Farming.

Tom says it was very interesting to hear what types of media influenced these farmers. One thing that came through loud and clear was how important local information is. They want to know how information or news relates to them. He says that one of the farmers on the panel still has dial-up internet access but the others had good service and rely heavily on their smartphones for information. When it comes to that old fashioned media he says that print was a very important to them and radio too. Basically, what he heard backed up research that has been done.

You can listen to my interview with Tom here: Tom Hudson Interview

I also spoke with one of the farmers on the panel, Jimmie Long, Cole Camp, MO. Jimmie is a cattle buyer and has a cow-calf operation. Jimmie explained to the group that radio ads that are “catchy” get his attention as well as nice colorful mailers and print ads. I think the takeaway is that good creative works! He says they will often see an item they want to purchase but then they’ll get home and research it on the internet. When it comes to his smartphone, he uses it a lot and checking weather is at the top of the list. He would like to get a tablet btw.

He was surprised at how many people in the audience did not have an ag background. He was shocked that no one asked him about DTN and it never came up in the discussion since it is still so important as a source for real time markets.

You can listen to my interview with Jimmie here: Jimmie Long Interview

2011 NAMA Boot Camp Photo Album

Audio, Farming, NAMA

Update on BIVI 3FLEX

Cindy Zimmerman

It has been on the market for less than a year, but Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica’s 3FLEX™ swine vaccine is already gained wide acceptance among producers.

At the BIVI Swine Health Seminar in North Carolina last week, Dr. Greg Cline gave an update on the acceptance of the 3-way vaccine to combat Porcine Circovirus, Mycoplasma Hyopneumoniae AND PRRS. “The acceptance and reaction has been phenomenal,” Greg says. “It delivers in a lot of areas and we look for the acceptance to continue to accelerate as time goes by.”

The 3FLEX product is the first 3-way combination approved by the USDA to be mixed and administered as a single shot for pigs three weeks of age or older, combining BIVI’s Ingelvac CircoFLEX® 1, Ingelvac MycoFLEX® 2 and Ingelvac® PRRS MLV 3 in one 2 mL shot. “it was a vision by Boehringer-Ingelheim’s a very convenient vaccine in a one-dose, small dose delivery and have it still be convenient, safe and effective,” Greg said, calling it a winning team for hog producers. Chuck interviewed Greg last September when 3FLEX was first introduced.

Listen to my interview with Greg here: Dr. Greg Cline at BIVI Swine Health Seminar

BIVI Swine Health Seminar Photo Album

Animal Health, Audio, Boehringer Ingelheim, Swine