Volume 46, Number 5
February 3, 2012
2012 Cattle Industry Convention And NCBA Trade Show Set A New Attendance Record in Nashville,
Tenn. of roughly 7,000 cattlemen and women, making it the largest gathering of the beef industry.
"Nashville is a legendary city known for its rural roots and country beats and this week America's cattlemen
and women are taking the city by storm. We're here to highlight some of the successes of the past year while
also setting goals and priorities for what lies ahead," NCBA President Bill Donald said. "From Cattlemen's
College sessions to the many other educational events that will take place, cattlemen and women will have the
opportunity to hear directly from the experts about how to sustain and improve their operations."
As we go to press today, multiple TCFA members have been recognized at the Convention. Levi Berry was
presented with the 2012 Max Deets Scholarship Award, an award given each year to the chairman of NCBA's
Young Cattlemen's Conference on the basis of outstanding leadership.
Pete Bonds, of Bonds Ranch near Saginaw, was presented with the Stocker Award at the 2012 Cattle
Industry Convention.
Matador Ranch, managed by Bob Kilmer near Matador, Texas, was recognized in Nashville as a 2011
Regional Environmental Stewardship Award Program winner.
Dr. Dee Griffin, of the University of Nebraska, was awarded BQA Educator of the Year for providing high
quality and innovative training to individuals that care and handle cattle throughout the industry chain.
Be sure to read the Newsletter next week to learn about policy updates and new leaders elected during the
2012 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show.
Department Of Labor Announced It Will Reconsider On-Farm Child Labor Regulations on Wednesday.
The proposed rule could have restricted, and in some instances totally prevented, America's youth from
working on farms and ranches. Specifically, the department will reconsider the "parental exemption" portion of
the proposal. The proposed rule would have prevented youth under the age of 15 years from working on farms
or ranches owned by anyone other than their parents.
The Department of Labor received thousands of comments on the proposed rule and announced they
would continue seeking input on the "parental exemption" language. The department said it expects to repropose a rule in early summer 2012.
"Rather than strapping our hands behind our backs and preventing American youth from learning the ropes
of food and fiber production from today's farmers and ranchers, the department should scrap this provision
completely. Instead, it should work with farmers and ranchers to ensure the rules on the books are workable,"
NCBA President Bill Donald said. "Rules and regulations, including those related to America's youth working
on farms and ranches, need to ensure safe working conditions. But the original proposal simply goes too far.
Cattlemen's voices were heard today. We will continue working to ensure our kids and grandkids have the
opportunity to earn a living producing the safest, most nutritious beef in the world."
HSUS Undercover Investigation Focused On Use Of Gestation Crates In Swine Operations. In a press
conference on Tuesday held by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) in Oklahoma City, Paul
Shapiro, the senior director of farm animal protection for the HSUS, showed a video of sows housed in
gestation crates and of piglets being castrated which was recorded by an undercover humane society activist
who worked at the facility.
Seaboard Farms released a statement Tuesday afternoon in response to the claims of abuse by the
Humane Society of the US–saying in part, "We've reviewed documented employee actions alleging abuse and
listened to the recent discussions questioning U.S. industry practices of sow gestation, swine tail cutting (or
docking) and swine castration, and strongly dispute any allegations of abuse."
They add that "housing for gestating sows must be based on sound science while also seeking a balance
with societal concerns. Seaboard Foods' integrated system uses both stalls and group pens to house gestating
sows. Animal welfare experts and professional groups have found no one method for housing gestating sows
that is clearly better than the other when managed properly."
CattleFax Outlook–Profitability For Cattle Ranchers in the year ahead as cattle supplies remain tight and
global demand intensifies reported CattleFax Chief Executive Officer Randy Blach this morning in Nashville,
Tenn.
"The economic signals are in place for restocking to begin this year," Blach said. "All we need now is a little
encouragement from Mother Nature."
According to NCBA, Art Douglas, of Creighton University, set the expectation that, although there have
been three months of near-normal rainfall in parts of Texas, drought will continue to play a role in determining if
and when the cowherd expands. Douglas expects much of Texas to return to dry conditions by late-spring or
early summer. He also predicts drought will spread into southern California, the Northern Plains and coastal
areas of the southeast United States.
Despite shifting drought conditions, Blach told the audience he expects cattle inventory numbers will decline
slightly in 2012 and reach a low point in 2013, before increasing in 2014 and beyond. Although herd growth
may remain elusive, an increase in average carcass weights will partially offset the decline in inventory
numbers, he said. The decline in cattle numbers means prices can be expected to move higher in 2012. Tight
supplies of cattle and beef will be compounded by continued growth in the export markets, with expanded
access into Japan and continued increases in the volume and value of beef being sold into export channels,
according to Blach.
He said Japan won't be the only export market to see significant growth during 2012. In fact, U.S. beef
exports, which set records in 2011, will likely set new highs in 2012 as a result of strong overall global demand
and continued weakness in the U.S. dollar.
EPA Region 6 Issued A Final General Permit For Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) in
Oklahoma this week. The effective date of the permit is Feb. 1, 2012 and existing CAFOs in Oklahoma will
have 90 days to apply for coverage under the new permit. The permit replaces the current general permit that
was issued originally by EPA in 1993.
Under the new permit, CAFOs are required to submit a Notice of Intent (NOI) and a Nutrient Management
Plan (NMP) to apply for coverage. After those documents are submitted, EPA staff will conduct a technical
review and prepare a summary for public notice posting on the EPA Region 6 website. The comment period
will be open for 30 days on each permit application. Unlike the previous permit which focused predominantly
on the production area (pens and ponds), the new permit also requires CAFO operators to submit a detailed
NMP to outline all the potential crops and yield goals on fields where manure or wastewater will be applied.
The NMP must include fields under the control of the CAFO.
In addition, the permit establishes new requirements imposed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, as a
result of federal agency consultation process required by the Endangered Species Act, for CAFOs located in
watersheds where endangered species are a concern. EPA has listed those watershed segments in the
permit. Some of the additional requirements include development of an Emergency Action Plan; installation of
emergency cut-off systems on wastewater pumps; sampling of soil and pond sludge for nine metals prior to
land application; and establishment of riparian buffer zones.
To review the final permit, visit http://tcfa.org/email/2012/2012-02-01_new_epa_cafo_permit.pdf
and EPA's response to comments, visit http://tcfa.org/email/2012/2012-02-01_ok_comments_response.pdf.
For more information or questions, contact TCFA Vice President Ben Weinheimer at (806) 358-3681 or
[email protected].
USDA Will Conduct A Four-Week Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) general signup, beginning on
March 12 and ending on April 6.
CRP is a voluntary program available to agricultural producers to help them use environmentally sensitive
land for conservation benefits. Producers enrolled in CRP plant long-term, resource-conserving covers to
improve the quality of water, control soil erosion and develop wildlife habitat. In return, USDA provides
participants with rental payments and cost-share assistance. Contract duration is between 10 and 15 years.
Producers with expiring contracts and producers with environmentally sensitive land are encouraged to
evaluate their options under CRP. Producers also are encouraged to look into CRP's other enrollment
opportunities offered on a continuous, non-competitive, signup basis.
Offers for CRP contracts are ranked according to the Environmental Benefits Index (EBI). USDA's Farm
Service Agency (FSA) collects data for each of the EBI factors based on the relative environmental benefits for
the land offered. Each eligible offer is ranked in comparison to all other offers and selections made from that
ranking. FSA uses the following EBI factors to assess the environmental benefits for the land offered:
Wildlife habitat benefits resulting from covers on contract acreage;
Water quality benefits from reduced erosion, runoff and leaching;
On-farm benefits from reduced erosion;
Benefits that will likely endure beyond the contract period;
Air quality benefits from reduced wind erosion; and
Cost.
For more information on CRP and other FSA programs, visit a local FSA service center or
http://www.fsa.usda.gov.
Go Red For Women Movement. February Is American Heart Month, and as strong supporters of the
American Heart Association and the importance of including beef in a heart-heathly diet, TCFA was a top
sponsor in the 2012 Go Red for Women Heart Health Awareness Event Wednesday, Feb. 1 at the Amarillo
Civic Center.
Before a room of nearly 600 individuals dressed in red at the Heart Health Luncheon, TCFA member Kevin
Buse of Champion Feeders spoke about the importance of women's heart health and introduced Jennifer
Leheska, Ph.D., Rd-Nutrition Consultant, who gave a presentation over nutrition and the importance of beef in
a heart-healthy diet.
Join us as we continue to raise awareness about the importance of beef during American Heart Month by
sharing your love of beef through social media. Follow TCFA on Facebook and Twitter, and share our posts
with those in your circle. Let's make sure everyone knows about the 29 lean cuts of beef, and the importance
of including it in a heart-healthy diet.
Kevin Buse
TCFA Staff and Members
Jennifer Leheska
Drovers CattleNetwork Launched MoreCowsNow.com "Building America's Beef Future," a microsite to
provide a variety of online information and resources to beef producers. The site will feature news and
management information for cost effective herd expansion; genetic and selection information; tools and
calculators to help evaluate expansion decisions; links to research and resources; and an "ask the expert"
section.
Noting the Beef Industry's Long Range Plan calls for increasing beef heifer retention to 18% by 2014 and
stabilizing annual beef production at a minimum of 26 billion pounds, Drovers/CattleNetwork Editor and
Associate Publisher Greg Henderson says MoreCowsNow.com will help provide timely and useful information
for producers who are planning to expand their herds.
To view the website, visit http://www.morecowsnow.com.
TCFA Dues Rebates Available. If you fed 10,000 head or more in 2011, you may apply for a dues rebate.
The rebate applies to the cumulative number of cattle fed by a single feeding entity. Rebate applications must
be completed and returned to the TCFA office by April 15. For more information or to request an application,
call TCFA at (806) 358-3681 or contact Kaci Barclay at [email protected].
2012 Fed Beef Challenge. The best cattle in Cattle Feeding Country will make their way to the historic
Amarillo Livestock Auction on Wednesday, April 18 for the 2012 TCFA Fed Beef Challenge. Feedyards from
throughout the TCFA area will bring top quality steers and heifers to compete for awards, cash and bragging
rights. In addition to the carcass contest to determine the best beef, there will be a live evaluation contest,
steak feed and special activities benefiting the TCFA Education Foundation. Watch future editions of the
Newsletter for further details. Contact Jason Slane at (806) 358-3681 or [email protected] for more information.
Calling All Junior Cattle Feeders! The start of the 2012 Junior Fed Beef Challenge is just around the corner.
Junior cattle feeders from all over Cattle Feeding Country will be competing for over $18,000 in scholarships,
cash and prizes. Students will compete in four phases of the contest, including carcass merit, record keeping,
a written exam and oral presentation or interview. Steers can be validated March 1–April 1. To see the official
rule book and brochure with important dates and contest information, go to http://www.tcfa.org/jfbc.
For questions and to acquire contest ear tags, contact Kaci Barclay at (806) 358-3681 or [email protected].
2012 Feedyard Camp! With the continued success of a great 2011 program, TCFA, in conjunction with the
Texas AgriLife Extension Service and West Texas A&M University, will host the 2012 Junior Fed Beef Career
and Leadership Program June 25–June 27 in Canyon. The program is open to any incoming high school junior
and seniors who have an interest in pursuing a career path in feedyard management and the fed beef industry.
The Career and Leadership Program will give students a chance to be exposed to many aspects of the cattle
feeding industry, including tours of commercial cattle feeding operations, a tour of a beef processing facility,
the opportunity to learn anatomy of a beef carcass, fabricate a beef half and participate in a consumer beef
taste panel. Students will also spend a day learning day to day operations of a feedyard and have the
opportunity to participate in a job shadow program at a local feedyard after the program. Watch the mail and
future Newsletters for more information, or contact Kaci Barclay at (806) 358-3681 or [email protected].
2012 Cattle, Dairy And Grain Industry Outlook. Wells Fargo invites you to attend a special presentation by
Wells Fargo Agricultural Economist Dr. Michael Swanson Wednesday, Feb. 29 at the Amarillo Country Club.
Participate in the reception at 11:30 a.m., followed by lunch and the presentation from 12:00 p.m.-1:30 p.m.
RSVP to Deedra Lambert at (806) 371-3777 or [email protected]. For more event details, visit
http://www.tcfa.org/events/2012/cattle&grain_industry_outlook.pdf.
TCFA Sponsor Spotlight. TCFA is proud to recognize its top sponsors whose efforts help deliver top-notch
service to members.
This week's spotlight shines on
Bayer would like to thank TCFA members for their support of Bayer HealthCare. Bayer has been a solid
supporter of TCFA and was one of the first Platinum Sponsors. Bayer is proud to be a Prime Sponsor at the
Annual Convention and to provide financial support for the Manager's Roundtable meetings and the jackets for
the Junior Fed Beef Challenge. All of this is made possible from membership support of Bayer products such
as: Baytril® 100 (enrofloxacin), CyLence® Pour-On, Tempo® premise insecticides, Catosal™ (10%
butaphosphan + cyanocobalamin), Corathon™ and Cylence Guard™ ear tags and QuickBayt® Fly Bait. For
more information, visit http://www.bayer-ah.com.
Please note: All links are available at http://www.tcfa.org under This Week's Newsletter links.
This copyrighted material is the property of TCFA and is intended for the use of TCFA members only. It may not be redistributed, transmitted, stored or reproduced, in whole or in
part, without the prior written consent of TCFA. The information contained in this material is believed to be reliable and correct, and the views expressed reflect judgments at this time
and are subject to change without notice. TCFA does not warrant or guarantee that the information is complete, comprehensive or accurate and it should not be relied upon as such.
Texas Cattle Feeders Association
February 3, 2012