Natural Disaster Response Plans Now Take Into Account Livestock

According to a story published in the Delta Farm Press, federal natural disaster plans will now take into consideration the loss of livestock due to hurricanes, tornadoes and similar natural disasters.

Often when disasters strike, livestock losses are not calculated as their own category, now they will be considered when disaster aid is appropriated after such events. The loss of livestock due to destroyed fencing or euthanized due to danger to human survivors has been an overlooked element in the past, but now equipment such as portable corrals and cattle trailers have been provided.

Read the full story on the Delta Farm Press Web site.

Third Annual Southwest Beef Symposium Set for January 16-17, 2007, in Amarillo, Texas

Courtesy of AgNews and Texas A&M University System Agriculture Program

Writer: Steve Byrns, 325-653-4576,s-byrns@tamu.edu
Contact: Dr. Bruce Carpenter, 432-336-8585,bb-carpenter@tamu.edu

AMARILLO – Texas and New Mexico Cooperative Extension agencies will present the third annual "Southwest Beef Symposium" on January 16-17 at the Fifth Season Inn in Amarillo.

Dr. Bruce Carpenter, Texas Cooperative Extension livestock specialist at Fort Stockton, said the symposium is tailored for Southwest beef producers. The event centers around three educational sessions and a trade show.

"The first session will target critical success factors in ranching and beef production," Carpenter said. "Key leaders in the beef industry will speak on aligning visions and goals, cow type and the environment, reproductive management, and how they've created flexibility in their own Southwestern range operations.

"The second session on day two will address current issues affecting the industry, including the impacts and opportunities from ethanol production, source verified markets, the occurrence and management of trichomoniasis, and a new way to pregnancy test ruminants."

The final session will look into beef market trends from the consumer, producer and packers' viewpoints, Carpenter said. Meat processors and retailers will discuss consumer trends, and buyers will speak on some of the challenges and opportunities producers will face when placing feeder cattle into verified source programs. Current trends in packer cow marketing will also be discussed.

Individual registration is $50 by January 5 and $60 thereafter. The fee includes a prime rib dinner at the River Breaks Ranch, lunch, refreshments and a copy of the proceedings.

For more information call Carpenter at 432-336-8585 or Clay Mathis at New Mexico State University at 505-646-8022. A schedule of events and speaker information, as well as registration materials and lodging information can be found at: http://cahe.nmsu.edu/ces/swbeef.

Columbia and Peru Open Markets to U.S. Beef

Via USDA Press Release

WASHINGTON, November 3, 2006- Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns and U.S. Trade Representative Susan C. Schwab applauded today the recent actions by Colombia and Peru to lift their BSE-related bans on U.S. beef and beef product imports.

"These openings represent progress in our efforts to reopen global markets for U.S. beef," said Johanns. "American producers are proud of our safe, high-quality beef products, and we value the opportunity to deliver our products to consumers in South America and around the world."

"We are very pleased to see the Peruvian and Colombian markets reopened to U.S. beef and beef products. We look to other trading partners to similarly make trade decisions in accordance with science-based international standards," said Ambassador Schwab.

In 2003, the United States exported a combined total of more than $4 million worth of beef and beef products to Colombia and Peru. The reopening of these two markets restores two-thirds of the market access for U.S. beef and beef products in South America.

E-Trails Note: Send your interesting news and ideas to - Cole@tlbaa.org.

-Cole Dowden