Congratulations to Lowndes County Cattlemen’s Association on another successful Steak Sale. At the annual event in Columbus, 2350 ten-ounce steak plates were sold Friday and Saturday. In the past eleven years, the association has give over $50,000 in scholarships to county youth.

 Mississippian Heading to Capitol Hill – Steve Coody of Yazoo County, will join dozens of young cattle producers making the rounds on Capitol Hill this week after Congress returns from its week-long Memorial Day Recess. Producers from across the nation will urge members of Congress to address major policy issues affecting the cattle industry right now – including market competition issues, conservation in the 2007 Farm Bill, and renewable energy issues.  The group started in Denver for the beginning of the 10-day Young Cattlemen’s Conference (YCC) national tour, which then heads to Kansas, Nebraska, and Chicago before a final stop in Washington D.C.  The educational YCC program develops leadership qualities in young beef industry leaders who were nominated by their respective state affiliates and breed associations.
While in D.C., participants will meet with their Congressional delegation, conduct meetings with top Washington officials from the USDA, the White House, and more. On Wednesday, June 6th, the annual YCC Beef Picnic in Taft Memorial Park on the Senate side of Capitol Hill will bring hundreds of hill staffers and members of Congress together to eat beef and meet with U.S. cattle producers.
U. S. Secretary of Agriculture, Mike Johanns is confirmed to speak to the YCC group on Thursday, June 7th, and that evening NCBA will throw a big auction and boat tour to raise money for NCBA’s proactive Political Action Committee (PAC).
Steve’s trip is being sponsored by the Mississippi Cattlemen’s Foundation.

Field Day - Cattlemen gathered at Thompson’s Broke T Farm near Philadelphia for the Saturday’s Neshoba/Kemper Beef Field Day. Presentations by Extension Specialists and equipment dealers highlighted the program.

Cattle-Fax Market Highlights, June 1 - This week, the fed cattle market was $2 to $3 lower. In the North, trade was established at $92 to $93.50 live and $147 to $148 dressed. In the South, moderate trade is occurring at $93 to $93.50 in Kansas, Texas has yet to trade as they try to hold out for at least $94. Boxed beef sold modestly lower for the week, volume turned active late at the lower price levels. Overall beef demand year-to-date remains above year ago levels. Feeder cattle prices were quoted steady to mostly $2 lower on the week, while calves were steady to as much as $4 lower. Trade volumes are starting to slow as grass conditions in the middle part of the country are in good shape, however, the Southeast and West remain dry. Slaughter cows sold primarily at $2 lower this week. Corn prices worked higher, despite excellent growing conditions in the Midwest. 

Korean Trade This Fall - Korean government officials said last week that South Korea will consider allowing imports of U.S. bone-in beef, including ribs, before the traditional Korean Thanksgiving day which falls on September 25. Finance Minister Kwon Okyu told reporters that Washington has asked Seoul to negotiate a revision of its beef import rules, following the recent ruling by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). Reports say necessary procedures for the revision are expected to be complete by September. A Korean Agriculture Ministry official says that as soon as the revision of the rules is complete, U.S. bone-in beef will be allowed for import through deals between Korean importers and U.S. exporters.

New Vaccine to Control FMD - A new vaccine developed by scientists with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service (ARS), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and a U.S. biopharmaceutical company holds promise for protection against foot-and-mouth (FMD) disease, which strikes cattle and swine, as well as sheep, goats and deer.
The new vaccine works quickly, demonstrating effectiveness within seven days. Tests thus far have shown that vaccinated cattle retain immunity for at least 21 days, but scientists expect that future studies will show that the new vaccine at least matches the six months of immunity provided by current vaccines.
Significantly, as this is the first FMD vaccine produced in the United States, the federal government can plan adequate supplies for the veterinary strategic stockpile. The vaccine is the first molecular-based FMD vaccine for cattle. Additional testing is examining the vaccine's commercial viability and effectiveness against the various serotypes of the FMD virus.
In addition, the vaccine also makes it possible for scientists to determine whether an animal found to have FMD antibodies acquired them through vaccination or from infection--an important piece of information because of the trade restrictions associated with using current vaccines. Reprinted in part from ARS News Service

Swift & Company Purchased By Latin American Beef Processor - J&F Participacoes SA, a primary owner of Latin America’s largest beef processing company JBS SA, has agreed to purchase Greeley, Colo.-based Swift & Company for $225 million in cash. The transaction has an enterprise value of $1.4 billion and creates the world’s largest beef and pork processing company. The acquisition gives JBS access to the United States, the largest beef market in the world, and Asian markets open to U.S. beef since those countries ban beef imports from Brazil due to foot-and-mouth disease concerns.
JBS has 23 plants in Brazil and six in Argentina. The company is one of the largest beef exporters in the world and generated nearly $1.8 billion in sales last year.

Livestock Antibiotic Used to Treat Whales – Responding to a request from the Marine Mammal Center, Pfizer Animal Health (PAH) donated EXCEDE® (ceftiofur crystalline free acid) Sterile Suspension, an antibiotic which was used to treat the two humpback whales lost and injured in the Sacramento River.
"We are pleased that mother and baby appear to be recovering and finding their way home," said Christina Dougherty, DVM, senior veterinarian, Pfizer Animal Health. Pfizer veterinarians worked with veterinarians from the Marine Mammal Center for several days to determine the best medicine for the whales as well as the right dose for each patient.
Juan Ramon Alaix, Pfizer Animal Health president, added, "We are proud to be a part of this unprecedented administration of antibiotics to free-ranging whales but our donation of medicine is the easy part; the people doing the hard work are the veterinarians and marine biologists administering the medicine as well as those trying to herd the two whales back out to sea."

USDA to Appeal Private BSE Testing - On May 30, USDA confirmed they will appeal a federal district court ruling, which would have allowed Creekstone Farms to privately test its own cattle for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). The deadline to appeal is tomorrow, June 1. The USDA reportedly filed notice in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Washington D.C. Circuit.
NCBA believes the judge’s opinion that “USDA does not have the authority to regulate the test” is profoundly flawed. Testing for BSE is the role of the federal government, and extremely proactive BSE surveillance measures have been in place for decades. NCBA is strongly opposed to private BSE testing and is disturbed by the misleading information that is now being hurled at consumers about testing and handling of BSE in the U.S. What started out as a marketing proposal continues to generate erroneous press claims about beef and BSE testing, hurting the credibility of the entire cattle industry.
Producing the safest beef in the world is the top priority of America’s beef producers. We have multiple firewalls in place that ensure this disease does not affect our food supply. These firewalls erected over the past 20 years to protect our food supply – including the feed ban, surveillance system and removal of specified risk material from the food supply – ensure we continue to produce safe beef for consumers here and abroad.  All U.S. beef sold, either domestically or abroad, is BSE free, so private testing for BSE as a ‘marketing tool’ would be meaningless and misleading to those buying U.S. beef. 

President Signs Ag Disaster Assistance - On May 25, the President signed into law H.R. 2206, the "U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007" which includes about $3 billion for agriculture disaster assistance. The funding will provide relief to farmers and ranchers nationwide who experienced serious losses in 2005-2007.
This new Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill is approximately $4 billion smaller than an earlier version that was vetoed by the President on May 1st.  Some of those cost savings came from cuts to agricultural disaster assistance programs, however livestock producers who have been dealt a blow due to natural disasters over the past three years can still benefit from funding that was included for the Livestock Compensation Program (LCP) and Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP).
Producers residing in a county that experienced a USDA designated natural disaster in 2005, 2006 or 2007 can apply for disaster payments for only one of those three years.  Funding for LCP was trimmed back to 61 percent of the levels paid out in 2003, this was a decrease from the 70 percent payment that was included in the vetoed supplemental.  Similarly, LIP payment amounts must be at least 26 percent of the market value for livestock lost as a result of natural disasters.  These LIP payments were reduced from a minimum of 30 percent of the market value that was included in the vetoed supplemental.

Ongoing Renewable Energy Issues - NCBA strongly opposes doubling the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) for corn-based ethanol from its current target of 7.5 billion gallons. NCBA believes ethanol and corn markets should operate without government interference. Producers should have the opportunity to compete on a level playing field with ethanol facilities for each bushel of corn. Legislation increasing the RFS simply distorts those supply and demand signals. NCBA opposes any government policies that favor one feedstock over another.

NCBA in Antibiotics Meetings - NCBA’s Chief Veterinarian Dr. Elizabeth Parker was in Atlanta last week for meetings with the Center for Disease Control on antibiotics. She conducted one-on-one meetings regarding cattle issues and attended the conference: “Get Smart: Know When Antibiotics Work on the Farm” on May 31st.

Codex Coalition Meetings - NCBA’s Director of Food Policy, Phyllis Marquitz, is attending food industry Codex coalition meetings this week. The group will discuss contaminants in foods, food additives, pesticide residues, food labeling, biotech issues, food hygiene, import/export inspection, certification and more.  

Don't Miss NCBA’s Cattlemen to Cattlemen - Tune into NCBA’s Cattlemen to Cattlemen on RFD-TV Tuesday, June 5th, at 7:30 p.m., we’ll have a special, in-depth look at how Colorado ranchers are opposing the U.S. Military's plan to take over 2.5 million acres of ranch land in the Pinon Canyon region of southeastern Colorado.
NCBA’s Cattlemen to Cattlemen on RFD-TV provides weekly news and features for cattle producers across the country. The show airs Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. and is rebroadcast Wednesdays at 3:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., and Saturdays at 9 a.m. For more information, visit www.cattlementocattlemen.org.

June 4-6                 FFA Convention
June 8-9                 Angus Field Day, 7L Farms, Wiggins
June 8-10                Eastern Regional Jr. Gelbvieh Show, Hattiesburg
June 11                   Tate CCA
June 25–27              Making Tracks Camp
June 28                   Lauderdale CCA
June 28-29              Cattlemen’s Cooler College

Mississippi Cattlemen's Association
680 Monroe Street, Suite A
Jackson, MS 39202
(601) 354-8951
missca1@bellsouth.net