Friday April 19 Cattle on Feed + Ag News

NEBRASKA CATTLE ON FEED DOWN 4 PERCENT 

Nebraska feedlots, with capacities of 1,000 or more head, contained 2.42 million cattle on feed on April 1, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Nebraska Field Office. This inventory was down 4 percent from last year.  Placements during March totaled 400,000 head, down 9 percent from 2012.  Fed cattle marketings for  the month of March  totaled 400,000 head, down 13 percent  from  last year.   Other disappearance during March totaled 10,000 head, down 10,000 head from a year ago.

Iowa:
Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in Iowa for all feedlots  totaled 1,310,000 on April 1, 2013 according  to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service, Iowa Field Office.   The  inventory  is down 2 percent from March 1, 2013 and down 5 percent from April 1, 2012.  Feedlots with a capacity greater than 1,000 head had 630,000 head on feed, down 2 percent from  last month and down 6 percent  from  last year.   Feedlots with a capacity  less  than 1,000 head had 680,000 head on feed, down 1 percent from last month and down 4 percent from last year.

Placements during March totaled 131,000 head, an decrease of 6 percent from last month and down 2 percent from last year.    Feedlots  with  a  capacity  greater  than  1,000  head  placed  71,000  head,  unchanged  from  last  month  but  down 3 percent from last year.  Feedlots with a capacity less than 1,000 head placed 60,000 head. This is down 13 percent from last month but unchanged from last year.

Marketings for March were 145,000 head, up 18 percent from last month and up 1 percent from last year. Feedlots with a capacity greater  than 1,000 head marketed 77,000 head, up 13 percent from  last month and up 8 percent from  last year.   Feedlots with a capacity less than 1,000 head marketed 68,000 head, up 24 percent from last month but down 7 percent from last year. Other disappearance totaled 6,000 head.

United States Cattle on Feed Down 5 Percent
Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 10.9 million head on April 1, 2013. The inventory was 5 percent below April 1, 2012. The inventory included 6.91 million steers and steer calves, down 4 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 63 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 3.93 million head, down 8 percent from 2012.

Placements in feedlots during March totaled 1.90 million, 6 percent above 2012. Net placements were 1.82 million head. During March, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 410,000, 600-699 pounds were 315,000, 700-799 pounds were 540,000, and 800 pounds and greater were 634,000.

Marketings of fed cattle during March totaled 1.77 million, 8 percent below 2012.  Other disappearance totaled 76,000 during March, 10 percent above 2012.


State by State data (1,000 head, % change from last year)
State    -    On Feed         -     Placements      -     Marketings  
NE       -     2.420, -4%    -      400,  -9%     -     400,  -13% 
IA        -     630, -6%       -        71,  -3%     -      77,  +8% 
KS       -     2,090, -4%    -      425,  +13%  -     360,  -9% 
TX       -     2,590,  -7%   -      540,  +26%   -     485,  +3%
CO      -       980, -8%     -      165,  +3%     -     165,  -6%



2013 Nebraska Leopold Conservation Award Recipient Named

Nebraska Cattlemen, Sand County Foundation and Cargill are proud to announce The Beel Ranch as the recipient of the 2013 Leopold Conservation Award, which honors Nebraska landowner achievement in voluntary stewardship and management of natural resources.

Celebrating 75 years on their nearly 22,000-acre cattle operation near Johnstown, brothers Frank, Henry and Adam, along with their wives Jennifer, Mary and Jenny own and operate The Beel Ranch. The ranch was handed down by their father and grandfather who instilled in them the importance of treating the land with care. Today, they make it a priority to teach their own children the importance of maintaining and caring for our natural environment.

Ranch records indicate that in 1945, grandfather Henry O. Beel entered into the first of many conservation plans for the ranch. It developed a soil and water plan allowing for rotational grazing, weed mowing, seeding of wheat and more thoughtful well placement.

Almost seven decades later, conservation and range management continues to play a crucial role in his grandsons’ management of The Beel Ranch. Their continuous improvements have allowed the land to be better utilized through their efficient rotational grazing system. Habitat for upland bird species, raptors and large game has increased at the same time.

"People on their own land who make commitments across the generations, as the Beel family is doing, are making decisions that benefit the land, wildlife and all of us,” said Brent Haglund, President, Sand County Foundation.

The Leopold Conservation Award is presented in honor of renowned conservationist and author Aldo Leopold, who called for an ethical relationship between people and the land they own and manage. Award applicants are judged based on their demonstration of improved resource conditions, innovation, long-term commitment to stewardship, sustained economic viability, community and civic leadership, and multiple use benefits.

The $10,000 award, and a crystal depicting Aldo Leopold, will be presented to the Beels at the  Nebraska Cattlemen’s Annual Convention in December.

"This is a prestigious award given to a Nebraska livestock producer for their commitment to the care and preservation of the land,” said Dale Spencer, Nebraska Cattlemen President. “Nebraska Cattlemen are proud to support these conservation-minded individuals as it is our responsibility to protect and preserve the land for future generations.”

"On behalf of Cargill’s customers and employees, we are proud to recognize The Beel Ranch for conservation that increases the sustainability of animal agriculture in the U.S.,” stated Jarrod Gillig, vice president and general manager at Cargill’s Schuyler, Neb., beef processing plant.  “Through effective land management that includes livestock grazing and preservation of wildlife habitats, The Beel Ranch is a shining example of best practices for cattle and beef production.”

The Leopold Conservation Award in Nebraska is possible thanks to generous contributions from many organizations, including: Cargill, Farm Credit Services of America, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Nebraska Cattlemen Research & Education Foundation, Nebraska Department of Agriculture, Nebraska Environmental Trust, Nebraska Game & Parks Commission, Nebraska Land Trust, Rainwater Basin Joint Venture, Sandhills Task Force, The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, and World Wildlife Fund.



NCBA Files Petition in Supreme Court Against Greenhouse Gas Regulations

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) along with the Coalition for Responsible Regulation filed a petition yesterday in the United States Supreme Court (Supreme Court) challenging the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) finding that greenhouse gases (GHG) endanger public health and welfare, its rule to limit GHG from passenger vehicles and its “timing” and “tailoring” rules that govern GHG permit applicability at stationary sources.

In December 2009, EPA issued a finding that GHGs are an “endangerment” to public health and the environment—providing EPA with a foundation from which to regulate GHGs under the Clean Air Act (CAA), from small and large sources throughout the economy, including farming and ranching operations. NCBA filed a petition with the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals and EPA challenging the science behind EPA's finding. The D.C. court dismissed the challenge in June of last year. The court also denied challenges to EPA's endangerment finding for greenhouse gases and subsequent emissions standards for cars and light-duty trucks.

“We have already seen many actions by this administration’s EPA that proves they believe they are above the law. Forcing these greenhouse gas regulations upon Americans, including hard-working cattlemen and women is yet another example of this. We remain hopeful that bringing this issue to the highest court in the nation, the U.S. Supreme Court, will put a stop to the aggressive agenda-driven bullying by EPA,” said NCBA Deputy Environmental Counsel Ashley McDonald.

McDonald added that NCBA originally challenged EPA and the GHG regulations in court in order to take regulatory rulemaking power away from those sitting behind desks in a federal agency and place it back into the hands of the American people.

“The Clean Air Act is not an appropriate vehicle to regulate greenhouse gases and we are certain this manipulation of the Act goes against congressional intent. Once again, EPA continues to promulgate regulations which have a negative impact on producers’ ability to provide safe and affordable food for our nation and the world,” said McDonald. “Cattlemen have a vested interest in protecting the environment and caring for their land. However, these overreaching regulations must be curtailed. We hope the Supreme Court realizes this and puts a stop to EPA’s ‘above the law’ actions.”



USDA March Milk Production down 0.1 Percent
                       
Milk production in the 23 major States during March totaled 16.4 billion pounds, down 0.1 percent from March 2012. February revised production at 14.7 billion pounds, was down 3.3 percent from February 2012. However, production was 0.2 percent above last year after adjusting for the leap year. The February revision represented an increase of 15 million pounds or 0.1 percent from last month's preliminary production estimate.

January - March Milk Production down 1.1 Percent
Milk production in the United States during the January - March quarter totaled 50.5 billion pounds, down 1.1 percent from the January - March quarter last year.

State Q1 2013 Milk Production (million pounds, % change from Q1, 2012)
Nebraska ...:    298.0          -0.7%  
Iowa ..........:    1,136.0        0.4%  
Kansas ......:    721.0          7.0%

  

U.S. Soy Leads By Example in Soy Sustainability

Speaking on a world stage about the excellent sustainability performance of U.S. soy, Jim Carroll recently confirmed what he and the soy checkoff already knew: global customers demand soybeans and soy products produced in a sustainable manner.

Carroll, a soy checkoff farmer-leader from Brinkley, Ark., recently brought his farm expertise to South Africa, where he told attendees at the World Soybean Research Conference about the practices he's implemented to decrease his farm's carbon footprint while maintaining high productivity. Carroll says the conversations he had at the conference reinforced his notion that soy customers place a high priority on sustainability.

"Several people from around the world came to me after the presentation was over and asked me for more information about sustainability," said Carroll. "Sustainability is constantly gaining importance, and I am very honored to have had the chance share my experiences."

Many U.S. soy customers consider sustainability an important issue. The U.S. soy industry received good marks in several reports and studies conducted by the checkoff measuring the sustainability performance of various aspects of U.S. soy production. This makes the practices of U.S. farmers a good example for soybean operations in other countries.

Sustainability was one of many topics discussed at the conference, which brings together members from every link of the soy value chain. Participants heard presentations and discussed the geographic differences in growing, processing, transporting and marketing soybeans, soy meal and soy oil.

Recent polls of U.S. soybean farmers show they do their part to increase sustainability on their operations. More than 50 percent of farmers say they made changes to improve their farms' sustainability performance.

Carroll said, "I spoke with several people from both Africa and Europe who were very interested in how I increased efficiency and conserved water while irrigating." Overall, in the last 30 years, U.S. farmers have reduced energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, while increasing irrigation efficiency per bushel of soybeans by more than 40 percent.

"For me, sustainability is just about trying to make reasonable, economic and environmental decisions for my farming operation," Carroll said. "If you are a farmer today, chances are you already work to improve your farm's sustainability, whether you know it or not. All farmers want to make the best decisions possible for their land and operation."



User-Friendly Program Updates Phosphorus Management

A more comprehensive and consistent system for modeling phosphorus loss is now available, thanks to work by scientists at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

This research, led by Agricultural Research Service scientist Peter Vadas, supports the USDA priority of promoting international food security. ARS is USDA's chief intramural scientific research agency

The Phosphorus Index was originally a simple management tool developed to gauge the risk of phosphorus losses from agricultural fields. The original index has since been modified by individual states to incorporate local variations in soils, climate, management, and water quality goals. This resulted in widely different state-by-state phosphorus indices that were sometimes defined more by political boundaries than by watersheds or other regional variations.

To reduce these state-by-state discrepancies, Vadas and colleagues developed the Annual Phosphorus Loss Estimator (APLE), a user-friendly spreadsheet program that predicts field-scale phosphorus loss in runoff for a whole year. The revamped program can also be used in many different states to quantify field-scale phosphorus loss and soil phosphorus changes over 10 years for a given set of runoff, erosion, and management conditions.

The team showed that APLE could reliably quantify phosphorus losses in runoff for many different situations and could produce more reliable estimates than some existing phosphorus indexes. Vadas also has been adapting APLE to simulate phosphorus loss from pastures grazed by beef and dairy cattle, and from barnyards and exercise lots on cattle farms.

With these improvements, APLE can be used to develop whole-farm estimates of phosphorus losses and the most effective strategies for reducing phosphorus losses from cattle farms. These practices could include barnyard improvements for capturing discharge, soil conservation practices that reduce erosion, or manure application practices that reduce exposure to runoff water.

APLE is free to download with supporting technical documentation and a user's manual.