Friday May 20 Cattle on Feed + Ag News

NEBRASKA CATTLE ON FEED DOWN 3 PERCENT

Nebraska feedlots, with capacities of 1,000 or more head, contained 2.42 million cattle on feed on May 1, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. This inventory was down 3 percent from last year.  Placements during April totaled 380,000 head, down 3 percent from 2015. Cattle marketings for the month of April totaled 380,000 head, down 6 percent from last year. Other disappearance during April totaled 20,000 head, up 5,000 head from last year.



IOWA CATTLE ON FEED

Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in Iowa for all feedlots totaled 1,240,000 head on May 1, 2016, according to the latest USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service – Cattle on Feed report. The inventory was down 2 percent from April 1, 2016, and down 3 percent from May 1, 2015. Feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head had 640,000 head on feed, unchanged from last month but down 3 percent from last year. Feedlots with a capacity of less than 1,000 head had 600,000 head on feed, down 5 percent from last month and down 3 percent from last year.

Placements during April totaled 116,000 head, a decrease of 19 percent from last month and down 2 percent from last year. Feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head placed 78,000 head, down 17 percent from last month but up 24 percent from last year. Feedlots with a capacity of less than 1,000 head placed 38,000 head. This was down 22 percent from last month and down 31 percent from last year.

Marketings for April were 140,000 head, up 2 percent from last month and up 1 percent from last year. Feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 or more head marketed 75,000 head, down 7 percent from last month but up 4 percent from last year. Feedlots with a capacity of less than 1,000 head marketed 65,000 head, up 16 percent from last month but down 2 percent from last year. Other disappearance totaled 6,000 head.



United States Cattle on Feed Up 1 Percent
   
Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 10.8 million head on May 1, 2016. The inventory was 1 percent above May 1, 2015.

Placements in feedlots during April totaled 1.66 million head, 7 percent above 2015. Net placements were 1.59 million head. During April, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 334,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 225,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 390,000 head, and 800 pounds and greater were 715,000 head.

Marketings of fed cattle during April totaled 1.66 million head, 1 percent above 2015.  Other disappearance totaled 76,000 head during April, 15 percent above 2015.



Governor, Cattlemen Unveil New Farm Vehicle Designation

Today, Governor Pete Ricketts was joined by the Nebraska Cattlemen to unveil a new vehicle designation that will allow Nebraska’s farmers and ranchers to move certain farm equipment around their farm or ranch operation without obtaining a commercial vehicle driver’s license.

“One of my top priorities as Governor is making Nebraska more business friendly, so that we can continue to grow our state,” said Governor Ricketts.  “Creating this covered farm vehicle designation here in Nebraska makes sense because it cuts red tape for agriculture, our number one industry.  This designation will remove unnecessary barriers to our farm families, who grow the food Nebraska exports to feed the world.”

The covered farm vehicle designation was placed in federal law in 2012 and made possible in Nebraska by state law in 2014.  This designation exempts some vehicles utilized in or on an ag operation from certain laws and regulations, which currently require drivers to obtain Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDL).  Nebraska joins several states which have adopted the covered farm vehicle designation including Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, and North Dakota among others. 

Under the law, a covered farm vehicle is a commercial motor vehicle that:
·       Is operated by a farm or ranch owner or operator, or an employee or family member of the farm or ranch owner or operator;
·       Is being used to transport to or from a farm or ranch: agricultural commodities; livestock; machinery or supplies.
·       Displays a special license plate or other designation which helps enforcement personnel identify it as a covered farm vehicle; and
·       Meets certain weight requirements.

Vehicles that may meet these requirements include trucks, hay grinders, manure spreaders, and numerous other vehicles utilized in farm operations across Nebraska.

“Today’s announcement by Governor Ricketts is a big win for Nebraska agriculture,” said John Schroeder of Cozad, Nebraska Cattlemen Marketing and Commerce Committee Chair.  “The intent of MAP-21 was to give states the option to specially designate covered farm vehicles, and this change gives the needed certainty and clarity for agricultural producers statewide.”

Over the past year, the Governor’s Office, Nebraska State Patrol, Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles, and Nebraska Cattlemen worked to develop the covered farm vehicle designation in Nebraska.  For more information about how to designate a covered farm vehicle and the requirements for the designation, Nebraskans can visit Nebraska.gov.  After filling out the form and submitting it, users should print the document detailing the designation generated by their submission and carry a copy of the document along with their vehicle title in the power unit of the vehicle.

Nebraskans can contact the Carrier Enforcement Division of the Nebraska State Patrol at 402-471-0105 with questions about whether their vehicles qualifies for the covered farm vehicle designation.



Nebraska Delegates Selected for the 2016 NCBA YCC Program

Nebraska Cattlemen and the Nebraska Cattlemen Research and Education Foundation would like to announce the selection of three delegates to represent Nebraska Cattlemen at the NCBA Young Cattlemen's Conference this year. Joel Weber of Dorchester, Shannon Peterson of Gothenburg and Jennifer Leupp of Overton will represent NC at this year's conference.

The Young Cattlemen's Conference, held June 1 - June 9, is an opportunity for cattlemen and cattlewomen between the ages of 25 and 50 to visit segments of the beef industry in other parts of our nation with young cattlemen from other states. Facilitated by the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA), participants will travel to Denver, Chicago and Washington D.C.

Joel Weber is the manager for Weber Feedyards LLC, a commercial cattle feeding and row crop farming operation in Dorchester, NE.  The operation was started by Joel's grandfather father Robert.  Joel assumed the management role in 2007.

Shannon Peterson is a 4th generation Farmer/Rancher on her Husband's family operation in south central Nebraska. They run an Angus cross cow/calf operation and feedlot. The Peterson's also custom feed around 3000 head of hogs every year. Along with the ranch they farm corn, beans, wheat, and alfalfa all which is 100% no till. Shannon's day to day job is to help run the cow/calf operations and handle the processing as well as the animal health decisions for the feedlot.

Jennifer Leupp, Ph.D. grew up on a cow-calf and small grains operation in southern Michigan. Jennifer is the owner of Exposure Design & Consulting Group, LLC, an agency that not only services the area of feedlot and cow-calf nutrition, but also livestock marketing, photography and ad design based out of Overton, NE.

2016 will be the 37th year the tour has been conducted. The primary objective is to develop leadership qualities in young cattlemen and expose them to all aspects of the beef industry. The tour helps these young leaders understand all areas of our industry ranging from industry structure to issues management, from production research to marketing.




Nebraska Cattlemen Foundation Announces Scholarship Recipients

The Nebraska Cattlemen Foundation (NCF) is pleased to announce it has awarded $42,500 in scholarships to students furthering their education goals in the 2016-2017 academic year.
      
"The Foundation strongly believes in the importance of a sound education for tomorrow's industry leaders," says Jeff Heldt, president of the Nebraska Cattlemen Foundation. "Due to the generosity of many donors and participants in the Retail Value Steer Challenge, we are able to award theses scholarships to these outstanding students."
     
Elisabeth Loseke of Columbus was the recipient of the 2016 Nebraska Cattlemen Beef State Scholarship. This $10,000 scholarship was established in 2014 to support outstanding junior, senior or graduate level Nebraska resident students enrolled in a Nebraska college or university pursuing a beef industry related degree. Loseke is a junior at the University of Nebraska pursuing an Animal Science degree, with an Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship minor and plans to apply to the UNL/ISU professional program of veterinary medicine.
      
In addition to the Beef State Scholarship, the Foundation awarded 33 additional scholarships to the following students:
Jayde Atkins, Broken Bow - $1,000 Retail Value Steer Challenge Scholarship
McKenzie Beals, Friend - $1,000 Todd Ricenbaw Memorial Scholarship
Sheldon Beierman, Albion - $1,000 Retail Value Steer Challenge Scholarship
Heather Bentley, Miller - $1,000 Frank & Shirley Sibert Scholarship
Michael Borgelt, Wisner - $1,000 Retail Value Steer Challenge Scholarship
Krista Carter, Alliance - $1,000 Retail Value Steer Challenge Scholarship
Shaun Christen, Anselmo - $500 West Central Affiliate Scholarship
Kailey Conway, Campbell - $1,000 Retail Value Steer Challenge Scholarship
Eric Coufal, Howells - $1,000 Retail Value Steer Challenge Scholarship
Hannah Esch, Unadilla - $1,000 Donavan Yoachim Memorial Scholarship
John Essink, Syracuse - $1,000 Nebraska Cattlemen Beef Pit Scholarship
Gavin Harsh, Bartley - $1,000 Bill Briggs Family Memorial Scholarship
Jeremy Henkel, Campbell - $1,000 Retail Value Steer Challenge Scholarship
Eric Klitz, West Point - $1,000 Robert E Lute II Memorial Scholarship
Kate Knobbe, West Point - $1,000 Retail Value Steer Challenge Scholarship
Eric Leisy, Wisner - $1,000 Retail Value Steer Challenge Scholarship
Libbi Loos, Litchfield - $1,000 Retail Value Steer Challenge Scholarship
Kelsey Phillips, Mullen - $1,000 Retail Value Steer Challenge Scholarship
John Radil, Comstock - $1,000 Cattlemen's Open Scholarship
Kara Riggle, Endicott - $1,000 Retail Value Steer Challenge Scholarship
Railen Ripp, Kearney - $1,000 Vance Uden Memorial Scholarship
Savannah Schafer, Nehawka - $1,000 Retail Value Steer Challenge Scholarship
Ryan Schroeder, Wisner - $1,000 Retail Value Steer Challenge Scholarship
David Schuler, Bridgeport - $1,000 Ron & Shirley Huss Scholarship
Hannah Settje, Raymond - $1,000 Retail Value Steer Challenge Scholarship
Ashtyn Shrewsbury, Alliance - $1,000 Retail Value Steer Challenge Scholarship
Christina Sindelar, Wisner - $1,000 Bill Heller Memorial Scholarship
Miles Stagemeyer, Page - $1,000 Retail Value Steer Challenge Scholarship
Alex Stocker, Grand Island - $1,000 Clarence & Lois Jean Hartmann Scholarship
Ali Stout, Burwell - $1,000 Retail Value Steer Challenge Scholarship
Collin Thompson, Eustis - $1,000 Retail Value Steer Challenge Scholarship
Andrea Wach, Wauneta - $1,000 Bill Pullen Scholarship
Eleanor Wagner, Petersburg - $1,000 Colonel Melvin Huss Memorial Scholarship
     
All scholarship recipients will be recognized at the Nebraska Cattlemen Midyear Meeting in Broken Bow, Thursday, June 9, during the Nebraska Cattlemen Foundation Lunch.



DNR Seeks Input on Animal Feeding Operation Proposals

The DNR is holding six public hearings from May 23 to June 3 to gather input on proposed rule changes for animal feeding operations.

The proposed rule incorporates recent legislation, allows marketing solids from open feedlots as bulk dry animal nutrients, provides clarification of requirements in the rules, and repeals unnecessary and outdated rules, lists and internet addresses.

Written or oral comments can be made at any of the following hearings:
-- May 23 at 10 a.m., DNR Air Quality Building, Roosevelt Room, 7900 Hickman Road, Windsor Heights
-- May 24 at 10 a.m., Carroll County Courthouse, Downstairs Meeting Room, 114 E. Sixth St., Carroll
-- May 25 at 10 a.m., Clay County Administration Building, Boardroom, 300 W. Fourth St., Spencer
-- May 26 at 10 a.m., Muse-Norris Conference Center, North Iowa Area Community College, 500 College Drive, Mason City
-- May 31 at 10 a.m., Washington County Conservation Board Education Center, Marr Park, 2943 Highway 92, Ainsworth
-- June 3 at 10 a.m., Northeast Iowa Community College Dairy Center, Room 115, 1527 Highway 150, South Calmar

Send written comments to Gene Tinker, DNR, Wallace State Office Building, 502 E. Ninth St., Des Moines, IA 50319; or by e-mail to Gene.Tinker@dnr.iowa.gov. Comments must be received on or before June 3.



Iowa State University Dairy Farm Open House June 10

The Iowa State University Dairy Farm will celebrate dairy month with its eighth annual open house on June 10 from 6 - 11 a.m. at the ISU Dairy Farm, located south of Ames.

The event is open to the public. Tours will be given every 30 minutes beginning at 6:30 a.m. and ending at 10:30 a.m. Tour stops include the milking parlor, milk house and motorized tour of the farm.

Visitors also can learn about commodity groups in the Ag Discovery Center, while sampling free dairy products. The open house includes demonstrations of current technologies and best practices in animal care, product quality, safety and environmental stewardship.

The ISU Dairy Farm has 400 milking cows. Each cow produces around 84 pounds of milk per day. The dairy farm opened in 2007 and provides teaching, research and outreach opportunities.

Iowa ranks twelfth in the nation in the number of pounds of milk produced, cow numbers and milk produced per cow. Iowa is home to approximately 1,400 dairy farms, which include 212,000 dairy cows and 200 dairy goat farms. Each cow provides $23,445 in economic activity to local communities for a combined annual economic impact of  $4.9 billion in Iowa.

The ISU Dairy Farm is located on 887 acres at 52470 260th St. in Ames, three miles south of central campus. To get to the farm from Highway 30 take exit 146 on University Boulevard and go south one mile and turn right on 260th Street.

Sponsors of the June Dairy Month Celebration include Iowa State University, Midwest Dairy Association, Hy-Vee, Iowa State Dairy Association, Western Iowa Dairy Alliance, Swiss Valley Farms, the Northeast Iowa Dairy Foundation, and Hiland Dairy Foods.

Visitors who have recently returned from a trip abroad are asked to wait five days before visiting farms with animals. If you have visited another farm you should change clothing and footwear before visiting the dairy farm and refrain from bringing any food items to the farm.

For more information or for planning private tours contact the farm manager of the dairy operation at https://www.ans.iastate.edu/farms/visiting-farm.



Showcase to Spotlight Feed Efficiency Trial Results

A culmination of five years of extensive research through the USDA's National Program for the Genetic Improvement of Feed Efficiency in Beef Cattle will be on display next month, according to Iowa Beef Center director Dan Loy.

"Iowa State is one of the eleven universities involved in this USDA project that has genotyped and phenotyped more than 8,000 head of cattle from nine breeds across the nation to date," Loy said. "We're hosting a Beef Nutrition Showcase highlighting several outcomes of the project research on June 11 at the Iowa State University Beef Nutrition Farm."

Set for 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the farm located five miles northwest of the Iowa State campus at 3405 North Dakota Ave., the event will provide opportunities for attendees to view multiple ongoing feed trials and learn how selection tools from the USDA grant are now being applied to real-world feedlot production.

Patrick Wall, extension beef specialist, said one trial will be of special interest to those wanting to learn more about expected progeny differences (EPDs.)

"One of the featured trials is testing the American Hereford Association's new Feed Intake EPD, specifically to see if feedlot managers can potentially use a sire's EPD for intake to enhance the management and ultimate profitability of a pen of cattle," Wall said. "The program also will highlight a Residual Feed Intake (RFI) test of Limousin cattle, trace mineral interactions on a group of purebred Red Angus, and a zinc metabolism study on Angus genetics."

A steak sandwich dinner will conclude the event at the Hansen Student Learning Center in Ames. There's no cost to attend but people are asked to preregister by June 6 to ensure an adequate meal count. Preregister by calling Wall at 515-450-7665 or email him at patwall@iastate.edu. For additional details on the program schedule, see the program flier.

Additional information for the nationwide USDA grant project is available at www.beefefficiency.org.



FDA HOLDS PUBLIC MEETING ON ANIMAL DRUG UDER FEE ACT

The Food and Drug Administration Monday held a public meeting on reauthorizing the Animal Drug User Fee Act, which expires in September 2018. ADUFA gives FDA authority to collect user fees that provide funding to support the review process for new brand animal drugs and generic animal drugs. The funds also enhance the timeliness and predictability of application reviews. FDA is required to review drugs for safety and effectiveness. The agency and the animal health industry over the next several months will negotiate an agreement on reauthorization of ADUFA.



NPPC TO TESTIFY ON STATE OF U.S. PORK INDUSTRY

The National Pork Producers Council next week will present testimony on the state of the U.S. pork industry and the opportunities and challenges pork producers face. NPPC board member David Herring will testify May 24 before the House Committee on Agriculture’s Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture, and NPPC past president Dr. Howard Hill will testify May 26 before the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry.



Senate Committee Advances 2017 Ag Appropriations Bill

The Senate Appropriations Committee unanimously approved the Senate version of the FY 2017 Agriculture Appropriations bill. The bill includes $21.25 billion in discretionary spending, including $2.54 billion for ag research through the Agricultural Research Service and the National Institute of Food Agriculture.

Similar to the House version, the Senate bill increases funding for the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative competitive grants program by $25 million up to $375 million. Farm groups are applauding the increases because the legislation includes an additional $2 million for the U.S. Wheat and Barley Scab Initiative. This increase reflects the same level in the House Committee-passed version as well.

The bill also includes an amendment from Senator John Hoeven (R-ND) that would require USDA to establish a pilot program for the 2016 crop year that would enable state Farm Service Agency offices to make supplemental Agriculture Risk Coverage program payments in instances where there are significant yield calculation differences in comparable counties. Where such instances arise, within the pilot program, the applicable state FSA office would have an ability to recalculate ARC-County yields for relevant counties based on several specific requirements.

The bill would also provide $1.5 million for USDA to place Foreign Agricultural Service employees in the new Cuban embassy. During the markup, the Committee considered a number of amendments, including one that would require the labeling of genetically engineered salmon as well as one to ban horse slaughter. Following Committee passage, the legislation would now be slated for floor action sometime in the coming weeks.



THE WHITE HOUSE AND FDA ANNOUNCE MODERNIZED NUTRITION FACTS LABEL

Friday, at the Partnership for a Healthier America Summit, First Lady Michelle Obama will announce the modernized Nutrition Facts label for packaged foods reflecting the latest science, the most relevant nutrition information, and a refreshed design. Found on nearly 800,000 products, the label has not been significantly updated since its initial release twenty years ago.  Considering 77% of U.S. adults report using the Nutrition Facts label when buying a food product, the revamped label is a significant landmark achievement supporting the First Lady’s Let’s Move! initiative in its ongoing efforts to support raising a healthier generation.

“I am thrilled that the FDA has finalized a new and improved Nutrition Facts label that will be on food products nationwide,” said First Lady Michelle Obama. “This is going to make a real difference in providing families across the country the information they need to make healthy choices.”

After reviewing the comments received on the proposed rules, the consumer studies, and updated nutrition science, the FDA made a number of changes to the label. The final label requires Added Sugars to be declared to help consumers know how much sugar is added to the product during the processing of foods. The label features a revamped format that highlights key information, such as calories and servings per container. It also replaces out-of-date serving sizes to better align with the amount consumers actually eat.

“For more than 20 years, Americans have relied on the Nutrition Facts label as a leading source of information regarding calories, fat and other nutrients to help them understand more about the foods they eat in a day,” said FDA Commissioner Robert Califf, M.D. “The updated label makes improvements to this valuable resource so consumers can make more informed food choices – one of the most important steps a person can take to reduce the risk of heart disease and obesity.”

The major changes to the Nutrition Facts label include:
-    A more prominent display of “calories,” “servings,” and “servings per container” that drives consumers’ attention to these important elements when making informed food choices.
-    Requirements for declaring the amount of “Added Sugars” in a food product. This is consistent with the 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the Institute of Medicine’s determination that calorie intake from added sugar is too high in the U.S. population and should be reduced.  Including “Added Sugars” on the label will help consumers know how much sugar has been added to a product.
-    Updated serving size requirements to reflect the amounts people currently eat. What and how much people eat and drink has changed since the serving sizes were first put into place in 1993.  By law, serving sizes must be based on the portion consumers actually eat.
-    “Dual column” labels to highlight both “per serving” and “per package” calorie and nutrition information for the whole package of certain food products.
-    An abbreviated footnote better explaining percent Daily Value.
-    An updated list of nutrients required to be declared based off of public health significance. Vitamin D and potassium—nutrients Americans often do not get enough of—will be required. Calcium and iron will continue to be required.  Vitamins A and C are no longer required but can be included on a voluntary basis.

Compliance will be required two years from today, and manufacturers with less than $10 million in annual food sales will have an additional year to comply.



Hormel Foods Achieves Record Second Quarter Results

Hormel Foods Corporation reported record performance for the fiscal year 2016 second quarter.

"Hormel Foods delivered strong results this quarter, our twelfth consecutive quarter of record earnings, with four of five segments achieving double-digit increases in operating profits," said Jeffrey M. Ettinger, chairman of the board and chief executive officer. "Excellent results in Refrigerated Foods and Grocery Products were driven by favorable pork operating margins and solid growth posted by value-added products such as HORMEL NATURAL CHOICE meats, HORMEL pepperoni, HORMEL GATHERINGS party trays, SKIPPY peanut butter, HORMEL chili and WHOLLY GUACAMOLE dips. Specialty Foods has significantly enhanced its margin delivery through efficiency gains and increased branded sales, and continues to focus on innovation, highlighted by the recent launch of MUSCLE MILK protein smoothies. Specialty Foods also finalized the sale of Diamond Crystal Brands in May," commented Ettinger. "Jennie-O Turkey Store generated an impressive earnings performance despite lingering effects of turkey supply constraints, while International was challenged by weak exports and high pork costs in China."

Grocery Products segment profit increased 21 percent on favorable raw material costs and improved plant efficiencies. Sales increased 1 percent with growth from SKIPPY peanut butter and HORMEL chili offsetting decreases in our chunk meats business.

Segment profit for Refrigerated Foods increased 13 percent driven by strong pork operating margins, the addition of the Applegate business, and growth in many of our value-added products. Including Applegate, sales were up 7 percent led by foodservice sales of OLD SMOKEHOUSE bacon and HORMEL FIRE BRAISED meats and increased retail sales of HORMEL NATURAL CHOICE meats and HORMEL pepperoni.

Jennie-O Turkey Store segment profit increased 20 percent on improved product mix and favorable input costs. Sales decreased 4 percent reflecting volume shortfalls from the impact of highly pathogenic avian influenza in fiscal 2015.

Specialty Foods delivered a 74 percent increase in segment profit. Results were driven by lower input costs, a favorable comparison to the plant closure in the prior year, and operational synergies captured within the CytoSport and Century Foods supply chain. Dollar sales decreased 5 percent as increased sales of MUSCLE MILK protein products were not able to offset reduced contract packaging sales.

International segment profit declined 33 percent and sales declined 17 percent. Results were impacted by high pork input costs in China and soft demand for our U.S. export products.