AgNet Online

The eight states which make up Region II of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association are meeting today and tomorrow in Columbus, Georgia and their guest speaker this morning was Andy Groseta, NCBA President. He talked on a variety of issues including the news which broke this week concerning the latest situation of animal abuse.  Report (1:00 mp3)

For more information about the beef industry’s commitment to care and handling, click Here

I also had a chance to talk with Groseta about beef and live animal trade issues along with structural changes within NCBA.  Interview (6:00 mp3)

Gainesville, May 7, 2008: The 2008 Corn Silage and Forage Field Day has been scheduled for Thursday, May 29, 2008, at the UF/IFAS Plant Science and Education Research Unit; Citra, FL. There is no charge for this event, but registrations should be mailed by May 19, 2008, or faxed to Pam Gross at (352) 392-9059, by May 27, 2008, to ensure your reservation for a sponsored lunch. To register or to view the agenda, please visit http://animal.ifas.ufl.edu/extension/CSFD/index.shtml. (more…)

USDA’s National Agriculture Statistics Service put out their weekly crop progess report, as Tyron Spearman looks at where the process of planting peanuts across the Southeast and the other peanut growing areas stand at this time.  Report (1:10 mp3)

One cattleman who serves on the Georgia Beef Board said the beef checkoff is important to him and his operation and hopes others realize it’s importance.  Report (1:00 mp3)

Cattlemen from Alabama, Florida, & Georgia will join those from the other 5 NCBA Region II states for their annual meeting to be held this week in Columbus, Ga.  Report (1:00 mp3)  To learn more contact the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association at 1-877-444-Beef.

Payment limits is one of the issues still being debated by farm bill negotiators and the cotton industry has been working with Congress to stay within budget guidelines.

Report(1:00 mp3)

Even though May is just getting started, many are busy preparing for June Beef Month in Georgia. Julie McPeake with the Georgia Beef Board reminds all county cattlemen chapters the annual promotional contest will be held again this year. Report (1:00 mp3)

Tyron Spearman has a report from the annual Georgia Pecan Growers annual convention. Report (1:00 mp3)

The Georgia Cattlemen’s Association recently was able to add another person to represent them on a national basis with the NCBA. Report (1:00 mp3)

The volatility in the commodity markets that has caused a spike in cotton prices recently may mean an increase in cotton acreage according to Richey Seaton with the Georgia Cotton Commission.

Report(1:00 mp3)

There have been questions as to whether a few updates need to be made with the beef checkoff, and the Cattlemen’s Beef Board Chairman looks at what is happening right now with any possible changes. Report (1:00 mp3)

With input costs the way they are right now, one University of Georgia livestock economist reminds cattle producers of ways they can help manage those costs and still have a profitable operation. Report (1:00 mp3)

Agricultural interests are concerned about the effect speculators in the commodity markets are having on prices. The commodity futures trading commission held a forum on the topic this week and Richey Seaton with the Georgia Cotton Commission says the cotton industry was represented.

Report(1:00 mp3)

With the farm bill deadline nearing again, there are still differences in our nation’s capitol as to where things stand and what should be done. Report 1 (1:00 mp3)    Report 2 (:45 mp3)

The drought conditions Georgia has suffered over the past couple of years has even had a toll on the dollars collected by the beef checkoff in the state. Thus, Georgia Beef Board’s Jim Collins says they have been working to find dollars elsewhere to keep their programs going. Report (1:00 mp3)

Something many are not familiar with, wildebeest-associated mailignant catarrhal fever or MCF, has been detected in a cow from a mixed-use operation in Texas. A disease that is not contagious in cattle and poses no threat to humans. Report (1:00 mp3)

HAVE YOU RETURNED YOUR CENSUS QUESTIONNAIRE YET?

Doug Kleweno, director of the Georgia office of the National Ag Statistics Service says they are using every means possible to get 2007 Census of Agriculture forms returned.

Report (1:00 mp3)

There are many consumers who don’t realize how the dairy industry provides good quality beef to the market each year, but one Georgia producer hopes more and more will learn this and for dairy producers to understand how the beef checkoff works for them too.  Report (1:00 mp3)

Promoting beef to consumers is the task of the Beef Team, a group of college students which Julie McPeake with the Georgia Beef Board, says does a great job.  Report (1:00 mp3)

Cotton planting has yet to begin in Georgia, according to the state ag statistics service, but that is normal for this time of year. Growers are looking to plant just a few more acres than last year, bucking the national trend of declines in cotton acreage. Meanwhile, corn acres are expected to increase almost 80 percent in the state and planting is going strong.

Report (1:00 mp3)

The new Georgia Cattlemen’s Association President, Mike McCravy, is from Bowdon, Georgia and says he looks forward to working with producers across the state over the next year.  Report (1:00 mp3)

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association has a new field representative for their Southeast Region II which includes Alabama, Florida, & Georgia. Nate Yeager has been in this position for a couple of months now and said he has enjoyed traveling across the area meeting producers.  Report (1:00 mp3)

Due to recent damage suffered from a tornado, Southeast Milk, Inc. has been forced to move up plans to close their Atlanta Dairy facility.  Report (1:00 mp3)

The University of Georgia’s Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development recently conducted a study about the pending loss of a well-know cotton product. Tyron Spearman has the details.  Report (:40 mp3)

The Georgia Cotton Commission met recently to look at allocating research dollars for the next year, according to executive director Richey Seaton.

Report(1:00 mp3)

At the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association Convention & Trade Show last week, the Georgia Beef Board staff put together a few meal functions to let producers taste some of the new beef products on the market and see how checkoff dollars are working for them.  Report (1:00 mp3)

The 11th annual Georgia Beef Expo took place this past week, an event that Sale Manager Mike Jones called excellent, and this includes teaming up again with the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association Convention & Trade Show.  Report (1:00 mp3)

Those who attended the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association Convention & Trade Show Friday night event were able to hear from Senator Saxby Chambliss who spoke to the crowd about a variety of issues right now in our nation’s capitol. Two topics were the Farm Bill & COOL, of which he and I discussed in a personal interview.  Interview (3:15 mp3)

The Trade Show at this year’s Georgia Cattlemen’s Association Convention includes Harry Thompson and Duane Melton with the Georgia Young Farmers Association who want producers across the state to know they continue to strive for better education for agriculture. I talked with Harry about what it is they do.  Interview (3:00 mp3)

Cattlemen from across Georgia are in Perry this week for the Beef Expo and Georgia Cattlemen’s Association Convention & Trade Show. Out-going GCA President, Evans Hooks, said he’s had a great year and invites more producers to become involved.  Report (1:15 mp3)