AgNet Online

From beef schedule to soon start heading for South Korea, to live cattle moving into Mexico, NCBA President Andy Groseta is pleased with the latest boosts to the U.S. cattle industry.  Report (1:00 mp3)

There are some on Capitol Hill who are beginning to change their thoughts about the renewable fuels mandate due to how it’s affecting livestock producers across the country. Report (1:00 mp3)

The 2008 Corn Silage and Forage Field day will be held May 29th in Citra, Florida which is a joint venture between the University of Florida and University of Georgia. Report (1:00 mp3)

The 2008 Corn Silage and Forage Field Day will be held at the UF/IFAS Plant Science and Education Research Unit in 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…)

Those in livestock production are well aware of the rising input costs, and that’s why Auburn University Economist, Dr. Walt Prevatt, says it’s important to manage those feed costs. Report (1:00 mp3)

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…)

From cattle, to hogs, to broilers the numbers have been updated as far as projections for 2008 stand with livestock prices. Report  (1:00 mp3)

Some have been hearing about and wondering what the 840 tags are. USDA Under Secretary Bruce Knight explains how they will work for both animal identification and for Country of Origin Labeling. Report  (1:30 mp3)

The Food & Drug Administration has issued their final regulation concerning cattle materials used for feed all in respect to BSE. Report (1:00 mp3)

To learn more click Here

Many hog producers are seeing tough times right now due to a variety of reasons and because of this, USDA has been requested to help with some pork purchases. Report (:30 mp3)

A petition has been filed with USDA requesting they amend the rules so non-ambulatory animals are not allowed in the meat supply. Report (:45 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)

Now that South Korea has agreed to start accepting U.S. beef, certain ag groups feel its time to pass the Korea Free Trade Agreement. Report (:30 mp3)

USDA’s National Agriculture Statistics Service released their April 1 Cattle on Feed numbers this afternoon which showed a slight rise over last year at this time. Report (:35 mp3)

To see the full report click Here

January and February were two good months for U.S. Pork Exports. Report (:45 mp3)

Everyone in agriculture is facing higher input costs, including those in the cattle indsutry. As feed prices continue to climb, Randy Blach with CattleFax, looks at how this has been and will continue to affect fed cattle pricing.  Report (1:00 mp3)

The 2008 Pork Management Conference is coming up May 7th-9th in Destin. Florida.  Report (:30 mp3)

A business plan has been released by USDA in their effort to get animal ID underway across the nation.  Report (1:30 mp3)

The American Farm Bureau Federation is urging USDA to help support the pork industry by making some purchases.  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)

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)

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association held their annual Spring Legislative Conference this week in Washington D.C., and among the topics discussed was the farm bill and how it will affect Country of Origin Labeling. Report (1:30 mp3)

In a belt-tightening year for cattle producers, Auburn University Economist Walt Prevatt says adding a few pounds to your animals can help.  Report (1:00 mp3)

While hog inventories as of March 1st were higher than last year at this time, there are indications that producers are starting to cut back some.  Report (:45 mp3)

An agreement has been made to allow breeding cattle from the United States into Mexico.  Report (:30 mp3)

 The National Agriculture Statistics Service continues their efforts to collect 2007 Census of Agriculture forms. Radley Edwards with the Georgia Ag Statistics office is asking producers who have yet to return theirs to please do so.  Report (1:00 mp3)

The Florida Department of Agriculture is reminding horse owners to get their animals vaccinated for deadly diseases, as cases have already been found in parts of the state this year.  Report (:30 mp3)

USDA Under Secretary Bruce Knight updates where things stand with Country of Origin Labeling and what producers need to be thinking about to get ready for it.   Report (1:15 mp3) 

Across Alabama drought conditions have affected many things, including how weed management in pastures should be handled. Eddie Jolley with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in Alabama says now is the time to get going on controlling those weeds. Report (1:00 mp3)