from May 23
YSA MEMBERS GAIN INSIGHT INTO AGRIBUSINESS, RETAIL INDUSTRIES
The 2013 KLA Young Stockmen’s Academy (YSA) gathered for its second educational tour of the year this week. The group, consisting of 18 KLA members from across the state, spent three days in Kansas City learning more about the agribusiness and retail beef industries.
Merck Animal Health hosted the class at its office in DeSoto. Merck is the exclusive sponsor of the YSA program. Staff gave the class an inside look at the animal health industry and 
explained how this segment of agribusiness is working to help beef producers improve efficiency in food production.
To gain a better understanding of the link between the processing plant and the consumer’s plate, the group toured Kansas City Steak Company and SYSCO Food Services. Both companies distribute high-end beef cuts to restaurants across the U.S. For a firsthand look at how beef is marketed in the meatcase and on the dinner plate, stops were made at Whole Foods Market and Applebee’s cooperate offices.
In addition, the class had the chance to visit with consumers about the beef they produce on their farms and ranches while distributing top sirloin samples at HyVee and Hen House grocery stores. These young producers answered questions about animal health, beef nutrition and proper cooking methods.
YSA members also heard from staff at Bartlett and Company about how they use strict risk management practices when buying and selling cattle and grain.
The third installment of the YSA class will be held in October. Members will tour Kansas beef and dairy operations to gain a better understanding of each industry segment.
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from May 22
MORE BEEF COWS IN WORST DROUGHT REGIONS THAN A YEAR AGO
Kansas State University Associate Professor of Ag Economics Glynn Tonsor analyzed the latest USDA information on range and pasture conditions and concluded the cattle industry faces more difficult drought challenges than a year ago. Nationally, he found 53% of the beef cows at the beginning of the current grazing season reside in states with at least 40% poor or very poor range and pasture conditions. Last year, only 20% of the beef cows were in that situation.
Regionally, Tonsor said the data showed the southeastern U.S. is the only area with notably better pasture conditions. The Great Plains region, according to Tonsor, is the area experiencing the greatest deterioration of pasture conditions since 2011, yet is home to an increasing share of retained heifers. Tonsor said the net impact of this situation suggests the prospects for breeding herd expansion have declined and, at the least, have been further delayed.
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from May 21
KANSAS LIVESTOCK FOUNDATION AWARDS SIX WHEELS FOR BUCKS SCHOLARSHIPS
Merck Animal Health, through the Kansas Livestock Foundation (KLF), has awarded six Kansas students Ralgro Wheels for Bucks (WFB) Scholarships for the 2013-14 school year. Funding for these awards was generated from empty Ralgro wheels turned in by KLA members. For every empty wheel collected, Merck donated $1 to KLF to help fund scholarships.
Douglas Shane of Manhattan has been chosen to receive a $1,500 WFB Scholarship, which recognizes Kansas State University veterinary school students with a career goal of being a large animal veterinarian. Shane, a first-year veterinary student, is the son of Scott and Beverly Shane of Louisburg.
Five students were awarded $1,000 WFB Scholarships. Kurtis Clawson is the son of Kenby and Lana Clawson from Satanta. He will be a junior at K-State majoring in agronomy and agriculture economics. Beth Haflinger, daughter of Fred and Gretchen Haflinger from WaKeeney, will be a sophomore at K-State majoring in agriculture economics. Brady Jensen is the son of Kevin and Sheila Jensen of Courtland. He will be a junior at K-State and is majoring in animal science. Brady Rundel, son of Pam and the late Bob Rundel of Colby, will be a junior at K-State majoring in agribusiness. Nathan Stinson is the son of Brian and Renee Stinson from Allen. He is majoring in agriculture economics and will be a junior at K-State in the fall.
KLA members using Ralgro are encouraged to save empty wheels to help support Kansas youth through this scholarship program.
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from May 20
TYSON NAMES ADVISORY PANEL FOR ANIMAL WELL-BEING AUDIT PROGRAM
Tyson Foods announced the formation of an independent Farm Animal Well-Being Advisory Panel Friday (5/17). Members of the panel will serve as advisers to the Tyson FarmCheck program, a comprehensive initiative designed to ensure the responsible care of food animals.
Panelists will help determine research priorities and suggest ways to improve the FarmCheck audit. The program includes auditing the treatment of animals at livestock and poultry farms supplying Tyson, using research to identify potential new methods for animal care and reaffirming Tyson’s commitment to animal well-being issues with a dedicated senior management team.
Members of the panel include: Ryan Best, president of the Future Farmers of America; Anne Burkholder, Nebraska feedlot owner; Ed Cooney, executive director of the Congressional Hunger Center; Gail Golab, veterinarian and director of the American Veterinary Medical Association’s Animal Welfare Division; Temple Grandin, Colorado State University professor of animal science; Karl Guggenmos, Johnson & Wales University dean of culinary education; Tim Loula, veterinarian and co-owner of Swine Vet Center in St. Peter, MN; Miyun Park, executive director of Global Animal Partnership; Ashley Peterson, vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs for the National Chicken Council; Richard Raymond, former USDA undersecretary for food safety; Janeen Salak-Johnson, University of Illinois associate professor in animal sciences; Janice Swanson, Michigan State University professor of animal behavior and welfare; and Bruce Webster, University of Georgia professor of poultry science.
“This advisory panel is a diverse group of experts who bring valuable perspective on animal well-being,” said Tyson President and Chief Executive Officer Donnie Smith. “They will help shape the future of the program and ensure its effectiveness.”
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from May 17
U.S. HOUSE, SENATE AG COMMITTEES MAKE PROGRESS ON FARM BILL
Ag committees from both the U.S. House and Senate approved separate versions of the Farm Bill earlier this week. Both bills reflect KLA and NCBA member priorities. Neither contains a livestock title, while both maintain important conservation programs and a strong research title. According to NCBA President Scott George, these priorities address the needs of cattle producers, while limiting invasive federal oversight.
The House bill includes an amendment that strikes the portion of the 2008 Farm Bill that led to a proposed rule that would have restricted cattle producers’ marketing options. While the rule has since been withdrawn, the House amendment provides certainty for the beef industry. The House committee also included permanent disaster programs for livestock producers.
Neither bill contains language that would have forced egg producers to comply with certain on-farm production standards. KLA and NCBA lobbied to keep the agreement between the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), an animal activist group, and United Egg Producers (UEP) from inclusion in the bill. It would have marked the first time Congress mandated production practices for animal agriculture.
“Including the HSUS-UEP legislation in the Farm Bill would have created a potential slippery slope to allow the federal government to mandate on-farm production practices for all sectors of agriculture,” said George.
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from May 16
WOODBURY AWARDED GOBOB SCHOLARSHIP
Evan Woodbury, the son of Howard and Elise Woodbury of Quenemo, has been awarded the $2,500 Cattlemen’s Scholarship from GoBob Pipe & Steel and the Kansas Livestock Foundation (KLF). The West Franklin High School graduate assists with his family’s cow-calf operation and owns a registered Angus cowherd. He was very active in his local FFA chapter and 4-H club, serving as president of both organizations. He also was highly involved in the Kansas and National Junior Angus Associations.
Woodbury will be a sophomore at Kansas State University this fall and is majoring in agricultural education. In the future, he plans to return to the family operation.
Funding for the Cattlemen’s Scholarship is generated through the purchase of GoBob Pipe & Steel products by KLA members. The company donates a percentage of all member purchases to KLF. Additional funds for the scholarship were generated through the auction of a Haymonster Hay Feeder, donated by GoBob, at the 2012 KLA Convention. GoBob is a distributor of farming supplies, such as steel pipe and gates, corral and fence materials and heavy-duty equipment.
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from May 15
NCBA PRIORITIES ENCOMPASSED IN SENATE AG COMMITTEE FARM BILL
The U.S. Senate Ag Committee yesterday approved its version of the Farm Bill, including several NCBA member priorities. There is no livestock title, conservation programs are maintained and the research title is sustained. According to NCBA President Scott George, these priorities address the needs of cattle producers, while limiting invasive federal oversight.
Also absent from the Senate Ag Committee Farm Bill was language that would have forced egg producers to comply with certain on-farm production standards. NCBA strongly lobbied to keep the agreement between the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), an animal activist group, and the United Egg Producers (UEP) from inclusion in the bill. It would have marked the first time Congress mandated production practices for animal agriculture.
“Including the HSUS-UEP legislation in the Farm Bill would have created a potential slippery slope to allow the federal government to mandate on-farm production practices for all sectors of agriculture,” said George.
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from May 14
TENNESSEE GOVERNOR HOPES GENERAL ASSEMBLY RECONSIDERS VETOED ANIMAL ACTIVIST LEGISLATION
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam has vetoed a high profile bill that would have forced undercover animal rights activists to turn over video footage to authorities within 48 hours. Haslam said part of the reason for the veto was based on the Tennessee attorney general viewing the proposed legislation as “constitutionally suspect” in light of the First Amendment.
The Tennessee Republican also expressed concerns from some district attorneys that the legislation would have the unintended consequence of making it more difficult to prosecute animal cruelty cases. He specifically suggested the Tennessee General Assembly reconsider the legislation.
Haslam’s office received thousands of phone calls and emails about the bill. Some celebrities, most notably country singer Carrie Underwood, publicly encouraged Haslam to veto the bill.
In his veto message, he emphasized the importance of agriculture to Tennessee and explained why the decision was so difficult.
“I understand their (rancher’s) concerns about large-scale attacks on their livelihoods,” said Haslam. “I also appreciate that the types of recordings this bill targets may be obtained at times under false pretenses, which I think is wrong.”
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from May 13
GOVERNOR SIGNS ANTITRUST REFORM BILL SUPPORTED BY KLA
Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback signed a bill May 8 reforming the state’s antitrust laws. Changes contained in SB 124 were necessary due to a 2012 Kansas Supreme Court ruling that placed cattle marketing agreements and other marketing arrangements at the risk of being illegal and void. KLA supports the bill.
Among other changes, livestock marketing agreements governed by the Packers and Stockyards Act (PSA) now are exempt from state antitrust laws. The bill also allows the courts to consider whether agreements not covered by PSA are reasonable, in light of the circumstances.
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from May 10
SURVEY SHOWS LESS THAN OPTIMAL CONDITIONS TO START GRAZING SEASON
Pasture conditions and stockwater supplies are much below normal at the beginning of the Flint Hills grazing season. According to the 2013 Bluestem Pasture Survey of landowners and tenants, released last week by Kansas Ag Statistics, pastures in the region were rated 16% very poor, 41% poor, 34% adequate, 8% good and only 1% excellent. Stockwater supplies, as of May 5, were 22% very short, 26% short, 50% adequate and 2% surplus.
The survey showed 46% of grazing acres in the 14-county area are under full summer season contracts, 34% are under partial season contracts and 20% are leased for the full year. Only 8% of respondents reported burning native pastures this year.
Partial season contracts for 90 days grazing or less had an average lease rate of $27.90 per acre when care was provided and $23.10 when no care was provided. The average price per acre for partial season contracts of more than 90 days was $22.60 with care and $19.50 without. For the full summer season, the average price per acre with care is $25.90 and $21.00 without care.
When the stocking rate is based on pounds of live cattle per acre, the average is 287 for the full summer season and 284 for partial season. Survey respondents reported contracts based on cattle weight gain averaged 42¢/lb., with a range from 5¢ to 70¢.
Fencing costs also were part of the survey. The average rate charged for building a five-wire, all-steel post fence, including materials, was $25.40 per rod. The rate excluding materials averaged $17.70 per rod. Average hourly rates charged for fence building were $63.10 with equipment and $26.30 without.
This is the first year the Bluestem Pasture Survey has been conducted since 2009 due to a lack of funding.
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