Robert Pore's Ag Blog

Nebraska feedlots, with capacities of 1,000 or more head, contained 2.05 million cattle on feed on September 1, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Nebraska Field Office.

The inventory was up 16 percent from last year and 14 percent above September 1, 2004. This is the highest September inventory since the data series began in 1994.

Placements in feedlots during August totaled 470,000 head, up 13 percent from 2005 and 12 percent above 2004.

Marketings of fed cattle during August totaled 360,000 head, down 1 percent from last
year but equal to August two years ago. Other disappearance during August totaled 10,000 head, the same as during August 2005 and August 2004.

U.S. CATTLE ON FEED UP 10 PERCENT

Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with
capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.0 million head on September 1, 2006. The inventory was 10 percent above both September 1, 2005 and September 1, 2004. This is the highest September 1 inventory since the series began in 1996.

Placements in feedlots during August totaled 2.30 million, 15 percent above 2005 and
9 percent above 2004.

Marketings of fed cattle during August totaled 2.08 million, 2 percent above 2005 and 8 percent above 2004. Other disappearance totaled 59,000 during August, 11 percent above 2005 and 5 percent above 2004.

R-CALF USA was extremely pleased that during its annual meeting this week, the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) passed a resolution that states the organization will work legislatively to remove cattle from the J-List, the list of those commodities that are currently exempt from the general requirement that all imported goods be permanently marked with a mark of origin.

“R-CALF appreciates the leadership of NASDA on this important issue related to animal health, an issue that R-CALF has been pushing for a few years,” said R-CALF USA President and Region V Director Chuck Kiker. “NASDA enjoys a high level of prestige and credibility in the eyes of Congress.

“When Congress writes this law, all imported cattle will have to be marked with a mark of origin,” Kiker continued. “As a result, if a foreign country from which we import animals has a disease outbreak in a disease that has a long incubation period, like BSE or bovine tuberculosis, we would have the ability to quickly identify those animals that are commingled in our herd. From a disease protection standpoint, this is very important.

“If a foreign animal disease (FAD) were to break out and exposed animals were determined to have been imported into the United States, it would be much easier and faster for animal health officials to remove the questionable animals from the feed and food supplies if they’ve already been permanently marked with their origin,” Kiker said. “Requiring foreign cattle to be marked also might actually reduce the prevalence – or maybe even eliminate the prevalence – of a disease, which in turn, could possibly save the domestic cattle industry from, or at least lessen the impact of, potential economic disruptions.”

The NASDA J-List Resolution states: “The NASDA supports and encourages the US Congress to legislatively remove cattle from the J-List, an amendment to the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. § 1304(a)(3)(J)). This would allow animal health authorities to identify imported cattle, which is critical due to the potential importation of animals previously and unknowingly exposed to potential new and emerging diseases, or diseases with long incubation periods, such as BSE and tuberculosis, where the need to locate these animals may not be realized until many years after the date of importation.”

Kiker said R-CALF USA will now encourage its members to contact their appropriate congressional delegation to encourage support for legislation to remove cattle from the J-List.

“Given our industry’s recent experiences with diseases in imported cattle, we’d like to implement this important measure as quickly as possible,” Kiker emphasized.

LINCOLN – Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) Director Greg Ibach announced the opening of a sign-up period for livestock producers to apply for drought assistance. Beginning today, beef cattle and sheep producers who meet program criteria can apply by self-certifying their herd numbers and drought-related expenses to NDA.

“We encourage livestock producers in the 39 qualified counties to seek more information about the program and fill out an application as soon as possible,” Ibach said. “There is a 30-day application window, but fall is a busy time of year. We don’t want our farmers and ranchers to delay and then miss their chance to sign up.”

Through the program, NDA will distribute $3.6 million to aid beef cattle and sheep producers whose forage was adversely impacted by the 2006 drought. The funding is part of a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) drought assistance package announced in August. USDA asked states to distribute the livestock assistance grant money, and Governor Dave Heineman instructed NDA to develop and administer a program.

Livestock producers must complete a two-page application, which requests self-certification of herd numbers and drought-related livestock expenses. Once the application period closes, the number of eligible livestock certified to NDA will be calculated and the $3.6 million will be prorated on a per-head basis. Producers should receive payment in late November.

Ibach said NDA has enlisted the assistance of the Farm Service Agency and University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension offices to distribute program information and applications. NDA will not be sending producers program notification in the mail.

“It is up to the producer to seek out program information, and then fill out and send in the application,” Ibach said. “We will do our best to make the information available through as many resources as possible.

“We have tried to make the application form as simple as possible, while still meeting the requirements set out by USDA. This is a new program for us. We will work hard to administer it as seamlessly as possible, but we also ask for patience from producers as we begin this process,” Ibach said.

NDA created a detailed Question and Answer Document to help farmers and ranchers as they fill out the application. The document, the application form and other materials can be found on-line at www.droughtcentral.org under “Agriculture Drought Disaster Program Opportunities.” Producers with questions also can call NDA toll free at 800-422-6692.