Lancaster farming. (Lancaster, Pa., etc.) 1955-current, November 13, 1993, Image 36
mm, RDI, Box 83, Port Matilda, PA 16870 Thn Information in this column Is presented by the Pen nsylvania Cattlsmsn’s Association for those who have an internet in the cattle industry. Cattlemen’s Issues/Developmcnts When it rains, it pours and after a period of good to excellent cattle prices, the good times have ended temporarily. In addition to declining prices, there are other developments that affect the cattle business. When we are feeding cattle, sorting calves, or tending to other details of our business—we many times forget that there are state, national, and even interna tional developments that also affect our business—and our pro fitability. Some of these recent developments are summarized below. NAFTA—stands for the North American Free Trade Agreement, which is supported essentially by all of agriculture. The vote is sche duled for November 17. Although there are many reasons for Con gress to pass this legislation and the NAFTA Agreement, one of the biggest positives is the con tinued expansion of beef, veal, variety meat, tallow, hides, and live cattle exports. US exports of beef and variety meats to Mexico amounted to approximately $260 million in 1992, growing about $5O million per year since 1989. It has been calculated that U.S. exports of beef cattle has added about $3 per pound to finished WMItWW. • DRIES WHITE •NO WET FLOORS • IS COMPATIBLE WITH DISINFECTANT AND FLY SPRAYS • DOES NOT RUB OFF EASILY • WASHES OFF WINDOWS & PIPELINES EASILY BARN CLEANING SERVICE AVAILABLE ;th compressed air > have your bam cleaned with air it will :an off dust, cob webs & lots of the old ime This will keep your bam looking cleaner & whiter longer. CALL US ABOUT ON THE FARM FLY CONTROL Serving Southeastern Pa. And More BEITZEL’S SPRAYING Witmer, PA 17585 717-392-7227 or Toll Free 1-800-727-7228 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM CERTIFIED COMMERCIAL APPLICATORS LICENSED 32 Years Experience INSURED 5 Trucks For Air Cleaning And Whitewashing Barn Spraying Is Our Business, not a sideline. Spraying Since 1961 s SOCIATI° cattle and only slightly less to feeder cattle prices. Beef exports are almost $970 million more than beef imports, giving us a positive trade balance for our commodity. Like most other countries, Mexico has 10 to 25% tariffs on imported agricultural goods and has the leg al right to raise them to 50%. There are safeguards as far as unnecessary environmental re strictions. animal health risks, etc. that are included in the intent of the NAFTA legislation. We hope that if it is not too late, you will contact your legislators encourag ing them to vote for die NAFTA. Right now it does not appear that NAFTA will pass since the anti- NAFTA forces have been very active. Reduction in USDA’a market promotion program even though agricultural exports have gradually increased and there is an increasingly large positive trade balance in all of agriculture, these funds were reduced in this year’s budget. Federal dollars earmarked for market promotion is matched by private industry including beef and pork check-off dollars. Although the amount of funds committed to export promotion from private agricultural industry has increased it is unlikely that our agricultural organizations and RADIO DISPATCHED TRUCKS private companies can increase their investment to offset the loss of federal support Exports from the US mean many things including more jobs and more profits. A success story; Beef/Veal Quality Assurance the QA program has expanded into 43 states, covering 98% of the total fed cattle marketed and at least 90% of the cow-calf producers. The beef industry has essentially a zero violative drag, chemical, and pesticide rate in fed cattle, and the level in cull beef and dairy cows is being reduced. There probably will be more emphasis on cull cows, both beef and dairy in the coming months. The incidence rate of top sirloin injection-site blemishes over the past 24 months has been reduced from 223% to 9.9%. All the "players” veter inarians, allied industry, market ing sector, and packing industry ate giving excellent support. Hie veal industry, which is closely related to die beef and dairy indus tries in many ways, has reduced violative residues from 33% in 1988 to less than .13% in 1992. Do voluntary producer-conducted and producer-funded programs work? You bet! In Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Beef Council is providing some fluids to help con duct needed seminars and produce educational materials for the Quality Assurance Program. Eat beef “anytime” says Mayo Clink recent Mayo Clinic health letter contained a chart outlining guidelines for low fat, low-cholesterol diet. Foods are categorized as those that can be eaten anytime, sometimes, or seldom mid beef is one of the “eat anytime” foods provided the beef is choice or select beef round steak, sirloin, tenderloin, flank or ground round and be the basis of the total diet We can live with that! Reinventing government comments according to NCA, there are some good points and bad points in the Clinton admi nistration reinventing government GREAT PRICES. GREAT SELECTION. WE'RE GENERATING EXCITEMENT. T7l Many models to choose from. Available at Elm store only. Call for prices 665 W. Newport Elm, PA 17521 ] fy m X MON. - FKI. 8:00AM - 9:OOPM SAT. 8:00AM - S:OOPM CLOSED SUNDAY For opbinuni ocrfenmoce Kid ukty. real the owner's manual bdorc opening your Honk ftmer Equptnanl. Comecton ci pKMrtonr to home poaar requres I tnnfer dime Id mid pond* rputy to poaer oaapav penoond. Camk • quiHed rJortririai. 6 MS Americm Hoade Motor Co., be. moves. Among the changes favored is the combination of agri culture research, .extension ser vice, and national agriculture library into a new Agricultural Research and Education Service. Another positive is the use of a science-based plan for food (including meat) inspection, and generally reducing federal spend ing. However, NCA noted that shifting the Food Safety and Inspection Service from the jur isdiction of the USDA would be an inefficient move and might damage the ongoing meat inspec tion reform. NCA and several other agricultural associations also took issue with the very nega tive reference to the E.coli-caused deaths in the USDA promotion of mandatory safe-handing labels on taw meat and poultry products. Many times the more positive approach is more effective especially with all the improve ments in meat inspection that are planned. Our meat inspection program still represents an impor tant advantage fra our meat indus tries over other countries. Beef consumption to rise? the American Meal Institute is predicting per-capita beef con sumption to rise slightly in 1994, and NCA agrees. However the increase in consumption reflects increased production because of slightly increased cow herd expansion we sell and eat all we produce at some price, stated NCA economists. Farm-Environmentalists cooperation urged—representa tives of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) and National Cattlemen’s Association (NCA) recently toured the Waffle Hill Farm, Churchville, MD, owned and operated by Lawrason Sayre and family. The Sayre family were winners of the NCA’s Northeast ern Regional Environmental Ste wardship Award last year. CBF spokespersons indicated that the Sayre family had helped to protect the Bay from overloads of sedi ment ami nutrients that contribute to algae blooms and loss of under- • 3500 Watts of Portable Power • Oil Alert" • \bltmeter • Honda 8 HP 4-Stroke OHV Engine water gases. CBF and NCA agreed that farmers and environ mentalists should work together and that they need each other. The 1993 Pennsylvania Cattlemen’s Association nominee for the NCA Environmental Stewardship Award was ErReR Hill Farm, Somerset, PA, owned by Mr. & Mrs. Sidney Riggs and managed by Bob Hay. Spending on food continues to decrease the share of the aver age US income spent on food decreased again—from 11.7% in 1991 to 11.4% in 1992. Hus could be taken as another indication of increased efficiency in agriculture production, but it might also mean that food is being produced by our farmers at an ever-decreasing pro fit margin. Good reading did ELSIE choose the parlor? the doc trine of the animal rightists is based upon a theory that humans take advantage of animals by using them, causing them pain, suffering, changed behavior, bore dom, and death was met head on by Steven Budiansky in his book "The Covenant of the Wild: Why animals chose domestica tion.” Among many other conten tions, Budiansky suggested a bar gain, of sorts, was struck between animals and humanity near the dawn of time. Simply put today’s domesticated animals chose to live along with man. The animals chose this way of life because they gained a steadier supply of feed, shelter, companionship, and care. Mankind gained food, clothing, companionship, and all the other benefits that animals bring with them. This may sound like an idealistic argument, but it is, one that if more people would accept, perhaps there would be less prob lems from activists making unsub stantiated theoretical claims which affect the amount of animal products used by P«r citizenry. For more information: con tact the Pennsylvania Cattlemen’s Association, R Box 83, Pott Matilda. PA 16870. Phone: 814-692-4280. 4 Months Interest Free iVi'fi . i.r l]'jm : rred't l ; a (717) 664 - 4663