Exports Mean Good News (Continued from Pago A3O) • Quality of the eqat markets have improved. USMEF bu been able to identify and qualify new and expanding market bases, to Russia and the Far East In 1995, exports roae 13 percent over 1994 exports. The focus has not been on just selling meat, according to Oates, but to sell the “entire production and distribu tion chain” to overseas, he said. USMEF, chartered in 1976, has added many more offices to dries in Japan, Korea, Russia, China, and other countries. Oates explained the funding sources and bow these have worked to boost exports around the world. Oates indicated that “China will be the market in the Enure,” and that more is being done to help China train store operators to promote U.S. beef. 1996 predictions An agricultural forecaster taid it’s been a bloodbath if you’re a meal producer, but a real boom if you grow grain to sell And that forecast is not likely to change Cor many cattle producers, while the grain markets will con tinue to remain “strong at least until harvest time.’’ said Lou Moore, Penn State professor of ag economics, at the Penn-State spon sored Cattle Feeder’s Day. On the other hand, for feeder cattle operations, 1996 will be marked by “continued losses in feeder cattle operations” because of the dismal price and the increas ing cost of feed, particularly com. Carryovers of com could be nearly depleted by September, while demand continues to remain steady at nine billion bushels per year for all varieties of livestock and poultry operations and derived products from com, according to the ag economist More meat will continue to be A Very Special... To Everyone Who Visited Our The interest you have shown is an indica tion that you appreciate the opportunity to gather with other farmers and learn about the products we have available. We look forward to working with you in the future. Also a special thank you to the company representatives who helped at the open house. i<p£v Cellar Crest Equipment TWo Convenient Locations 111 I” | 608 Evergreen Rd. RD 2 Box 271 Lebanon, PA 17042 East Earl, PA 17516 (71)270-6600 (717)354-0584 ~ m m 1-800-646-6601 produced every year for at least the next 3-4 years, according to Moore. Cattle futures fir April, potted Feb. 2„ were 63.92 per hun dredweight, with a cash price of 6730. Moore provided his predictions fir 1996 at the Cattle Feeder’s Day. Production of beef will increase by 3 percent, to 25.7 bil lion pounds; pork up 1 percent, 183 billion pounds; lamb will decrease 2 percent, at 3 billion pounds; and veal will decrease 1 percent, at 3 billion pounds. However, the trend the past sev eral years has been a manifold increase in poultry production. Hus year, broilers will increase production by 6 percent, or 26.9 billion pounds and turkeys up 4 percent, at 77. S billion pounds. Contrary to recent reports, peo ple are not becoming more vegeta rian. They are actually eating more meat, according to Moore. In 1994, people were earing 211.5 pounds per person of meat; in 1996, the number is projected at 216.6 pounds per person. In the year 2004, projections are for peo ple to eat meat at about 219.1 pounds per person. But poultry products will continue to show an increase in consumption over beef products, according to Moore. The good news for beef produc ers is that exports continue to exceed imports, which is doing a lot to take meat off the market For grain producers, the news continues to Improve. Unemploy ment remains down, as does infla tion. at 2.6 percent Unemploy ment in November stood at S.B percent While com yields in 1995 equalled only 7.37 billion bushels for the U.S. (compared to the record-breaking year of 1994 with 10.11 billion bushels), the use of com is steady at 9 billion bushels per year. Com users must reduce feed use by 18 percent to have a 5 OPEN HOUSE UOioo bushel com carryover. So &r. this isn’t happening, since feed use in the first quarter has remained unchanged. even with the high prices of con, according to Moon. As of last Friday, according to Moore, March 1996 com him stood at $3.66 a bushel “I think we’re heading for a big phoning in com this year,” he said. If we have a drought, however, "we’re in for a real trial in the grain business,*’ he Captive supplies Dr. Wayne Purcell, Virginia Tech Ag Economist, spoke about the effect of captive supplies on cattle prices. Purcell initialled that processors usecaptive supplies not to fix thepriceofcattle, but simply to keep the kill line ranting, which “gets the flow stabilized and keeps costs’* in check, ft is important from a cost of slaughter standpoint to have a steady, reliable supply of product This technique may have price ramifications that could prove positive for producers, according to Purcell. He said the big three processing companies in the U.S. IBP, Conagta, and Excell find it is substantially cheaper to maintain a slaughter rate of 300*350 head of cattle an hour over the slower and more expensive 100 head per hour at the plants. "I don’t think captive supplies are going to go away,’’ he said. Using by-products “Om paper, It's real easy to make money in the cattle, busi ness," said Glenn Paris, who opcr- Unwtfaf fttifang, Sunday. Fahrasry 10, t ates a large cattle feeding opera tion in Bens, N.Y. “But nothing is easy, it tuns out” Paris maintains about 2/400 acres, 1,000 of which are in corn, about 30 miles west of Albany. He said his “real love is twi«nri«w rations.’’ The secret is to use food by products, which are in abundance in the Northeast, considering all the supply ofrawmaterial from the big food manufacturers here. Many of die radons include bread about SS percent bread, according to Paris. For his custom feeding operation far a customer base that is “getting bigger and bigger,’’ Paris has used lots of by products, with a good dry matter base, including an afterproduct of penicillin production, candy, onion rings, spaghetti, potato chips, poultry litter, and one time, 10,000 tons of tapioca. He's even mixed whey with sawdust to get a feed that provides Holstein USA BRATTLEBORO. Vt.—The Holstein Association will not be sponsoring a series of Open For ums (previously known as Winter Forums) as they have done in past years. However, national officers, directors and staff members will work throughout the year to hold information sessions in connec tion with other scheduled member meetings such as state conven tions, sales, bam meetings, and grass roots meetings. Several such events are already scheduled and others are in the planning stages. In die last several years, atten- & w TOBACCO FARMERS Golden Leaf Tobacco Co. will be receiving tobacco at our new location on Rt. 23 EARLANO INDUSTRIAL PARK, 130 Earland Dr., Building 3, behind J.B. Zimmerman Hardware, Mon. thru Fri. 8 to 4 Contact us for any changes in market prices Mac Bailey Dennis Hess (717)354-8177 (717)529-2886 oSSTIty 395 Bowers Rd. V** Kutztown, PA 19530 T/\ 6lO-682-1718 v/a 9 Agriculturai/Residentlal Contractors r Buildl Sitr Pit P' id: “the lent coat per pound of gain,” he said. Peri* told the producers there are a lot of products available, and nearly “anything out there is worth money” in terms of a feed source far cattle. “Dry matter coo-, sumption is absolute king” he said. Also at the Feeder’s Day, Dave Ivan, executive director of the Pen nsylvania Beef Council, spoke about the National Cattlmen’s Beef Asandatinn, ■ ynwnliitatinw of the Beef Board, Nkdonal Cattle men's Association, USMEF, and the Beef Industry Council. The consolidation brings together organizations that were doing some of die same types of work “into die same shop” ,he said, and keeping the “producers in the driver’s seat” Also," Brad Morgan, Oklahoma State University, provided an overview of the National Beef Quality Assurance survey con ducted in 1995. Cancels Forums dance at the Opcn/Winter Forami hat declined. The tucoets of grass roots meetings in 1995 allowed Association staff to reach mem bers and non-members alike. Meetings were organized by field representatives, staff offic ers, and members of the Board of Directors. These meetings brought a positive response from particip ants, prompting the Association to continue this format in 1996. Please contact the Holstein Association at 1-800-952-5200 if you would like help scheduling a similar meeting in your area. ATTENTION Heifer Fecility WBL Clark Stauffer (717) 733-8921 (717)738-2328 Mobile 575-0622
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