Plaintiffs Pleased With Checkoff Stay DENVER, Colo. The U.S. Court of Appeals’ decision to grant a stay and allow the beef promotion program to continue without interruption during ap peal is a good one, according to the Cattlemen’s Beef Board, one of the defendants in the case. Defendants also include the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Nebraska Cattlemen, and a group of producers who are inter vening in the case. “We are pleased that the court recognized the importance of continuing the Beef Checkoff Program through the appeal pro cess,” said Beef Board Chairman Dee Lacey, a cow-calf producer from Paso Robles, Calif. “This will allow continuance of promo tion efforts on behalf of beef pro ducers during challenging mar ket conditions.” During the appeal process, Lacey said, the Beef Board will continue as it has throughout the course of this litigation to work to strengthen the position of beef in the marketplace and expand uses for beef and beef products. While this certainly is good Pork Producers Invited To AI School COLUMBUS, Ohio Work ers’ job satisfaction, working con ditions, technical skill and atti tude can affect the success of artificial insemination (AI), according to recent studies at North Carolina State University. Producers of show pigs may pay up to $5OO per dose of semen, making the success of AI pro grams an important investment. To help Ohio’s pork producers increase the efficiency of their AI programs, the Ohio Pork Indus try Center (OPIC) is holding an AI school July 24, in the Animal Science Building of the Ohio State University, 2029 Fyffe Road, Columbus, Ohio. The school is designed to give hands on training in artificial insemina tion and practices that will in crease reproductive efficiency. The Ohio Pork Industry Cen ter is an arm of The Ohio State University Extension that brings together expertise from an array of disciplines to help sustain the profitability of the Ohio pork in dustry by establishing leadership in information, technology, prod uct quality, and sound relations with urban and rural neighbors. Designed for employees and decision makers involved with the breeding and gestation area of pork producing operation, the day will consist of demonstra tions on collecting boar semen, and inseminating estrous sows as well as sessions addressing key is sues in pork reproduc tion. One such issue is the effect inseminators have on reproductive performance, a signifi- cant problem accord ing to Don Levis, coor- dinator ot OPIC. “The No. 1 problem I see with AI is people,” he viid. “People get in coo big ot a hurry, they don't have the proper training, or they don’t understand what they are trying to accom- plish.” Studies have shown that overworked or disgruntled workers can greatly decrease news for those who support the Beef Checkoff Program, Lacey said, it is one step in what prom ises to be a lengthy court battle. “It’s definitely disappointing that industry resources continue to be diverted from beef market ing and promotion efforts to spend money and time in the courtroom instead. But this ap peal is one more step forward in a lengthy battle, and we’re in it for the long haul.” In annual independent surveys conducted since the launch of the beef checkoff 15 years ago, pro ducers have repeatedly voiced strong support for the program, Lacey said. In the latest survey, released in January 2002, about 68 percent of producers said they approved of the Beef Checkoff Program. NCBA Responds In a related press release, the president of the National Cattle men’s Beef Association (NCBA), Wythe Willey, a cattleman from Cedar Rapids, lowa, called the ruling “a significant victory for the majority of beef producers who have continued to support the industry’s dynamic self-help program. the farrowing rate of gilts. The farrowing rate decreases by al most 15 percent when a techni cian inseminates more than IS gilts without taking a break. Also, unpleasantly handled gilts had a farrowing rate almost 55 percent lower than pleasantly handled gilts. Participants of OPIC’s AI school will leam more about these effects and how to minimize their influence in their operation. They also will leam about the influence of biological variation on inseminations, selection of AI boars and emerging AI technolo gies, such as sexed semen and embryonic transfers. The school is organized into a morning, afternoon and evening program to accommodate the schedule of producers. The dem onstrations will be held in the morning and evening and the ed ucational sessions will make up the afternoon program. Partici pants can register for morning and afternoon, afternoon and evening, afternoon only, or all three sessions. The registration fee is $4O per person, which includes meals, re freshments and reference materi als. The deadline to register is July 17 and enrollment is limited to 60 people. For more informa tion or to register for the school, contact OPIC at 1-800-398-7675 or contact Don Levis at (614) 292-1351. “We are gratified the Appel late Court has recognized the magnitude of the national beef checkoff program,” said Willey. The motion to stop the injunc tion was filed by the Justice De partment on behalf of the United WORC Statement Regarding Kommann y s Ruling BILLINGS, Mont. Judge Kornmann’s ruling of the uncon stitutionality of the beef checkoff was “a victory for independent cattle producers,” according to the Western Organization of Re search Councils (WORC). In conjunction with the Live stock Marketing Association, WORC was an original plaintiff in the case. In response to that ruling Linda Rauser, a WORC spokes person and North Dakota ranch er, made the following statements. “Judge Kommann found that the checkoff is unconstitutional because it forces producers to pay for speech with which they dis- Candidates Solicited For National Board On Rural America WASHINGTON, D.C. Agri culture Secretary Ann M. Vene man announced recently that USDA is accepting applications for the newly created National Board on Rural America. Re sponsibilities of the board include developing a national strategic investment plan for rural Ameri ca and overseeing the delivery of planning and innovation grants to regional boards. “Continuing to strengthen America’s rural communities is an important priority for the Bush Administration,” said Ve neman. “This board will provide valuable input as we examine ways to expand opportunities and investment in rural areas throughout the nation.” The National Board, which consists of 14 members appointed Hfe Salute Our faming Industry States Department of Agriculture on July 8. The Eighth Circuit granted the motion less than 48 hours later. “Every prior attempt to under mine the constitutionality of the beef checkoff has failed, and we agree. This decision is a victory for cattle producers, WORC and the Livestock Marketing Associa tion.” “WORC challenged the man datory, $1 per head tax on cattle sales because we believe it is un fair, undemocratic, and unconsti tutional. It is unfair that produc ers are taxed to support the National Cattlemen’s Beef Asso ciation, an organization that con sistently opposes their interests most recently on mandatory country of origin labeling, ban ning packer ownership of live stock, and fast track trade legis lation. Nearly nine of every ten dollars in the NCBA’s budget comes from the beef checkoff.” by the Secretary with staggered four-year terms, was created with the recent passage of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002. The Board will over see the Rural Strategic Invest ment Program, which includes $95 million of planning and com munity development grants. Among those considered for Board positions will be represen tatives of: nationally recognized entrepreneurship organ izations, regional planning and development organizations, com munity-based organizations, elected members of county gov ernments, elected members of State legislatures, the rural phil anthropic community, and Indi an tribes. Recommendations by elected members of federal, state, or Agricultural Generators 11 1 Detroit Deisel Spectrum § w»* *—t? Automatic PTO Generators L P Gas, Diesel 25 to 135 KW Units Natural Gas Generators In Stock' 5 to 2,000 KW Service - Rental • New & Used Units In Stock! #yjra#M#P/7M^/7 J^M'MWmWsvstbajs Power Generation Systems Specialists 330 Founderwhfte Road, Lebanon, PA 17042 Call Leonard Martin 717-273-4544 Fax: 717-273-5186 e-mail: lmartin@pennpowersystems.com are confident that in the end this effort too will fail,” said Willey. “In the meantime, cattlemen, through NCBA, will not rest in our resolve to protect the beef checkoff that has served the-cat tle and beef industry so well.” “The checkoff is undemocratic because the producers who pay the checkoff did not have a vote in selecting those who decide how the money is spent, and have been denied the right to vote on continuation of the beef check off.” “With today’s ruling, indepen dent cattle producers have tri umphed over the beef packers and packer-led institutions in the battle to take back control of our livestock markets.” “We appreciate Judge Korn mann’s well thought-out deci sion. Now we can go about the business of creating beef promo tion programs that truly benefit U.S. ranchers and producers.” county governments, and nomil nations from organizations will be accepted. Nominations from individuals will not be consid ered. Nominations should be written on the organizations let terhead. An AD Form 755,'Nom inee Background Information, is required for each nominee and is available on the USDA Rural De velopment Website at http://, www.rurdev.usda.gov/rd/'' farmbill2oo2.html. Completed applications are due by 5 p.m. on July 19. Appli cations should be submitted to the Office of the Under Secretary, Rural Development, Attn: Duane Ischer, 1400 Independence Ave nue, S.W., Room 206-W, STOP 0107, Washington, D.C. 20250-0107. To ensure timely de livery, applications may be faxed to (202) 720-2080.
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