The price of corn will dominate the beef industry this year, said Randy Blach, executive vice president of Cattle-Fax. Volatility in the grain markets will pressure cattle feeders and limit prices for feeder calves in the coming year, he said at the NCBA convention in Reno.
Fallout over reported livestock abuse at Hallmark Meat Packing, Chino, Calif., continues. Two of the major questions being asked are how the videotaped abuse could happen when there were eight federal inspectors at the plant, and whether any meat from the “downers” which were slaughtered made it into the human food supply. On that last question, a USDA spokeswoman said that can’t be confirmed. Undercover activists with the Humane Society of the U.S. say they have “very clear documentation” at least four downers were slaughtered for human consumption. Plant officials have denied that took place.
Front-runners from both parties for the presidential nomination aren’t talking about agriculture, said NCBA President John Queen. Listening to the candidates “for the last two or three months, I have yet to hear (anyone) mentioning the word agriculture, mentioning the livestock industry…or the cattle industry. It is kind of scary to me.”
Farm bills Congress is working on lack reform, spend too much money and raise taxes, President Bush said at this week’s ceremony swearing in Ed Schafer as the new USDA secretary. He again said he would veto those bills. Senate Ag Committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-Ia.) said the bills don’t raise taxes, but rather close loopholes and end tax abuses.
Media mogul Ted Turner used to have 54 restaurants called Ted’s Montana Grill. Now he has 53, after renaming the one in Omaha, Neb., to Ted’s Nebraska Grill. That location will feature many Nebraska-produced items, including beef from Omaha Steaks and bison meat from Turner’s herd on one of his five Nebraska ranches.