Jim Ramm of Atkinson, Nebraska is the president of the Nebraska Cattlemen’s organization. In an interview with Brownfield at the Cattle Industry Conference in Nashville, Ramm discussed some of the national and state issues that his group is focused on. He also talks about the four percent increase in Nebraska’s January 1st cattle inventory and indications that increased heifer retention might be taking place in the Sandhills of Nebraska.
Recent gatherings of cattle industry leaders have been tumultuous affairs, with battles over organizational structure, concerns over possible breaches of the policy/checkoff firewall, and accusations of financial improprieties.
This time around, at least outwardly, there seems to be more harmony.
We talked with two key players—Rock Valley, Iowa cattleman Kent Pruismann, who sits on the Cattlemen’s Beef Board—that’s the checkoff organization—and Craig Uden of Cozad, Nebraska, incoming chair of the Federation of State Beef Councils.
The beef industry has long argued that beef, consumed in moderation, can and should play an important role in a heart-healthy diet.
Now it has some solid research data from a respected institution to back up those claims.
In a first of its kind study, researchers at Penn State University have demonstrated that eating beef everyday as part of a heart-healthy diet can improve cholesterol levels by ten percent.
The research project, which was called the Beef in an Optimal Lean Diet (BOLD) study, was funded by the Beef Checkoff.
At the 2012 Cattle Industry Conference, we had a chance to visit with one of the leaders of the research project—Dr. Penny Kris-Etherton, distinguished professor of nutrition at Penn State University.
AUDIO: Dr. Penny Kris-Etherton (3:45 MP3)
At the NCBA Trade Show in Nashville, we stopped by the Novartis Animal Health booth to find out more about their two new BRD vaccines.
Here’s how a Novartis news release describes NUPLURA PH:
NUPLURA™ PH is a new vaccine for beef and dairy cattle that provides fast-acting protection against bovine pneumonia caused by Mannheimia (Pasteurella) haemolytica.
M. haemolytica, formerly known as Pasteurella, is a highly transmissible bacteria and a leading cause of bovine respiratory disease (BRD) complex. Research has shown that M. haemolytica is present in nearly 75 percent of all diagnosed BRD cases, causing more death and economic loss than any other respiratory disease.
NUPLURA PH differs from other M. haemolytica vaccines because of the advanced cellular technology used to purify antigens in the vaccine. As the first and only U.S. cattle vaccine developed with recombinant technology, NUPLURA PH contains only purified leukotoxin to deliver the strongest immune response with minimal reactivity. It is the first new M. haemolytica vaccine available in the U.S. in over 10 years.
And here’s the scoop on the other new product, BRD Shield:
BRD Shield™ is a new modified-live vaccine (MLV) developed to protect non-pregnant beef and dairy cattle against bovine respiratory disease (BRD) complex.
BRD Shield provides broad-spectrum protection against leading viral diseases that contribute to BRD, including bovine virus diarrhea (BVD) Type 1 and Type 2, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR), parainfluenza 3 (PI3) and bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV).
BRD Shield represents a significant advance in BVD protection, offering more complete coverage than other MLVs.
We discussed the two new products with Doug Scholz, director of veterinary services for Novartis Animal Health.
“A dangerous precedent.”
That’s how NCBA vice president of government affairs Colin Woodall describes that bill that would dictate the size of cages of egg-laying hens. Woodall says that, if it were to pass, it would be the first time Congress has actually put, into statute, a production practice.
In a Cattle Industry Convention interview, we also asked Woodall about COOL and the estate tax.
AUDIO: Colin Woodall (4:50 MP3)
In his recent State of the Union address, President Obama claimed his administration is working to reduce unnecessary regulations.
But the chief environmental counsel for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association—Ashley Lyon—questions whether that is really happening, at least as far as agriculture in concerned. Lyon says the EPA is continuing to promulgate new rules and regulations that she says will be “economically devastating to the cattle industry and agriculture as a whole.”
Lyon spoke with Brownfield’s Ken Anderson at the Cattle Industry Convention in Nashville.
One of the Cattlemen’s College presenters at the Cattle Industry Convention on Wednesday was cattle industry analyst Dr. Nevil Speer of Western Kentucky University. Speer discussed the unprecedented volatility facing the beef industry and offered cattlemen some advice on how to navigate in uncharted territory. Afterwards, Speer visited with Brownfield about some of the factors influencing the cattleman’s bottom line.
Based on pre-registrations, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association is projecting more than seven-thousand people could attend the 2012 Cattle Industry Convention in Nashville.
If that happens, it would break the 1998 Centennial Convention record.
NCBA communications director Mike Deering says that is representative of the overall enthusiasm and optimism in the U.S. cattle industry. And Deering believes some of that enthusiasm stems from NCBA’s 2011 policy successes.
“In an administration where “regulatory rampage” was a common phrase that we used, we were able to push back and take the steam out of the GIPSA rule—and push back on EPA doubling the stringency of the current dust standard,” Deering says. “We were also able to push back on the Department of Transportation from requiring cattlemen to have commercial drivers’ licenses.”
Deering says high domestic demand and projected record exports for 2012 also have cattlemen excited about the months ahead.
Of course, record cattle prices and a very open winter in most parts of the country are supporting the positive mood as well.
Colin Woodall, National Cattelemen’s Beef Association’s, Vice President of Government Affairs was in Ohio over the weekend, speaking at the OCA’s annual meeting. Brownfield’s Dave Russell sat down with Woodall and talked about some of the issues facing the cattle industry, many of which will be discussed in Nashville at the NCBA annual meeting.
Audio: Colin Woodall, VP, Government Affairs, NCBA (8:15 MP3)
The 114th annual Cattle Industry Convention takes place in Nashville this week. 2012 convention participants will hear from industry leaders, gather insight on industry trends, take part in NCBA’s grassroots policy process and enjoy a Cowboy’s Night at the Grand Ole Opry. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) president and Montana rancher Bill Donald said the convention is a must for all cattlemen.
“The Cattle Industry Convention is the oldest and largest convention for the cattle business,” Donald said. “The convention and trade show create a unique environment for cattle industry members to come together to work toward the future of the industry and have some fun.”
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