RENO, Nev. – Negotiating the return of beef markets may seem slower than molasses in January, but the United States’ chief agriculture negotiator says progress is being made. “It is not a light switch we can turn on,” Richard Crowder told a meeting of the international markets committee during the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association convention […] Read more
Barbara Duckworth
Stories by Barbara Duckworth
Exports best chance for U.S. beef recovery
RENO, Nev. – Exports present the best opportunity for U.S. beef producers, given that domestic consumption is not increasing and retail prices have reached a peak, according to the chair of the U.S. Meat Export Federation. “The No. 1 incremental demand opportunity that we have is in the international market place,” Dale Halstrom told a […] Read more
U.S. creates tuberculosis rule
RENO, Nev. – The United States is writing an international bovine tuberculosis plan to reflect its domestic regulations, said a department of agriculture official. “Under the rule, countries or regions that have not undergone evaluation would be given non-accredited status for TB. These countries would only be allowed to export cattle and bison to the […] Read more
Tight malting barley supply sends prices up
The world’s thirst for beer is forcing up the demand for malting barley at a time when global production is flat, says a British maltster. “There is declining barley across the world, which is serious,” said Tim Stonehouse, group malt sales director for Muntons Malt in Stowmarket, England. He told the Western Barley Growers Association […] Read more
Livestock producers watch corn plans
RENO, Nev. – Planting decisions in the United States this year could be one of the most influential in decades. Consumption of corn worldwide is exceeding production, driving up grain prices and hitting the livestock sector hard as meat producers struggle to hold their cost of production in line. “No time during the last 40 […] Read more
Retiring generation will change agriculture
RENO, Nev. – The sociology of rural America is shifting as a generation retires and changes the farming landscape. Tom Field, an agriculture professor with Colorado State University, says a large generation of asset rich farmers is preparing to pass on the land to a generation carrying considerable debt. In an interview at the National […] Read more
Herd dog impresses American crowd
RENO, Nev. – Some people have horse sense, but Elvin Kopp has dog sense. The rancher from Westerose, Alta., has been working with herd dogs for 25 years, winning championships and teaching others what he has learned about handling livestock. Kopp said he has worked with about 4,500 dogs, some of which were his own […] Read more
Change drives fifth generation farm
YERINGTON, Nev. – The Synder family has farmed the same parcel of land for five generations in southern Nevada. Each generation has had to make substantial changes to keep the home place viable. Eddie Synder’s great-grandparents came to the area in 1862 seeking gold but settled as ranchers. The original ranch was split four ways […] Read more
Alta. hogs part of abuse allegation
A coalition of animal rights activists wants long distance hauling of livestock for slaughter to stop. The Handle with Care coalition cited cases from around the world where animals and poultry transported long distances by road and sea weakened or died before they reached their destination. The group has launched its campaign by targeting hogs […] Read more
BVD control starts on farm, says U.S. vet
RENO, Nev. – Efforts to control bovine viral diarrhea must start at the farm with vaccination and testing. Dale Grotelueschen, a veterinarian with Pfizer Animal Health, says voluntary control programs are springing up in the United States at the state level, in which animals are tested and the results are shared. An effective BVD control […] Read more
