Senate Approves Food Safety Accountability Act

Food Product Design

April 21, 2011

WASHINGTON-The U.S. Senate on April 14 unanimously approved the Food Safety Accountability Act (S 216), which would increase criminal penalties for companies or individuals that knowingly violate food-safety standards and place misbranded or tainted food products in the market.

Cattle-Branding Could Take Back Seat Under USDA Proposal

By Mike Mestas

NBCMontana.com

April 20, 2011 

LIVINGSTON, Mont. -- The western tradition of Spring branding could be on the line if a proposal by the USDA goes through.

Although it wouldn't go away entirely, branding could take a back-seat to the practice of ear-tagging cattle. The proposal says ear tags should be the federal standard for identifying livestock.

COW/CALF CORNER for April 11, 2011: Focus on What You Can Control

From the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service

Derrell S. Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist

(reproduced by permission)

For many years I have heard cattle producers say that production is easy and marketing is hard. At today’s record price levels, I would argue that the opposite is true and will be for some time to come. Most anything one has to sell brings a good value in the market these days. Producers need to focus on having something to sell and managing production to take advantage of the market opportunities today.

Handling Livestock Manure and Bedding from Herbicide-Treated Pastures

Reproduced with permission from / Weed District Tech Advisor / / April 2011

Early spring is the time ranchers and farmers may be composting or spreading livestock manure and/or bedding on fields and pastures. Small acreage landowners may also be spreading manure and compost on their gardens. This common practice can have consequences if the manure or plant material contains herbicide residues.

Aminopyralid is the active ingredient in several herbicides under the brand names Milestone®, ForeFront® R&P, Chaparral™, and Opensight®. Based on registration and label directions, they are used by farmers, ranchers and vegetation managers for effective control of deep-rooted perennial weeds in grassland, such as thistle, ragweed, knapweed and some woody species. When grassland is sprayed with aminopyralid, the target weeds are killed but the grass is not affected.

USDA Readies Plan in Event of Government Shutdown

7. USDA unveils details of shutdown plan

By Jerry Hagstrom

The Hagstrom Report

GovExec.com

April 7, 2011 

If the government shuts down at midnight Friday, meat, poultry, egg, grain and other commodity inspections would continue, but most other agriculture-related USDA activities would be shut down, an Agriculture Department official has told The Hagstrom Report.

April Barley Commission Newsletter Available

The Idaho Barley Commisison  newsletter for April is now available including information on:

• USDA’s 2011 planting intentions and quarterly stocks

• IBC website sharpens producer skills

• Interview with NAWG & NBGA leaders who hale from Idaho

• Taking another look at barley seeding rates

The Barley Commission website has a variety of resources as well at : http://www.idahobarley.org/

April Newsletter