BEEF Magazine

2012 Food Trends To Watch

Thu, 27 Dec 2012 15:49:00 +0000

Source: Food, Nutrition And Science

2011 brought us higher food prices at unprecedented levels, crops and livestock destroyed by global weather catastrophes, nations at war over the lack of food supplies and more food recalls from unique points of origin.

Listen In On Third International Symposium On Beef Cattle Welfare

Wed, 16 May 2012 15:24:00 +0000

Third International Symposium on Beef Cattle Welfare

Whether you’re a cattle producer, veterinarian, scientist, politician, global trading partner or consumer, you will benefit from attending the Third International Symposium on Beef Cattle Welfare. Focusing on beef cattle welfare issues that are certain to impact and change the beef cattle industry, the meeting is set for June 5-7 at the Delta Bessborough Hotel in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.

Aussie Farmers Apply Hadricks’ Social Media Message

Wed, 16 May 2012 15:17:00 +0000

Beef Central

When U.S. agricultural advocates Troy and Stacy Hadrick visited Australia last year, they urged Australian livestock producers to find their influential power.

Vilsack: Beef Consumption Steady

Wed, 16 May 2012 15:10:00 +0000

Des Moines Register

U.S. beef consumption has remained strong despite attacks questioning the safety of lean trimmings in hamburger, according to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack.

The Value Of Growing Up In Agriculture

Wed, 16 May 2012 09:28:00 +0000

I’ll never forget how I first got my start in the cattle business. I was four years old and Grandpa told me if I helped him take care of a bottle calf, he would give me my very own heifer for payment. I took his business proposition seriously, and I accompanied my dad to the barn each day to offer the bull calf his bottle of milk. That fall, Dad and I looked over the replacement heifers, and I made my selection.

BEEF Daily

80% Of HSUS Donors Believe the Group Engages in Deceptive Advertising

Tue, 15 May 2012 21:56:00 +0000

Center for Consumer Freedom

HumaneWatch.org, a project of the nonprofit Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF), released the findings from a new survey of 1,000 self-identified Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS) donors that found 90% were unaware that the organization gives just 1% of its budget to local pet shelters. This is a surprise to many, as 74% reported that their primary reasons for donating to the animal rights group was the belief that their money would go either to help pet shelters or reduce the number of animals euthanized every year.

Download Disaster-Related Publications To Mobile Devices

Tue, 15 May 2012 21:50:00 +0000

Texas AgriLife Extension

In conjunction with the state’s Hurricane Preparedness Week and other preparedness efforts, the Texas AgriLife Extension Service has made many of its disaster and emergency-related materials available in e-book format for mobile device users.

Cattle Marketing: An Explorative Approach

Tue, 15 May 2012 15:18:00 +0000

South Dakota State University

While cattlemen realize some of the most rewarding times in the history of their industry due to unprecedented price levels, they may need to guard against complacency as there are several factors that could threaten that status. What if interest rates increased by 2%? What if the U.S. dollar increased in value? What if feeder and fed cattle prices moderated? What if input costs continue to increase? A mini-conference set for the Mitchell Regional Extension Center will address these concerns.

Campaign Aims To Raise Animal Care, Autism Awareness

Tue, 15 May 2012 07:06:00 +0000

My family and I spent the weekend moving cow-calf pairs to pasture. As we loaded the first pairs into the trailer, I noticed a shadow from a fence post that was haphazardly leaning against the loading dock. The cow I was pushing up the alley stalled to examine the shadow and find the source of the potential danger. My thoughts immediately went to Temple Grandin. I have heard her speak countless times about keeping the alley clear of distractions, and we quickly moved the fence post, so the cattle would better move into the trailer.

BEEF Daily

Clearing up the CLEER Act

Mon, 14 May 2012 20:37:00 +0000

U.S. Representative Jeff Flake (R-AZ)

In July of 2011, a huge dust storm nearly a mile high at its largest point rolled from Tucson to Phoenix in my home state of Arizona. Bringing visibility down to absolute zero at several points on its 50-mile-wide warpath across the desert, the storm grounded planes for 1½ hours and left thousands of cars, buildings and homes caked in a thick coat of grime.

Healthy Animals Make Confident Consumers

Mon, 14 May 2012 20:22:00 +0000

South Dakota State University

Many groups in society, including politicians, activists, scientists, and stakeholders, are advocating significant changes to livestock production practices. These changes include modification of stocking densities, limitations on antimicrobial use, and requirements for outdoor "experiences." Such changes may affect animal health. Simultaneously, consumers are demanding virtually risk-free food, and they think food safety should be addressed on-farm as well as during processing. Understanding the complex relationship between animal health and food safety is critical.

Youth “Telling the Beef Story” Video Blog Contest Winners Announced

Mon, 14 May 2012 19:11:00 +0000

Beef Checkoff News

This spring, the beef checkoff launched a new video blog contest designed to engage youth in telling the beef story using the power of YouTube. Video entries had to be two minutes or less and focus on one of eight beef-related topics, including common beef misconceptions, cattle care and beef’s nutritional value. Entries were judged on creativity, topic choice, content accuracy and how beef was positioned.

Checkoff Holds “Rail To Retail” Boot Camp

Mon, 14 May 2012 13:28:00 +0000

Checkoff News

“Rail to Retail” was the theme of the checkoff’s Northeast Beef Promotion Initiative (NEBPI) 2012 Beef Boot Camp. The 1 1/2-day conference was held May 8-9 in Tunkhannock and Wyalusing, PA.

The World’s Biggest Meat Consumers Revealed

Mon, 14 May 2012 13:21:00 +0000

Huffington Post

Of all the countries in the world, which consumes the most meat per person? The answer might surprise you.

BEEF Daily Survey Seeks Your Thoughts

Mon, 14 May 2012 13:14:00 +0000

To better serve you the reader of BEEF Daily, we are conducting a brief survey. BEEF Daily was designed to bring you beef information that fits you and your beef operation. This survey should take about five minutes to complete. As a token of our appreciation for participating in this survey, you can enter a drawing for one of five western art prints. These are limited-edition, signed and numbered prints by some of America's top western illustrators.

Winning Beef Recipe, Plus New Contest!

Mon, 14 May 2012 13:09:00 +0000

From enchiladas to taco dip, we have compiled a tasty selection of ground beef recipes in the first two weeks of May. We are in full swing celebrating May Beef Month with Roper Apparel. Today, we announce the winner of our ground beef recipe contest and reveal the new cooking theme for the remaining weeks of May. The winning cooks will earn a $125 gift certificate for your efforts!

BEEF Daily

Cody Test Blog

Fri, 11 May 2012 19:31:00 +0000

test test test

USDA Projects Record Corn Crop For 2012

Fri, 11 May 2012 19:06:00 +0000

Steve Meyer and Len Steiner, May 11 CME Group Daily Livestock Report

According to the latest USDA supply/demand update, U.S. farmers this fall will harvest the largest corn crop on record. Between a 6.1% increase in harvested acres (5.1 million acres more than a year ago) and a 12.8% increase in expected yields (18.8 bu./acre higher than in 2011), U.S. corn production for the 2012/13 marketing year is now pegged at a record 14.790 billion bu. This is 2.432 billion bu. or 20% larger than a year ago and about 1.75 billion

Beef Producers Learn The Art Of Fish Throwing

Fri, 11 May 2012 16:12:00 +0000

An audience participation exercise that was part of the Pike Place Fish Market session at the 4C Summit involved instruction on the proper way to catch a fish. Pike Place Fish Market (www.pikeplacefish.com) is a historic, open-air market in the heart of Seattle. People come from all over the world to watch the world-famous crew of fishmongers throw fish and interact with customers.

Opinion: Get Ready For The Next Media Attack

Fri, 11 May 2012 14:26:00 +0000

Like a pack of blood-hungry wolves circling for the kill, the popular media is using its success with lean finely textured beef as a launch pad to again attack the beef industry. For round 2, however, the industry is better prepared.

BPI To Shut Three Of Four Plants; Kills 650 Jobs

Fri, 11 May 2012 14:21:00 +0000

One of the industry’s biggest success stories in carcass utilization – lean finely textured beef – falls victim to a consumer boycott based on misinformation and sensationalism. With demand for LFTB languishing in the aftermath of the “pink slime” debacle, Beef Products, Inc. announces the permanent closure of three of its four plants on May 25.

Former Starbucks CEO Shares Dance Steps For Success

Fri, 11 May 2012 14:14:00 +0000

Jim Donald built a reputation early on as a turnaround specialist of failing companies. His senior management experience includes such firms as Starbucks, Pathmark Stores, WalMart and Albertsons. During the recent 4C Summit in Seattle, Donald passed on to attendees his six dance steps for leaders to succeed in business.

Audit Shows Shifts In Retailer, Foodservice Concerns

Fri, 11 May 2012 14:10:00 +0000

For those who thought it was impossible for packers, retailers and foodservice operators to agree on much of anything, the soon-to-be-released Beef Quality Audit may come as a surprise. Indeed, as cattle producers have largely solved many of the problems that spurred the launch of the audit back in 1991, other, more current concerns have surfaced. Here’s a sneak peek.

Pressure Points In Genetic Selection Will Vary

Fri, 11 May 2012 14:07:00 +0000

Every year, commercial cow-calf producers hit the road to attend bull sales, looking for the next group of herd sires that will move their genetics forward. But unless you have a carefully thought out breeding objective for your ranch, and have committed it to paper, you run the risk getting sidetracked in your selection criteria.

Europe Votes; Will U.S. Elections Fare The Same?

Fri, 11 May 2012 14:02:00 +0000

The reaction in the markets to the electoral results in Europe this week was probably well-founded, as the results, which tended to reject the austerity measures needed to rein in huge budget deficits, are likely a bad sign for a hoped-for economic recovery. It will be interesting, and telling, to watch if the U.S. electorate embarks on a similar course in the November elections.

My View From The Country

HSUS Releases Another Animal Abuse Video

Fri, 11 May 2012 13:59:00 +0000

If there is even some semblance of validity to the recently released HSUS video depicting animal abuse on a Wyoming hog operation, livestock producers should be abhorred. But while it makes sense to be skeptical about an organization that misleads the populace in fundraising regarding its operations and mission, a pork industry group concluded this week that the video is likely legitimate.

My View From The Country

Hype Trumps Science In LFTB Debacle

Fri, 11 May 2012 13:54:00 +0000

Lean finely textured beef (LFTB), a product resulting from a process approved by the Food and Drug Administration 20 years ago, and used in hundreds of foods, as well as ground beef, was at the center of a controversy initiated by consumer media and stoked by social media. The sensational attention, in the face of science totally to the contrary, led to a precipitous decline in its use. The result was that BPI, maker of LFTB, announced this week the permanent closure of three of its four manufacturing plants.

My View From The Country

CAB® Education & Culinary Center Grand Opening

Fri, 11 May 2012 12:59:00 +0000

Certified Angus Beef ® formally opened its new Education & Culinary Center on May 5 with a lavish dinner of CAB product prepared by some of the nation’s top chefs. Here’s a photo gallery of some of the activities leading up to and including the gala event in Wooster, OH.

Organic Food Safety Needs Closer Look

Fri, 11 May 2012 12:54:00 +0000

University of Arkansas Center for Food Safety

Food science team says the increasing popularity of organic, free-range and natural meat requires a study of the associated impacts on food safety. Also needed is an evaluation of whether the consumer perception that organic meat is safer than conventionally produced beef is warranted.

Raising Cattle To Make Beef

Thu, 10 May 2012 13:22:00 +0000

BlogHer

The most frequently asked question that I receive from urban dwellers is, “How can you take care of animals for several months and then send them off to be killed?” Quite honestly, this is a question that I ponder regularly as I think about why I believe that it is an admirable vocation to raise food animals.