Missouri Cattlemen’s Association Offers Disaster Relief Program
The Missouri Cattlemen’s Association Board of Directors yesterday approved a disaster relief funding package for Missouri cattle producers affected by winter storms. The disaster relief program, which is funded by the National Cattlemen’s Foundation Disaster Relief Fund, will provide reimbursement for qualifying items to cattle producers in counties declared a federal disaster area. Qualifying items include fencing supplies, generators and chainsaws used to repair damages incurred during winter ice and snow storms. The Disaster Relief program guidelines are as follows:
November 30, 2006:
Boone, Cole, Greene, Iron, St. Francois, Ste. Genevieve, Washington, or St. Louis County.
January 12, 2007:
Barry, Barton, Callaway, Camden, Christian, Cole, Crawford, Dade, Dallas, Dent, Franklin, Gasconade, Greene, Hickory, Jasper, Laclede, Lawrence, Maries, McDonald, Miller, Moniteau, Newton, Osage, Phelps, Polk, Pulaski, St. Charles, St. Clair, St. Louis, Stone, Warren, Webster, Wright, Bates, Benton, Boone, Cedar, Cooper, Douglas, Henry, Iron, Jefferson, Lincoln, Montgomery, Morgan, Taney, Texas, Vernon, or Washington County.
Fencing Supplies, Generator or Chainsaw
The Disaster Relief Program is available to all cattle producers in the counties listed above. Applications for the disaster relief program are available on the MCA website, www.mocattle.com, by calling MCA at (888) 499-9162, or from your local county cattlemen’s association. To qualify, applications must be postmarked by May 1, 2007.
Call to Action: Contact Legislators, County Commissioners about Farm & Food Preservation Act
The Missouri legislature is now on spring break, making the upcoming week a great time to contact your Senator and Representative to express your support for the Missouri Farm & Food Preservation Act.
The Missouri Farm & Food Preservation Act is the most important piece of legislation for family farmers and ranchers in the 2007 session. If passed, it will provide a more positive business climate for agriculture in Missouri and will allow for growth of Missouri’s beef cattle industry.
The week of March 19-23 is an extremely critical time to contact your Senator and Representative and express your support for Senate Bill 364: The Missouri Farm & Food Preservation Act. Background information on SB 364 is available at www.farmandfoodpreservation.org.
In addition, you can make a difference by contacting your county commissioners and asking them to join the Commissioners for Agriculture group headed up by Pettis County commissioners Rusty Kahrs and Larry Wilson. If you have a relationship with your commissioner, please let them know how you feel about this important issue.
The Missouri Farm & Food Preservation Act is MCA’s primary legislative priority for 2007. Involvement from family farmers & ranchers across the state will be vital in passing this essential legislation. For more information on the coalition and the legislation, visit www.farmandfoodpreservation.org or call MCA at (888) 499-9162. We hope you will take time to visit with your legislators and commissioners!
Does
Increased Cow Size Negatively Impact Beef Quality?
As producers have pursued heavier weaning weights and yearling
weights, average mature cow sizes also have increased. One possible consequence,
according to an article this week in Beef Quality Connection, is production of
fast-growing feeder cattle that reach market weights before they deposit
sufficient marbling to grade Choice or better. Quality Grades in U.S. cattle
have not improved much in recent years in spite of increased genetic selection
for carcass traits. Sources theorize that part of the fault lies with growthy
calves that might have the ability to grade Choice, but do not have enough time.
Beef Quality Connection is produced by Drovers in cooperation with Certified
Angus Beef LLC and with support from Elanco Animal Health.
Read the entire article here. To see a list of all Beef Quality Connection
articles,
follow this link.
- Drover’s Alert by Drover’s Journal
Schering-Plough to Acquire Intervet
Consolidation in the animal health industry continues. On Monday,
Schering-Plough Corp. announced that it plans to acquire the human and animal
health-care businesses of Akzo Nobel N.V., the parent company of Intervet. The
transaction is expected to be complete by the end of 2007. For more information,
go to
www.drovers.com. - Drover’s Alert by
Drover’s Journal
Angus Foundation Scholarships Available
More than $100,000 in educational scholarships will be available this year to Angus youth through the Angus Foundation scholarship program. Applications must be postmarked on or before May 1 to be considered eligible.
Applications and instructions are available at www.angusfoundation.org. Please closely follow the instructions, as incomplete or late applications will not be considered. Note that there is a separate application for the NJAA/CAB scholarship that is offered through the Angus Foundation.
- American Angus Association
MBIC Accepting Beef Month Funding Proposals
In February, the Missouri Beef Industry Council mailed Beef Month Funding Request Forms to everyone who submitted a check request for Beef Month last year. If you have not received one and are interested, please contact MBIC. Funding guidelines for 2007 match last year’s. Any County Cattlemen’s Group or County Farm Bureau that is interested in conducting a Beef Month promotion in May will be reimbursed for costs up to $500. Approved activities include educational activities, retail promotions, public relations events or advertising. Due to the legal restrictions of the $1 per head beef checkoff program, the following things aren’t eligible for funding: shows, sales, scholarships, membership drives or free meals.
Need more ideas? A couple of Beef Month requests have already come in. Lewis & Marion County Cattlemen are working with a local grocery store to provide on-package coupons, while Henry County Cattlemen are conducting a steak cooking clinic for non-profit groups that use catering as an income source. Newton County Cattlemen and Farm Bureau are working together with MBIC and the Missouri Restaurant Association to host a Foodservice Symposium on cutting and marketing the Beef Value Cuts.
Because of the comments we’ve received over the last several years, we are making some big changes to Beef Month Funding in 2008. Instead of a $500 allotment to the two county organizations, grants will be available year-round to any group interested in promoting beef. Groups will be eligible for more than one grant per year if there are several promotions you would like to have considered. You may use the dollars during Beef Month- or any other time you’d like to promote our great product. The new grant guidelines will be implemented in January 2008. As always, please contact the Missouri Beef Industry Council at 573-817-0899 with questions. Dawn Thurnau manages Beef Month promotions and may be reached via e-mail at dawn@mobeef.com. - MBIC
Calendar of Events
March 17 Warren County Cattlemen – Holy Rosary Activity Center, Warrenton, 7:00 p.m.
March 19 Ralls County Cattlemen – Eastern Missouri Commission Co., Bowling Green, 6:30 p.m.
March 19 Dallas County Cattlemen – Engles Center, 6:30 p.m.
March 22 Newton County Cattlemen – Crowder College Ag Building, 6:30 p.m.
March 22 Linn County Cattlemen – Fat Boys II Restaurant, Brookfield, 7:00 p.m.
March 24 Gasconade/Montgomery Cattlemen – Hermann Middle School, 6:00 p.m.
March 29 Gentry County Cattlemen - Stanberry Community Center, 7:00 p.m.
April 5 Crawford County Cattlemen – Bourbon Community Center, 6:00 p.m.
For more cattle industry events, visit www.mocattle.com/calendar.htm
The Fine Print
This newsletter is a publication of the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association. All rights reserved – this newsletter may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, without permission of the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association. Did someone forward this message to you? To subscribe yourself, send an email to cattleinfo@mocattle.com.
Do you have questions, comments or suggestions?
Would you like to advertise in our newsletter?
If so, please contact McKenzie Disselhorst at (573) 499-9162 or mckenzie@mocattle.com.