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Feedlots 'feel the heat'Extreme heat results in death losses in feedlots
Feedlot operators were on duty 24/7 last week doing everything in their power to keep cattle cool during the rapid onset of high temperatures and oppressive heat indexes. Their routine practices of providing shelter and shade were in many cases not enough, so many feedlots activated sprinkler systems to cool both the cattle and ground temperatures.
Reports of cattle loss in some Iowa feedlots, primarily in Southwest but also in East Central Iowa, have often ranged from 40 to 80 head. However, a loss of up to 160 head in one feedlot has been reported.
“Even before losing cattle to the heat, feeders were feeling the financial burden from depressed market prices,” says Bruce Berven, Executive Vice President of the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association (ICA). “Market ready cattle are only selling for around $1,000 per head, and unanticipated cattle losses such as those experienced last week add to an already tough year for the industry.”
The ICA has been in contact with the State Veterinarian, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and members of Iowa’s Congressional Delegation in an attempt to expedite finalization of regulations for the Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) that was contained in the 2008 Farm Bill. LIP is designed to compensate livestock producers who have experienced mortality losses due to adverse weather, including extreme heat.
LIP eligibility cannot be determined without the regulations in place. USDA Undersecretary, James Miller, said he expects the rule to be released sometime in July. USDA is providing guidance relative to documenting death losses in anticipation of applying for compensation under LIP.
Qualifying documentation could include renderer receipts, veterinary or insurance records and other similar documents. Death loss totals will be adjusted for expected levels of normal mortality. Feeders are encouraged to record approximate weight of cattle lost; total inventory; management steps taken to reduce heat stress; and weather conditions, specifically temperature, humidity and wind speed.
In an attempt to quantify the magnitude of the issue, we are asking cattle producers and feeders to contact the ICA office immediately at 515-296-2266 to report death losses or to provide other pertinent information. ICA will continue to investigate alternatives for our members and will provide updates on LIP as additional information becomes available.
More see value in joining ICA
The numbers prove that more people see the value of joining the Iowa Cattlemen's Association (ICA). For the first time in five years, ICA's member numbers have increased.
The 2009 legislative session provided multiple examples of why to join ICA. "Early in the session there was an attempt to change the long-time fence law that would have required only those with livestock to be responsible for maintaining fences," said ICA Director of Issues Management and Policy Implementation, Tom Shipley. "ICA immediately contacted Legislators to discuss the negative impact this would have on livestock producers, and ICA was able to suppress the bill before it gained much traction," continue Shipley.
In a separate issue, Senate File 423 was a bill that would allow for the application of solid manure, but limit the application of liquid manure on frozen or snow-covered ground. "The bill was a priority for ICA through the duration of the legislative session," said Shipley. After passing through the House and Senate, the bill was signed by Governor Culver on May 26. "Our members really stepped up to the plate on this issue and were essential in its passage," Shipley concluded.
Member dues, among other things, support representation where producers and other with a stake in the industry cannot be. "We knew member numbers were looking good for the past couple months," said cattle producer and ICA Membership Vice Chair, Norm Ziskovsky. "The recent efforts in the legislature reinforced how valuable the Iowa Cattlemen's Association is, and our member numbers are reflecting that," said Ziskovsky.
ICA Directors and County Boards should be commended for all of their membership efforts. Thank you to all who have joined ICA in helping to insure the future of Iowa's cattle industry.
Great News for Iowa's Cattle Industry
The future of a viable cattle industry in Iowa took a major step forward on Tuesday, May 26 when Governor Culver signed Senate File 432 into law. The bill updates an antiquated section of The Iowa Code which assumed that confined feeding facilities only handled liquid manure, and modernizes it to cover the new deep-bedded confinement facilities that have become popular in recent years. More importantly to many operations, the bill does not restrict the application of solid manure to frozen and snow-covered ground as was proposed by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Environmental Protection Commission (EPC).
“During winter months cattle producers use considerable amounts of bedding materials such as corn stalks and straw which have to be removed from pens and buildings, particularly following snow events,” said Kent Pruismann of Rock Valley, President of the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association (ICA). “This dirty bedding needs to be applied to farmland and adds organic matter as well as nutrients that can be used by crops” Pruismann continued. The original DNR/EPC proposed rules in many years could have disallowed the application of these resources late into the year which would have negatively impacted nutrient management as well as impacting potential crop yields.
More than 700 ICA members attended the six field hearings held by the DNR in March. “Not that we had doubts, but by their participation our members sent a very clear signal of the importance of this issue to their businesses,” observed Pruismann. The Iowa Cattlemen’s Association along with the Iowa Pork Producers Association drafted legislation to address the onerous DNR regulations, and are appreciative of the many Senators and Representatives that supported Senate File 432 which ultimately passed both the Iowa House and Senate by overwhelming majorities.
By passing this legislation and signing it into law, Senators, Representatives and Governor Culver sent a clear message that they understand the importance of livestock to Iowa’s future. “The bill does restrict the application of liquid manure to frozen and snow-covered ground, and proves that a choice does not have to be made between livestock production and environmental protection,” said Pruismann.
Several ICA leaders were on hand at the Capitol for the bill signing and to thank Governor Culver for signing this measure into law. Its effective date is July 1, 2009.
View Senate File 432
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NAIS listening session in Omaha, June 30
On June 30, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) will hold a listening session in Omaha as the Department looks to implement the National Animal Identification System (NAIS).
Concern about the NAIS largely results from the system being mandatory opposed to voluntary. Iowa Cattlemen’s Association supports a standardized and voluntary national cattle ID system. ICA President Kent Pruismann will be in Omaha on June 30 to represent the Association. (read more...)
ICA addresses proposed Clean Water Restoration Act
The Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee passed S. 787, the Clean Water Restoration Act (CWRA) our of committee June 18 on a party-line vote, bringing the country one step closer to the largest federal land grab in our history. (read ICA letter...)
Senate Appropriations Committee amendment vote update
On June 25, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved the Interior - EPA Appropriations Bill. During the debate, they approved by an 18-12 vote, a second degree amendment from Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) to Senator Brownback's amendment to require operations that emit 25,000 metric tons (MT) or more of carbon dioxide to report their emissions to an EPA registry. This correlates with the current reporting regulations. A breakdown of the vote is included in the link below.
ICA communicated to Senator Harkin the importance to the cattle industry of supporting the Brownback Amendment. Harkin, however, voted for the Feinstein Amendment thus allowing the EPA to require cattle operations to report greenhouse gas emissions from manure management systems. (read more...)
Upcoming Events
July 2009
6 - ICA's 20th Annual Beef Masters Open Golf Tournament
Briarwood Club of Ankeny Golf Course
22 - Upper Midwest Manure Handling Expo
Applications now being accepted for the 2009 Iowa Beef Heifer Awards
The Iowa Beef Heifer Award program is designed to honor outstanding youth and future leaders of the beef industry. This program was created to increase the interest and participation in the beef breeding heifer project by allowing youth to earn a certificate for the purchase of a breeding female. The program evaluates leadership and involvement in breed organizations and community activities as well as responsibilities and growth within their project.
All 4-H, FFA and junior association members who own and exhibit a market beef or breeding heifer at the Iowa State Fair are eligible to enter.
Click here for more information or to download an application.
Briarwood Club of Ankeny Golf Course to Host ICA’s 20th Annual Beef Masters Open
Spaces are filling up fast and only 6 spots remain open for the 20th Annual Beef Masters open!
Join us Monday, July 6, 2009, at Briarwood Club of Ankeny Golf Course in Ankeny, Iowa, for the 20th Annual Beef Masters Open.
The Beef Masters Open is an 18-hole, four-person best shot golf tournament sponsored by the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association. It consists of two separate tournaments, morning (starting at 8 a.m.) and afternoon (starting at 1 p.m.), with flight prizes awarded for each tournament. The tournament is open to all ICA members and sign-ups prior to the tournament are encouraged.
Briarwood Club of Ankeny Golf Course is an excellent course and has been chosen again this year to host ICA’s 20th Annual Beef Masters Open. Briarwood Club is an 18-hole championship par 72 course designed by Gordon Cunningham and measures over 7,000 yards “from the tips”.
If you have additional questions or would like to sign up a team, please contact Ingrid Nesbit at 515-296-2266 or at ingrid@iabeef.org. Please click here for team forms.
Alert: False John Hopkins Cancer Update
Like many e-rumors, this one has been circulating for awhile. A cancer update that warns readers about the evils of meat and dairy in the diet and how these foods lead to cancer is the topic of the email. This lengthy email about cancer and nutrition is said to have been published by the famous Johns Hopkins University. The suggestions in the email appear to have come from this reputable institution. Despite the fact that Johns Hopkins University said in a public statement that they neither published the document or endorse it, Read more...
Fraudulent McDonald's rumor circulating again
A false rumor about McDonald’s once again is circulating via e-mail and the Internet. The rumor claims McDonald’s refuses to buy U.S. beef, and imports potentially unsafe beef from South America. The email asks recipients to boycott McDonald’s. NCBA recently has received a number of inquiries about the e-mail and Web posts, Several producer inquiries surfaced during the Cattle Industry Convention last month as well. Click here for industry's response.
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