Thoughts from the Middle of Nowhere

This just shows how Gov. Brian Schweitzer and the state's Democrats do not support the largest segment of the agricultural industry in Montana, cattle production. I guess the goal is to drive all cattle producers out of Montana if the weather doesn't do it first. For the record I am not a member or supporter of the Montana Stockgrowers Association, but an a member of the Montana Cattlemen's Association, so I am not part of what Gov. Brian Schweitzer believes to be some sinister, evil plot to block Stan Boone's nomination.

This also shows how vindictive Gov. Brian Schweitzer can be. Now he is going on a McCarthy style witch hunt against those Brand Inspectors who had the moral courage to oppose Boone's nomination. I guess freedom of speech isn't allowed in the Schweitzer administration.

Kill a man, and you are a murderer. Kill millions of men, and you are a conquerer. Kill everyone, and you are a god. Jean Rostand

I just love the way things work sometimes. It really shows the power the large compamies have over the USDA. I never commented on the situation but this summer rice producers in the US had a big problem. It seems like some genetically engineered rice contaminated most of the United States rice supply which has caused devastating effects to the industry in lost foreign markets. Just like BSE hurt cattle producers in the foreign markets.

So, how does the USDA fix the problem? Approve the genetically engineered rice for human consumption. A quick and easy solution. Not only does it allow the farmers to market the contaminated rice, it bails out Bayer CropScience from its little problem of accidentally contaminating the United States' rice supply with unapproved genetically engineered rice. Pretty nifty solution if you ask me.

Now a company that is working on genetically engineering a crop doesn't have to worry about the crop getting away from them, the precedent has been set. If a company contaminates the food supply in the US with an unapproved genetic component, the USDA will bail them out by approving it for human consumption.

Pretty damned handy isn't it. The farmers and the big company gets bailed out and the consumers in the situation? It has to be good for them because the Government says so, that's what the big companies pay them to do.

Bureaucracy defends the status quo long past the time when the quo has lost its status. Laurence J. Peter

Boy, it must be nice to have all that money to burn on a facility designed and built by Dr. Temple Grandin.

Facility will handle livestock peacefully

A new livestock handling facility that will have curved chutes, round pens and other stress-reducing innovations will be built this year at Montana State University's Northern Agricultural Research Center near Havre, said Superintendent Gregg Carlson.

Based on the recommendations of an international expert whose autism gives her insights into handling livestock more peacefully, the facility will give producers in Montana and surrounding states an opportunity to see and evaluate modern working facilities and new technologies to benefit their operations, Carlson said.

It sure sounds like an awful expensive and complicated facility for 300-400 cow operation. Most cattle producers can't afford such complicated systems. Don't get me wrong, Dr. Temple Grandin designs cattle working facilities that are just wonderful but to convert over to one is so expensive as to be cost prohibitive.

They hope to start building it June 1 and hope to be done by Oct 1. Damn it's taking them a long time to build this. That just tells me how expensive it must be. I could completely rebuild my facility in less than 2 weeks if I wanted too. Don't get me wrong, I can't afford to, but it sure wouldn't take that long.

Then look at all the special, expensive, things they have to do for National Animal Identification System (NAIS).

Boss said the new facility will use thick plastic walls instead of steel in areas where the ear tags will be read.

"The reader area will be made out of high density polyethylene, much like the new cutting boards in kitchens today -- very strong and reducing the amount of interference with the radio frequency," he said.

Boy, that's real handy isn't it. Redesign your whole facility for NAIS convenience, but they tell me it will cost no significant amount of money. What, do these special plastic corrals grow on trees free for the taking? I don't think so! If you are a government sponsored entity you just get money to burn so burn they do. Just more Government propaganda about the supposed great deal NAIS is. That NAIS freight train will kill all us cattle producers yet. Just give the Government enough time.

Propaganda does not deceive people; it merely helps them to deceive themselves. Eric Hoffer

USDA abandons private database concept for NAIS

USDA, after hearing strong opposition from the industry, has abandoned its earlier decision to allow a single private entity to manage the livestock movement database in connection with the National Animal Identification System (NAIS).

But that wasn't the only major announcement from the agency concerning NAIS:

The agency's NAIS coordinator, Neil Hammerchmidt, told last week's meeting of R-CALF USA that there won't be a mandatory ID program by 2009, as previously announced.

And, he said, USDA attorneys are researching whether they have the legal authority to require producers to report livestock movement to a private entity.

This sure looks to me like a bunch of Government speak. I will attempt to decipher it.

"Since people don't like the idea of a private database we will just have the government keep the database and announce that there will be no mandatory program reporting to a private database. This will lull all the opposition to this program, like R-CALF, into thinking it won't be mandatory program down the line in 2009."

Yes, all they are saying is that they won't have a mandatory program that reports to a private database, not that there won't be a program. We need to keep up the pressure on this issue to stop the USDA from handing over production of all our food to the big corporations and factory farms who support the NAIS system. Remember, no ear tag ever stopped a disease.

Hell hath no fury like a bureaucrat scorned. Milton Friedman

USDA proposes poultry imports from China

The Agriculture Department is seeking to allow shipments of poultry processed in China, where thousands of birds and several people have died of bird flu.

Critics are urging the department to drop the proposal, and the U.S. industry is raising concerns about how it would affect consumers' perception of chicken safety. The United States does not accept poultry imports from countries where the virulent bird flu strain is present.

The Agriculture Department proposed the rule, with no announcement, on Nov. 23. The rule still must be finalized before it takes effect.

Now I know little to nothing about the poultry industry, the few chickens My Darling Wife has around here are enough for me, but importing birds from China which has bird flu problems doesn't seem like the wisest thing in the world to me. Then look at the way they snuck this rule in. Trying to get it in under the radar so people wouldn't oppose it. Does the USDA care about the American consumers and producers, or are they there to maximize profits for the big meat packing companies?

The USDA is out of control and needs stopped. It's job should be about American producers and consumers, not Canadian and Chinese and whoever else can supply the meat packers with cheap meat to maximize their profits.

You protect your being when you love yourself better. That's the secret. Isabelle Adjani

One of the things I really like about the Internet and blogs is the new things you can learn, if you have an open enough mind to read and learn things that is. I have been learning a lot about the dairy industry over at Northview Diary and the education has been interesting at times. Yesterday I read an offhanded remark about something called milk protein concentrate and how this substance affects the dairy industry and you and me.

Imported illegal dairy additives, called milk protein concentrate (MPC), play a major role in family farmers' devastated milk price, which plummeted over the past five years. Large corporations use MPC over domestically produced dairy additives, such as nonfat dry milk, because it increases the amount of cheese produced for a given volume of milk, allowing lower investment costs for the same, or more, product output.

Increasing U.S. imports and MPC use in products leaves more dry milk on the U.S. market, which the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) buys under its price support program. From 1996 to 2000, CCC support program costs increased by $572 million-an additional cost to taxpayers directly linked to displaced dry milk saturating dairy markets.

A wide spread of the MPC product entering the U.S. is simply a blend assembled for the purpose of legally circumventing U.S. tariffs. MPC is shipped to the U.S. as a chemical or pharmaceutical product, circumventing dairy tariff and quota rate schedules, allowing corporations to skirt the limits imposed by current World Trade Organization (WTO) trade agreements.

I complain about the big meat packers and the dairy industry has to worry about them and the big milk processors. It's kind of scary when you think about it that some substance that is considered a "chemical or pharmaceutical product" is used to make cheap cheese in the US. Then, because of this substance in our food us as taxpayers have more milk products to buy since it's not being used in the market.

What I always find amazing is how simple farmers and ranchers are out there fighting for food safety against these big corporations and the government continually sides with the big corporations against the food safety and security the farmers and ranchers want. There is a reason for this I hope you know. Keeping food cheap is one of the main goals of our government because starving people cause revolutions, well fed people don't rock the boat. By caving to the big corporations to keep food cheap they stay in power and keep the people complacent and happy. I hope you are all fat and happy, while the small farmers and ranchers go under.

The truth is incontrovertible, malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end; there it is. Winston Churchill

Korea Will Resume U.S. Beef Imports as Planned

Korea says Japan's decision to slap a fresh ban on imports of U.S. beef will not affect the agreement between Seoul and Washington to resume American beef imports at the end of March. Agriculture Ministry officials say Korea and Japan have different conditions. For example, Korea will import meat only while keeping its ban on bone imports, as bones and bone marrow are believed to be linked to mad cow disease.

But the ministry is watching Japan’s case carefully and will strengthen the inspection process. South Korea and Japan banned imports of U.S. beef in 2003, after the first U.S. case of BSE was discovered there.

Some what good news. Japan is the more important market and we are probably damaged there permanently.

Our duty, as men and women, is to proceed as if limits to our ability did not exist. We are collaborators in creation. Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

The "dumb cowboy" phenomenon rears its head again.

Workshops teach about herd issues

"Cattle producers have experienced strong prices in the last few years due to short beef supplies and strong consumer demand," says Duane Griffith, Montana State University Extension economist. "Now, when the drought may be easing, ranchers are wondering about increasing herd sizes even though there is still uncertainty about future feed resources and whether the drought is really over."

Griffith said expanding now comes at the cost of paying high prices for breeding animals or forgoing sales of high-priced heifer calves.

[sarcasm]Wow, I didn't know prices were strong, and you mean to tell me it would cost me money to buy cows or that I wouldn't make as much money, in economic terms its called an opportunity cost, if I didn't sell as many heifers? A dumb cowboy like me just wouldn't recognize these facts without a little help from those college educated type people. What would I do without them.[/sarcasm]

Don't get me wrong, I know these people are trying to help but it always strikes me as a little condescending like us dumb cowboys don't know any better.

There is perhaps no phenomenon which contains so much destructive feeling as moral indignation, which permits envy or to be acted out under the guise of virtue. Erich Fromm

Land sells at $1 mil per acre

You can't afford the land to run cattle on or grow crops on. It's too valuable for other uses. This means we will eventually import all our food from overseas. Wonderful thought isn't it.

Our deep respect for the land and its harvest is the legacy of generations of farmers who put food on our tables, preserved our landscape, and inspired us with a powerful work ethic. James H. Douglas

Things were sure exciting yesterday. Didn't get a chance to comment yesterday so here goes.

Japan halts U.S. beef imports due to fears of mad cow

Just 5 1/2 weeks after lifting its ban on U.S. beef, Japan slammed the door shut again Friday, saying a recent shipment contained material it considered at risk for mad cow disease.

"This is a pity given that imports had just resumed," Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi told reporters. "I received the agriculture minister's report over the telephone with his recommendation that the imports be halted and I think it is a good idea."

The Japanese government plans to halt the imports until it receives a report from the U.S. government on how the risky material got into the shipment, an Agriculture Ministry statement said.

The statement said ministry inspectors found material from cattle backbone in three out of 41 boxes in a 858 pound shipment of beef from Atlantic Veal & Lamb Inc. All of the beef in the shipment was destroyed, the statement said.

[sarcasm]First off I would like to thank Atlantic Veal & Lamb Inc. for doing this to the beef industry. What a way to inspire trust in the beef industry for Japanese consumers. You single handedly set back all the progress was making with your bone headed way of doing buisness.[/sarcasm]

Second, American beef is safe. In the agreement that opened up Japan for imports certain materials weren't allowed and they were discovered in this shipment. There is no indication that BSE was in the shipment or there was any risk to consumers. The beef in question was from an animal under 20 months of age and there has never been any BSE discovered in an animal this young so the risk were virtually non-existent. Part of the agreement wasn't being followed and Japan called us on it.

Third, the impact to the beef industry is negligible in that not much beef was being exported yet so the border being closed again doesn't affect us to bad. The damage to our reputation though is great and may be harder to overcome. Only time will tell.

How does the USDA respond to this?

STATEMENT BY AGRICULTURE SECRETARY MIKE JOHANNS REGARDING U.S. BEEF EXPORTS TO JAPAN


January 20, 2006

"We take this matter very seriously and we are conducting a thorough investigation.

"I have talked with Ambassador Kato and I expressed our regret and informed him of our actions. I also offered to provide in writing an outline of our actions and the results of our investigation into this matter.

"Under U.S. regulations, the backbone, or vertebral column, that was exported to Japan is not a specified risk material because it was in beef under 30 months. However, our agreement with Japan is to export beef with no vertebral column and we have failed to meet the terms of that agreement.

"I am dispatching a team of USDA inspectors to Japan to work with Japanese inspectors to reexamine every shipment currently awaiting approval, to confirm compliance with the requirements of our export agreement with Japan.

"I have directed that additional USDA inspectors be sent to every plant that is approved to export beef to review procedures and ensure compliance with our export agreements and I am requiring that two USDA inspectors review every shipment of U.S. beef for export to confirm that compliance. I have also ordered unannounced inspections at every plant approved for beef export.

"These additional inspection requirements in the U.S. will be applied to all processing plants approved for beef export and all beef shipments designated for export from the U.S.

"I am also requiring that all USDA beef inspectors undergo additional training to make certain they are fully aware of all export agreement requirements. And, I have directed my staff to coordinate a meeting of representatives from all U.S. processing plants that export beef to review those requirements.

"While this is not a food safety issue, this is an unacceptable failure on our part to meet the requirements of our agreement with Japan. We take this matter seriously, recognizing the importance of our beef export market, and we are acting swiftly and firmly."

I'm not going to argue with this response. You can see that somebody very familiar with Japanese customs wrote it. Normally in America you don't see such a frank admission of wrongdoing and such an apology for the problem. In Japan this goes a long way to mending the fence and by their cultural standards is being handled very well.

This all brings me to a little problem though. What's the problem? The USDA itself. They don't regulate the packers like they are supposed as shown in a USDA-is-Out-of-Control.html">recent report which I've discussed and now we have this case where they allow banned material to be included in a shipment of beef to Japan. What else is their lax standards allowing into our food system? I hate to ask such a question but at this point I have to. The meat packers wield such influence over the USDA it really makes a person wonder what is going on over there.

Atlantic Veal & Lamb Inc. might have been the culprit of this beef ban but the real problem lies in the USDA and it's cozy relationship with all meat packers. An out of control government agency that doesn't watch the industry it has been tasked to watch is hurting all of the beef industry.

You must accept the truth from whatever source it comes. Maimonides

It's official

USDA CHANGES IDAHO=S CLASS FREE BRUCELLOSIS STATUS

WASHINGTON, Jan. 19, 2006–The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is amending its brucellosis regulations concerning interstate movement of cattle by changing Idaho=s classification from Class Free to Class A. This action is necessary in order to prevent the spread of brucellosis.

In order for a state to attain and keep their Class Free status, all cattle herds within that state must remain free of Brucella abortus for a period of 12 consecutive months. APHIS has determined that Idaho no longer meets the standards for Class Free status.

Idaho was classified as Class Free until a brucellosis infected herd was discovered on Nov. 14, 2005. At that time, the state took immediate measures to maintain its Class Free status according to federal regulations. However, on Nov. 29, 2005, another brucellosis infected herd was confirmed. With the discovery of the second infected herd, Idaho no longer meets the standards for Class Free status.

The classifications for brucellosis are as follows: Class Free, Class A, Class B and Class C. When brucellosis is found in more than one herd of cattle in a brucellosis‑free state within a two-year period, the state is downgraded to Class A status. Restrictions on moving cattle interstate become less stringent as a state approaches or achieves Class Free status. The Class C designation is for states or areas with the highest rate of brucellosis. States or areas that do not meet the minimum standards for Class C are required to be placed under a federal quarantine.

Brucellosis is a contagious disease caused by the Brucella bacteria, and affects animals and, rarely, humans. The United States is almost entirely free of brucellosis in cattle. Aside from Idaho, only two states, Wyoming and Texas, are affected with cattle brucellosis. Both states are designated as Class A.

This interim rule became effective Jan. 12 and scheduled to be published in the Jan. 19 Federal Register.

Sad day for Idaho cattle producers.

For it is not death or hardship that is a fearful thing, but the fear of death and hardship. Epictetus

Sen. Burns: USDA Must Better Regulate Packers

U.S. Senator Conrad Burns (R-Mont.) expressed his concern today over a report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) citing significant failures in the USDA’s Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) oversight and enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards programs.

“The findings of this report are deeply troubling. The officials at GIPSA need to wake up and do the job they’re charged with, and that’s enforcing the Packers and Stockyards Act,” said Senator Burns. “Our Montana producers have long complained about anti-competitive behavior and botched investigations and this report bears that out."

Senator Burns needs to wake up and smell the bullshit. The USDA is not enforcing the Packers and Stockyards Act and his solution to the problem is to politely ask them to. They don't enforce it for a reason Senator Burns. Maybe some Congressional action is needed, not mealy mouth platitudes.

Grow a backbone and do something, besides being bribed by lobbyists, Conrad. The people of Montana expect more from you.

Action expresses priorities. Mohandas Gandhi

Oklahoma beef producers selling early

Oklahoma wildfires are driving beef producers to auction animals at a younger age to avoid the economic consequences of lost pasturage.

Dry wheat pastures plus burned stockpiles of grass are a costly burden to producers, leading many to sell their cattle months earlier than normal, the Daily Oklahoman reported Tuesday.

I've heard of the same thing happening in Texas too. I truly feel for these people. Up in this country we've had to do the same thing through the years of drought and it's a hard decision to make. There is one difference though, the market is as high as it's ever been right now so they are selling during the market high. When the same thing was happening up here in the Northern Plains the market was at a low. Isn't that the way things work though.

As mean as it sounds there is one thing for the beef markets to remember. Selling extra critters due to drought means the market will hold up in the long run since their won't be as many cattle around. It might not be great news for consumers, but decent news for producers.

Another is, if you take money out of your left pocket and put it in your right pocket, you're no richer. Merton H. Miller

Using images from above, USDA prosecutes farmers

Satellites have monitored crop conditions around the world for decades, helping traders predict futures prices in commodities markets and governments anticipate crop shortages.

But those satellite images are now increasingly turning up in courtrooms across the nation as the Agriculture Department's Risk Management Agency cracks down on farmers involved in crop insurance fraud.

Strikes me as kind of scary that they are using satellites to keep track of what you are doing. Don't get me wrong, I am glad they are catching people in insurance fraud cases but using satellites to do it strikes me odd. This leads me to a question, does taking pictures of your crops from space violate the 4th amendment restrictions against unreasonable search? Why are they taking pictures if they don't suspect you? Do they need a warrant? Since your crops are out in the open I assume no warrant is needed but it still seems like an unreasonable search. What's next, use satellites to track home improvements so the government can increase your taxes? How far will this satellite surveillance go to keep track of the ordinary citizen? Technology always leads to interesting questions.

Advances in technology will continue to reach far into every sector of our economy. Future job and economic growth in industry, defense, transportation, agriculture, health care, and life sciences is directly related to scientific advancement. Christopher Bond