News Briefs

10/3/2006: The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry is currently accepting applications for the LIVESTOCK ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM. Drought impacted cattle producers go to the ODAFF web page for more information. http://www.oda.state.ok.us/

10/3/2006: The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry is currently accepting applications for the LIVESTOCK ASSISTANE GRANT PROGRAM. Drought impacted cattle producers go to the ODAFF web page for more information. http://www.oda.state.ok.us/

6/30/2004: USDA announced June 30, 2004 that the inconclusive BSE rapid screening test reported on June 25 was negative based on confirmatory testing.

10/31/2003: USDA released proposed rules to allow some Canadian cattle back into the U.S. The proposal would allow fed cattle going directly to slaughter and feeder cattle entering designated feedlots then proceeding to slaughter. All cattle must under 30 months of age at slaughter.

10/7/2003: Japan has discovered an 8th case of BSE in a 23 month old bull.

9/11/2003: Thursday, September 11, 2001: Much of Oklahoma is receiving the second rain in a week. This should really kick off wheat planting and winter stocker demand.

8/15/2003: The Wheatland Stocker Conference will be held at the Cherokee Strip Conference Center, Enid , Oklahoma, Friday, March 22, 2993 beginning at 9:00 a.m.

3/26/2003: A summary of the Country of Origin Labeling law (COOL) is available in a text document as a set of frequently asked questions and as a Powerpoint presentation. Click above on Articles and Presentations .

3/18/2003: A summary of the Country of Origin Labeling law (COOL) is available as a Powerpoint presentation. Click above on Articles and Presentations .

2/18/2003: Preliminary test indicate an eighth case of BSE in Japan. This case, if confirmed, would be the first case in a non-dairy cow. Japanese beef consumption has been increasing since the initial BSE crisis but has yet to recover pre-BSE levels. (USMEF)

1/27/2003: The U.S. and Mexico have reached an agreement that will allow 50,000 metric tons of chicken leg quarters into Mexico duty free over the next six months. Import into Mexico above that level will be subject to a 98.8 percent tariff. Other poultry products will continue to enter duty-free.

1/20/2003: The Australian Cattle Council has joined the U.S. in urging Japan not to invoke safeguard tariffs on beef this year. The recovery of Japanese beef imports from BSE-devastated levels in 2002 may trigger safeguard levels sometime this year. Under safeguard provisions, Japan can raise beef import tariffs from 38.5 to 50 percent.

1/16/2003: USDA will release the annual Cattle report on January 31, 2003. The Livestock Marketing Information Center (LMIC) has released report estimates showing continued modest liquidation of the U.S. cattle herd in 2002. The inventory of All Cattle and Calves is projected to be down nearly one percent, while the total cowherd is projected to show reductions of one-half to one percent.

1/6/2003: The Russian Government annoucement recently that it would impose quotas on imports of poultry, pork and beef. The move is intended to promote development of domestic meat industries in Russia. Russia has been a relatively minor market for U.S. beef and pork but is a major destination for U.S. poultry exports. All meat sectors will likely be impacted by the direct and indirect impacts of the quotas.

12/16/2002: 2002 Canadian production of six major grain crops were down 25 percent from 2001 and down over 40 percent from 1999 and 2000 levels. Some areas of Western Canada reported crop conditons worse than the 1930s. (CANFAX, December 13, 2002)

12/10/2002: Tyson announced this week the closing of the processing plant in Stillwell, Ok. This was a deboning plant that primarily produced products for export markets. The closing reflects tough poultry market conditions but does not imply a direct threat to Oklahoma poultry production activities at this time.