Livestock Videos

Two –thirds of the “Meat the Need” rescue program proposed by the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture to help struggling dairy, pork and poultry producers has been put in place. Missouri Ag Department Director Jon Hagler is co-chairman of the NASDA working group that proposed the “Meat the Need” plan two months ago. Hagler says $350-Million dollars in dairy relief was included in the Ag Appropriations bill and Secretary Vilsack recently announced an additional $50-Million-dollar purchase of pork products for federal food programs, “I’m really pleased with Secretary Vilsack and what he’s been able to do. He’s been very, very responsive to our farmers and our farmers needs. He understands that crisis very well.” Hagler says these steps to reduce the oversupply on the market are starting to work, “So far it looks like we’ve got a market response from that. You know, things are headed in the right direction, they’re a long way from being there. Our dairy folks are still hurting and struggling and the quickest we can get this out to them, I think that’s important.” Hagler says steps at the state government level in Missouri have helped struggling dairy farmers as well, “We were able to change our single purpose facility loan program to allow for refinancing and operating costs and that’s helped some dairies. In fact, last week, we made our first loans on that. And so we’re pretty pleased with that. It’s just one more tool that we’re trying to do – that Governor Nixon’s asked us to look for every way we can to keep farmers in business.” Hagler concedes things remain tough for many dairy and pork producers – with prices still way below the cost of production. Hagler says federal and state governments must keep doing all they can to help. As for dairy relief, the Kansas City Commodity Office has announced it will solicit bids before the end of the year for the $60 million worth of cheese for food programs in the Ag Appropriations bill.  There’s still no word on the direct producer payments yet. Missourinet s Brent Martin provided audio for this story Hagler_MoNet_MeatTheNeed National Association of State Departments of Agriculture MEAT the Need

Yeast, molds and mycotoxins and 25 to 30 percent moisture and the troubles they cause are what many corn and livestock producersare faced with. The University of Illinois held a webinar recently with key experts last week on strategies for wet corn. When it comes to wet corn storage, an extension dairy specialist has a lot to say. 635wed

Each year, National Farm-City Week is celebrated during the week leading up to and including Thanksgiving and across the country, many states are conducting Farm-City activities, Jeff Helms is Farm-City coordinator in Alabama where the theme this year is “Farmers Care For Animals and You. AUDIO: Jeff Helms, Alabama Farm-City Week Coordinator (3:00 MP3)

The USDA’s latest report on red meat output shows the production of lamb and mutton in the U.S. hit a record low in October.   According to Idaho sheep producer Margaret Soulen Hinson, vice-president of the American Sheep Industry Association, the demand for lamb is actually very strong.  And she says a new campaign has been launched to increase sheep numbers.  “We had the packers and the woolen people come to us and say ‘we really need to increase the numbers in this country, because we have more demand for our product than we are currently able to meet’,” says Soulen Hinson.  Soulen Hinson says other countries are facing the same challenge.  “The European countries just undertook a similar initiative—so has Canada, so has Australia, so has New Zealand,” she says, “so the demand for our product has not only increased here in the U.S., but it’s worldwide that people are looking at rebuilding those numbers.”  Soulen Hinson says lamb prices have been fairly steady, from 90 cents to one dollar a pound—a level she says is profitable for her operation. AUDIO: Margaret Soulen Hinson (4 min MP3) AUDIO: Margaret Soulen Hinson (4 min MP3)

Livestock can help poor farmers in rural Malawi to escape poverty. This film documents the work of ILRI (the International Livestock Research Institute), including new projects and collaborations.