| How Satellites Are Helping Pastoralists Find Greener Pastures in Ethiopia Tom Murphy, Ethiopia Online | April 28, 2016 El Niño combined with climate change has caused major problems for millions of people. Residents of eastern and southern Africa have been particularly hit hard. As many as 36 million people across the two regions are facing hunger. A new warning by a group of 23 NGOs in Somalia says the country may slip back into the deadly famine of 2010. In Ethiopia, more than 10 million people are in need of critical food aid, according to the World Food Program. The satellite–assisted pastoral resource management program run by Project Concern provides pastoralists with maps that show which areas are better than others. Community leaders consult the maps and then dispatch scouts to the areas for confirmation. It saves time and helps leaders make better decisions. Russia Extends Ban On Food, Agriculture Imports Watt Ag Net | July 5, 2016 Russian President Vladimir Putin has extended the country's ban on agricultural and food imports from Western nations through the end of 2017. Putin signed a decree to extend the ban that was initially put in place on August 6, 2014. The ban involves food and agricultural exports from the United States, Canada, Australia, Norway and the European Union. Balancing the Plate: Jimmy Smith Opens 'Private Sector Mechanism Partnerships Forum On Livestock' News ILRI | June 30, 2016 I'm here to make the case that we have a golden and rare opportunity to ensure that livestock are viewed not as a problem to be fixed but as part of many solutions to many global problems. I'm going to argue that livestock are powerful, if as yet underused, instruments for leveraging the systemic changes we need both to end hunger and to create sustainable food systems globally. Commercial Beef Production Benchmarks for 2016 Kris Ringwall, Drovers | June 30, 2016 Goals are very much a part of moving the beef industry forward. Goals need outcomes. Words such as "achievable," "reachable" and "forward thinking" imply that the producers setting the goals know where they are for each specific desired outcome. Individual year averages are good, but a rolling five–year average provides a firmer benchmark, buffering yearly ups and downs in the data. Understanding normal, or in this case average, performance allows producers to better understand how to guide their individual herd goals. The data are presented in percentages or actual values, depending on the trait. Mexico Re–Opens Market to Canadian Beef Diego Flammini, Farms As of October 1, Mexico will fully allow Canadian beef imports after suspending them when a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) was detected in 2003. Representatives from Canada's beef and meat industries welcome the new import opportunities. "The full normalization of trade in beef products with Mexico has been a high priority for the Canadian beef industry," said Canadian Meat Council President Joe Reda in a release. "On behalf of beef packers and processors across Canada, I wish to thank Prime Minister Trudeau as well as Ministers MacAulay and Freeland and government officials for their persistence in bringing these discussions to a successful conclusion." Research by West Texas A&M Scientists Could 'Revolutionize The Beef Industry' Steve Kuhlmann, The Eagle | June 29, 2016 West Texas A&M researchers are one step closer to creating new, higher–quality herd of cattle based on four animals cloned at the university after getting a closer look at their first round of offspring. "As someone who has been following this project closely, I am extremely excited by these results, which have the potential to revolutionize the beef industry," said Texas A&M University System Chancellor John Sharp. " The Texas A&M System is committed to conducting cutting edge research with practical applications, and their work is a fine example of our philosophy in action." Announced at the Canyon campus early Wednesday afternoon, researchers explained that since the project began in 2012, the four cloned cattle – one bull and three heifers – have produced 13 calves. Beef Sector Will Bear Brunt of Brexit Impact Martin Coughlan, Louise Hogan and Darragh McCullough, Irish Independent | June 29, 2016 Rabobank's analyst Justin Sherrard warned the key risk was the "uncertainty" that will dominate over the months ahead. "There is so much uncertainty around, and questions "I think the priority for the UK will be shoring up what they have at the moment rather than saying that now is the time to explore other supplies," he said. "If sterling settles at a value that is materially lower, it does spell bad news for the Irish beef industry." New Online Tool to Give Beef Producers Financial Control By James Nason, BEEF Central | June 29, 2016 Over the past three years James Walker from Longreach, despite experiencing severe drought on his properties, has invested time, energy and resources into searching for solutions to the challenges family–sized livestock operations face to remain profitable. He has taken the learnings from the process to develop a unique and easy–to–use online tool for livestock producers to quickly and accurately understand their financial situation and to make fully informed decisions for the future. China's Serving Up a Dilemma for Canadian Agriculture Sylvian Charlebois, Troy Media | June 27, 2016 China consumes 28 per cent of the globe's meat, including half of its pork. But changes could be coming that will have a dramatic impact on Canada's agriculture industry. Years ago, the average Chinese consumer ate about 13 kg; now the average is 63 kg per person and could increase by another 30 kg by 2030. These are staggering numbers for a country with a population of 1.3 billion and, if nothing changes, they will only go up. But Chinese public health officials recommend that consumers eat only 40 to 75 grams of meat per day – 50 per cent less than current levels – and look at alternative sources of protein. Less meat consumption will not only cause changes for China, but also for the rest of the western world, particularly for Canada, and would affect our relationship with animal proteins. Opening Doors for Sustainable Beef Jennifer Carrico, High Plains Journal | June 27, 2016 Providing sustainable beef for consumers is a goal of cattlemen all around. Verifying that beef for consumers is the challenge cattle producers and supply chains must face. Food giant McDonald's has committed to purchase a portion of its beef from verified sustainable sources starting in 2016. In order to be part of this movement toward sustainability, all aspects of the beef and food industry must work together. "There are many groups who are committed to helping the beef industry become verified sustainable," said Iowa Beef Center Director Dan Loy. "The United States is in the middle of this process, while Brazil and Canada are further ahead of us.". | |