I came across this article in the Dickinson Press, and it caught my attention. Not only is this company flying cows across the world, but this company is from North Dakota.
ND firm sending 1st shipment of cows to Kazakhstan
A Bismarck business will ship 170 cows overseas in the coming week as part of a trade deal with beef producers in Kazakhstan.
Bill Price, president of Global Beef Consultants, told the Bismarck Tribune that the cows will go to two reproduction facilities and a feeding center. They're meant to help Kazakh beef producers improve their fledgling industry.
The cows, all angus and hereford, will be shipped by plane from the Fargo airport. It'll take about 18 hours to get to Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan.
Price says the cattle shipment is the first in a series. The deal calls for 2,000 cattle to be shipped.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Montana Beef Checkoff Dollars
I read today that the Montana Beef Council (Council) and the Montana Department of Livestock (MDOL) have decided to change how beef checkoff dollars are collected in the state. Beginning January 1, local and state brand inspectors will no longer be collecting the checkoff money from producers. Instead, they will provide the change of ownership paperwork to the producer. The producer is the held responsible to remit payment to the beef council. Local auction markets will collect/remit payment on behalf of the producer.
To learn more go to Northern Ag Network
To learn more go to Northern Ag Network
Montana per capita fees
For Immediate Release
October 5, 2010
Steve Merritt
Public Information Officer
Montana Department ofLivestock
406-444-9431
BOL Holds the Line on Per Capita Fees for 4th Straight Year
At its meeting last week in Helena, the Montana Board of Livestock voted to hold the line on per capita fees for the fourth consecutive year.
Authorized by Montana Code Annotated 15-24-921, per capita fees – a per head fee assessed on “all poultry and bees, all swine three months of age or older, and all other livestock nine months of age or older" – annually generate roughly one-third of the department's overall budget. The fees, which fund animal health programs, brands enforcement, theft investigation and recovery, and predator control, will generate approximately $3.5 million in FY2011.
Roughly three-quarters of the department's legislatively authorized budget is funded with state special revenues – funds paid directly by the livestock industry – with the remainder derived from federal funds (approximately 15 percent) and state general funds (approximately 10 percent).
In addition to the per capita fee, other state special revenues are derived from inspection and control fees, such as brand enforcement revenues, lab testing fees and milk inspection fees. Per capita fees are used only on operations directly relating to the livestock industry; no per capita fees are used for Meat & Milk Inspection, the Milk Control Board, the Livestock Loss Reduction & Mitigation Board or the Board of Horse Racing.
Everyone benefits from programs funded by per capita fees. PCFs are used for animal health programs, brands enforcement, theft investigation and recovery, predator control and other department operations. Additionally, the general public benefits from programs designed to prevent the spread of animal diseases to humans.
October 5, 2010
Steve Merritt
Public Information Officer
Montana Department ofLivestock
406-444-9431
BOL Holds the Line on Per Capita Fees for 4th Straight Year
At its meeting last week in Helena, the Montana Board of Livestock voted to hold the line on per capita fees for the fourth consecutive year.
Authorized by Montana Code Annotated 15-24-921, per capita fees – a per head fee assessed on “all poultry and bees, all swine three months of age or older, and all other livestock nine months of age or older" – annually generate roughly one-third of the department's overall budget. The fees, which fund animal health programs, brands enforcement, theft investigation and recovery, and predator control, will generate approximately $3.5 million in FY2011.
Roughly three-quarters of the department's legislatively authorized budget is funded with state special revenues – funds paid directly by the livestock industry – with the remainder derived from federal funds (approximately 15 percent) and state general funds (approximately 10 percent).
In addition to the per capita fee, other state special revenues are derived from inspection and control fees, such as brand enforcement revenues, lab testing fees and milk inspection fees. Per capita fees are used only on operations directly relating to the livestock industry; no per capita fees are used for Meat & Milk Inspection, the Milk Control Board, the Livestock Loss Reduction & Mitigation Board or the Board of Horse Racing.
Everyone benefits from programs funded by per capita fees. PCFs are used for animal health programs, brands enforcement, theft investigation and recovery, predator control and other department operations. Additionally, the general public benefits from programs designed to prevent the spread of animal diseases to humans.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Fall is Upon Us
Fall is upon us, and harvest has been in full swing for way too long! We are still (unfortunately) combining. While this fall rain has been great for our pastures, it sure has put a big damper on getting our durum and wheat combined. Ontop of that we are starting our second week of sugar beet harvest. This is our first year raising sugar beets, and it has been quite the learning process. They have been running crazy hours, so I haven't had a chance to get any pictures, but will do so as soon as I can. We also have quite a bit of corn standing. Hopefully thee combining of the corn goes better than last year, but I am not holding my breathe! Of course, in between all of this, we must get calves vacinated, cows worked, and all bovines shipped home. Oh, and have I mentioned that I am six months pregnant, so my helpfulness is at a minimum!
Cattle Auctions
I confess, I am one of those nerds that follows livestock auction barn sales reports throught the region. Religously. Well I just discoverd that on two different sites, it is possible to watch these auctions live! Uffda, I just get all excited thinking about it! So if you are a fellow follower take a moment and check these sites out:
http://www.cattleusa.com/
http://www.lmaauctions.com/home.aspx
Enjoy!!
http://www.cattleusa.com/
http://www.lmaauctions.com/home.aspx
Enjoy!!
Taking a shot at U.S. Sheep Shearing Record
South Dakota Wade Kopren and New Zealander Matt Smith will attempt to an eight hour lamb shearing record on October 9th, 2010. This is an official attempt at the record and will be help at Veal Custom Feeding, Meadow, SD. The have teamed up with the local Shriners groud, who will be serving lunch, and all proceeds will be donated to the Shriner's Childrens Hospital.
Wade Kopren and Matt Smith aim for U.S. sheep shearing record
Article Found in Tri State Livestock News
Where will you be at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 9? Wade Kopren and Matt Smith will be attempting to set an eight-hour lamb shearing record. This will be an attempt at an official U.S. shearing record.
Kopren hails from a sheep ranch in Perkins County, SD, and operates a shearing business that serves sheep ranches across the northern plains.
Smith, who is from New Zealand, shears on Kopren's crew from March through May. After Smith set a world record in New Zealand in January, the two shearers started talking about working together to set another world record. Since no eight-hour U.S.-lamb shearing world record currently exists, this became their goal.
Both shearers have set an arduous target to shear 500 lambs in the eight hours.
“We hope to put up a large enough number that it will be difficult for another shearer to come in behind us and break our record,” said Kopren.
The organization of the event will follow the rules and facility specifications set by the World Sheep Shearing Records Committee. Shearing will begin at 7:30 a.m. Kopren and Smith will shear in two-hour increments with two half-hour breaks and one full-hour lunch break between blocks.
Anyone interested in witnessing the challenge is invited out to Veal Custom Feeding, 18738 Chance Road, Meadow, SD, on Saturday, Oct. 9. The local Shriners club will be serving a noon meal. All proceeds from the event will be donated to the Shriners Children's Hospital.
“We wanted to set a new U.S. record, but we also wanted it to mean something,” commented Kopren. “That is why we connected with Shriners Children's Hospital. We get to attempt a shearing record while, at the same time, benefit a worthy cause.”
Donations can be sent to Shriners Children's Hospital, c/o Wade Kopren, Box 339, Bison, SD 57620.
In January, Smith set a new world eight-hour ewe-shearing record where he exceeded the previous record of 560 ewes shorn by shearing 578.
Kopren hails from a sheep ranch in Perkins County, SD, and operates a shearing business that serves sheep ranches across the northern plains.
Smith, who is from New Zealand, shears on Kopren's crew from March through May. After Smith set a world record in New Zealand in January, the two shearers started talking about working together to set another world record. Since no eight-hour U.S.-lamb shearing world record currently exists, this became their goal.
Both shearers have set an arduous target to shear 500 lambs in the eight hours.
“We hope to put up a large enough number that it will be difficult for another shearer to come in behind us and break our record,” said Kopren.
The organization of the event will follow the rules and facility specifications set by the World Sheep Shearing Records Committee. Shearing will begin at 7:30 a.m. Kopren and Smith will shear in two-hour increments with two half-hour breaks and one full-hour lunch break between blocks.
Anyone interested in witnessing the challenge is invited out to Veal Custom Feeding, 18738 Chance Road, Meadow, SD, on Saturday, Oct. 9. The local Shriners club will be serving a noon meal. All proceeds from the event will be donated to the Shriners Children's Hospital.
“We wanted to set a new U.S. record, but we also wanted it to mean something,” commented Kopren. “That is why we connected with Shriners Children's Hospital. We get to attempt a shearing record while, at the same time, benefit a worthy cause.”
Donations can be sent to Shriners Children's Hospital, c/o Wade Kopren, Box 339, Bison, SD 57620.
In January, Smith set a new world eight-hour ewe-shearing record where he exceeded the previous record of 560 ewes shorn by shearing 578.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Farm Bureau Opposes 1099 Provision
While visiting the Montana Farm Bureau website I stumbled across this interesting article. It's definetly worth your time to read and share with your neighbor.
Farm Bureau Opposes 1099 Provision
Provisions in the new health care law that requires farms, ranches and other businesses to complete an Internal Revenue Service Form 1099 for any expenditure totaling more than $600 in a calendar year creates an unnecessary and costly paperwork burden, according to the Montana Farm Bureau Federation.
These provisions, slated to go in effect in 2012, were placed in the new health care law to help pay for it.
Under current law, businesses that pay more than $600 to unincorporated service providers must file an information report with each service provider and with the IRS reporting the amounts paid for service rendered. However, this new provision would require business to now file a 1099 form for any purchase over $600, for services and goods, whether the payee is incorporated or not.
“This places an amazing burden on small business and especially farm and ranch families,” notes Montana Farm Bureau President Bob Hanson. “This means if you buy more than $600 on seed, horse feed, fence posts, corral panels—anything—you must file a 1099. Even if you go to an auction and spend more than $600 on some piece of equipment, you need to send the auction house a 1099.”
Hanson explained that businesses already report what they’ve purchased on their tax returns, and this will add another expense as they pass on the paperwork to their accountants. The government will also have to spend more time collecting and filing the paperwork. “It’s just a huge, needless hassle for everyone involved, and in many cases, it’s double-reporting,” notes Hanson, a White Sulphur Springs rancher.
The American Farm Bureau is strongly opposing the provision, as well.
Farm Bureau backs bills in the House and Senate, H.R. 5141, by Rep. Dan Lungren (R- Calif.) and S. 3578 by Sen. Mike Johanns (R-Neb.) that would repeal the Form 1099 reporting requirements. In addition, American Farm Bureau filed comments with the IRS calling for repeal of the provisions.
“For small businesses like farms and ranches, this provision will drastically increase the number of Form 1099s that need to be sent each year. Farmers and ranchers will have to hire someone to do the paperwork or spend their own valuable time to do the research and fill out the forms.”
In comments to the IRS, Farm Bureau cited research by LeMaster Daniels, an accounting firm that services numerous agricultural operations across Washington State and Idaho. According to LeMaster Daniels, the number of forms that would be required for a typical cattle operation with $250,000 of gross income would increase over four fold from 16 to 68. For a typical orchard with $175,000 of gross revenue, the number of Form 1099s required would increase from one to 19.
Farm Bureau Opposes 1099 Provision
Provisions in the new health care law that requires farms, ranches and other businesses to complete an Internal Revenue Service Form 1099 for any expenditure totaling more than $600 in a calendar year creates an unnecessary and costly paperwork burden, according to the Montana Farm Bureau Federation.
These provisions, slated to go in effect in 2012, were placed in the new health care law to help pay for it.
Under current law, businesses that pay more than $600 to unincorporated service providers must file an information report with each service provider and with the IRS reporting the amounts paid for service rendered. However, this new provision would require business to now file a 1099 form for any purchase over $600, for services and goods, whether the payee is incorporated or not.
“This places an amazing burden on small business and especially farm and ranch families,” notes Montana Farm Bureau President Bob Hanson. “This means if you buy more than $600 on seed, horse feed, fence posts, corral panels—anything—you must file a 1099. Even if you go to an auction and spend more than $600 on some piece of equipment, you need to send the auction house a 1099.”
Hanson explained that businesses already report what they’ve purchased on their tax returns, and this will add another expense as they pass on the paperwork to their accountants. The government will also have to spend more time collecting and filing the paperwork. “It’s just a huge, needless hassle for everyone involved, and in many cases, it’s double-reporting,” notes Hanson, a White Sulphur Springs rancher.
The American Farm Bureau is strongly opposing the provision, as well.
Farm Bureau backs bills in the House and Senate, H.R. 5141, by Rep. Dan Lungren (R- Calif.) and S. 3578 by Sen. Mike Johanns (R-Neb.) that would repeal the Form 1099 reporting requirements. In addition, American Farm Bureau filed comments with the IRS calling for repeal of the provisions.
“For small businesses like farms and ranches, this provision will drastically increase the number of Form 1099s that need to be sent each year. Farmers and ranchers will have to hire someone to do the paperwork or spend their own valuable time to do the research and fill out the forms.”
In comments to the IRS, Farm Bureau cited research by LeMaster Daniels, an accounting firm that services numerous agricultural operations across Washington State and Idaho. According to LeMaster Daniels, the number of forms that would be required for a typical cattle operation with $250,000 of gross income would increase over four fold from 16 to 68. For a typical orchard with $175,000 of gross revenue, the number of Form 1099s required would increase from one to 19.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Where are all the Cattle?
Are you curious as to where all the cattle are being raised in this country? Are you wondering if the great state you live in is ahead of you neighbors in beef production? Well to answer your questions you need to check out the September 2010 edition of the National Cattlemen. Last months edition contains the 23rd annual section entitled Directions. This article contains the the top companies in Seed Stock Production, Cow-Calf Operations, Cattle Feeding Operations and Beef Packing Operations. You just might be surprised on how the numbers play out. Take a minute acheck it out: Directions
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