Tri-Western Meat Packing, Inc. is scheduled to open a new slaughter and packing facility in Willcox, AZ, approximately 80 miles east of Tucson, AZ. Operation of the facility, which will be housed in a former apple warehouse, is anticipated to begin in three to four months, according to local media. Although the plant will be able to handle

Researchers worldwide are trying to economically convert cellulosic biomass such as corn stover into cellulosic ethanol. But Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists have found that it might be more costeffective, energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable to use corn stover for generating an energyrich oil called bio-oil and for making biochar to enrichsoils and sequester carbon.

Pilgrims Pride Corp. reported a net profit of $82.7 million, or $1.07 per share from continuing operations, on quarterly net sales of $1.7 billion in its fourth fiscal quarter which ended Sept. 26. That compares with a net loss of $802 million, or $10.79 per share on net sales of $2.

In a normal El Ni o event, the combination of warmer than normal equatorial Pacific temperatures and a west-to-east subtropical jet stream component results in more generous wintertime precipitation in the southern third of the U.S.from south-central Kansas south through Texas, and east to Georgia and Florida.

When he began his year as chairman of the Texas Cattle Feeders Association (TCFA) in November 2008, Monte Cluck set a unique goal: to personally visit as many TCFA member feed yards as possible. Twelve months later, he had managed to make it to more than 60 yards and described the experience as one of my most enjoyable times of the past year.

The decline in beef demand is the biggest challenge facing the industry, Cattle-Fax Executive Vice President Randy Blach said at the Texas Cattle Feeders Association Annual Convention in Amarillo, TX. Weve averaged $83 to $84 on fed cattle this year.

The California Cattlemens Association (CCA) named veterinarian and educator Bennie I. Osburn, DVM, the 2009 Gordon K. Van Vleck Memorial Award winner on Nov. 13 in Sparks, NV, at the conclusion of the 93rd Annual CCA Convention.

Flushing is a management term for providing high quality feeds, usually grains, prior to the start of the breeding to increase reproductive performance. Flushing has been used in the swine industry to increase the number of ovulations in sows. Can this concept be applied to young beef females that calve in less than adequate body condition?.

Ranchers leasing grazing land from the state of Idaho may soon face stiffer competition for those leases as a result of major rule changes proposed by the Idaho Land Board. Under the proposed changes, conservation will be added as an acceptable use of lease lands, a move many fear will pave the way for environmental groups to irrevocably disrupt grazing activities on these lands.

The Texas Cattle Feeders Association (TCFA), during its 2009 Annual Convention in Amarillo, TX, named its officers and directors for the coming year.