Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists have long-term studies underway to examine growing camelina as a bioenergy crop for producing jet fuel for the military and the aviation industry.

An Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientist may have found a way to cut the amount of ammonia produced by cattle. To do it, hes using a key ingredient of the brewers art: hops.

Outside markets took their toll on the beef business last week. A seasonal turn in cattle demand had feeders selling hedged cattle last week at sharply lower prices. Trade in the South was reported for the week at $96 live basis down $3-4 from the prior week’s action. In the northern tier, dressed

First-quarter 2010 exports of U.S. beef increased 25 percent from 2009. This growth largely stems from the increasing U.S. sales in several Asian markets, namely in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. Firstquarter 2010 exports to Japan and South Korea improved 30 and 9 percent, respectively, above yearearlier levels.

Amanda Zamudio of Elfrida, AZ, was recently selected to serve as the 2011 Arizona National Livestock Show Ambassador. Zamudio begins her yearlong term in May. She is currently entering her senior year at the University of Arizona (UA) majoring in Animal Science with a minor in Agriculture Education.

The federal TB program recently relaxed the rules for movement in a TB Modified Accredited Advanced Zone (MAAZ) to provide free-movement of unaffected cattle herds. Until this order was signed, a bovine TB test was required on all MAAZ cattle before crossing a federal zonal boundary, even if they were not near TB-infected wildlife.

The Choice-Select spread has been a leading indicator for decades, but a current analysis suggests it can mislead if taken at face value. A lot more commodity Choice came on just as the economy was closing the menu on middle-meat steaks cut from that commodity pool, which no longer represents much of an advantage over Select.

Proper livestock handling and animal care is a major industry topicand now livestock auction market personnel can fine-tune their handling skills, thanks to a new partnership between Livestock Marketing Association (LMA) and the Beef Cattle Institute (BCI) at Kansas State University.

For cow/calf producers, survival and operational profitability are reliant upon efficiently producing uniform calves for target markets in an economical fashion. Doing so requires a clear management plan, set goals for the cow herd, proper bull selection, and a concise marketing strategy.

Last week’s cash fed cattle trade came in steady to $1 higher than the previous week at $100 live basis in the southern Plains and at $99-100 in Kansas. Dressed trade in the northern tier came in a range of $159 to mostly $162-163, as much as $3 higher than the prior week as packers worked