Washington feedlot owner fights beef labeling
Cody Easterday estimates that some 25 percent of the cattle at his 30,000-head Washington feedlot come from Canada, with maybe a few cattle from Mexico in the pens. But weeks after the government began requiring producers to label beef with the country the animals came from, Easterday says he's already getting lower prices for that beef - as much as $30 per head. It's just one reason he's suing the USDA to rewrite the beef labeling provision in what could be one of several attempts to overturn a law long sought by consumer and farm groups. more
 

Study: Consumers willing to spend more on premium meats
Though consumers are spending less on dining out, foodservice consultants at Technomic say that many are willing to spend more on "higher quality" menu items if they include premium ingredients. In the new study, The Consumer Pricing Strategy Report, more than six out of ten consumers (61 percent) said they would spend more for a higher quality sandwich if it contained premium meat; 41 percent if it were made with premium cheese; and 34 percent if it contained premium bread. more
 

U.S. BVDV Symposium to be held Jan. 25-27
The 4th U.S. BVDV Symposium will be held Jan. 25-27, 2009, directly before the National Cattlemen's Beef Association Annual Convention. The Symposium will be held at the Four Points Hotel by Sheraton Phoenix North, Phoenix, Ariz. Following in the footsteps of the successful meeting in 2005, the symposium on bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is open to producers, researchers, and practicing, technical services and extension veterinarians who are interested in the latest information on bovine viral diarrhea virus epidemiology, pathogenesis prevention and control. more
 

Country-of-Origin Labeling forms available
Cattle raisers have made forms available for download to help fulfill your part of the country-of-origin labeling (COOL) law. Visit TSCRA's COOL information Web site to download the forms and for more information. go