1. business and industrial
2. agriculture and forestry
3. livestock

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Up c o m i n g E ve n t s
Pennsylvania Fall Classic Sale
October 24-25, 2014
Greene County Fairgrounds, Waynesburg, PA
Friday, October 24th, Preview of Sale Cattle
Saturday, October 25th, Simmental Sale
The PA Fall Classic Sale offers a nice selection of cow/calf pairs, bred females,
open heifers, and bulls. Complimentary lunch, sponsored by the PSA.
September 27-October 5, 2014
Keystone International Livestock Expo
Farm Show Complex, Harrisburg, PA
Pennsylvania
Simmental
Association
Laurie Meyers, President
717-350-2516
Vicki Varner, Secretary
717-463-2513
January 10-17, 2015
Pennsylvania Farm Show
Farm Show Complex, Harrisburg, PA
J anuary 10, 2015
PSA Annual Meeting and Awards Banquet
Friday, March 27, 2015
Spring Into Excellence Simmental Sale
Pennsylvania Performance Tested Bull Sale
Livestock Evaluation Center, Pennsylvania Furnace, PA
For more information on these events, please visit the
PSA website: www.pasimmental.com
AMERICAN
ASSOCIATION
406-587-4531
e-m ail: sim m ental@sim m gene.com
website: www.sim m ental.org
C
ubmill reek
SAME STABILITY.
SAME RELIABILITY.
NEW ENERGY.
NEW ATTITUDE.
Please join us on Breeders World for our
three, unique sale offerings!
Elite Show Heifer Calf Sale \\ October 7, 2014
Bred Heifer Sale \\ October 28, 2014
Bull Sale \\
March 2015
John & Kitty Goodish, Owners \\ 152 Florida Lane New Florence, PA 15944 \\ Office & Fax: 724.235.2178 \\ Mobile: 412.996.1715
Zeb O’Boyle, Farm Manager \\ Mobile: 724.858.5669
www.tubmillcreekfarms.com
From the Desk of the President
Scott Rhoads, PCA President
Wow, what a summer. Beef prices
are going crazy, and where will it go
from here? What a great time to be in
the Beef industry. We were blessed
with a cool summer and moderate rainfall. The grasses carried through the
summer and cows and calves are staying fat. Hay was made during the sunny
weather and corn and beans are off to
a good start. Let’s hope that we get one
of those Indian summers in September
and October. If there is a chance of
early frost this year, it will put us all in a
bind.
Record prices for cattle have been
coming in this summer for all types of
cattle. Fat cattle have been knocking
on 1.70/lb for some of the top end in
the east. Beef cull cows have traded up
to 1.15/ lb and some cases higher and
those good black 500 lb steer calves
are bringing 2.50/lb and up. The markets have really been good to producers. The public has really been pushing
demand for beef and it has been beneficial for farmers and ranchers.
The Pennsylvania Cattlemen’s Association just finished up three big days
at Ag Progress Days. We were able
to pass the word on the beef industry
to other cattlemen and inform them
of some educational activities. Steve
Reichard set up shop and sold chute
tickets to help with our scholarship program. The food booth debuted our new
pavilion and the keystone ribeyes were
a success. Thanks to Ned Hower and
Hess BBQ we were able to make some
record sales at the show. Also, the Cattlemen are grateful to the Butch Otto
Family and Swank Red Angus for their
generous donations towards a permanent structure for us to sell delicious
sandwiches for many years. We thank
all those who helped and made this a
success.
There are some big shows coming
up this fall. We will be starting off with
Keystone International Livestock Expo
in Harrisburg. This will be a great time
to seed some of the top seedstock in
the United States in our own backyard.
Also the North American International
Livestock Expo will be taking place
in Louisville Kentucky. These are two
great opportunities to go bull shopping
or check out some top mama cows.
I hope that everyone has a good fall
marketing cattle and harvesting crops.
Keep investing in the beef industry and
especially the Pennsylvania Cattlemen’s Association. We are here to help
promote your product all while educating the public and other producers. Enjoy these nice days and get ready winter it is just around the corner.
Scott Rhoads
PCA President
[email protected]
A special thanks to the PCA
Allied Industry Council Members
as of 3-1-13
127 Tompkinsville Rd
Scott Township PA 18433
Keystone Cattlemen is
published quarterly
PCA Officers
President
Scott Rhoads
814-629-9625
[email protected]
Vice President
George McQuiston
724-967-4667
[email protected]
Secretary
John-Scott Port
814-221-0219
[email protected]
Treasurer
Cheryl Fairbairn
484-614-7183
[email protected]
PCA Office Phone
Ann Nogan
Executive Assistant
Phone: 570-254-6856
Fax: 570-254-6553
[email protected]
by the Pennsylvania
Platinum:
Cattlemen’s Assn.
Pennsylvania Simmental Association
Zoetis
Editor: Dr. Daniel M. Kniffen,
814-865-7809
Gold:
Cover Design: Allie Marie Agri-Basics
Pennsylvania Limousin
Graphic Design: Allison Tyson
Allflex
Association
Copy Editor: Kelly Jedrzejewski
Eastern States
Livestock Systems
Asst. Editors: Jeff Nogan,
Eby Trailers
Ann Nogan, Dr. Ann Swinker
Emmert Distributing
Messicks, Inc.
Art Direction: Regan Huff
Ryder Supply
Stein-Way Equipment
T.A. Seeds, LLC
Zoetis
Keystone Cattlemen • Fall 2014 • 5
Mid-year inventory shows
further declines in cattle numbers
by John Maday, Drovers
The July 1 Cattle report from USDA, released on Friday, July 25, shows reductions in almost all classes of cattle since
the last mid-year report issued in July 2012. Last year, USDA did not issue a July Cattle report due to the sequestration that
temporarily reduced funding for federal government agencies.
Compared with July 1, 2012:
• All cattle and calves in the United States, at 95 million head, are down 3 percent from 97.8 million.
• Cows and heifers that have calved, at 39 million, are down 2 percent.
• Beef cows, at 29.7 million, are down 3 percent. • Milk cows, at 9.3 million, up 1 percent.
• All heifers weighing 500 pounds and over, at 14.9 million, are down 5 percent.
• Beef replacement heifers, at 4.1 million, are down 2 percent.
• Milk replacement heifers are down 5 percent at 3.9 million head.
• Other heifers, at 6.9 million, are down 7 percent.
• Steers weighing 500 pounds and over are down 4 percent at13.5 million head.
The 2014 calf crop is expected to be 33.6 million, down 1 percent from 2013 and down 2 percent from 2012. Calves born
during the first half of the year are estimated at 24.3 million, down 2 percent from 2013 and down 3 percent from 2012.
The report certainly indicates the nation’s cow herd has continued to shrink, but lacking a July 2013 report, the comparisons with two years ago could mask some more recent trends. Comparisons with numbers from the last report, issued on
January 1, 2014, also would be misleading due to seasonal shifts in populations of various classes of cattle, such as female
calves in July being classified as replacement heifers the following January, or beef-cow numbers dropping between July and
January due to late-summer and fall culling of open cows. However, the January 2014 inventory report showed a 2 percent
increase in beef replacement heifers compared with January 1, 2013, suggesting some rebuilding in herds in areas where
weather and forage supplies allow.
This year’s Cattle on Feed reports also have suggested producers are retaining a few more heifers for breeding. The July
2014 report for example, also released on Friday, July 25, showed an overall reduction in feedyard inventories of 2 percent
compared with a year ago. Steers in feedyards were down 1 percent, while heifers were down by 5 percent. Likewise, the
January 2014 Cattle on Feed report showed a 5 percent year-to-year reduction in feedyard inventories, with a 4 percent
reduction in steers and an 8 percent reduction in heifers on feed. These figures suggest a modest increase in the number of
heifers going back into breeding herds rather than shipping to the feedyard. Although the report shows the number of beef
replacement heifers down 2 percent from that of July 2012, it seems likely the next Cattle report, in January 2015, will again
show a small increase in replacement-heifer numbers.
Fewer cattle placed on feed in June than expected
by Rita Jane Gabbett, Meatingplace
Cattle and calves placed in feedlots during June totaled 1.46 million, 6 percent below 2013. On average, market analysts
were expecting placements to fall just 3.8 percent, according to a Bloomberg survey. Net placements were 1.38 million head,
according to USDA’s latest Cattle on Feed report.
Analysts wrote in the Daily Livestock Report, published by Steve Meyer and Len Steiner Inc., the day before USDA issued its report, that increased feeder cattle coming from Mexico were expected to bolster suppliers in the South.
Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 10.1 million head on July 1, 2014. The inventory was 2 percent below July 1, 2013 and in line with market expectations.
The inventory included 6.46 million steers and steer calves, down 1 percent from the previous year. This group accounted
for 64 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 3.60 million head, down 5 percent from 2013.
During June, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 400,000. Placements at 600 to 699
pounds were 245,000. Placements at 700 to 799 pounds were 320,000, and at 800 pounds and greater were 490,000.
Marketings of fed cattle during June totaled 1.85 million, 2 percent below 2013. This is the lowest fed cattle marketings
for the month of June since the series began in 1996, but was also in line with market expectations.
Other disappearance totaled 75,000 during June, 19 percent above 2013.
6 •
Fall 2014 • Keystone Cattlemen
Tools to Manage Your Crop Risks
ENROLLMENT DEADLINES: 9/30
for fall seeded grains (wheat, barley) &
alfalfa based forage; 11/15 rainfall protection for pasture and hay; 11/20 for
fruit (apples, peaches, grapes); 11/30
all hay. Each producer is personally responsible to develop a risk management plan for their farm(s) before the
enrollment deadlines. The USDA provides tools for you to consider for developing your plan.
USDA’s Crop Loss Protection Tools
For general field crops that have FSA
established base acres.
County and Individual Area Risk
Coverage (ARC) are available that can
provide up to 65 or 85 percent of revenue losses between 76 and 86 percentage levels (maximum payment of 6.5%
or 8.5% respectively) of expected revenue for eligible crop losses for crops
that FSA established base acres on
your farm(s). This protection is available at no cost to you.
or
Price Loss Coverage (PLC) is available that provides protection when
market prices are less than reference
prices for crops that FSA established
base acres on your farm(s) (reference
prices for some crops shown in table
below*). This protection is available at
no cost to you.
Crop Insurance Protection is available for up to 75% of your yield history
(85% for some crops) for many crops
and some livestock. Whole Farm Revenue Protection is also available. New
Farm Bill improvements including added benefits for new/beginning and organic producers. Farm level details are
available from crop insurance agents
(a list is available at: www.rma.usda.
gov/tools/agent.html or from your FSA
office.
Protection Plans for almost all crops
and some livestock.
Improved Non-insured Crop Assistance Program (NAP) provides protection for most crops, similar to crop
insurance at up to 65% of your yield
history (when a crop insurance policy is
not available). Information is available
from your county Farm Service Agency
(FSA/USDA) office.
The foundation plans described below are available to provide protection
not covered by the ARC or PLC programs. They can significantly reduce
producers’ risk exposures to manageable levels that will minimize financial
interruptions when disasters occur. The protection is provided with federal
cost sharing to make it more affordable
Keystone Cattlemen • Fall 2014 • 7
2014 Pennsylvania Cattleman’s Director’s Listing
Mike LaRue ‘11
630 Ridge Rd
York Springs PA 17372
[email protected]
717-557-8295
Barb Weaver ‘10
641 Spruce Rd
New Holland PA 17557
[email protected]
717-354-7477
Northern Tier County
Cattlemen
Kevin Howe ‘13
2620 Rte 49
Westfield PA 16950
Butch Otto ‘12
164 Garland Rd
Breezewood PA 15533
[email protected]
814-735-4554
Cheryl Fairbairn, Tres. ‘10
789 Cedar Knoll Rd
Coatesville PA 19320
[email protected]
484-614-7183
Adams County Beef Producers
Robert Martin ‘09
231 Hickory Bridge Rd
Orrtanna PA 17353
[email protected]
Nick Bryan ‘10
8861 Springfield Rd
Milan,PA 18831
[email protected]
570-596-3324
Dustin Heeter ‘09
2142 Auen Rd
Saltsburg PA 15681
[email protected]
724-837-1402
Pennsylvania Shorthorn Assoc
Marshall Allison ‘13
600 East Pollock Road
3408 Nittany Appts.
State College PA 16801
[email protected]
724-581-3533
Pennsylvania Angus Association
Ned Hower ‘08
4897 Hanoverville Rd
Bethlehem PA 18020
[email protected]
484-221-3946
George McQuiston, VP ‘11
184 Lowrey Drive
Harrisville PA 16038
[email protected]
330-692-0181
Jana Malot ‘11
1158 Trails End Road
Harrisonville PA 17228
[email protected]
717-571-8637
George Bard ‘14
121 Shenks Ferry Rd.
Conestoga, PA 17516
[email protected]
717-917-8559
Wade Vonada ‘09
1061 Kryder Rd
Mill Hall, PA 17751
[email protected]
570-263-0094
John-Scott Port, Sec. ‘10
51 Port Farm Ln
Clarion PA 16214
[email protected]
814-221-0219
Steve Reichard,
Past Pres. ‘08
1148 Olean Trail
New Bethlehem PA 16242
[email protected]
814-275-4876
8 •
Pennsylvania Simmental Assoc.
Les Whitmoyer ‘11
1045 Pine Grove Road
Fredericksburg Pa 17026
[email protected]
717-865-2245
Armstrong/Indiana County
Cattlemen’s Association
Kenny Reed ‘14
171 Pittsburgh St
Derry PA 15627
[email protected]
724-454-5840
Washington County
Cattlemen’s Association
Brian Hrutkay ‘14
52 Hetherington Rd.
Bentleyville PA 15314
[email protected]
724-239-3556
Somerset County
Beef Producers Association
Scott Rhoads
197 Rhoads Road
Stoystown PA 15563
[email protected]
814-629-9625
Westmoreland County
Cattlemen’s Association
- Conrad Donovan ‘08
134 Old Route 217
Derry PA 15627
724-694-5145
Berks Southeast Cattlemen’s
Association
Sam Stump ‘14
754 Indian Trail Road
Mohrsville PA 19541
[email protected]
484-338-6445
PA Limousin Association
Mike Brubaker ‘13
262 Shade Road
McAllisterville PA 17049
[email protected]
717-649-6929
Fall 2014 • Keystone Cattlemen
Bridget Bingham, Ex-Officio
PA Beef Council
One Corporate Drive Suite 102
Bedford, Pa 15522
[email protected]
814-623-0772
James Jones ‘12
3244 7th Street Rd
Lower Burrell PA 15068
[email protected]
724-882-9140
Jim Cowell ‘14
1214 Garards Fort Rd
Waynesburg PA 15370
[email protected]
724-627-8271
Emily Landis - AF ‘12
2785 Tadpole Rd
PA Furnace PA 16865
[email protected]
814-692-7759
PA CattleWomen Inc
6290 SR 3001
Meshoppen PA 18630
570-833-4482
[email protected]
The Commonplace Use of Drones:
Current Policy and Future Concerns
by Sarah Doyle
Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS),
or “drones,” are devices used for flight
with no onboard pilot. In the agricultural
industry, UAS offer a number of potential benefits for farmers. UAS with specialized cameras can assist farmers
by detecting crop disease or locating
missing or hurt animals, saving farmers the cost of walking the fields on foot
or by manned vehicle. The use of UAS
for these purposes is not yet legal according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), however many farmers
across the country have already purchased UAS for several thousands of
dollars.
Currently, the FAA’s policy is that
UAS cannot be used for commercial
purposes. This is expected to change
over the next few years. In 2012, Congress directed the FAA to make rules
for the integration of UAS into the U.S.
airspace by September of 2015. Regardless of whether or not the FAA will
meet this deadline, many feel that the
legal commercial use of UAS will become a reality. This reality, combined
with the current use of UAS, raises a
number of legal issues including ques-
tions about our right to privacy.
Supreme Court case law indicates
that the Fourth Amendment only protects our privacy in “enumerated areas,” otherwise known as the home,
our person, our effects, and our papers. Therefore, places like open fields
do not receive the same protection under the Fourth Amendment. In addition,
things we expose to the public eye do
not receive Fourth Amendment protection even if they are in an enumerated
area. For example, the Supreme Court
in Florida v. Riley determined that
there was no reasonable expectation
of privacy when the police flew a helicopter four-hundred feet over a home
because helicopters were commonly
flown at this altitude in Florida. The
court determined that the person could
have reasonably expected the public or
the police to see what he exposed to
the outside airspace.
State trespass and invasion of privacy law sets the parameters for our
right to privacy from our neighbors,
though the use of UAS to invade someone’s privacy is a novel issue that has
been untested by the court system.
A statute could clarify the law, and
Pennsylvania’s General Assembly has
introduced several bills over the last
two years aimed at curbing UAS use;
however, none have made it to the
Governor’s desk so far. Most recently,
the Senate introduced a bill that would
prohibit animal activist use of UAS to
disrupt legal hunting activities. Late last
year, the House introduced a bill related to law enforcement use of UAS
to conduct warrantless searches. Time
will tell if Pennsylvania lawmakers are
committed to enacting legislation related to UAS.
In conclusion, the law relating to
UAS will remain unclear until UAS become more commonplace, presumably
after the FAA begins its rulemaking. It
will be interesting to see if the law will
change or remain static in order to
maintain our current expectations of
privacy, or if our expectation of privacy
will diminish with the growing use of
UAS technology.
Okla. Attorney General keeps pressure on HSUS
by Angela Bowman, Drovers CattleNetwork
Scott Pruitt, Oklahoma Attorney
General Oklahoma Attorney General
Scott Pruitt is on the warpath against
deceptive fundraising and has set his
sight on the Humane Society of the
United States (HSUS).
In March, Pruitt issued a consumer
warning against HSUS, warning Oklahomans of the group’s solicitations and
advertisements made in the wake of
the May 2013 tornado outbreak. Read
more here.
Now Pruitt is back - this time with
an inquiry into HSUS fundraising campaigns after Quadriga Art, a charity
fundraiser for HSUS and other nonprofit organizations, recently agreed to
a $25 million settlement. According to
the New York attorney general, it is the
largest settlement ever reached in the
U.S. on deceptive fundraising.
And it’s this settlement that led
Pruitt to issue subpoenas to HSUS.
“We believe what happened in New
York potentially has happen in Oklahoma,” Pruitt told the radio show, “All
Around Oklahoma Agriculture.”
“The documents and information we
are seeking [in the subpoenas] will be
objectively measured,” He said. “When
you raise literally hundreds of millions
of dollars and all we see - so far - is less
than 1 percent of those monies going
into what is considered local shelters, it
is a very fair and right question to ask
this organization nationally – are they
are being deceptive and unfair in their
communications as they raise money
from citizens from state to state?”
If the evidence does point to deceptive practices, Pruitt intends to “bring
enforcement actions to prevent them
from doing that in the future and seek
to recover damages.”
Pruitt also indicated the investigation into HSUS fundraising may soon
involve other states.
“I’ve been in contact with other
state Attorneys General. We have talked about this on a national basis. There
may be other states that join soon,” he
said, adding there is nothing “concrete”
about involvement from other states at
this time.
Keystone Cattlemen • Fall 2014 • 9
Adding Clarity to GMO Issue
Consumers are familiar with warning labels that appear on bottles of alcohol, or packages of cigarettes.
Those labels warn consumers of
the potential dangers of consuming
those products. It’s a way to educate
them of the health risks associated with
both alcohol and tobacco.
So it’s no wonder that farmers are
concerned about ongoing efforts by
some state governments to mandate
products made with Genetically Modified Ingredients (GMOs) carry a label.
The presence of a label saying a
product “contains GMO ingredients”
implies that GMOs are unsafe. But the
science behind GMOs continues to
show their safety.
“Mandatory labels are only required
for health or safety concerns,” said Andrew Walmsley, director of Congressional relations for American Farm Bureau
Federation. “GMOs have been proven
safe.”
Farm Bureau is working with members of Congress on a bill that would
outline parameters for voluntary labeling to avoid a potential patchwork of
state labels, and would require the federal Food and Drug Administration to
review all new GMO traits.
The problem
In recent years, several states have
attempted to require that foods containing GMOs carry a label. While those
measures have been defeated at the
ballot box, Vermont recently became
the first state to require labeling.
There’s also a bill pending in the
Pennsylvania General Assembly that
would make similar requirements.
That patchwork of state labeling
initiatives could easily lead to consumer confusion and higher food costs,
Walmsley said. First, two states could
require vastly different designs or information on their labels. Second, food
companies would end up having to devise multiple labels for their products,
depending on what state it will be sold
in, he said.
“This is really a national issue,” he
said.
The solution
Recently, several members of Congress introduced the Safe and Accurate
Food Labeling Act, which would clarify
the issue of GMO labeling on a national
stage.
Health officials have found that
GMO products are safe with no known
health effects. As such, they have not
been required to be labeled in food
products. Currently, the FDA only requires a label if the GMO product
causes a “material” difference in the
food, such as changes to nutritional
content or allergens.
The Farm Bureau supported bill
would continue to recognize the FDA
as the nation’s leading authority on
food safety. The bill would require the
FDA review of GMO traits before they
are sold.
Email: [email protected]
Calves by:
Fast Track
Iron Mountain
Regis
Sitz Dash
Cattle for Sale:
• Bulls
• Heifers
• Cows
• Steers
Visitors always welcome!
(570) 297-4206 • Fax (570) 297-9910
1603 Pisgah Rd., Troy, PA 16947
KAREN GILLILAND • TROY, PA
10 •
Fall 2014 • Keystone Cattlemen
It would also require the agency establish national standards for companies that want to label their products as
“GMO free,” or “contains GMO ingredients.”
Some opposition groups have argued that requiring a label will lead to
better understanding of the ingredients
in their foods, but there are other ways
to achieve that goal, Walmsley said.
Several websites have science-based
information on GMOs and the rigors
that go into their review before they are
ever utilized by farmers, he said.
GMOs are a crucial tool for farmers
to use when producing food in challenging circumstances, all while producing
a product that is safe and affordable,
Walmsley said.
“We have done a poor job at being
transparent. We are trying to do a better job,” he said. “Those who are pushing for GMO labels are really trying to
take these products off the shelf.”
Farm Bureau position
Farm Bureau supports:
The science-based labeling policies
of FDA, including: No special labeling
requirements unless a food is significantly different from its traditional counterpart, or where a specific constituent
is altered (e.g, nutritionally or when affecting allergencity); and Voluntary labeling using statements ant are truthful
and not misleading.
Baxter Black, DVM
Veterinary Medicine
Ain’t What It Used To Be!
Over the years the number of large
animal veterinarians has steadily declined. It is most evident in rural America
and Canada. Many factors have contributed to this decline; the greatest is the
change in the profession itself.
The cost of schooling is daunting.
The severe decline of male students til
they are only 20% of the enrollment. The
low number of “farm kids” that are interested in vet school, and the changing
attitude of the graduates themselves.
Back in the “good ol’ days” a rural
veterinarian was on call 24/7. His life
was controlled by the phone. It was was
hectic; days off, vacations, meetings,
birthday parties and church was always
planned with the knowledge that dad might not be there. These vets were, what
some would call dedicated, but most would recognize as workaholics.
The new generation wants to “have a life!” Family time, days off, no night calls
and a decent wage are part of their plan. All of these factors have combined to fuel the decline in the number of rural
veterinarians. But there is another large factor that has always been discouraging
to rural vets, that is the reluctance of farmers and ranchers to willingly pay the vet a
“reasonable fee.”
Livestock have a calculable value, expressed as per head or dollars per pound.
With the exception of the occasional ranch horse, there is no anthropomorphological attachment as exists in the pet world. This has always lead the cowman to try
and treat the animal himself. If the critter dies, it only evens out what the vet would
charge…no loss. But in the last three years things have changed!
Droughts, herd depletion, and demand for beef of all kinds have caused the
value of cattle to soar! Business for rural veterinarians has picked up and continues
to grow. Maybe there’s hope. But the good cowman is being backed into a corner.
He considers himself capable of pulling a calf, or treating the scours, deciding what
vaccine to use, at least he always has…he even did a Caesarian once…’course the
cow was dead.
He’s a hard workin’, stubborn, do-it-yerself, thrifty cowman and it bothers him to
ask for help, especially if it costs money! It goes against his cowboy mentality. What
are the odds?
“Harold, she’s been tryin’ to calve since noon. He’s worth 500 bucks when he
hits the ground. It’s time. Unhook those chains and put down the come-along.”
“But…”
“Call Doc Smith.”
“But…but…what if he charges mileage?”
www.baxterblack.com
Penn State Program Helps Farmers Get Back to the Job
by Darrin Youker PFB
Ken Bowser’s dream job is to work
as a dairy farmer.
For the past quarter century, he’s
been living his dream at his farm in Jefferson County. But an injury and illness
has made the daily rigors of farming difficult.
Along with having a heart attack,
Bower was also diagnosed with a disease that causes enlargement of blood
vessels, which restricts blood flow. Getting up and down on a tractor, or moving his pasture-feed cows into the barn
was growing increasingly difficult.
Bowser was able to use PA AgrAbility, a joint program between Penn State
and the Pennsylvania Department of
Labor, to receive equipment that will
allow him to accomplish his daily farm
tasks.
Through the program, Bowser received a special ladder that makes
climbing into the tractor easier, and
also an all-terrain vehicle for moving
cows into the barn.
“You can’t imagine how much that
has helped me,” he said.
Farming is a labor-intensive endeavor. And for some farm jobs, like
milking cows, the repetitive motion can
cause certain joints to wear out over
time, said Dr. Connie Baggett, director
of the AgrAbility project.
AgrAbility allows farmers to better manage their jobs so they can stay
productive, regardless of an illness or
accident, Baggett said. “We need to help these folks because they are making a positive impact on society, and they want to keep
working,” he said.
AgrAbility, which started in 1994,
works with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry to secure
funding or low-interest loans for special equipment that will allow injured
farmers to better perform their jobs.
For instance, the program has helped
farmers purchase new tractor seats or
speed hitches that don’t require farmers to have to get up and down ton their
ractors as frequently.
AgrAbility recently worked with a
farmer in Western Pennsylvania who
was suffering from black lung—due to
decades of working in the mining industry. AgrAbility was able to help the
farmer get a climate controlled cab for
his tractor, so that extreme heat or cold
would not cause lung irritation, Baggett
said.
Bowser also benefited from a special fundraiser hosted by Penn State’s
Agriculture fraternities. A benefit organized by the fraternities allowed Bowser to purchase a sprayer.
“It’s great to have college students
looking out for farmers,” Baggett said.
Bowser’s illness has made the dayto-day work of farming difficult, but the
help that AgrAbility provided has made
the work somewhat easier, and kept
him at the job he loves.
“This is my idea of a dream job,” he
said. “When you don’t want to give up,
they are here to help you keep going.”
To learn more about AgrAbility visit: http://extension.psu.edu/business/
agrability
Keystone Cattlemen • Fall 2014 • 11
North American Manure Expo
to Return to Pennsylvania
Save the dates!
We are proud to announce that the North American Manure Expo will be hosted in Chambersburg, PA, Franklin County, on
July 15, 2015. The event was held in Centre County in 2010 and will have visited Nebraska, Wisconsin, Ontario and Missouri before its return to PA. It would be hard to find a better location for the Manure Expo. The event will be adjacent to
Interstate 81 to allow access from many of our cattle intensive areas in PA, MD, VA, WV, DE, NY and beyond.
The Manure Expo combines educational sessions, industry trade show, and side-by-side demonstrations of manure application technologies. A track focusing on small farm and equine manure management is planned. A farm tour specific to this
small farm agenda will be held on July 14, 2015.
We’d like to hear from you. There are many ways for you to make the Manure Expo bigger and better.
• Consider attending as an Exhibitor. This event is specific to manure application, manure handling and nutrient
management industries. A very focused audience will attend. It will be five years or more before the Expo returns
to the region. Outdoor and indoor (tents) vendor space will be available. Sponsorship opportunities will also be
available.
• Spread the Word. Mentioning the Manure Expo to potential vendors and industry workers you interact with can
only bolster exhibitor quality and attendance numbers. This could be a great time and place for your agricultural
organizations to gather and network. Ask about attaining a meeting venue.
• Suggestions. Let us know if you have something (or someone) in mind that would make a good exhibit,
demonstration or educational session.
Jennifer Bratthauar of the Franklin County Conservation District and myself will act as Co-Chairs for the Pennsylvania Expo,
but we are not alone. Manure Manager Magazine (Annex Business Media) is the Show Manager of the event and a multistate team of university and industry representatives act
as a steering committee.
To learn more visit www.manureexpo.org and click on
“Current Expo”. Registration and information specific to
the 2015 Manure Expo in PA will not be available on the
website until later this year.
Feel free to contact me at [email protected] or (814) 8655986.
Robb Meinen
Penn State Cooperative Extension
Department of Animal Science
Manure Hauler and Broker Education Program
University Park, PA
12 •
Fall 2014 • Keystone Cattlemen
Four Farm Bureau Members Receive
Clean Water Farm Award
Four Pennsylvania Farm Bureau members are among a group of agriculturists honored by the
Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts for their efforts to promote water quality.
The Clean Water Farm Award recognizes farmers who manage their operations in a way that protects
water quality. For the first time this year, the award recognized farms outside the Chesapeake Bay
Watershed. “These farming families are being honored for going above and beyond what is required of
them by law to reduce pollution and improve water quality,” said PACD President Jack Tressler.
“Farmers are taking proactive steps to ensure there is enough clean water for future generations.”
PFB members receiving the award are:
Keith George of Brookside Dairy in Indiana County. The farm uses no-till planting to prevent soil loss
during planting. The farm also uses a manure digester to generate electricity from farm waste.
John and Rick Kobylski, of Wyoming County, use stream bank fencing and other conservation practices to minimize impacts on their beef cattle operation.
Henry and Charlotte Rosenberger of Tussock Sedge Farm in Bucks County have planted riparian buffers and installed a wetland on their beef cattle farm.
Earl Ray Zimmerman, of Lancaster County, has preserved his farm and installed grass waterways and
diversions on his beef and chicken farm.
What the Farming Community
Needs to Know about Genetically Modified
Organisms (GMO)
by Rep. Mark Keller (R-Perry/Franklin) 86th District, Pennsylvania House of Representatives
(717) 582-8119, www.RepKeller.com
There has been much discussion lately regarding the use of genetically modified organisms (GMO) in our food supply.
The debate is growing about whether foods that contain GMOs should be labeled. Labeling supporters say we have a right
to know what is in our food while opponents think labels will increase costs and confuse consumers.
So what exactly does GMO mean? GMOs are plants or animals whose cells have been inserted with a gene from an
unrelated species in order to take on specific characteristics. By taking the DNA of one plant and adding it to another scientists have developed crops that can resist drought and control insects and weeds, allowing farmers to grow more food in
more places around the globe.
There are currently eight crops commercially available in the United States that have been developed from GMO seeds: corn (field and sweet), soybeans, cotton, canola, alfalfa, sugar beets, papaya and squash. According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, in 2011 about 88 percent of all field corn, 94 percent of all soybeans, 95 percent of all sugar
beets, and 90 percent of all cotton grown in the U.S. was genetically engineered.
Is GMO food safe to eat? According to researchers, there is substantial scientific evidence that food derived from GMO
technology is safe for human and animal consumption. GMO crops have been grown and eaten by Americans since 1996
with no apparent ill effects.
GMO corn and soybeans are ingredients in many foods and drinks and also are used as feed for the animals that produce our meat, dairy products and eggs.
Nearly 30 years ago, the federal government decided that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Department of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency would regulate foods and ingredients to ensure they are safe for humans,
animals and the environment. According to the American Association for the Advancement of Science,GMO plants are the most extensively tested
crops ever added to the country’s food supply. The FDA has evaluated 148 GMO crop combinations and found all of them
were equivalent to their naturally occurring counterparts.
To date, no applications for GMO animals intended as a source of food have been approved by the FDA, although a
fast-growing genetically engineered salmon may soon be the first.
Currently, the FDA does not require foods that have been developed through genetic engineering to be labeled. However, manufacturers have the option of labeling GMO foods voluntarily. The FDA supports such voluntary labeling and has
issued guidelines to the food manufacturing industry.
Two bills have been introduced in the Pennsylvania General Assembly requiring labels for GMO food products. House
Bill 1770 and Senate Bill 653 were referred to each chamber’s respective Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee and are
currently not scheduled for consideration.
As a state legislator, I think it makes more practical sense to require that food labeling decisions be made at the federal level so there is a uniform national policy. Mandatory state labeling laws may be invalidated because they conflict with
pre-emptive federal authority and are also a violation of First Amendment rights. Litigation appears to be a likely outcome if
Pennsylvania passes a mandatory GMO labeling law.
Lawmakers have heard from supporters of GMO labeling who have made their position on the issue known to us loud
and clear. However, we have not heard much from those who believe the legislation is unnecessary. I encourage anyone on
either side of the contentious GMO debate to contact his or her state representative or senator to make his or her opinion
known. This is a major issue that could have significant implications for Pennsylvania agriculture down the road. My intent with
this article is to alert the farming community about that possibility and to stress the need to pay attention to further developments regarding GMO food. 14 •
Fall 2014 • Keystone Cattlemen
Making Sure that Your Cows are in Their Right
Working Cloths
by Ben Williamson, Penn State Extension
Like all producers in any sector of
production animal agriculture, we like
to see our livestock healthy and productive. In trying to accomplish this
goal, we do everything possible to insure that they have what they need to
attain optimal comfort and production. We make sure that our cattle are provided with clean water, minerals, good
quality feed, and a dry place to lay and
get out of the weather. However, could
there be a point where we are doing
more harm than good? Upon visiting
with a gentleman at Ag Progress Days,
it came to my attention that the only
section of the country where a certain
handling equipment manufacture gets
calls about cattle not fitting through
their designs is the Northeast. This
makes me ask the question: why?
Continuing to investigate about
the size of the cows that could not fit
through the chute, it quickly became
apparent that the cows where extremely heavy in their condition. We are
blessed in the northeast that, although
we have a short growing season compared to other parts of the country,
we have extremely high quality feedstuffs. This is how our resources can
continue to meet the needs of all the
dairies in the Northeast. On the other
hand, a beef cow is a completely different animal to manage. They do not
need the same high plain of nutrition as
a dairy cow, as we do not expect those
animals to match the same level of milk
production. When assessing the body
condition of cow herd, we often rely on
body condition scores (BCS). This is
a scale, ranging from 1 to 9 where 1
is emaciated and 9 is obese. Ideally,
our beef cows sould range between a
5 and 6 throughout the year. A 5 would
be smooth in appearance, with the last
two ribs barely visible as well as possibly being able to see the top of the
spine. A 6 would be smooth over their
ribs, spine not visible at all, a slight fat
deposit in their tail head and flank.
There is a vast amount of research
documenting the ramifications in pro-
duction of cows that are inappropriate in their body condition. Problems
associated with cattle being too thin
(less than a 5 in BCS) is that their nutritional requirements are not being met,
and this results in poor production. Poor production would be indicated
by smaller, less thrifty calves at birth
and lower milk yield resulting in lighter
calves at weaning. Even more devastating, cows with a low BCS might not
be able to be rebred in a timely manner,
therefore having later, lighter calves the
following year, or might not be bred at
all. The greatest factor that affects cow
calf producers’ profitability is reproduction; open cows do not generate ANY
revenue and still create expenses.
On the other side of the fence, cows
that are too heavy in their BCS (greater
than a 6) may also experience similar
problems. Extra internal fat may reduce
available pelvic area, hence leading to
a greater incidence of dystocia. If fat is
deposited in the mammary, it will also
inhibit milk production, again resulting
in lighter calves at weaning. Along with
that, cows that are too heavy in relation to their BCS may also fail to cycle
and therefore will be found to be open
when doing fall pregnancy checks. Not
only was the cow less productive and
open, but it is likely that you spent more
money feeding the animal than was
necessary. Traditionally in
the cow calf sector, profitability is not attained with
higher investments but with
reduced expenses; you
likely could have reduced
your highest expense: feed. All of these factors can also
be applied to breeding heifers. As a rule of thumb,
heifers should be smooth in
appearance with the last rib
barely visible when entering the breeding season.
additional body reserves so that they
are prepared to meet the high nutritional requirements associated with calving and rebreeding. You should expect
your cows to lose some condition as
they go through the summer and raise
their calves but should still average a
BCS of 5 at weaning. Weaning is the
best time to change the BCS of your
cows should it be needed; this is the
time where they have the lowest nutritional requirements. Changing one BCS
will result in a change of approximately
eighty pounds of the cow’s weight. It is
also important to remember this when
estimating needed stored feed to carry
your operation through the year.
All operations have different challenges and resources, think about
when you typically have your different
feed resources available and match
those feedstuffs to the needs of your
cows. For more information, please
consult your extension educator for additional resources and insight on how
to access and implement BCS practices that best suit your operation and
goals.
Ideally, your cowherd
should have an average
BCS of 6 when calving season begins. This allows for
Keystone Cattlemen • Fall 2014 • 15
Finding the ONE for Next Year’s Show Season
by Ben Williamson, Penn State Extension
As the 2014 fair season comes to
an end, it is time to reflect on the successes and the shortcomings that took
place in the previous year. While many
have been saddened by selling steers,
this means a new adventure and a new
steer is just around the corner. With
the start of a new project, how do we
know if we are finding the right steer? First, you need to ask yourself a series
of questions: What are you trying to
accomplish? Are you trying to win the
county fair, win jackpot shows, or trying
to compete at state or national events? These are all questions need to be answered before you know you have the
right one.
A mistake often made in finding
your next project is buying the first nice
calf that you see. It is okay to take
your time; often the first nice calves are
ones that have bloomed early, which
does not necessary mean the calves
will be best for the late summer fairs. Be patient and look around; there are
a lot of good steers and there is plenty
of time between now and the next summer fair. Next, we often are drawn to the biggest steer that we see. That is great
if you have an early summer fair or are
planning to jackpot the steer. However,
big steers often finish early and have
to be held for fair, causing them to be
stale with a hard, patchy finish. You
can comfortably expect your steer to
average about two and a half pounds
of gain per day; figure out where you
want to show the steer, estimate at
what weight he will finish, and buy a
steer that is going to match that goal.
Another popular thing to do is find
the heaviest muscled, coolest fronted
steer in the barn. We need to remember that musculature is just one factor
in being the last one standing. They
also have to be able to walk. The generic answer that I get from exhibitors
when asked what they like about their
calf is: “I love how well he walks for the
amount of muscle he has.” This does
not mean that they are sound. If they
have problems walking when they are
500 pounds, it will only be worse at
1,300 pounds. It will result in slower
growth and they will be hard to mange
to insure they are developing properly. With all the activities that we are involved with, who has time to manage
unsound cattle? How are you able to
tell if the steer is sound? Start by looking at his joints: if they are round, big,
course, or bowed out in any direction,
he will most likely have problems as he
gains weight. If there is any swelling in
the steers hocks, that is another sure
sign that there is problems in his joints. As you watch the steer walk, he should
place his back foot approximately in
the track left from his front hoof. When
he walks out, his front hoof should be
placed approximately below his jaw
and he should walk effortlessly as he
travels. Structure is the foundation
in which the entire steer is built upon. Think of it like a building: if the founda-
tion is weak, then the building is sure to
fall apart.
As I said before, everyone can find
muscle, but finding the right kind of
muscle pattern is more difficult. Often
I find steers that are massive topped,
but loose shape as you look down into
the base of their quarter or are round
in their shape. Be sure that the steer
is square; this will insure that the animal will continue to be able to walk and
handle his power. In addition to this, he
will actually have more muscle than the
big topped calves. Look for width and
shape in their lower quarter and bulge
to the stifle to insure they are heavily
muscled. The stifle expression when
they walk is often a way to provethey
have muscle underneath all of the hair. In addition to muscle, they also have to
have the capacity be able to eat and
grow fast. Make sure you find a calf
that has a bold sprung rib cage and
some depth of body and flank. You can
bet that these calves will be easier to
feed and get finished.
These are just a few pointers to
help insure that success if purchasing
your next show steer. Just remember
to take your time and look at a lot of
calves. Make sure you ask questions
and talk to the breeders. They want
you to be successful as well and are
willing help you find the steer that will
best fit your goals. Good luck and happy hunting!
REAP Funding Available
Pennsylvania farmers can use a
state tax credit program to purchase
equipment, or utilize best management
practices that promotes conservation.
The Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) program provides tax
credits for farmers who want to install
best management practices or buy
equipment that will help reduce erosion
or sediments.
REAP, administered by the State
Conservation Commission, provides
farmers an incentive to purchase
equipment.
“Conservation-minded capital im16 •
provements and management changes can be a challenge for farm families
to afford,” said Agriculture Secretary
George Greig. “But Pennsylvania’s investments have provided our farmers
with an additional boost to help protect
the environment and especially the
Chesapeake Bay. REAP is an incentive
that will keep Pennsylvania productive
for generations to come.”
Farmers can now start submitting
applications. Projects are considered
on a first-come, first-served basis.
Private investors can sponsor projects by providing money for producers,
Fall 2014 • Keystone Cattlemen
in return for tax credits. Farmers can
receive tax credits of up to $150,000
per operation for 50 or 75 percent of
the total project costs. Common projects approved include no-till planting
equipment and waste storage facilities.
Applications for the 2014-2015
REAP program area available at www.
pda.state.pa.us/REAP under “Forms,”
or by contacting Joel Semke at
717-705-4032 or [email protected].
Huntingdon County Farmers Talk
With Corbett About Pension
by Darrin Youker PFB
Like many farmers, Russ Kyper is a
firm supporter of public education.
He sends his kids to the Huntingdon
Area School District and wants to make
sure they get the best education possible.
But at the same time, he’s concerned about how tax dollars are being
spent, especially as schools are forced
to spend an increasing amount of resources on public pensions.
“It concerns me when I see a large portion of our property taxes are covering
pensions and overhead costs and not
going to the direct benefit of educating
our children,” Kyper said.
Kyper, who operates a dairy farm,
was among a group of farmers who
met with Gov. Tom Corbett to discuss
their concerns with the state’s growing
pension crisis. The meeting, held at the
farm of Bill and Deb Hoover, gave farmers the chance to discuss how rising
pension costs were impacting their operations—in the form of rising property
taxes - and explain how local schools
have already cut services.
Huntingdon County farmer Gene
Musser said his local school district
has already cut back on vocational programs because of budgetary concerns.
“How is a young boy going to know
if he likes carpentry or not if he doesn’t
get a chance to try it in school?” he
said.
Hoover, who operates a grain farm
in the county, said 12 percent of his income goes to paying property taxes,
and he expects that level will only increase in the coming years.
“That is less money we have to
spend in the community,” he said. “It
has a ripple effect.”
Gov. Tom Corbett spent the summer discussing pension reform with
Pennsylvanians after the General Assembly failed to address the issue during budget negotiations. The state’s
pension liability stands at $50 billion.
That’s double what the state budgets in
a given fiscal year.
Farmers do not fault retired state
workers or teachers who have paid into
the system. However, there’s growing
concern that if lawmakers to not address the situation, property owners will
be on the hook to make up the shortfall.
“I hope that for my farm and for my
family that something is done,” Hoover
said. “Tell the legislature to stop giving
away the farm.”
Corbett has supported a plan that
would move new employees into a hybrid 401-K system. While it would not
address the current shortfalls in the
system, it would also ensure that others are not added into an unsustainable plan, Corbett said.
Pension reform is something all
lawmakers should get behind, regardless of party affiliation, Corbett said.
“The last time that I checked my
property tax bill, it does not say Democrat or Republican,” he said.
Corbett also urged farmers to keep
up the pressure and make sure their
representatives support pension reform.
“Farmers across the state need
to talk about this,” he said. “We are
spending this time getting people on
board.”
Keystone Cattlemen • Fall 2014 • 17
Showing Cattle Is More Than Ribbons And Banner
by Becky Church BEEF
Showing
livestock
provides
youth with important life lessons in
responsibility, along with an understanding and devotion to agriculture.
It’s not all about the shining trophies,
purple ribbons, or champion plaques. It
takes numerous hours in the barn, endless chores, daily washing, regular exercising, blood, sweat, and tears to raise a
champion animal. Every minute of every
day’s effort leads to one brief appearance in the show ring with the outcome
resting in a single judge’s opinion. Perhaps the paradox, and reward of showing livestock is that a showman has so
much, yet in the end so little, control of
the outcome in the ring. Judging by what we see in media,
competition seems to be craved in today’s society. Still, in American culture,
friendly competition has been replaced
with the mantra that “everyone is a winner.”
According to USA Today,
“We have built a handholding
fantasy culture that is leaving
our children unprepared for
the ups and downs of life. …
Without competition we are a
nation of underachievers. It is
time our country and our kids
get back to winning and losing on the playing fields and
failing and honor-rolling in
the classroom. Our fun run
approach to life is weaning
future generations off of guts,
fortitude, discipline, risk taking, confidence and other critically important ingredients for achievement.”
Today, it seems that in order for a
child to have any success in their future
sports career, they must begin playing
by the time they can walk. When children pursue athletics at such an early
point in their life, their performance often peaks prematurely or they become
bored with the sport before they can
earn college scholarships.
Showing livestock is different, in that
it can be pursued by anyone at any time;
as success is ultimately determined by
effort over experience. Growing up playing multiple sports, I can testify that my
inner competitor has surfaced most
through showing livestock.
In my senior year of high school, I
decided to ditch the basketball court and
dedicate that time to the barn where my
effort would prove to be more beneficial
to my future. Plus, showing livestock
18 •
serves as both an individual and team
activity. While an exhibitor plays a major
role in their own success, guided encouragement from family, FFA/4-H club,
friends, and supporters contribute encouragement to guide them along; thus
serving as the most cohesive “sport”
there is.
Sportsmanship is taught through
tough competition. An exhibitor learns
how to be a humble winner as well as
a gracious loser. There are no “completion points” nor “A’s for effort” rewarded
in the ring. Taking initiative by implementing learned showing techniques,
selecting superior genetics, utilizing
smart feeding programs, and caring for
their animals ethically, an underdog can
rise to the top relatively quickly. There
are no number-one seeds in a livestock
arena. While there are exhibitors whose
livestock perform time and again, the
spotlight remains available for anyone
who is willing to work for it.
Responsibility is not as much taught,
as it is instilled, on the farm. Dedication
365 days out of the year teaches production management skills to all who
are involved. Diseases seem to creep
into the herd when least expected, and
I’ve learned basic handling and antibiotic treatment to administer to sick
livestock. My involvement in Quiz Bowl
and General Livestock Judging teams
has allowed me to apply the production
knowledge and industry awareness that
I have learned by selecting superior genetics to implement into our own breeding program at home.
What’s more, financial responsibility has been practiced through capital
assets (aka cattle, lambs, and hogs)
that I have invested in. Unfortunately, I
have also learned that agriculture does
not guarantee financial reimbursement.
Fall 2014 • Keystone Cattlemen
Every animal, vet visit, and bag of feed,
adds up; and market prices are often unpredictable. But even with the attached
expense, the experience has taught me
money management and entrepreneurship.
Because animal agriculture is dense
with risk, it is beneficial to have a supportive family nearby. Faith ties families
together in dealing with distress. Losing
livestock that have received unconditional attention and served as a livelihood is difficult. On the farm, I have
learned how to cope with death as well
as welcome new life into the world.
Self-drive, honesty, and integrity are
the final skills that define youth livestock
exhibitors as “cream of the crop.” Thomas Edison said, “Opportunity is missed
by most when it comes dressed in overalls and looks like work.” Most farm kids
portray an undoubtedly hard work ethic
and persistent demeanor. We
are not afraid to get our hands
dirty in order to gain the results we envision.
Entering the show
arena signifies the end of a
show season’s long hours of
preparation. At the same time,
it is just the beginning – where
hard work meets opportunity.
As a 19 year old, my seemingly infinite years of 4-H will
come to an abrupt end this
summer. Looking back over
the countless dairy cattle,
beef cattle, market lambs, and
market hogs that I have trained over the
past 13 years, I do not view any one of
them as “a waste of time.”
Showing livestock has been the
foundation of the many skills that I have
learned and has projected a bridge into
my future. Due to my appreciation for
animal agriculture, I am pursuing a degree in agricultural education – communications and leadership, with minors in
animal science and agriculture and food
business management, at the University of Minnesota.
“You get out what you put into it” is
an understatement in the midst of agriculture. When it comes to showing
livestock, an individual not only reaps
physical reward at shows, but more important, gains underlying skills that will
never be replaced. Livestock show enthusiasts truly are purple ribbon people.
Questions about Antibiotic Use in Livestock
by David R. Wolfgang, VMD, MPH - Extension Veterinarian, Penn State
What antibiotics normally pose the
most risk for resistance? This is not an especially easy question to answer in a few short sentences. Antibiotics that cause the most resistance are those used to therapeutically
treat animals. These typically are used
at a high dosage level (mg/kg) and in
the class we refer to as tertiary antibiotics. When you think of sick animals
and treatment this the type of conditions referred to. Nearly universal support by consumers, public health officials, and veterinarians is that this use
should be preserved as part of good
animal and humane care. Even though
these therapeutic products generally
are newer and are closer in design and
pharmacology to those used in human
therapy, sick animals should be treated
effectively. Antibiotics that are used in
animal livestock have been classified
in three categories: non-important, important, and critically important. Feed
grade products like ionophores are
non-important for people. Tetracycline
is in the important category. Cephalosporins and the fluroquinolones are in
the critically important category. Some older or secondary class
antibiotics have been used therapeutically in animals for decades without
appreciable loss of sensitivity (opposite
of resistance). What many people in
the public health and consumer arena
are concerned about is low dose level
or feed/water use of antibiotics. Most
of these antibiotics have been used
for many years with little change in resistance. There has been some resistance in what is known as commensal
bacteria (those in GI tract like E coli). Concern has been raised that resistant
E coli will share resistance genes with
Salmonella or other GI bacteria and
cause disease in people. While there
is some evidence that feed grade fluroquinolones in poultry did cause some
resistance in bacteria, this application was suspended and no long term
changes have been detected. While
public health officials seem to be the
most concerned about this type of antibiotic use and consumers also make
buying choices based on concerns or
perceptions. There is almost no scientific evidence that feeding old style
antibiotics like penicillin, tetracycline,
bacitracin, tylosin, avoparicin actually
cause major resistance
problems for human
health. The classes
of antibiotics used in
livestock are quite different than those routinely
used in people. New FDA Guidelines for
Industry (FDA GFI #209)
are in place. Over the
next 3 years the use of
antibiotics for growth
promotion (~ 13% of total pounds used) will be
eliminated. The use of
sub-therapeutic levels
of antibiotics in feed for
water for disease prevention or disease control will now be under
the direction of a veterinarian. The veterinarian will need to
have a valid client patient relationship
(VCPR) with the farm in order to make
an informed decision on diagnosis and
prognosis for disease therapy.
What is difference between or
association between resistance
and residue?
Resistance is the ability of the bacteria to pump the antibiotic out of the
bacterial cell, or change the surface
of the bacteria so the antibiotic cannot enter the bacteria or enzymatically alter the antibiotic such that the
antibiotic cannot slow down growth or
kill the bacteria. Bacteria which are exposed to sub-lethal or very low levels
of antibiotic are more likely to develop
resistance. Resides are the low levels of a product found in meat after
therapy or after some sort of contamination which exceeds approved or safe
levels. These levels are determined
by the FDA. New testing methodology termed, Multiple Residue Method,
will be able to document a number of
compounds at once, at exceedingly low
level of antibiotics or chemicals more
quickly than older tests. What can farmers do to reduce
concerns about resistance? Farmers should use antibiotics judiciously and only as directed by their
veterinarian. Keeping animals healthy,
in a good environment, immunized as
necessary according to a sound risk
based herd plan, and appropriately
nourished will require less antibiotic
use. This also includes best management practices like biosecurity and
pre-conditioning plans which can help
to limit or prevent disease outbreaks. Producers should develop sound written protocols so that antibiotics are
only used when needed and results
can be monitored to improve or change
protocols to improve effectiveness. Keep good records so that withdrawal
and withholding times are followed. Are people at risk from handling
animals or vice versa? At this point it does not appear that
resistant bacteria in animals are a major risk for people. Some bacterial resistance patterns in pets can resemble
resistance patterns in people (esp. kids
+ dogs + horses and oral bacteria). People who handle swine have in a
few cases had Staphylococcus aureus
strains which are the same in swine
and on people. Even though there is
a low level of resistance in this Staph
strain (398) there does not appear to
be any significant human health cases
associated with this bacteria. GI bacteria are the larger issue. Some animals may shed bacteria from their GI
tract. If these bacteria get on hands or
in food, some producers can become
ill. On occasion, farm workers have
become ill through exposure to animals
that are shedding organisms like Campylobacter, Cryptosporidium, toxigenic
E coli, or virulent Salmonella strains. Keystone Cattlemen • Fall 2014 • 19
Implanting Calves Pre-Weaning Equals
Easy Pounds & Easy Money
by Wes Ishmael
Reprinted with permission Beef Magazine
More cow-calf producers could increase revenue by implanting calves pre-weaning, research shows.
“Implanting nursing calves with a growth stimulant is one of the most economically justifiable practices available in the
beef industry,” says Lawton Stewart, University of Georgia Extension beef cattle specialist.
Stewart points to research trials where daily gain from birth to weaning increases by 4%-6% in nursing beef calves that
receive a single implant. Other research suggests the response can be even higher. Stewart also notes that growth response is about 20% greater in heifers than steers.
For the sake of illustration, assume that implanting calves on the cow increases gain by 5%. Figure 15-30 lbs. more
weaning weight. In today’s market (basis $1.80) that’s worth $27-$54/head. The cost of the implant and labor is routinely
less than $2/head.
Yet, only a minority of cow-calf producers utilizes implants in their pre-weaned calves. In fact, according to the most
recent National Animal Health Monitoring Service “Beef” study published for 2007-2008, only 11.9% of operations surveyed had implanted any calves prior to, or at, weaning during the previous year. Even for producers with 200 cows or
more, only 31.1% reported implanting at least some calves.
Continued on page 21
20 •
Fall 2014 • Keystone Cattlemen
Implanting
Calves
Continued from page 20
If Superior Auction data is any indication, implant use by cow-calf producers continues to trend lower over time.
In 1995, 64.3% of the lots sold
through Superior Livestock Video Auction were implanted. Only 26.5% were
implanted in 2009. In 2011 and 2012
combined, 31% were implanted. Data
for those last two years include 11,350
lots and 1.11 million head of cattle, says
Michael King, a Kansas State University
(KSU) research assistant (see Figure
1). King has provided the analysis since
Superior first began sharing the data in
1995. Merck Animal Health sponsors
the analysis.
No difference to calf price
“I would argue much of the decline
in implanting in the Superior data has to
do with the development of ‘natural’ beef
programs,” says Ken Odde, head of the
KSU Department of Animal Sciences
and Industry. He worked with King to
develop the initial analysis in 1995.
Producers’ rationale for not using
implants typically revolves around fear
that buyers will discount their calves.
Some fear that implanting makes their
calves less valuable to the buyer by removing the “natural” option. That makes
logical sense, but reality suggests no
loss in value (read on).
Others have heard that buyers discount implanted calves because they
under-perform in the feedlot compared
to non-implanted peers. Whether that’s
an old wife’s tale or the casual comment
of a zealous buyer, there is nothing to
support that notion.
Fact is, when used appropriately,
according to Stewart and others, there
is no research suggesting that calves
implanted before weaning will perform
less than non-implanted peers.
“Implanting calves during the nursing
phase hasn’t been shown to decrease
subsequent performance or affect carcass characteristics,” Stewart explains.
“Calves should not be discounted at
weaning if they have been administered
an implant. Studies show that calves implanted prior to weaning and three times
during the finishing phase don’t show
any decrease in performance compared
with calves administered implants only
during the finishing period.”
So, buyers shouldn’t care if calves
are implanted.
In fact, contrary to the common perception and the growth in natural programs mentioned earlier, Superior data
says buyers don’t care if calves are implanted. Prices paid in the Superior data
are the same, regardless of implant status.
Incidentally, Odde believes the Superior data should be viewed as representative of producers with approximately 300 cows or more. That’s the
size herd that has the number of similarweight, same-sex calves to sell as load
lots through Superior.
“Implanting nursing calves is one of
the most underutilized, but proven management practices in the beef industry,”
Stewart emphasizes. Moreover, Odde
says, “The Superior data suggests
there’s more opportunity for cow-calf
producers to utilize this technology.”
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Keystone Cattlemen • Fall 2014 • 21
Precision Diagnostic and Red Rose Polled
Herefords Host Successful Field Trip for
Berks/Southeast Cattlemen
by Sheila Miller
NEW HOLLAND --- A group of cattle
producers from Berks County learned
more about an “open cow” test developed by BioTracking LLC, a company
based in Moscow, Idaho with an affiliated testing laboratory located near
New Holland, Lancaster County. Precision Diagnostics, LLC, owned by Ken
Grube and Dave Zimmerman, hosted
the Berks/Southeast Cattlemen’s Association, part of an educational field
trip on Saturday, July 26th. On hand
for the day was Dr. Josh Branen, CEO
of BioTracking LLC who spoke about
the history and development of a blood
test for ruminants that indicates pregnancies.
According to Branen, Dr. Garth
Sasser discovered pregnancy specific
protein B (PSPB) from the placenta of
cows. He developed a radioimmunoassay for the protein while he served as
a professor at the University of Idaho,
and was the first to show that a protein
could be used as a blood-based test for
pregnancy in ruminant animals. BioTracking LLC was established in 1992
under the management of the Sasser
family and a team of knowledgeable
staff, and has expanded its testing to
other species including goats, sheep,
bison, elk, horses. The company works
with more than forty affiliated laboratories, like Precision Diagnostics LLC.
Dave Zimmerman explained that he
knew Penn State’s Dr. Mike O’Conner
who was the university’s long-time reproductive specialist. Before his retirement, Dr. O’Connor went to Moscow, Idaho on sabbatical to assist Dr.
Garth Sasser to perfect his blood test
for pregnancy and prepare it for commercial use. “Mike came back home
and spoke to me about the test. He
was excited about it and believed a
Lab in southeast Pennsylvania would
be a good fit. That is when I spoke
with Garth and ended up sending my
son and daughter in law, Shawn and
Courtney, to Idaho for several weeks.
They came back home and we set up
Precision Diagnostic, LLC.” Zimmer22 •
man grew up on a registered dairy farm
in Lancaster County with nine siblings.
He eventually became a partner in a
100 cow registered Holstein herd. He
worked for thirty years in A.I. sales, service, training and management.
Ken Grube, who is Precision’s lab
manager, explained that the Lancaster
laboratory has performed about a half
million blood tests since it started in
2006. Now the company runs about
8,000 tests a month with the BioPRYN
pregnancy test. “As we gained the
confidence of livestock producers, we
experienced steady growth each year
and, in 2012, we processed 95,190 total samples from 27 different states.” Grube grew up working on a dairy farm
in Lancaster County and earned a Master’s Degree in Reproductive Physiology from Virginia Tech. He was quality
control manager for a major A.I. company for three years, then owned and
managed a registered Holstein herd for
five years, and has worked as a dairy
nutritionist for 25 years.
Through a series of slides, Dr.
Branen explained that the BioPRYN
test is greater than 99% accurate when
blood is sampled at the proper time
post-service, whether natural or artificial insemination is used. Tests need
to be taken on heifers after 30 days of
being served, or after 90 days of calving for cows. Along with the cost of the
basic laboratory test which is currently
$2.65 each, the farmer will have to purchase the test kit that includes tubes,
needles, and packaging which runs
about $3.50 a test. Once the sample is
collected, the farmer can send it by mail
or drop it off at the laboratory. Postage or mileage to the company which
is located at 245 White Oak Road, New
Holland would be additional. More information can be found on the company’s website www.precisiond.com.
Following the laboratory tour, the
Berks/Southeast Cattlemen visited
Red Rose Polled Herefords, located
near Stevens. Owned by the Eberly
family, this cattle farm combines a
Fall 2014 • Keystone Cattlemen
commercial and purebred cow/calf operation and a feedlot where beef cattle
are finished for the consumer market. Priscilla Eberly is the administrative assistant at Precision Diagnostics LLC. The Eberlys took the cattlemen to visit
their facilities, cattle herds, and demonstrated how to sample blood from cattle
in order to do pregnancy testing. They
joined the Cattlemen for a dinner at Yoder’s Restaurant following the tour.
The Berks/Southeast Cattlemen’s
Association is an educational nonprofit organization that supports the
local beef industry. They welcome
members from Berks and surrounding
counties to become involved with their
group and learn more about raising and
marketing beef cattle. Annual dues are
$25 for adults, and $10 for youth members. Both include membership in the
Pennsylvania Cattlemen’s Association,
along with the local organization. For
more information, contact Association
Secretary Sally Reinford at 610-6894197 or e-mail [email protected].
Doug Speicher models the apron designed and sold by Precision Diagnostics LLC. Speicher hails from Hershey
and has been working for Precision for
the last 5 1/2 years. He explained the
advantages of using artificial insemination, tools like CIDRs, and blood testing.
continued on page 23
Field Trip for
Berks/
Southeast
Cattlemen
continued from page 22
Members of the Berks/Southeast Cattlemen’s Association visited Precision Diagnostics LLC, New Holland, Lancaster County on July 26th. The company helps
farmers determine if cows are pregnant or open through blood tests.
Shawn, daughter Natalie, 13, and
Priscilla Eberly, Red Rose Polled Herefords, Stevens, Lancaster County,
shared their management techniques
and experiences with members of the
Berks/Southeast Cattlemen’s Association. The Eberlys also have two young
sons Nathan, 8, and Clayton, 4, who
spent the day with grandparents.
The Precision Diagnostic LLC team, from left, Dave Zimmerman,,business development and owner, Emily Bucher, laboratory technician, Priscilla Eberly, administrative assistant, Doug Speicher, reproductive specialist, Dr. Josh Branen, CEO
of BioTracking LLC; back row, Willy Tate, BioTracking business development, and
Ken Grube, Precision Diagnostics LLC general manager and owner.
The Eberly’s run a commercial herd of Chi-Angus crossbred cows and a purebred
Hereford herd.
Keystone Cattlemen • Fall 2014 • 23
Simmental Wins Supreme Title
at PA Farm Show PA Farm Show
PA Farm Show
Simmental genetics left their mark at the 2014 Pennsylvania Farm Show. Supreme Champion Beef Female was
awarded to the Open Simmental Show’s Grand Champion
Heifer DAF Reba Z20 owned by Jackson Mattocks of Guys
Mills. Ian Erdely’s DHF Perfect Rose was name Reserved
Grand Champion Simmental Heifer. PSA member Joseph
Messick, Messick Farms, Middletown, earned Grand Champion Simmental Bull with MF Rising Star Z660, and Reserve
Grand Champion Simmental Bull went to PVSM Phoenix
Z22, owned by PSA member Laurie Meyers, Powell’s Valley
Simmentals. Powell’s Valley Simmentals, located in Halifax,
was also named Premier Exhibitor and Premier Breeder of
the Simmental Show. Ian Erdely, of Perryopolis, received the Natushka Shoemaker Award by winning Grand Champion Heifer of the Junior Simmental Show with DHF Perfect Rose. Junior Show
Reserve Grand Champion Simmental Heifer was SHCC/
KLCL I’ll Bea Star owned by Maria Angelo of Titusville. Included in the All Other Breeds division in their first year
showing at the Pennsylvania Farm Show, percentage Simmentals swept the Junior show and took three of the top four
placings in the Open show. The Open AOB Grand Champion Heifer was GRANNY’S MS B CHOPPER 86 owned by
Rylee Stockdale of Dayton, and Reserve Grand Champion
AOB Heifer was CSCX Macy 512Z owned by PSA member Campbell’s Show Calves of Sycamore. Grand Champion AOB Bull was PVSM Stylish Mooves owned by PSA
member Laurie Meyers, Powell’s Valley Simmentals. In the
Junior Show, AOB Grand Champion Heifer was Wheeler/
KNKCS 240 Zipper, owned by Jessica Butler of Dawson,
and Reserve Grand Champion AOB Heifer was GRANNY’S
MS B CHOPPER 86 owned by Rylee Stockdale of Dayton.
Annual Banquet
Pennsylvania Simmental Association President Laurie Meyers welcomed everyone to the annual meeting
and awards banquet held January 4, 2014, at the Lawnton American Legion, Harrisburg, PA. Meyers highlighted
the accomplishments of percentage Simmentals in their
first year showing at the Pennsylvania Farm Show, continued success of the PSA’s sales, and increased demand for
Simmental genetics. Elections were held for the four
seats left open by outgoing directors Rhonda Arndt,
Joe Messick, William Shoemaker, and Les Whitmoyer.
Arndt and Messick were not eligible for election due to
having served two consecutive terms. Shoemaker and
Whitmoyer were re-elected, with David Downs and Jeff
Feight completing the board of directors. Laurie Meyers and Bradley Feight were retained as president and
vice president, respectively. The American Junior Simmental Association Bronze
Merit Award was presented to Pennsylvania Junior Simmental member Jordon Sommer. The PSA’s annual
award winners were as follows: Junior Member of the
Year, Bridget Fox; Senior Member of the Year, Cindy
and Les Whitmoyer; Family of the Year, Jim and Billie
24 •
Fall 2014 • Keystone Cattlemen
Cowell; and Breeder of the Year, Laurie Meyers of Powell’s
Valley Simmentals. Spring Simmental Female Sale
The PSA’s Spring Female Sale will be held on March
28, 2014, at the Livestock Evaluation Center, Pennsylvania Furnace, PA. Immediately following the Pennsylvania
Performance Tested Bull Sale, the Simmental Female Sale
features frozen embryos, cow/calf pairs, and bred and open
heifers. For more information, please contact sale manager
Chris Brown (304-290-8383).
Selling Thick, Low Input,
OCC Sired Bulls with high $EN Values
Yearling & 2 year old Bulls by OCC Homer, OCC Prototype,
NTLF Emblazon YOl, Cole Creek Cedar Ridge,
OCC Rear Ends & OCC Missing Link
Will Add Thickness & Docility
Ron Novak Hartford, OH
330.772.3186 • [email protected]
Woskob’s Countryside Conversion Project –
Through collaboration with the Woskob family
and Industry Organizations, CBE will provide
PA cattle producers interested in transition with
resource tools. Video will provide documentation of the process and documentation of costs
involved in the transition. Our goal is to provide
producers with some guidance on the process and
costs incurred in dairy to beef facility conversion.
The Woskob’s are willing to share their personal
experience and provide producers with a chance to
view the process directly from the source. A tour
of the facility after completion of the project will
be a powerful tool to demonstrate the results first
hand. Guests will have the opportunity to view
the accomplishments made from the process. A
tour will also equip producers with contacts for
future beef facility related questions.
Woskob’s Countryside Conversion Project
PA Center for Beef Excellence
Assists PA Producers with decision making during transition
Questions or for more information about this
program please contact:
CBE Executive Vice President Ann Nogan at
717-705-1689 or [email protected]
www.beefexcellence.com
The Chef’s Coner
SHEPHERD’S PIE FOR TODAY’S FAMILY
Total Recipe Time: 50 to 55 minutes
Makes 4 servings
1
package (17 ounces) refrigerated
fully-cooked boneless beef pot roast with gravy or au jus
1
package (24 ounces) refrigerated 1/2
teaspoon dried thyme leaves, crushed
mashed potatoes
1-1/2 cups shredded Italian cheese blend
2
cups frozen mixed vegetables
Nutrition information per serving: : 481
calories; 25 g fat (13 g saturated fat; 3 g
monounsaturated fat); 77 mg cholesterol;
1325 mg sodium; 41 g carbohydrate; 4.0
g fiber; 19 g protein; 3.0 mg niacin; 0.2 mg
vitamin B6; 2.6 mcg vitamin B12; 3.7 mg iron;
25.5 mcg selenium; 5.4 mg zinc.
A favorite for generations, count on shepherd’s pie to evoke all of the warmth and comfort of a
shared family meal. Perfect for the busy back-to-school season, this updated version of a classic
invites family members to slow down and join together at the table. Shepherd’s pie was originally created as an economical way to use leftovers from the “Sunday
roast.” Thanks to today’s convenience products, like refrigerated fully-cooked beef pot roast, refrigerated mashed potatoes, frozen vegetables and shredded cheese, this dish can be ready midweek
in under an hour.
Hearty Shepherd’s Pot Roast Pie also adds another layer to this updated classic. Instead of the
traditional prep – meat and vegetables topped with mashed potatoes – this version is assembled
à la lasagna, with additional layers of potatoes and cheese complementing the seasoned pot roast
and vegetable mixture. Baked until the mixture is hot and the potato “crust” browns, it will elicit
“yum” reviews from the family.
Refrigerated, fully-cooked entrées like beef pot roast and beef tips make it possible to have a
tasty beef meal in minutes, any day of the week. For additional family favorite meals, visit www.
BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com.
1. Heat oven to 450°F. Heat mashed potatoes according to package directions.
2. Meanwhile remove beef pot roast from container; reserve gravy or au jus for another use. Shred
pot roast in medium bowl with 2 forks; stir in thyme.
3. Spray 2-quart baking dish with cooking spray. Spread 1/2 of potatoes over bottom of dish;
sprinkle with 1/2 cup cheese. Top evenly with shredded beef and vegetables; sprinkle with 1/2 cup
cheese. Spread remaining potatoes over the top; sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup cheese.
4. Bake, covered, in 450°F oven 15 minutes. Uncover; continue baking 10 to 12 minutes or until
heated through and edges begin to brown. Let stand, loosely covered, 10 minutes before serving.
2014 KC Publishing Schedule
February 28, 2014 (Friday)
January 17, 2014
June 9, 2014 (Monday)April 28, 2014
September 1, 2014 (Monday)
July 21, 2014
December 8, 2014 (Monday)October 27, 2014
Recipe and photo courtesy The Beef Checkoff
New Pavillion at Ag Progress Days
Will Benefit Producers for Years to Come
by Ann Nogan
During Ag Progress Days, The Pennsylvania Cattlemen’s Association celebrated the opening of their new building in PA Furnace PA. The new structure will provide Pennsylvania’s cattlemen with a permanent structure to promote
products from the beef industry. A very generous donation
has been provided by the members of the Otto family, who
strongly support the beef industry.
Owners of Eastern States Livestock Systems, the Otto
family has continually provided great support to the cattle
industry. Butch Otto currently serves as a board director for
the organization.
Scott Rhoads, PCA President said, “This newly-built
structure will be devoted solely to our cattle producers - their
education, their needs, their success.” The new building,
gives PCA much-needed space to promote their beef products with Ag Progress Days visitors and will directly impact
enriching educational programs designed for PA beef producers.
The entire cost of the building project has been met
through gifts from private sources. Swank Farms, a Red
Angus cow/calf operation in New Kensington has provided
the funding for the concrete base of the new building. This
project would not have been possible without the assistance
and support of Ag Progress Days manager, Bob Oberheim
and his staff Jesse Darlington. The building will provide the
outlet to serve steak sandwiches during the three day event
for many years.
28 •
Fall 2014 • Keystone Cattlemen
Plan to Attend The BREEDER’S CLASSIC
On Saturday, Oct. 4, 2014
RFID Cattle ID
Keystone Cattlemen • Fall 2014 • 29
Beef Checkoff, the Investment that
Keeps Returning…
Your State Beef Council Ensuring a Valuable Return!
Retail/Food Service
In an effort to reach millennials where
they ‘live’ and capitalize on their strong
likeliness to share what they learn and do,
the checkoff’s Northeast Beef Promotion
Initiative program launched the “Share Your
Sizzle” beef photo contest with Northeast
shoppers by partnering with 10 regional
retail chains totaling 158 retail locations.
This beef photo contest started on May 23
and concludes on August 7.
Participating retailers received on-pack
promotional recipe labels, electronic artwork
and a sample social media library of posts
to support the contest. Shoppers, especially
millennials, are being encouraged to
purchase and cook with beef at home this
summer and share a photo of their meal on
the Northeast Loves Beef Facebook Photo
Contest App. One grand prize winning photo
will be voted on to win a $500 grocery gift
card and three runner-up photos will be
selected to win a $100 grocery gift card.
Participating Pennsylvania retailers include
Weis Markets, Sunbury, PA, and Redner’s
Warehouse Markets, Reading, PA. Don’t
forget to #ShareYourSizzle this summer!
Industry Education
The BQA Commission and the
Pennsylvania Beef Council are pleased to
announce and congratulate two outstanding
farms that have been selected and
recognized for the 2014 PA BQA Awards.
This year’s committed beef operation is
long time supporters of the BQA program,
James and Billie Cowell, from Frosty Spring
Farms, located in Waynesburg, PA. The
operation consists of a Purebred herd of
Simmentals and a Commercial herd of Red
Angus Cows. The operation is primarily
a cow-calf seedstock business with a
secondary purpose of raising feeder calves
for the freezer beef market.
The 2014 Dairy Recipient is Oregon Dairy
Farm, LLC. Oregon Dairy Farm is a family
partnership between Tim and Maria Forry,
George Hurst and Chad Hurst located in
Lititz, PA. Their operation consists of milking
cows and 500 replacements. In addition, they
raise all of their own forages for the cows by
managing and farming 900 acres of land.
Frosty Springs Farm –
James and Billie Cowell
Oregon Dairy Farm, LLC
Through BQA Best Management
Practices, we believe that beef and dairy
producers strongly agree that giving cattle
the care, handling and nutrition they
deserve is an obligation, not an option.
Producers understand that animal care
and raising cattle go hand-in-hand and
by treating animals the right way, they are
setting the foundation to produce high
quality, safe and wholesome beef products.
enjoyed the event. “As a writer, all experiences
are useful but the tour of Masonic Village
Farm was also highly educational,” she noted.
“I took away more understanding of the
farming end of the process, adding depth to
my normal consumer outlook.”
The day ended with a panel discussion
hosted by industry experts including Frank
Stoltzfus, Cow/Calf Producer, Masonic Village
Farm; Darwin Nissley, Feedlot Operator,
Nissley Bros. Farm; Mike Smucker, Custom
Processor, Smucker’s Meats; Jim Hogue,
Beef Nutrition Specialist, Agri-Basics, Inc;
and Dr. Elizabeth Santini, State Veterinarian,
Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.
Deputy Secretary Meals
moderated the conversation.
More than 25 local bloggers, industry professionals and
producers celebrated May as Beef Month on Monday, May
12, at Masonic Village Farm, Elizabethtown.
Veal Marketing
Consumer Promotion
More than 25 local bloggers, industry
professionals and producers gathered at
Masonic Village Farm, Elizabethtown, on
Monday, May 12, to celebrate May as Beef
Month. Pennsylvania Deputy Secretary
for Animal Agriculture Mathew Meals was
on hand to offer remarks and present the
official proclamation.
Attendees were led on a pasture tour, as
well as Masonic’s feedlot facility and retail
farm market. The group also learned about
the farm’s commitment to Beef Quality
Assurance (BQA) and environmental
stewardship.
Blogger Amber Roth DeGrace especially
The beef checkoff, through a partnership
between the Pennsylvania Beef Council,
Northeast Beef Promotion Initiative (NEBPI),
and the New York Beef Council, challenged
shoppers in more than 1,100 retail stores to
“Re-Veal Your Inner Chef” by encouraging
them to submit an original veal burger recipe
online from June 1-30. Five finalists have
been chosen from the more than 100 entries
and will be evaluated by a panel of industry
experts. The winning
recipe will receive
a $500 grocery gift
card to a participating
retailer.
Pennsylvania Beef Council • www.pabeef.org • www.pa-bqa.org• 1-888-4BEEFPA
Keystone Cattlemen • Fall 2014 • 31
Berks/Southeast
Cattlemen
Sally Reinford, Sec
1281 Schoffers Rd
Birdsboro, PA 19508
610-689-4197
[email protected]
PA Angus
Association
Jamie Brozman, Sec
354 Townshipline Rd
Nazareth, PA 18064
484-221-3455
[email protected]
Washington County
Cattlemen
Becky Hrutkay
52 Hetherington Rd.
Bentleyville PA 15314
[email protected]
724-239-3556
Somerset County
Beef Producers
Kermit Stahl
550 White Oak Rd
Somerset PA 15501
814-445-5213
[email protected]
PA Simmental
Association
Nichole Graham, Sec
[email protected]
Cell: 717-968-6635
Northern Tier
Cattlemen
Kevin Howe, Sec
[email protected]
814-367-2196
PA Limousin
Association
Erin Kelley, Sec
280 Reserve Square
Wampum, MA 16157
724-535-4934
[email protected]
PA Shorthorn
Association
Kay McElhaney, Sec
724-573-9043
[email protected]
Armstrong/Indiana
County Cattlemen
William Ritts
144 Rocky Top Lane
Worthington, PA 16262
724-2973690
[email protected] Adams County
Beef Producers
Angie Young, Sec
3256 Emmitsburg Rd
Gettysburg, PA 17325
[email protected]
717-337-3758
PA CattleWomen Inc
Val Trowbridge
6290 SR 3001
Meshoppen PA 18630
570-833-4482
[email protected]
Westmoreland County
Cattlemen
Edward Graham, Sec
306 Calvary Hill Rd
Greensburg, PA 15601
724-832-8991
32 • Fall 2014 • Keystone Cattlemen
__Adams County Beef Producers
__Armstrong/Indiana County Cattlemen
__Berks Southeast Cattlemen
__Northern Tier Beef Cattlemen
__PA Angus Association
__PA Limousin Association
__PA Northwest Hereford Association
__PA Shorthorn Association
__PA Simmental Association
__Somerset County Beef Producers
__Southeast Regional Cattlemen
__Washington County Cattlemen
__Westmoreland Cattlemen
WHY LIMOUSIN?
Profit • Maternal Efficiency • Docility
• Profit •
• Calving ease & vigor = More calves weaned
• Natural efficient growth & feed efficiency to add more pounds
• Premium carcass yield
• Maternal Efficiency •
• Optimum cow size, milk & longevity
• Docility •
• Oldest docility EPD in the industry
Pennsylvania Limousin Breeders Association
www.palimousinbreeders.com
CONTACT:
President: Ed Clark - 724-622-2285 • VP: Mike Brubaker - 717-649-6929
A Better Way to Kühl
• Better Feed Intake
• More Hair Growth
• Improved Conception
SERVING
• Show Barns
• Paddocks
• Bed Packs
Daryl Phipps
Ventilation & Kühling Specialist | Beef Cattle
814.330.4085 | [email protected]
www.CowKühlerZ.com • 800.758.7975
34 • Fall 2014 • Keystone Cattlemen