Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Six month traffic report from Bamabeef.org

Interested to see some stats on ACA's flagship online platform? Well, this post is for you.

While ACA has a presence on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and Blogger, it's main website remains Bamabeef.org. The site gets over 280 page views per day which comes out to over 8,500 per month. This measures how many pages on our site are looked at by someone visiting our site and is an accurate gauge of popularity of the site as a whole.

Remember, advertising is available on Bamabeef.org. Find out more about electronic advertising opportunities by clicking here.

Here's a snapshot looking back at the last 6 months of traffic on ACA's website:

Overall site usage since June 21st:


State specific visitors since June 21st:


Most popular pages since June 21st:





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Where did 13,976 page views come from?


Since May of 2009, the Bama Beef Blog has garnered nearly 14,000 page views. Above is a snapshot of those areas who've sent us the most traffic.


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Monday, December 19, 2011

Environmental Footprint of Beef is Shrinking

A study published in this month's Journal of Animal Science found that raising a pound of beef in the United States today uses significantly fewer natural resources, including land, water, feed and fuel than in the past. "The Environmental Impact of Beef Production in the United States: 1977 compared with 2007" (Journal of Animal Science, December 18, 2011) by Jude Capper, Ph.D., Washington State University, documents that each pound of beef raised in 2007 used 33 percent less land, 12 percent less water, 19 percent less feed and 9 percent less fossil fuel energy than equivalent beef production in 1977. Waste outputs were similarly reduced, shrinking the carbon footprint of beef by 16.3 percent in 30 years.

According to Capper's research, improvements in the way cattle are raised and fed in the United States between 1977 and 2007 yielded 13 percent more total beef from 30 percent fewer animals. Raising more beef from fewer animals maximizes natural resources while providing essential nutrients for the human diet. As the population increases, it is crucial to continue the improvements demonstrated over the past 30 years to meet demand for nutrient-rich beef while reducing resource use and mitigating environmental impact. Turning back the clock on these advancements is not the solution to feeding a world population that recently reached 7 billion and will grow to 9.5 billion by the year 2050, concludes the author.
"As the number of mouths to feed increases and the quality of diets in many areas around the world improves, the demand for nutrient-rich protein like beef will increase," says Capper. "At the same time, resources like land, water and fossil fuels will become increasingly scarce. These realities are like two trains speeding toward each other on the same track. If we listen to alarmists shouting at us to slow down, we could face a head-on collision of epic proportions. The only way to avoid this disaster is to accelerate the pace of progress."
Capper attributes much of the reduction in beef's environmental footprint to raising cattle on grass pasture before finishing them on an optimal balanced diet of grasses, grains and other forages in a feedyard. According to previous research conducted by Capper, each pound of grain-finished beef requires 45 percent less land, 76 percent less water and 49 percent less feed and at the same time generates 51 percent less manure and 42 percent fewer carbon emissions than grass-finished beef.

"As we work on solutions for the future it is important to understand how far the U.S. livestock industry has come in reducing its environmental footprint in the recent past and how this significant reduction was achieved," says Capper. "The facts are in. Improved cattle diets in the feedyard and responsible use of science-based technologies to improve the ability of cattle to convert feed to pounds of beef, reduces the amount of land, water and fossil fuels it takes to raise beef. "
Capper says focusing resources to provide more nutrient rich foods like beef, which provides more than 10 percent of the daily recommended value of ten essential nutrients and vitamins for less than ten percent of daily calories (based on a 2,000 calorie per day diet), is a critical success factor in meeting nutrition needs at home and abroad.
"Making the best use of resources like land, water and energy to raise nutrient-rich beef is the key to sustainability," says Capper. "The result is delicious, healthful beef you can feel good about." 

Friday, December 16, 2011

SLE Rodeo to host two concerts in March 2012


     Next year’s Southeastern Livestock Exposition Rodeo is only three months away and anticipation is building for what may be the most exciting SLE Week in some time. Each year, the Southeastern not only plays host to a championship rodeo but also highly competitive horse and livestock shows that draw interest from around the country. In 2012, rodeo organizers have added a new ingredient to spice up the excitement during the annual week-long event, major entertainment concerts following the Friday and Saturday night rodeos. These concerts are due to a sponsorship agreement between the SLE and PCI Gaming.
     “We’re really excited about bringing some big name performers to the SLE Rodeo. Folks that you hear on the radio every day will be right here in Montgomery on a big stage in the Coliseum arena on Friday and Saturday night. That’s a big deal for us and we think it’s a big deal for Montgomery too,” says Camp Powers, President of the Southeastern Livestock Exposition.
     While performer names have yet to be announced, plans are already in place to admit all Friday and Saturday night rodeo attendees free to the concerts with their rodeo tickets. Tickets for Thursday night and the Saturday matinee are priced at $19 for adults and $9 for children. All tickets for Friday and Saturday nights will be $22.
     “More than once, we’ve tried to host entertainers at the SLE Rodeo but just weren’t happy with the result. Thanks to PCI Gaming, we’ll be able to bring in some big name acts on a stage in the Coliseum after the rodeo. Coupling that with the IPRA National All-Region Finals Rodeo is exciting for rodeo fans and the Southeastern,” says Dr. Billy Powell, Executive Director of the Southeastern Livestock Exposition.
     The 2012 SLE Rodeo will be held March 8-10 at Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery. Tickets for all 4 performances will be for sale soon online through Ticketmaster or by calling 1-888-2RODEO2. As well, rodeo fans can buy their tickets in person from the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association headquarters building or from the Garrett Coliseum the week of the rodeo.

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Thursday, December 15, 2011

Beef Can Improve Cholesterol Levels by 10 Percent


          WASHINGTON (Dec. 15, 2011) – In a first of its kind study, researchers at The Pennsylvania State University demonstrated that eating beef everyday as part of a heart-healthy diet can improve cholesterol  levels. Texas medical doctor and cattleman Richard Thorpe said the Beef in an Optimal Lean Diet (BOLD) study proves what he has known for years – lean beef not only tastes great but it also plays an important role in a heart-healthy diet.
          “As a father, medical doctor and beef producer, I have proudly and confidently served my family beef and have recommended it to my patients for years,” Thorpe said on behalf of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA). “The BOLD study is further proof that Americans should feel good knowing the beef they enjoy eating and serving their loved ones is not only a nutrient-rich, satisfying food that provides 10 essential nutrients in about 150 calories but is good for their heart health as well.”
          The BOLD study, which was funded by the Beef Checkoff, will appear in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in January. The study followed 36 men and women with moderately elevated cholesterol levels who consumed four diets for five weeks each to measure the impact of each diet on heart health risk factors, such as LDL (bad) cholesterol levels. The four diets evaluated were BOLD, which included an average of 4 ounces of beef per day; BOLD-PLUS, which included an average of 5.4 ounces of beef per day; the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, which included an average of an ounce of beef per day; and the Healthy American Diet (HAD), which included an average of 0.7 ounces of beef per day.
          Subjects following the BOLD and BOLD-PLUS diets experienced a 10 percent decrease in LDL cholesterol from the start of the study. Further, according to the study’s outcomes, after five weeks, there were significant reductions in total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol in the BOLD, BOLD-PLUS and DASH diets compared to the HAD.
          “This research adds to the body of evidence concluding that there are heart-health benefits to including lean beef in your daily diet,” said Shalene McNeill, PhD, RD, and executive director, human nutrition research for NCBA, which is a contractor for the Beef Checkoff. “The BOLD study provides strong evidence that including daily lean beef in the gold-standard DASH diet has heart health benefits.”
McNeill said the BOLD and BOLD-PLUS diets are easy to follow as many recipes used in the BOLD study were from The Healthy Beef Cookbook, which includes a collection of healthy beef recipes.
          “As families across the country prepare their holiday meals this month, lean beef is a perfect fit,” McNeill said. “Americans should feel confident putting beef on their dinner table knowing that it is part of the solution to building a nutrient-rich, well-balanced and heart-healthy diet.”




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Wednesday, December 14, 2011

2012 Crenshaw County Belt Buckle Classic


The Crenshaw County Belt Buckle Classic is slated for January 28, 2012 at the Tom Harbin Ag Center in Luverne, Alabama. Prizes this year include $250 Montana Silversmiths buckles to be awarded to the Supreme Heifer and Grand Steer.  Entries must be postmarked by January 20. Late fees of $30 per head are due after January 20.

To download more information and an entry form, click here.

For details about the 2012 Crenshaw County Belt Buckle Classic, contact:


Perry Catrett
195 S. Mt. Olive Rd.
Luverne, AL 36049
334-527-3533 or 334-403-0510





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2012 AL Beef Checkoff Marketing Plan Now Online


The 2012 Alabama Beef Checkoff Marketing Plan is now posted online on the Alabama Cattlemen's Association website. You can read the document in its entirety by clicking here.

If you've never looked at the marketing plan or never heard of it, here's a very brief explanation. This is the document that outlines where and how producers' beef checkoff dollars will be spent in Alabama in the coming year. A group of cattlemen, educators, retailers, etc volunteer each year to spend a day collaborating to develop a draft version of this plan. Then, feedback and input from that group over a span of weeks helps to hone the plan into a document that can be presented for the budgeting process. Cattlemen leaders meet to allocate projected checkoff collections toward the programs in the marketing plan that will have the greatest impact for the benefit of the industry. Finally, a completed version of the marketing plan is presented to the 100+ member ACA Board of Directors for their review and final approval.

This process accomplishes several benefits for cattlemen who pay into the beef checkoff program. Namely, it guarantees the influence of a broad and varied group of stakeholders on checkoff programs in Alabama. It also provides a document that lends itself to accountability so that cattlemen can feel certain that their investment is being used wisely in each program area.

If you have questions about the beef checkoff program in Alabama or the 2012 Alabama Beef Checkoff Marketing Plan, please contact the Alabama Cattlemen's Association.


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Monday, November 28, 2011

Learn How Your Food is Grown and Raised

On Monday, November 14, 2011, the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA), funded in part by the Beef Checkoff, launched the "Learn How Your Food is Grown and Raised" initiative through a partnership with Discovery Communications. USFRA and Discovery Communications created three, 60-second videos and one longer form piece (4-7 minutes), featuring everyday American consumers paired with farmers and ranchers from across the country. Rancher Jeff Fowle from California represented the beef community. In the videos, the farmers/ranchers and the consumers sit down to a meal and discuss where the food came from, how it was raised and how farming is evolving.  The videos focus on three primary themes:
  • Join the Dialogue
  • Continuous Improvement
  • Healthy Choices


The documentary-style videos began airing across the Discovery Communications' networks (TLC, Discovery, Discovery Science, Discovery Fit & Health, Identification Discovery, Planet Green and Animal Planet) on November 14 and will continue through December 25, 2011.







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Friday, November 18, 2011

Myths Promoted at "End Factory Farming" Conference



About 300 activists representing the animal rights, environmental, and public health movements converged in Arlington, VA on October 27-29 for the first-ever “Conference to End Factory Farming”. More than 25 speakers attempted to gain the attention of decision makers in Washington, D.C. with sessions titled “The Hidden Costs of Factory Farming”, “Inside the Industry”, and “Building Coalitions for Change”. The goal of the event? To create synergy between competing activist campaigns and frame their extreme goal of eliminating today’s animal agriculture industry as a mainstream effort.

The event was co-hosted by Farm Sanctuary and the ASPCA and sponsored by a wide variety of extremist organizations and companies including the Humane Society of the United States, Mercy for Animals, Compassion Over Killing, A Well Fed World, Compassion in World Farming, E: The Environmental Magazine, Discovery’s TreeHugger, and Whole Foods Market.

Many speakers revealed just how out of step with American values during their presentations.  For example, Holly Cheever, of HSUS’ Veterinary Medical Association Leadership Council said that “slaughterhouses are a kind of Auschwitz”. This equating of human suffering with agricultural practices not only diminishes the horrors inflicted on the victims of the Holocaust, but is a sentiment commonly expressed by PETA and other extremist groups. Jonathan Balcome, author of Pleasurable Kingdom and a former HSUS and PETA employee, referred to the the push for animal rights as comparable to “African colonialism, slavery, women’s rights, and the civil rights movement”. Many of the extremists seemed to realize that while their beliefs are not mainstream, they could still seek to influence the public through emotional appeals. As speaker Nick Cooney of The Humane League put it:  “revolution is not a question of virtue, but of effectiveness.”

Notably, the single presenter who suggested compromise to target large-scale producers rather than eliminating animal agriculture in entirety, Dr. John Ikerd of the University of Missouri, was met with ridicule from the audience and fellow presenters. HSUS Senior Director of Farm Animal Protection Paul Shapiro responded to Ikerd by saying that “combating factory farming and promoting veganism are not exclusive concepts”.

Promoting veganism – and as speaker Mark Bekoff claimed, sharing the idea that meat is a “who” rather than a “what” – was a main goal of the meeting. Farm Sanctuary President Gene Baur elaborated on this ambition during a pre-conference media interview, saying:  “But at the end of the day, it’s not necessary to eat any animal products. We’ll continue to hold up the vegan ideal, but we will also support and encourage any steps that move away from the industrial factory-farming model.”

The activists discussed tactics to intimidate farmers and ranchers using litigation and legislation while promoting the “factory farm” stereotype to the public. Nathan Runkle, Director of Mercy for Animals, indicated that undercover videos represent the “lifeblood” of the organization. Speaker David Wolfson, a partner with the Milbank Tweed law firm and professor at NYU’s school of law, said that providing pro bono work to activist groups is one of the most important things lawyers can do to help the movement. He also elaborated on the legal strategy used during California’s Proposition 2 campaign, saying that “if a farmer came out in criticism of the ballot initiative, they would be subject to undercover investigation and sued”.  

Selected Conference Quotes:

“For modern animal agriculture, the less the consumer knows, the better.”
– Dr. Michael Greger (HSUS)

“Slaughterhouses are a kind of Auschwitz.”
– Dr. Holly Cheever (HSUS)

“The lifeblood of Mercy For Animals is our undercover investigations of animal agriculture.”
– Nathan Runkle (Mercy for Animals)

“In California, if a farmer came out in criticism of the ballot initiative, they would be subject to undercover investigation and sued.”
– David Wolfson (Milbank Tweed)

“Meat consumption shouldn’t be normal.”
– Gene Baur (Farm Sanctuary)

“Everyone can agree that cutting down on animal consumption is better for the public.”
– Paul Shapiro (HSUS)

“We need the poultry industry not to exist.”
– Wenonah Hauter (Food and Water Watch)


“Agribusiness… they’re the radicals!”
– U.S. Congressman Jim Moran (D-VA)

“Let’s hear about veganism as an alternative. Taking on meat should be the real war.”
– Dr. James McWilliams (The Atlantic)

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

More Publicity for Alabama's Best Burger

Consumers in Alabama continue to hear about a beef promotion event hosted this year by the Alabama Cattlemen's Association; the "Alabama's Best Burger" contest. More than 800 people voted in the statewide contest which drew positive attention to restaurants around the state for their ability to serve up great tasting burgers. With the five finalists having been named, we're all waiting for the judges to announce who really has Alabama's best burger. That overall winner will be announced soon.

Click the link below to see a video on two of the top winners produced by Montgomery's NBC affiliate, WSFA Channel 12:

http://www.wsfa.com/story/16054090/cr-12-battle-for-bamas-best-burger









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Monday, November 7, 2011

Fruit & Vegetable Stir Fry Wins National Beef Cook-Off


With her stir fry recipe, Vegetable-Mango Beef Stir Fry, amateur home cook Sheryl Little of Sherwood, Arkansas won the 29th National Beef Cook-Off® $25,000 “Best of Beef” grand prize, topping recipes from 19 other finalists around the country.  Sheryl was announced as the grand prize winner today at the Metropolitan Cooking & Entertaining Show in Washington D.C. Her winning recipe, along with other finalist recipes, will be demonstrated on the show floor by top chef’s and food experts, Mary Beth Albright, Food Network Star finalist, season seven; Susan Holt, chef and instructor at CulinAeire; and Aviva Goldfarb, founder and author of The Six O’Clock Scramble. 

This year’s contest encouraged all home cooks and entertaining enthusiasts to submit their delicious recipes demonstrating the convenience, nutritional and versatility benefits of cooking with beef. The winning Vegetable-Mango Beef Stir Fry recipe featured boneless beef top sirloin steaks, fresh sugar snap peas, red bell peppers and fresh mango tossed with garlic and low sodium soy sauce and served over brown or white rice.  In addition, the dish is an excellent source of fiber, protein, niacin, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, iron, selenium, zinc and choline. 

Each contest recipe was submitted in one of four categories, including the 5:30 PM Dinner Crunch, Retro Recipes Revived, Fuel Up with Beef or Stir Crazy Solutions.  Recipes were judged by a panel of esteemed food journalists and bloggers back in July of this year.  Criteria included: taste, appearance, convenient preparation and nutritional balance.  The judges raved about Little’s recipe because of its unique combination of fresh fruit and vegetables and grain ingredients and her use of one of the 29 Lean Beef Cuts. 

The 2011 judges included: Julie Miltenberg, editor, Family Circle; Niesha Lofing, food editor, Sacramento Bee; Sandy Hu, founder, Special Fork.com and Kristina Vanni, writer, Better Recipes.com. 

“I am thrilled to be named the winner of this year’s Cook-Off,” said Little.  “I grew up in the kitchen and there is nothing I’d rather do than create new recipes.  I enjoy working with beef too because it’s a great source of protein and the wide variety of cuts give you countless ways to get creative in the kitchen.  The Stir Crazy category gave me the opportunity to use fruits and vegetables that really compliment the beef and also create a colorful, beautiful and delicious recipe.”      

Funded by the Beef Checkoff Program, the National Beef Cook-Off showcases Americans’ love of beef. During its 35-year history, the Cook-Off has received accolades and the support of many notable culinary experts and is considered to be among the top three cooking contests in the nation. 

Monday, October 31, 2011

2012 ACA Convention March 30-31

Earlier this month, ACA staff and volunteer leaders from around North Alabama met in Huntsville to discuss plans for the 2012 ACA Convention & Trade Show to be held March 30-31 at the Von Braun Center in the Rocket City.

For more information on the 2012 convention, check out its page on bamabeef.org by clicking here. Vendor and sponsor details are already online and the official schedule and program are coming soon.

Be sure to mark your calendar for Friday and Saturday, March 30-31, to be with us in Huntsville for the 2012 ACA Convention.

Below are pictures from the walk-through of the facility:






Monday, October 24, 2011

Bull Sale Season is Here

Each Fall, cattlemen congregate to a number of bull sales all around the state of Alabama. These events offer not only the opportunity to add the best in beef genetics to your herd, but also the chance to visit with your fellow cattlemen. The stories of the summer's hay harvest and calf marketing along with the trials of securing fertilizer and fuel are often shared with a sale catalog in hand.

Have you been to a sale already? If so, please share a few pictures on the Facebook wall of the Alabama Cattlemen's Association. You can visit ACA's page by clicking here. While you're there, join the ranks of the 750+ members of our Facebook group.

Haven't been but would like to? Check out The Alabama Cattleman magazine and see all the ads on upcoming bull and replacement female sales (these really are some of the best in the country).

In the meantime, please enjoy these pictures from a recent sale hosted by 1988 Alabama Cattlemen's Association President Buck Compton in Nanafalia, AL. Remember, please share your own pictures on our Facebook wall.




Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Scenes from the AL National Fair

Each year, the Alabama National Fair hosts one of the state's largest junior beef cattle shows. Young people come to Montgomery from across the state to show their steers and heifers and also compete in showmanship and the Supreme Competitor contest. Below are scenes from this year's junior show:




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Monday, October 10, 2011

Great County Chapter Fundraiser

The Lowndes County Cattlemen's Association recently held a fundraiser in Hope Hull to raise money for the county's scholarship fund. Board members organized a barrel racing and team roping with participants coming from around the region to compete for trophy buckles and cash awards. If you'd like help in getting more activities started in your county, please contact the Alabama Cattlemen's Association. Below are scenes from the event.





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Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Alabama's Best Burger - Top 5 Announced

Five restaurants in four Alabama cities have been voted as serving one of the best burgers in Alabama through an online contest hosted by the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association. The contest, titled “Alabama’s Best Burger”, drew more than 800 voters. After counting the ballots cast from July through September, the five top vote-getters were announced yesterday on the Facebook page of the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association.



“We have really been overwhelmed with the response this contest has drawn. People love beef and they love hamburgers,” says Erin Beasley, Consumer Marketing Director for the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association.

Over the course of the next month, judges will visit each of the five finalists to sample their wares and crown the champion restaurant in the “Alabama’s Best Burger” contest. The finalists include:

- Callaghan’s Irish Pub, Mobile
- The Stockyard Grill, Montgomery
- Hamburger King, Montgomery
- Rattlesnake Saloon, Tuscumbia
- Mugshots, Tuscaloosa

The “Alabama’s Best Burger” contest is part of a larger effort to celebrate October as Beef Month in Alabama. Following a proclamation signed by Governor Robert Bentley designating it as such, the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association will ramp up its beef promotion efforts to put America’s #1 protein in front of consumers in a variety of ways.

“From the Rick & Bubba Show to tailgate promotions at the University of Alabama and Auburn University, we’re putting beef front and center with consumers during the month of October. We want folks to know that beef is wholesome and nutritious, and it’s the product of hard working cattlemen right here in Alabama,” says Beasley.





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Monday, October 3, 2011

October is Beef Month in Alabama

"Beef Month" has kicked off in Alabama. Each year, the Alabama Cattlemen's Association uses the month of October to ramp up its promotion efforts and keep beef on the minds of consumers across the state. Below is a video from the first promotion event of the month, the 2011 Montgomery Half Marathon.



For more information on upcoming promotion events, visit the ACA Cattlemen's Calendar.



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Thursday, September 29, 2011

Two arrested in connection with cattle theft


Two men have been arrested in connection with the alleged theft of cattle from a Chilton County pasture. Because of the thefts, the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association has sent out a notice that it will pay a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone stealing or destroying cattle belonging to an association member.


To read more in the Clanton Advertiser online, click here.




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Wednesday, September 28, 2011

BQA Meetings & More on the Cattlemen's Calendar

BQA meetings, fundraiser team ropings, and more. That's a short list of what you'll find on the ACA Cattlemen's Calendar. Check it out and plan to attend one of these events aimed at cattlemen in Alabama. Speaking of BQA meetings, below is a video from last night's BQA training session at Montgomery Stockyards:




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Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Cattlemen Call for Presidential Action on FTAs

Today in Montgomery, Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture & Industries John McMillan held a press conference to stress the importance of international trade to agriculture in this state. Alongside Commissioner McMillan were representatives of the Alabama Poultry & Egg Association, the Alabama Forestry Association, the Alabama Farmers Federation, and the five officers of the Alabama Cattlemen's Association. Below are comments distributed by ACA to the media as well as pictures from today's press conference.


Cattlemen in Alabama and around the country are calling for President Obama to send three pending Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) to Congress. The agreements with Columbia, Panama, and South Korea would allow foreign consumers more purchasing power when buying U.S. beef.


“Our industry and our country needs some good news on the economic front. These trade deals would be just that; acting as an economic stimulus by encouraging the shipment of more U.S. goods and products around the globe,” says Leo Hollinger of Camden, President of the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association.


According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, for every $1 billion worth of agricultural goods exported, approximately 8,000 jobs are created. Because these three pending agreements would generate nearly $2.5 billion in additional exports, they also stand to create around 20,000 jobs.


“President Obama is beating the drum for his new jobs package and that’s just what this trio of trade agreements are. This is a real opportunity to create an economic stimulus without burdening U.S. taxpayers,” says Dr. Billy Powell, Executive Vice President of the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association. “The hard working members of the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association have a very simple message for the President, ‘send these agreements to Congress so they can be passed and come back to your desk to be signed’”.


Each year, Alabama produces around 600,000 calves to enter the beef supply chain. These calves are among the 30 million cattle produced annually in this country. Export sales attribute nearly $200 per head to the value of each of these animals.  Already in 2011, the United States’ five largest export markets have increased the value of the U.S. beef they import from 23 to 54%. South Korea, the third largest importer of U.S. beef behind Mexico and Canada, has already imported over 98,000 metric tons of U.S. beef this year, a volume increase of 55% from 2010. This Free Trade Agreement with South Korea alone would mean more than an additional $1 billion to U.S. cattle farmers over the next decade.




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Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Market Reports on Bamabeef.org


ACA's website continues to offer a wealth of information to cattlemen and consumers alike. One of the site's most popular features is the Market Prices page which includes contacts and links for auction markets in Alabama as well as links to cattle price reports. To visit this page, click here.


Also, due to budget constraints, the hard copy of the Alabama Livestock Market News newsletter is no longer being mailed. If you would like to receive this newsletter by e-mail please send your e-mail address to Diana.Drummond@ams.usda.gov or call the office at 334-240-7289 and you will be added to the e-mail list.




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Sunday, September 11, 2011

Beef 101 for Wallace State Culinary Students

On a recent sunny day in Auburn, the Alabama Cattlemen's Association held a BEEF 101 at the AU Meats Lab for Wallace State Culinary Arts students. In one day, instructors covered how cattle are raised, a typical day in the life of a cattlemen, how cattle are harvested, and a carcass breakdown to see where all of the beef cuts come from! It was a successful day that busted a lot of beef myths for these future chefs and helped equip them to go out and share beef's farm to fork story. Below are photos from the event. More details on BEEF 101 are coming up in the next issue of the Alabama Cattleman magazine.










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Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Texas Hay Hotline


  • TDA does not guarantee the quality or availability of hay or pastures offered by suppliers.
  • TDA is not responsible for e-mail spam generated through the public hay hotline.
  • USDA has reported e-mail scams that target hay suppliers. TDA advises you to use sound business judgement when responding to inquiries from hay buyers who request suspicious payment arrangements.   


Monday, August 22, 2011

New facilities unveiled during Stocker Conference

New facilities at the E.V. Smith Research Center in Shorter that will be used for stocker cattle research were shown to nearly 150 attendees at the recent Deep South Stocker Conference. The Alabama Cattlemen's Association was instrumental in securing the funding used to construct these new facilities. Highlights from the conference are coming in the September issue of the Alabama Cattleman.

Below are pictures of the new facilities:










Friday, August 19, 2011

Livestock Groups Applaud Coliseum Agreement

Following a press conference hosted by Alabama Agriculture Commissioner John McMillan and attended by Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange, leaders of the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association and the Southeastern Livestock Exposition are optimistic about the future of the Garrett Coliseum.

“This new agreement should be positive both for our rodeo to be held next March as well as all the cattle and horse shows that call the Garrett Coliseum home. The facility will remain open and the door is wide open for renovation efforts to improve the grounds,” says Dr. Billy Powell, Executive Director of the Southeastern Livestock Exposition. Powell serves as Vice President of the Garrett Coliseum Redevelopment Corporation.

The new agreement, signed by the Garrett Coliseum Redevelopment Corporation and the Alabama National Fair, will allow the Fair’s staff to manage the facility so that events like the SLE Rodeo and the Alabama National Fair as well as other shows and meetings held throughout the year can still happen. In addition, the budget for the facility will have an additional $50,000 appropriation from Montgomery County and $75,000 from the City of Montgomery to be paired with $246,000 in state funds for operation of the facility.

“The fact that the Coliseum will remain open for business is good news. Plus, the bonding authority now held by the Redevelopment Corporation means there’s real potential for raising monies for renovation efforts that we all agree are needed,” says Camp Powers, President of the Southeastern Livestock Exposition.

The Garrett Coliseum Redevelopment Corporation was created during this year’s legislative session by a bill sponsored by State Rep. Joe Hubbard and State Sen. Dick Brewbaker which expanded the Agriculture Center Board. The new entity responsible for the Coliseum includes the Governor, State Finance Director, Commissioner of Agriculture, Mayor of Montgomery, President of the Montgomery City Council, County Commission Chair, plus four others who currently sit on the Agriculture Center Board.

Below are pictures from the press conference:





Tuesday, August 16, 2011

BCIA Producer of the Year Nominations Open



Alabama BCIA is accepting nominations for BCIA Producer of the Year Awards for 2011.  Each year, BCIA selects a nominated commercial and purebred producer to be awarded with these titles, and Alabama BCIA then nominates those individuals for the Beef Improvement Federation’s (BIF) Producer of the Year awards.

Each nominee needs to be an active member of Alabama BCIA in order to be considered for nomination. If you have any questions or to verify that your potential nominee or nominees are an active member of Alabama BCIA, please contact  state BCIA office using the contact information listed below. The nominees will be featured and the winners announced at the Alabama BCIA Annual Meeting and Awards Presentation to be held in conjunction with the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association Convention on Friday and Saturday, March 30-31, 2012 in Huntsville at the Von Braun Convention Center.  

To nominate a commercial or purebred producer for these awards, please go to www.albcia.com, look under the Association Information menu tab on the left and select the Producer of the Year Forms to download the applications.  Please have your nominee or nominees complete either the BCIA Commercial or Purebred Producer of the Year Award Application in order for your organization to nominate an individual or individual for these awards.  Please also send in at least 5 digital or film photos (and up to 10) of each nominee and his or her cattle operation with the completed application.  Please include a picture of the person(s) and cow and/or bull photos.  

All applications and photos need to be mailed or emailed into the Alabama BCIA office by Monday, October 17, 2011.  Please mail the completed application to Michelle F. Elmore, 40 County Rd 756, Clanton, AL 35045 or email to elmormf@auburn.edu.

Please contact Alabama BCIA if you have any questions about these award applications.





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Monday, August 15, 2011

Fall Army Worm Update



UPDATE: ARMY WORMS ARE NOW BEING REPORTED STATEWIDE


The Alabama Cooperative Extension System has updated a new interactive tool for cattlemen and hay producers to use in locating available armyworm sweep nets and also to track the emergence of armyworms across Alabama.

Almost all county extension offices in the state have sweep nets available for use, as well as all Regional Animal Science and Forage Extension agents, and many cattlemen throughout the state. To see which cattlemen have nets, please go to:
http://maps.acesag.auburn.edu/Alabama_Armyworm_Watch/default.aspx 
There is a little "i" button on the top menu bar.  Click that, then click on the county you are interested in, and you will see the cattlemen who have sweep nets. In the future, this map will reflect where armyworms have been detected.

The you tube video on how to use a sweep net is ready, it can be found at:

The next step: making sure we communicate where fall armyworm problems have been found, so everyone  will be aware they need to get out and start looking for armyworms. When you hear of where and when an armyworm infestation has been located, please relay that information to Extension Entomologist Dr. Kathy Flanders at Auburn University (334-844-6393 or flandkl@auburn.edu)

The first installment of a two part article on fall armyworms appeared in the Alabama Cattleman magazine in June, with part two published in the July issue.

Current chemicals registered for fall armyworm can be found in the forage IPM Guide:
http://www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/A/ANR-0500-A/VOL1-2011/forage.pdf 
or in the fall armyworm circular:
http://www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/A/ANR-1019
The IPM guide lists one insecticide, a premix of Karate and Coragen called VOLIAM XPRESS, which is NOT available in Alabama.  That premix will be marketed under a different name in Alabama, but the state label is still pending.



Wednesday, August 10, 2011

National BBQ Tour Visits Alabama

Recently, the Inaugural Sam's Club National BBQ Tour made a stop in Alabama. Competition was tough but the slow smoked beef, pork, and chicken was anything but.

The National $1 Beef Checkoff played a role in the event and put the beef we love on center stage. Hungry consumers had the opportunity to interact with "Grill Master" Michael McDearman and sample some delicious brisket, ribeye steak, and strip steak.

To see a listing of winners from the competition, click here.

Below is a collection of photos from the event:







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Friday, August 5, 2011

Who has Alabama's Best Burger?


Voting is underway in a new contest being hosted by the Alabama Cattlemen's Association to decide Alabama's Best Burger. Anyone can vote for their favorite restaurant in Alabama who they think serves the best burger in their state.

To vote now, please click here.

Complete contest rules are listed below:



Qualifying Burgers: 
‐ Burger restaurant must be in the state of Alabama.
‐ Burgers must be made of 100% ground beef and must be in patty form.  
‐ Burgers may contain any form of condiment, sauce, spice, or topping as long as the patty is made solely of beef (no mixtures of beef, poultry, etc.) and is served on a bun or bread product.
-Every component of burger must be placed between the bun or bread pieces, or served open-faced on a bread product.

Methods of Voting: 
‐ Voting can be done by visiting bamabeef.org and clicking the “Alabama’s Best Burger” icon.

Rules:
‐ Voting will go on from July 21, 2011 to September 30, 2011 at 12:00 PM and can be submitted online by visiting www.bamabeef.org and clicking on “AL Best Burger” icon.
-Only one vote per person is allowed

Judging:
‐ A team of judges will conduct on-site burger tasting after the “Top 5” is announced.

Burgers will be judged based on: 
o Appearance
o Taste
o Proper Cooking

Winner Receives:
- Publicity and write-up in The Alabama Cattleman magazine
‐ Statewide press release announcing winners
‐ Trophy or display to put in restaurant to advertise that you won “Alabama’s Best Burger” contest.




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Friday, July 29, 2011

Upcoming Features in The Alabama Cattlemen

Readers of The Alabama Cattleman magazine can look to the upcoming months of August and September for features of two major events.

The August magazine will feature full coverage from the July 21st meeting of the Alabama Cattlemen's Association Board of Directors. This meeting saw dozens of membership prizes and awards given away to cattlemen across the state. Winners of the John Deere Gator, Priefert chute, and PAC gun drawing will be pictured.


Also, the September issue of The Alabama Cattleman will feature all the winners from all 3 days of the 5th Annual AJCA Round-Up. This year's Round-Up was great with over 160 kids, over 200 cattle, and over 275 total participants.






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Monday, July 11, 2011

2 Ways to Advertise Online with ACA

Now, cattlemen and allied industry partners have two ways to advertise online with the Alabama Cattlemen's Association.

Online Banner Ads:


Website banner ads appear on the homepage of the Alabama Cattlemen's Association' website, bamabeef.org. These online advertisements are an opportunity for those who advertise in the Alabama Cattleman magazine to get extra recognition and even direct site visitors to their own site or page via a direct hyperlink. This online opportunity is only available to current magazine advertisers. The homepage of ACA's website is typically viewed more than 125 times per day. 


Email Blasts *NEW*

Email blasts are a way for magazine advertisers to extend their exposure by more than 25% through access to ACA's database of email subscribers. This online opportunity is only available to current magazine advertisers. The ACA email subscriber database currently contains ±3,000 subscribers. Ads appearing in the Alabama Cattleman can be resized and formatted to 500x600 pixels and sent out as electronic images that, when clicked, direct potential customers to a specific web page. 





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Thursday, June 30, 2011

Complete Fall Armyworm Update: Lots to Share



The Alabama Cooperative Extension System has unveiled a new interactive tool for cattlemen and hay producers to use in locating available armyworm sweep nets and also to track the emergence of armyworms across Alabama.


Almost all county extension offices in the state have sweep nets available for use, as well as all Regional Animal Science and Forage Extension agents, and many cattlemen throughout the state. To see which cattlemen have nets, please go to:
http://maps.acesag.auburn.edu/Alabama_Armyworm_Watch/default.aspx 
There is a little "i" button on the top menu bar.  Click that, then click on the county you are interested in, and you will see the cattlemen who have sweep nets. In the future, this map will reflect where armyworms have been detected.



The you tube video on how to use a sweep net is ready, it can be found at:


The next step: making sure we communicate where fall armyworm problems have been found, so everyone  will be aware they need to get out and start looking for armyworms. When you hear of where and when an armyworm infestation has been located, please relay that information to Extension Entomologist Dr. Kathy Flanders at Auburn University (334-844-6393 or flandkl@auburn.edu)


The first installment of a two part article on fall armyworms appeared in the Alabama Cattleman magazine in June, with part two to be published in the upcoming July issue.


Current chemicals registered for fall armyworm can be found in the forage IPM Guide:
http://www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/A/ANR-0500-A/VOL1-2011/forage.pdf 
or in the fall armyworm circular:
http://www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/A/ANR-1019
The IPM guide lists one insecticide, a premix of Karate and Coragen called VOLIAM XPRESS, which is NOT available in Alabama.  That premix will be marketed under a different name in Alabama, but the state label is still pending.




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