'NEBRASKA CATTLEMEN SAY RANCH, FEEDLOT BIZ TO IMPROVE'

(AP/KRVN.com) -- The AP reports, "The Nebraska Cattlemen say ranchers and feedlot owners should feel optimistic about their businesses, even though the last couple years have been difficult.” An analyst "with the National Cattlemen says history suggests that tough conditions, like the relatively high corn prices of the last couple years, will pass," but that "beef producers need to pay attention to politics and regulatory debates in Washington, D.C." <http://www.krvn.com/news/index/421e98d6-8e03-465f-9f0f-74b434388f5a>

CATTLE MARKET COULD IMPROVE IN LATE 2010

(KRVN.com) -- KRVN reports that while "the pain of recent record losses in the U.S. cattle feeding industry will not diminish soon," tightening supplies "could lead to a modest rebound in late 2010, according to agricultural economist James Mintert" of Purdue University. By 2010, overall total meat supplies are expected to be "very tight," the economist said.

See the story at <http://www.krvn.com/news/agricultural/519f5db4-70d4-40fb-a4c1-69ecab0e47b6>

CATTLEMEN REPORT TUBERCULOSIS CAUSING PROBLEMS IN THE CATTLE INDUSTRY

(Associated Press/Omaha.com) -- The AP reports that "bovine tuberculosis has created costly problems for the cattle industry in states where the disease has appeared, but it appears to be a manageable threat."

According to the story, Nebraska and Texas are "investigating positive cases of bovine tuberculosis", but "cattlemen and others say few cases have been confirmed and the disease is proving more of a nuisance than a real threat to their roughly $60 billion industry." Nebraska seeks "to keep its official tuberculosis-free designation to avoid additional testing requirements. It has tested 10,500 cattle since June with no new cases found."

See the story at <http://omaha.com/article/20090827/MONEY/708279916>

THERE IS STILL CONCERN IN CONGRESS ABOUT AN EPA COW TAX

(Nebraska Ag Connection) -- The Nebraska Ag Connection reports that Senator John Thune (R-SD) has criticized an announcement from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) "that could result in the implementation of new regulations on carbon dioxide and methane gases, including the creation of a 'cow tax.'" The story states that Thune believes "this is the first step in a slippery slope that could result in implementation of a tax on all CO2 emissions." According to the story, in March, Senator Thune and Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) introduced S. 527, a bipartisan bill that would prevent the government from imposing a "cow tax" on farmers and ranchers across the country.

The bill was introduced after the EPA last year discussed regulating greenhouse gases, a move that could include requiring farmers to purchase expensive permits. Thune says the "cow tax" would cost South Dakota farmers an estimated $367 million -- or $175 per dairy cow, $87.50 per beef cow, and $20 per hog. "S. 527 is cosponsored by Senators John Barrasso and Mike Enzie, both of Wyoming; Kit Bond and Claire McCaskill, both of Missouri; Sam Brownback and Pat Brown, both of Kansas; Chuck Grassley of Iowa; Mike Johanns of Nebraska; and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota." See the story at <http://www.nebraskaagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=297&yr=2009>

NEBRASKA CATTLE INVENTORY REPORTED BELOW PREVIOUS YEARS

(AP) -- Nebraska's cattle inventory heading into 2009 posted a decrease from previous years. The USDA says the state had 6.35 million head of cattle and calves on hand on Jan. 1, down 2% from last year and 5% from 2007. All cattle and calves in the United States as of Jan. 1 totaled 96 million head. That was 2% below the 96 million reported last year.

ECONOMIC CRISIS AFFECTS NEBRASKA CATTLE PRODUCERS

(KOLN/KGIN TV, Lincoln, G.I.) -- The effects of the rocky economy have been felt around the nation for quite some time. Now, Nebraska's cattle industry is feeling the pinch. As commodity prices fluctuate, and input costs rise, cattle producers are finding it much more difficult to survive the tough economic times. "Outside factors are influencing us in the cattle business," said Todd Schroeder of the Nebraska Cattlemen. Just like other start-up businesses, feeding cattle takes a lot of capital, which is becoming more difficult to get with the nation's current economic situation. According to the Nebraska Cattlemen, Nebraska is the largest producer of beef per square mile. Nebraska also ranks number two in live animal and meat exports, and harvests 7 million head annually.

US FEEDYARDS SEE SHARP DECLINE IN CATTLE

(AP) — The number of cattle going into feedlots in Nebraska, Kansas and across the nation has taken a steep dive. The latest cattle-on-feed statistics come at a time of high input costs for fattening the beef and deep losses for the nation’s cattle-feeding industry. Kansas has 2.23 million head of cattle in its large feedyards as of Nov. 1. That number is down 8% from the same month a year ago. Cattlemen during October also placed 15% fewer cattle on feed, meaning the available slaughter supply will remain tight in the coming months. The Nebraska inventory of cattle on feed as of Nov. 1 was down 4% from last year and 5% from 2006. Since Labor Day, live cattle futures have dropped $20 a hundredweight because of concerns about domestic and export demand.

NEBRASKA NUMBER ONE IN COMMERCIAL MEAT

(Grand Island Independent) -- Nebraska was the nation's top commercial red meat producer during October as production totaled 666.3 million pounds, compared to 680.3 million pounds in October 2007. Nebraska was the nation's top cattle slaughter state with 614,900 head, but that's down from last October's 635,000 head. Nebraska's hog processing in October was 726,900 head, compared to October 2007's 724,300. According to Erin Daley, United States Meat Export Federation economist, while the world's economy is slowing down, both U.S. beef and pork export levels continued to exceed expectations through the first nine months of the year. According to Daley, U.S. pork exports built on the record set in August, increasing 61 percent in September over totals from a year ago.