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The National Livestock Weekly December 10, 2007 • Vol. 87, No. 09 “The Industry’s Largest Weekly Circulation” Web site: www.wlj.net • E-mail: [email protected] • [email protected] • [email protected] A Crow Publication Judge seeks to add endangered species A federal judge recently ruled listed, but the sage grouse, with that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife its expansive range covering most Service (FWS) failed to take into of the western U.S., could have the account the best scientific evidence most damaging consequences to available when it decided not to agriculture and energy develop- give sage grouse endangered spe- ment. cies protection. Terry Fankhauser, executive U.S. District Judge B. Lynn vice president of the Colorado Winmill chastised the agency in Cattlemen’s Association (CCA), his decision, which placed a large said that groups interested in see- amount of blame on former Depu- ing the sage grouse receive an ty Assistant Interior Secretary endangered species designation Julie MacDonald. MacDonald, tend to ignore scientific evidence who resigned in May, has been which shows the ecological benefit accused by Winmill of intimidating of ranching activities. FWS personnel, editing scientific “As with almost any endangered data, and purposefully blocking species, groups who are generally potential listings of a number of anti-grazing haven’t given consid- critical species, including sage eration to the science showing the grouse. benefits of good range manage- “Furthermore, the FWS decision ment,” said Fankhouser. “Not only lacked a coherent analysis of the can livestock cohabitate with sage deterioration of habitat and the grouse, the grazing is good. We regulatory mechanisms designed have evidence showing that proper to protect the sage-grouse,” wrote range management actually in- Winmill. “Finally, the FWS deci- creases sage grouse populations.” A federal judge's recent ruling could land the sage grouse on the list of endangered species—threatening public sion was tainted by the inexcus- Fankhauser explained that a land grazing across the West. able conduct of one of its own ex- number of groups have invested a ecutives. Julie MacDonald, a great deal of time ensuring the deputy assistant secretary who safety of sage grouse as a species, Long-term weather patterns was neither a scientist nor a sage- without the cumbersome regula- grouse expert, had a well-docu- tions which come with an endan- mented history of intervening in gered species listing. show little sign of change the listing process to ensure that “CCA and ranchers across the The weather outlook for much ate La Niña will continue to influ- tinue through the next three months the “best science” supported a deci- state have worked diligently with of the southern U.S. isn’t likely to ence U.S. weather patterns for as a result of weather patterns being sion not to list the species.” state and national organizations; change much over the course of the most of the winter. That weather generated half a world away. Winmill is openly seeking a re- we have a state sage grouse work- next three months. Below normal pattern is expected to maintain “We’ve seen some pretty good evaluation of the status of several ing group as well as local sage precipitation and above normal current trends for the nation snowfall in the northwest and that’s species which he hopes to see See Endangered on page 15 temperatures are expected to re- through the next three months, likely to continue through the win- main in control for most of the Miskus said. ter. Elsewhere though, things are NCBA to promote premises winter months, according to Na- “There will be above normal looking pretty bad right now in tional Weather Service (NWS) precipitation in the northwest U.S. terms of precipitation in the south- forecasts. That could spell bad over the course of the next three west, southern California, much of registration for USDA news for the winter wheat crop months and on into the spring,” Texas, along the Gulf Coast and At a press conference Nov. 30, in recent cases of bovine tubercu- and producers who, in some areas, Miskus said. through the southeastern corner of USDA Undersecretary for Market- losis the trace back process aver- have been suffering from drought However, for the southern third of the U.S., where it’s already dry. ing and Regulatory Programs aged 199 days, far too long to be conditions for more than a year. the U.S., he said climate models Things will improve a little in the Bruce Knight and National Cattle- helpful in the event of a highly David Miskus, agriculture show that dry conditions will con- southwest short-term, but the long- men’s Beef Association (NCBA) contagious disease such as FMD. weather meteorologist for the Na- tinue through the winter and the term trend for the next three CEO Terry Stokes announced the Knight stressed that the pro- tional Centers for Climate Predic- suffering created by drought condi- months shows that those areas two organizations had finalized a gram requires an absolute mini- tion, said last week that a moder- tions in many areas is likely to con- aren’t likely to get much rainfall $2.1 million agreement to encour- mum of information from produc- this winter,” said Miskus. age beef producers’ voluntary par- ers and is kept confidential, only Miskus said the upper Midwest, ticipation in the National Animal to be accessed by officials in the Holiday beef demand Great Lakes region and northeast Identification System (NAIS). event of an emergency. are expected to see above average Citing lower than expected “It’s really not much more infor- precipitation and near or slightly premises registration among cattle mation than can be found in a is beginning to pick up below-normal precipitation producers, Knight said the agree- phone book,” Knight said. through the winter. ment would help promote the pro- According to the terms of the Some light cash trade was underway by mid-day last Thursday at “There is a long-term dip in the gram among the producers using agreement, the National Cattle- $145-147 in Nebraska, however most other areas were quiet, with the jet stream that is expected to re- NCBA’s extensive media outlets men’s Foundation (NCF) and majority of trade expected to occur on Friday. Analysts expected a main in place which will drop in and partnerships with state cattle- NCBA will use print and elec- steady to weak trend last week. Prior week trade came in at $95-95.50 extra moisture from the northern men’s associations. tronic media opportunities includ- in the southern Plains. Live sales in Nebraska and Colorado sold from Rockies, through the upper Mid- “This cooperative agreement ing National Cattlemen magazine $95-96 and dressed sales ranged from $150-151. Live sales in Iowa/ west, Ohio River Valley area and will help USDA reach out to the and NCBA’s “Cattlemen to Cattle- Minnesota sold from $94-95 with dressed sales from $148-150. large and varied American cattle men” television program, as well Packers were working off available supplies of contract and for- into the northeast. That dip in the stream will also allow colder air to industry to promote the merits of as radio segments to create a foun- mula cattle and slaughter volume early in the week was indicative a national animal identification dation for future cattleman-to- of a healthy supply of cattle available. Week-to-date total harvest sink down into the northern-third of the country, dropping tempera- system,” said Knight. “For the fu- cattleman outreach efforts. through last Thursday was pegged at 520,000 head, compared to ture success of the industry, it is 505,000 for the same period a week earlier and 502,000 for the same tures below normal this winter,” See NCBA on page 14 essential that producers and ani- period in 2006. The heavy slaughter volume indicates that the said Miskus. mal health officials have the infor- packer battle for market share, despite heavy losses for much of the For the next three months, in mation they need to respond quick- year, continues. Packer losses last week were estimated at $56.25 fact, weather conditions are fore- ly and effectively in the event of an per head by HedgersEdge.com. Without positive margins in pork cast to remain similar to current animal disease situation. The Na- and poultry production, packers would likely be in far greater conditions. If the models are cor- trouble than they are. Current packer margins in the pork industry rect, that could mean drought tional Animal Identification Sys- were estimated at $8.60 per head by HedgersEdge.com. development in much of the south- tem provides that framework.” Analysts at the Livestock Marketing Information Center (LMIC) ern third of the U.S. That predic- He stressed that the goal of NAIS said that pork margins are at their best in six years. That profit- tion could spell trouble for the is to provide 48-hour trace back in ability comes despite heavy production levels indicating very good winter wheat crop which has been the event of an animal disease demand for the product. slow to develop this year as a re- outbreak such as foot-and-mouth sult of light precipitation in the disease (FMD). He said that trace See Market on page 11 southern Plains. Already, wheat back ability will help protect the See Weather on page 8 nation’s livestock industry. He said INSIDEINSIDE WLJ WLJ Time Sensitive Priority Handling FAIR WILL REQUIRE ID —The RUSSIA BEEF DEAL CLOSE— PERU TPA PASSES SENATE E.

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