Brazilian beef, Castleberry, Farm bill, Ted Turner, Swift & Co., Winn Meat

"We can put up to 10 cattle per hectare (1 hectare = 2.47 acres) on land like that. That's the richest pasture we have today, but we have the techniques to go further. The sky's the limit."
(Source: Los Angeles Times/Financial Times, July 23, 2007)
Arno Schneider pointing to a stretch of pasture on his 7,500 acre ranch near Cuiaba in central Brazil and talking about that country’s rapid rise in the beef industry.
>PS: Brazil is now the second-biggest beef producer in the world after the United States, producing more than 9 million tons, up from 6 million in 1997.

"So that we can devote all available resources to this investigation, we agreed to shut down our entire facility in Augusta. We will not process any more food there until the FDA and the USDA agrees it is appropriate to reopen. And, we have stopped all further product distribution from our centers."
(Source: Knoxnews, July 23, 2007)
Dave Melbourne, senior vice president for Castleberry's, talking about the extraordinary measures the company is taking to insure the public’s health.
>PS: In addition, the company hired an outside firm to visit more than 8,500 retailers around the country to quickly get recalled products off store shelves.
>PPS: Castleberry’s is doing it right. No hiding behind legalese or trying to obfuscate the problem. . . just taking care of it. As soon as their product is back on supermarket shelves, I’m first in line to buy it.

"I find it hard to believe, but I have to take (Republicans) at their word. It's going to be a shootout at high noon."
(Source: Washington Post, July 26, 2007)
Collin Peterson, D-MN., House Agriculture Committee chairman, saying he didn't know if the legislation could survive the last minute pork barrel polka that’s substantially driven up the cost of the farm bill.
>PS: The gripe is major crop subsidies are left in place, some are increased. Little is included for environmental and nutritional program. Rural Republicans might vote no just to save their seats.

"I felt like I was eating my puppy. When I started getting a few thousand buffalo, I figured I better start eating it and learning about it."
(Source: Rapid City Journal, July 26, 2007)
Ted Turner talking to a crowd of about 300 at the Mount Rushmore amphitheatre as he was inducted into the National Buffalo Foundation Hall of Fame at the opening event of the third International Bison Conference.
>PS: A well deserved award - the “mouth of the South” made the bison business what it is today.
>PPS: May I suggest the National Bison Association give an annual ‘Turner Award’ to the person who does the most for the industry?

“The NGFA recognizes the importance of a strong conservation title as part of any successful farm bill. But we encourage Congress to redirect conservation resources to focus on working lands programs coupled with a shift away from land-idling schemes.”
(Source: Grainnet, July 25, 2007)
Kendell W. Keith, National Grain and Feed Association president, in a letter to the Senate Agriculture Committee, urging CRP rules to be relaxed in their version of the Farm Bill.
>PS: The compelling reason? NGFA noted an Iowa State University study on biofuels showed a need to attract 94 million to 112 million acres into corn production each year to meet expected demand.

"If the government can pick them up and say this one's legal and this one is illegal, why can't they share that with industry? It's kind of ridiculous. You might as well be talking to a wall."
(Source: Forbes.com, July 27, 2007)
Rick Milsap, Petit Jean Poultry president, expressing his continued confusion at the reasons behind the government raid two years ago that nearly bankrupted the business.
>PS: The feds can’t help ferret out ‘illegals’ before they’re hired but they can raid after the fact and grab headlines. Does this two year old story sound ‘Swiftly’ familiar?

"It's not necessarily the market conditions, but more about the tradition we have as a company to run at capacity and maximize our assets. That's the way we like to operate."
(Source: Northern Colorado Business Report, July 27, 2007)
Marco Sampaio, Swift & Co. spokesman, talking about the Greeley plant’s planned second shift and hiring 1,300 additional workers.
>PS: Northern Colorado breathes a sigh of relief. It had been rumored that the new Brazilian owners might close the plant.

"After much thought and months of discussion at every level of our company, it finally occurred to us that the world needs a Dry-Age Cam! What could possibly be more exciting for our customers than watching proteolysis at work! At least 21 days of sheer bliss for the steak that is selected for our dry-age program."
(Source: Company press release)
Jamie Samford, Corporate Chef, Winn Meat Company, talking about putting some excitement into our everyday humdrum lives.
>PS: Thanks, Jamie, but your Dry-Age Cam will have to compete for my attention with watching paint dry and the always thrilling Cleveland Water Crib cam.
>PPS: Click on the Winn Meat Company link to actually witness the Dry-Age Cam in action!

Point: "That's the largest single increase from year to year in my 30 years in this business.”
Garrett Smith, president of American Pop Corn Co., talking about the 65% increase in contract costs to get farmers to plant Jolly Time popcorn and suggesting the rise in price is due to the surge in ethanol production.
Counterpoint: "I love popcorn, and I have no doubt that the cost of popcorn-growing has gone up. But so have Iowa farmland values, corn prices and soybean prices. That's really good news for the Iowa farmer, taxpayers and the Iowa and U.S. economies.
"Monte Shaw, Executive Director of Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, dismissing Smith’s concerns and suggesting other factors are to blame for the increase in price.
(Source: Des Moines Register, July 28, 2007)
>PS: Come on Monte, the MAJOR cause in the rising price of corn is the boost in ethanol production. Look up the word ‘obfuscation’ in your Funk & Wagnalls.