Meeting in Rome this week, the Codex Alimentarius Commission voted Thursday to adopt global food safety standards for the use of ractopamine hydrochloride (ractopamine), the feed ingredient used in the beta agonist product Optaflexx.

Water scarcity is one of the most urgent challenges confronting farmers and ranchers in the southwestern U.S. today. To learn about some of the latest, most promising technologies and techniques in water-use efficiency being developed by agricultural professionals throughout the Southwest, consider attending the Water: The Foundation of Agricultural Sustainability Conference on Aug. 7 in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Summer annuals are often used by cattle producers for summer grazing or harvested for hay. Plants such as Sorghum-Sudan hybrids, Sorgo-Sudan hybrids, Sudan-Sudan hybrids and millets all fall in this category. These summer crops can be very productive and high quality but can also accumulate toxic levels of nitrate when stressed. The heat and dry weather of the past two weeks has caused many of these plants to become very stressed.

Prices for cattle of all classes and for beef are higher than this time last year. However, cattle market conditions have changed significantly in the past few weeks and most prices have declined recently.  The biggest factor is weather, which is impacting markets directly and indirectly, both in the immediate short run as well as farther down the road.  Beyond weather impacts, beef demand remains a critical question for cattle and beef markets.

USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service released the monthly Cattle on Feed report on June 22. As of June 1, 2012, U.S. feedlots with a one-time capacity of 1,000 head or larger had 2 percent more cattle on-feed than a year ago, which was about 1 percent more than anticipated. Just a month earlier (as of May 1st), for the first time in any month during the prior two years the on-feed count was below a year earlier. Several factors bolstered placements of cattle into feedlots during May. The on-feed count also increased due to lower than expected feedlot marketings.

Eating satisfaction rules when it comes to making beef lovers happy.

Travis Chase of New Plymouth, Idaho, is one of 18 outstanding FFA members to receive a scholarship sponsored by AGCO and AGCO Finance, says Jason Marx, vice president of marketing, AGCO North America. Scholarships were provided through the 2011-2012 FFA Collegiate Scholarship Program.