August was another outstanding month for U.S. pork and beef exports, according to statistics released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). Pork exports reached their highest monthly volume of the year at 186,068 metric tons, and the second-highest value total of all time at $531.2 million. Beef exports set an all-time monthly value record at $514.2 million on a strong volume of 116,405 mt. Both pork and beef exports are on pace to set new value records in 2011 and to eclipse the $5 billion mark for the first time ever.

The American Meat Institute (AMI), in conjunction with the American Meat Science Association (AMSA), today expanded its “Meat MythCrushers” campaign with the first of seven new myth-crushing videos that sets the record straight about myths associated with the use of ammonium hydroxide in some beef products. “We’ve received tremendous feedback thus far on the campaign,” said AMI Senior Vice President of Public Affairs and Member Services Janet Riley.  “We want to keep the momentum going and continue to provide consumers with facts to make informed choices.” The Meat Myth Crushers campaign is centered around the website, http://www.meatmythcrushers.com/, and a companion Facebook page, which feature science-based information and resources in response to some of the most popular meat and poultry myths held by consumers, covering topics such as food safety, production methods, nutrition and animal welfare. “One of the more popular recent myths we’ve heard from consumers that has been spread by some movies and TV personalities is that ordinary household ammonia is used to make some hamburgers,” Riley added.  “This myth was the first of the seven that we aim to crush.” Gary Acuff, Ph.D., director for food safety and professor of food microbiology at Texas A&M University, provides the facts and dispels this inaccurate notion in a new video posted today on the website.  Acuff explains, “One form of ammonia called ammonium hydroxide is sometimes used in processing foods like baked goods, cheeses, chocolates and some beef products – this is not the same type of ammonia in household cleaners.” The new Web page also contains various articles, fact sheets and a Q&A about the safe use of ammonium hydroxide in beef production. Dr. Acuff’s video is the first of seven to be released over the next six weeks, which will feature various academic experts from all over the country addressing meat myths on topics ranging from livestock environmental impact to processed meat safety and nutrition. “The American Meat Science Association is proud to be connecting directly with consumers through these videos,” said AMSA Executive Director Thomas Powell.  “Meat scientists are excellent resources for consumers with questions and we are pleased to be part of this education effort.”

The Society for Range Management has made special provisions this year to offer its annual Ranchers’ Forum nationally by webinar, announced Forum coordinator Tom Platt of Washington State University Extension in Davenport, Wash.

One of the most important challenges facing feedlot operators, and the consulting veterinarians who service them, is the development of on-arrival strategies to maximize health in the most economic fashion.

If national trends are the equivalent of a beef industry report card, then ranchers and feeders are making the grade.

Novartis Animal Health US, Inc. has created a new website focused exclusively on scours prevention in beef and dairy calves. The website, www.scourbos.com, features Scour Bos, a broad-spectrum vaccine that protects against the most common bacterial and viral pathogens that cause calf scours.

Last week, the three long-pending free trade agreements with Panama, Columbia, and South Korea were sent to Congress for a vote. Expectations are that from this point, the agreements will quickly receive an affirmative vote and finally become law. While all three of these deals are important for agricultural trade in general, for the beef and pork industries in particular, the big prize has clearly been South Korea.

Driven largely by drought, the price of feed and changing consumer habits, production of meat products – especially beef – is expected to drop next year, according to a new report by Rabobank International.

As the drought continues to plague the Southwest, surprisingly, wheat plantings and emergence are on par with prior five-year averages according to Monday's Crop Progress report.  However, the longer-term outlook of these acres being able to support the number of calves they have in previous year's is much more suspect.

Another year of drought, or even five to 10 years more drought? The first is highly likely, and the second, though harder to predict, a strong possibility, according to Dr. John Nielsen-Gammon, state climatologist.