Thursday, January 22, 1998

Farmers Union slates state convention for Jan. 30-31

By J.T. Smith / Abilene Reporter-News

Texas Farmers Union members will wrestle with ag issues at TFU's state convention Jan. 30-31 at the Harvey Hotel in Plano.

The convention opens at 2 p.m. Jan. 30 and concludes with a banquet session at 7 p.m. Jan. 31, said Wes Sims of Sweetwater.

Sims president of the TFU.

U.S. Rep. Charlie Stenholm of Stamford will speak to the convention on the morning of Jan. 31.

Texas Comptroller John Sharp will follow with a luncheon talk that day.

Following Sharp's visit, TFU policy will be debated and adopted from 2:30-6 p.m. that day.

The policy debate is vital to the organization and sets TFU priorities for the coming year. TFU members also will decide issues that need to be considered at the National Farmers Union (NFU) convention in March.

NFU President Leland Swenson will be in Texas to speak at the closing evening banquet at the state meeting Jan. 31. Swenson grew up on a Minnesota farm. He recently was appointed to the 21st Century Commission on Production Agriculture, which will review the 1996 federal farm law's impact on farmers and ranchers and make recommended changes. The 1996 act governs the nation's farm policy through Year 2002.

State Rep. David Counts of Knox City will be among the many other leaders who will speak at the state convention.

Biles hired to serve Low Rolling Plains

Steven Biles, a recent graduate of Texas A&M University, has been hired to serve the Low Rolling Plains as the agent for the Integrated Pest Management program.

Biles has degrees in both agronomy and entomology.

He will work with farmers in Mitchell, Scurry, Nolan and Jones counties.

The new IPM agent and a scout will be responsible for scouting of insect pests as well as establishing high-quality farm demonstrations.

European Union will allow U.S. dairy products

Some encouraging news for dairymen.

The European Union has overturned a ban on U.S. exports of dairy products.

EU decided to reverse itself and allow imported dairy products from some 200 U.S. companies.

Had the ban continued, it would have stopped an estimated $30 million worth of U.S. dairy products from entering European markets.

But EU ban on U.S. beef remains issue

The EU hasn't given in to allowing U.S. beef.

But the Word Trade Organization is turning up the heat on the EU.

The past week, the WTO upheld its earlier ruling that the EU ban on beef produced with growth promotants is a "non-tariff trade barrier" and does not comply with global trading rules.

WTO stayed with that position after the EU appealed at May 1997 WTO rurling in favor of the United States.

"We expect the EU -- a WTO member -- to live up to its trade obligations and bring its regulations into compliance in order to grant access to U.S. beef," said Mark Armentrout, chairman of the International Markets Committee for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association.

The EU has 15 months to comply with the WTO ruling.

Cattle market stronger

Speaking of beef, the area cattle market was significantly higher over the past weekend and this week as well.

The market at Abilene Livestock Auction on Tuesday was $3 to $4 per hundredweight higher on feeder steers and heifers. Slaughter cows were $2 to $3 per hundredweight higher. Replacement cows were $70 to $80 per head higher.

Some lightweight feeder steers brought $110 to $119 per hundredweight, with some fancy ones at $132.50.

The video auctions have been strong, too.

More than 52,000 head of calves, feeder cattle and breeding stock were offered in Denver, Colo., over the past weekend as Superior Livestock Auction conducted its annual "BELLRINGER" video auction from the Holiday Inn North Hotel there.

Held in conjunction with the 92nd annual National Western Stock Show, enthusiasm was high and cattle prices sharply higher across the board. Producers from 28 states and Mexico offered cattle with the offering comprised of 32 percent steer and heifer calves of 375 to 590 pounds; 62 percent feeder steers and heifers of 600 pounds and up; with the balance of 6 percent sold as breeding stock.

The top price was $109.50 cwt. paid on a load of 120 weaned steer calves based at 425 pounds from Gary Hill of Saguache, Colo.

Delivery is mostly current through April, with a few loads not slated for shipment until May and June.