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September 7, 2001

Coyotes caused the most losses, 64.6 percent of the total. Dogs ranked second, killing 26,000 head. Mountain lions and bobcats accounted for 7.5 percent of the total. Estimated total value of all cattle and calves lost to predators was $51.6 million. Farmers and ranchers spent $184.9 million on non-lethal methods to prevent losses from predators.
Source: Doane's Management Planner, Vol. 64, July 6, 2001

Legislation allows access to cheaper pesticides

Representatives Earl Pomeroy (D-ND), John Baldacci (D-ME) and John McHugh (R-NY) have introduced H.R. 1084, The Pesticide Harmonization Act, which would allow farmers, cooperatives, and farm supply stores access to lower-priced Canadian agricultural chemicals that are identical or "substantially similar" to those sold in the United States. Companion legislation, S. 532, was introduced in the Senate by Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) in March.

The bill allows states to ask EPA to issue pesticide labels that can be placed on Canadian products when the only "significant difference" between the products is the price. The U.S. product label would allow farmers to buy the Canadian pesticide for use only in the particular state that asked for the pesticide label. EPA label instructions still would have to be followed.

Source: Speedline, Public Policy Bulletin, July 10, 2001

Livestock marketing law backfires
In the spring of 1999, the Missouri legislature passed and on July 2, Governor Carnahan signed the Missouri Livestock Marketing Law. It states that packers "shall not discriminate in prices paid or offered to be paid to sellers" of slaughter livestock in Missouri.

Before this new law could go into effect, the U.S. District Court for Western Missouri ruled it an unconstitutional restriction on interstate commerce. In May 2001, an appellate court overturned this decision allowing the law to go into effect on May 29, 2001.

The effects of the law has reduced the number of bids and the price being offered for Missouri livestock. Packers question why they would pay the same price for Missouri livestock as for Kansas livestock if buying in Missouri brings the added risk of a lawsuit for price discrimination? Since the law was enacted, some packers have stopped buying Missouri livestock and others have altered their buying practices to minimize the financial risks (triple damages) associated with violating this law. The primary change has been a reduction in the number of slaughter animals being purchased on a live weight basis.
Source: Weekly Swine Report, July 16, 2001

Who pays Texas school taxes?
In 2000, Texas school taxes increased 12 percent to reach $13.4 billion, as reported to the Comptroller's Property Tax Division by 1,035 independent school districts (ISDs). Who paid these school taxes and what was the percentage of tax burden?

Texas business and residential properties paid almost the same total amount in school taxes, with businesses at $6.2 billion and residential properties at $6.1 billion.

Texas businesses paid almost 47 percent of 2000 local school taxes—about $6.2 billion. Of all business properties, only the utilities' category experienced a tax decrease.

All residential properties, single-family homes, multi-family units and residential inventory saw the school tax share increase just under $821 million—to a total of $6.1 billion, or about 46 percent of the local school taxes. Owners of single-family residences paid almost 40 percent of local school taxes and saw their 2000 school property taxes grow by $722 million.

Vacant lots, rural acreage and farm and ranch improvements generated about 7.1 percent of local school taxes with about $956 million, a $63 million increase from 1999.
Source: Statement-May/June 2001, Carole Keeton Rylander, Texas Comptroller

Texas exports rise 20 percent
In fiscal 2000, Texas rebounded to third ranked state exporter. Sharp gains in exports of cotton and live animals and meat in 2000 helped pull Texas up to third-ranked state agricultural exporter after its poor year in 1999. Texas' exports rose 20 percent to $3.3 billion in 2000.

Of the total $534-million gain in Texas exports, live animals and meat accounted for $138 million and cotton another $180 million. Texas remained the leading state in exports of both cotton and cottonseed, ranked second in exports of feeds, fodders and peanuts, and third in exports of live animals and meat, as well as the related products hides and skins and animal fats.

California continued to lead state agricultural exports, with $7.6 billion. The Golden State accounted for half of all U.S. vegetable exports, in which it showed a large gain, and also led in exports of fruits and tree nuts. Iowa, the second-ranked state exporter, led in exports of feed grains and soybeans.
Source: U.S. Agricultural Trade Update, ERS, USDA, July 24, 2001

U.S. appetite for foreign food increases
The import share of U.S. food consumption is estimated at 9.1 percent in 1998 and 1999, up from 7.4 percent in 1995. The "import share of U.S. food consumption" is the portion of food consumed domestically that is imported from foreign countries. The remaining portion of food consumed is produced in the United States.

Over the past two decades, U.S. consumers have gradually increased their dependence on imported foods. From a relatively low level 20 years ago, import shares of most major foods that are largely produced in the United States have increased through the 1990s.

The most notable amounts of these imports are fish and shellfish, fresh fruits, tree nuts, wine, fresh vegetables, vegetable oils, grains, malt beverages, and confectionery products.

Nevertheless, the average import share of overall U.S. food consumption remains below 10 percent, with animal products at 4.5 percent and crops and products at 12 percent.
Source: U.S. Agricultural Trade Update, Economic Research Service, USDA, June 27, 2001