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Texas Agriculture Archive

March 1, 2002

The 2001 calf crop was estimated at 38.3 million head, down 1 percent from both 2000 and 1999. Calves born during the first half of the year are estimated at 28.1 million, down 1 percent from both 2000 and 1999.

All sheep and lamb United States on Jan. 1, 2002, totaled 6.69 million head, down 4 percent from 2001 and 5 percent below two years ago. The inventory has trended down since peaking at 56.2 million head in 1942. The number of operations with sheep during 2001 totaled 65,120, down 1 percent from 2000 and 3 percent from 1999.

All goat inventory in Texas on Jan.1, 2002 totaled 1.25 million head, down 11 percent from 2001 and 4 percent below two years ago.

Mohair production in the three inventory in the major producing states (Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas) during 2001 was 1.97 million pounds, down 25 percent from 2000.
Source: NASS, USDA, Cattle & Sheep and Goats, February 2002

China prospects are bright for U.S. beef
China was the third largest producer of beef in the world in 2001. The United States was "number one" in annual beef production. Chinese beef output is on the rise, as are imports of meat into China. With an improving distribution system and higher incomes, an increasing number of urban citizens in China have more access to beef (frozen and fresh)—both domestic and imported. The U.S. is in a perfect position to capture additional red meat sales in the urban Chinese markets.

Chinese beef production is very typical of that found in many developing countries. Small producers with two or three cows dominate the beef industry in China. On average, these farmers raise the cattle on "excess crop residues" from their complimentary grain operations. Very little intensive cattle feeding operations exist in China today, but economics dictate that future interest will grow.

The U.S. is the major supplier of imported beef into China. The current import amount is small (a less than 1 percent market share of total Chinese consumption) but it's growing and should double over the next five years. The primary import is sliced beef used in hot pots, a traditional Chinese dish served in cold weather. Australia, Brazil and New Zealand are the major competitors in the market.

Source: AFBF Speedlines, Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2002, China and Beef

Wind energy growth blows out of sight
Wind energy doubled last year, adding $1.7 billion of equipment in 16 states, enough to power 475,000 homes. That is more than double the record set in 1999, when the industry had increased its capacity by 60 percent over the year before.

"More new wind generation was installed in Texas than had ever been installed in the entire country in a single year," AWEA Director Randall Swisher says.

Worldwide, wind energy is growing by 25 percent, although America's use of wind is at 1 percent.

Source: Landowner, Vol. 24, No. 3, Feb. 11, 2002