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Twenty of the state's top dietitians and nutrition thought leaders experienced ranching from a personal level in a first-of-its-kind program hosted by the Texas Beef Council March 23-25 in the Texas Panhandle.
The three-day event included scientific sessions, chef demonstrations and beef industry presentations that emphasized beef's culinary and nutritional strengths. The beef checkoff hopes the dietitians will return home with new information to use in advising consumers about beef's nutritional benefits as well as a renewed appreciation for individuals and families who produce beef on America's ranches.
"The beef industry is committed to providing a wholesome, nutritious food and to communicating accurate information about beef's nutritional qualities and role in a healthful diet," said Dr. Shalene McNeill, TBC's senior nutrition communications manager. "The Texas beef checkoff hosted this meeting to communicate this commitment to 20 of Texas' top registered dietitian thought leaders."
The meeting, titled "The Ranch: An Insider's View of the Beef Industry," included visits to the historic JA Ranch at Clarendon. Jay O'Brien of Amarillo, managing partner in the JA's cattle and ranch operations and vice chairman of the Cattlemen's Beef Board, provided a backgrounder on the beef industry. The participants also visited Randall County Feedyard, a division of Friona Industries, located near Amarillo, and the Texas Cattle Feeders Association headquarters in Amarillo. In addition, the participants interacted in seminars that discussed beef's nutritional profile and examined emerging nutrition research.
'Fast track'extension requested
The Bush administration has requested an extension to Trade Promotion Authority through July 1, 2007.
Under current provisions, TPA would apply only to agreements signed before July 1, 2005. The extension will go into effect unless the House or Senate disapproves by July 1.
TPA, often referred to as "fast track" trade negotiations, was enacted in August 2002.
"Taken together, the countries with which the administration has completed or is negotiating free trade agreements constitute America's third largest export market, drawing $78 billion in U.S. exports in 2004 and comprising the world's sixth largest economy," the office of the U.S. Trade Representative reported in announcing the proposed extension.
Farm Bureau supports the extension of TPA.
Renewable energy forum set
The Rural Alliance for Renewable Energy (RARE) will hold the third in a series of forums around the state at Texas State Technical College in Waco, April 29-30.
"There are significant economic development, security and reliability benefits and opportunities for Texas communities and individuals in the development of renewable energy resources," a RARE spokesman said. "These forums help assure rural citizens in Central Texas get in on these opportunities."
Forum participants may:
• Explore the real options in ethanol and biodiesel; electricity from biomass resources, confined animal feeding operations or solar; water heating; geothermal heat pumps; and large and small scale wind power.
• Find out what it takes to get an individual, a company or a community involved.
• Learn about governmental and private sector initiatives.
• Connect with companies, agencies and organizations with products and services available in today's market.
Forums, workshops, commercial and informational exhibits will be held at the John B. Connally Technology Center, Auditorium, at 3801 Campus Drive in Waco.
Advance registration is $40. Door registration is $50. Expo exhibits are open to the public and registrants at no charge.
For more information contact James Scott, RARE Coordinator, 512/936-8163 or jscott@orca.state.tx.us.
'Don't be blah' about pork!
The National Pork Board has approved a new advertising campaign with the goal of promoting additional pork consumption. The board is tripling its advertising spending and playing down "the other white meat" tag line.
The new tag line is: "The other white meat. Don't be blah." The campaign suggests pork is easy to cook and the main ingredient for new and existing recipes that couples and families may enjoy.
The "other white meat" advertising campaign began in 1987.
Notable Quotables
"Anybody who heats their home with natural gas knows exactly what has happened in terms of cost. As a farmer, I'm paying 70 percent more for nitrogen fertilizer today than I did two years ago. At the same time, corn prices are about 30 percent lower right now than they were a year ago. Soybean prices are 40 to 50 percent lower. You can go right through the line-up of corn, soybeans, cotton and rice and whatever. So it's just a real, real problem for everybody in agriculture."
—Missouri Farm Bureau President Charles Kruse on American Farm Bureau Federation's Newsline, speaking of testimony he gave recently to Congress on exploding natural as prices."
