It’s no secret the global economy is rough and the people feeling it the most are the beef producers. Offals and Tallows are down $5.00 along with a huge drop in hide value.

South Korea along with the auto industry are the biggest purchasers of hides, but nowadays prices are down by 50%.

Almost 60% of consumers are trying to manage their food costs. Most consumers are eating at their home more often than ever, so it’s no surprise beef sales are up and food service sales are down.

Food service sales have been down since 2008 and experts expect them to continue to drop in 2009. That’s grim news for our cattlemen because almost 50% of beef sales come from food service.

Nevertheless, retail beef sales are up 4% around this time compared to the same time last year, but it seems home consumers are trying to buy less expensive cuts of meat, like hamburger. It seems the only time home consumers are interested in buying quality cuts of steak is for a special occasion. When consumer steak sales the beef producers feel the most pain. OUCH.

These and other reasons have our cattlemen asking consumers “hey, what’s the beef?”

If you weren’t aware, it’s the consumer’s dollar that energizes the profitability up and down the beef supply chain, especially our cattlemen and beef producers. One thing to take note of is that our cattlemen aren’t giving up the fight with the economy.

Take A Look  At Some Of The Things Our Cattlemen Are Doing To Win Customers.

• They kicked off the grilling season early, moving up promotional plans to early May. Various grilling promotions will run throughout the summer into late September.
• They’re working with consumer product companies to provide consumers with $1- to $3-off coupons for beef. Last year, they had 10 million coupons in the marketplace; this year, they’ll have more than 60 million.
• They’re working with consumer magazines to extend the checkoff’s “Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner.” advertising; special summer recipe advertorials will reach more than17 million readers.
• They’re helping restaurants tell consumers about the great beef deals to ensure when consumers are eating out, they’re choosing beef.
• They’re even launching a mobile marketing effort so that consumers can dial-up recipes and shopping list on their cell phone when they’re standing at the meat case.
  

As you can see our cattlemen mean business.

• IN OTHER NEWS:

CATTLEMEN ALL OVER ARE SPEAKING OUT AGAINST THE CLEAN WATER ACT LAND GRAB

• In Washington on June 18, 2009  Th Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee proceeded with S. 787, the Clean Water Restoration Act (CWRA)  on a party-line vote, bringing the country one step closer to the largest federal land grab in our history.

• Senators Baucus, Klobuchar, and boxer amended the bill. The bill is supposed to take care of agricultural concerns by exempting prior-converted croplands from federal jurisdiction. Cattlemen across the country feel this is a distraction from the real issue at hand, which is the removal of the word “navigable” from the definition of water.

• Currently the federal government has jurisdiction over navigable waters of the United States. If they remove the word “navigable” from the definition of water, then the CWRA would expand federal regulatory control to new levels. This means stock tanks, drainage ditches, any puddle or water feature found on family farms and ranches, (even ground water) under the regulatory strong-arm of the federal government.
  

• Cattlemen strongly oppose this legislation because they feel it infringes on private property rights, and it limits the state flexibility that have made the present Clean Water Act successful.
  

• Cattle producers throughout the country are telling the Senate to stop this legislation should it come up for a full Senate vote.

Take A Look At Some Of The Letters Being Sent From Disturbed Cattlemen To The Senate About This Act:

• Reid Blossom of Alabama writes, “This dangerous legislation would open a floodgate of unintended consequences as federal jurisdiction would be granted to monitor and regulate all bodies of water. This means stock tanks, farm ponds, irrigation pools, and more would be subject to federal regulation and oversight. Surely this is not the intention of the bill but it is also certain to be the outcome if its passage becomes a reality.

“As cattlemen, my family protects the water on our land. We do so not because we’re made to by the federal or state government but because we take pride in stewardship. Just as we care for our animals, we care for our environment to see that it too is passed down in a pure state from generation to generation. Additional oversight and regulation by the federal government will only serve to hinder this progression among America’s farming and ranching families.”

• Heather Gessner of South Dakota explains, “As a cattleman in South Dakota, I value water quality for my livestock and my family and I feel that…other bills that are currently in place effectively provide for the regulation and enforcement of public water ways that are utilized for human and animal consumption.”

• Jason McCann of Missouri writes, “As a cattleman in Southwest Missouri, we are blessed with an average of 44 inches of rain per year. And while this is great for growing grass, growing cattle and filling ponds, it could be a detriment if the mark up strikes the word navigable from the Clean Water statutes.

“You see, our part of the country has months where 6 inches of rain is not uncommon. That much rain makes for many ‘wet weather’ creeks which only run in the wetter parts of the year. If ‘navigable’ is removed, the small swale across my pasture which carries water to the creek will fall under the regulatory power of the EPA. The requisite permitting and usage restrictions would debilitate my ability to provide protein for a hungry America and a hungry world.

“The federal government has no business taking away my rights, or any cattlemen’s private property rights by regulating non-navigable water. Focus instead on enforcement of existing law. Adding more legislation is not the solution.”

• Charles Hord of Tennessee writes, “Nothing in the bill addresses the fact that both the [Baucus-Klobuchar-Boxer] amendment and S. 787 as introduced would give federal regulators (and those who would use citizen suits to challenge an activity) the right to control private property. Moreover, by leaving the basic structure of S. 787 in place, Federal and state permitting programs will grind to a halt under the permitting burden created by these amendments to the Clean Water Act.”

• Tom Shipley of Iowa explains, “No amendments will solve the problem with this legislation—it would give federal regulators the right to control private property. It would never accomplish what private citizens are doing already at no cost to taxpayers. This act would actually hamper the government’s ability to maintain clean waters as there is already a backlog of permit requests.”

As you can see many cattlemen are wary about this bill being passed. In my opinion I don’t see the point for the government to interfere with the private lives of people trying to make a living.

I can’t help but express how sorry I feel for our cattlemen. It seems like the economy and consumers are hitting them from the front, while the government takes a shot at them from the back.

Everybody needs some love, but where’s the love for our cattlemen?

Denmark’s Minister of Food and Agriculture, Ms. Eva Kjer Hansen

It was about 9 in the morning I got up and went downstairs to greet my friend, whom I was staying with while I was in Michigan. I went in the fridge looking for some milk to drink with my blueberry bagel with cream cheese. I found the milk poured a glass and sat back down around the dining table. My friend came in the kitchen and said “I see you like the Oat Milk”.

Oat Milk? I told him “no way man, I’m drinking cow’s milk. You should go back upstairs and finish sleeping”. My friend went in the fridge and pulled out the carton which I assumed was cow’s milk and showed me the label. It read “Oat Milk”.

I didn’t know I was drinking anything called Oat Milk. Oat milk has  a mild, slightly sweet taste to it. Probably the main reason I couldn’t tell it was Oat Milk  is because it has a creamy mouth feel to it like cow’s milk. As a matter of fact, Oat Milk is alot more creamy than soy or rice milk. I liked Oat Milk it tastes great.

My friend told me he has been looking for a healthier alternative to cow’s milk and he agreed with how I felt about soy milk and rice milk (not a good feeling). So he decided to try Oat Milk and liked it after the first sip. He mostly uses Oat Milk in his morning coffee. The next few days at his house I tried Oat Milk with my cereal, I made some hot cocoa with the Oat Milk, and I even put Oat Milk in my eggs. I love it, Oat Milk tastes great. I have some in my refrigerator now and it’s not for it’s health benefits, it’s because “I Like Oat Milk”.

WHAT IS OAT MILK

Oat milk is made from hulled grain broken into fragments (oat groats), filtered water, and other grains and beans like barley, brown rice, and soybeans.  Since oat milk is a solution of water and finely grinded oats, its not really a milk. Although it does have a more creamy mouth feel to it than rice or soy milk.

CHARACTERISTICS

It has the same characteristics as cow’s milk because it thickens up when cooking. So you can use oat milk as a replacement in recipes that call for regular cow’s milk. You can use it in morning cereal, smoothies, baked goods, cream soups, sauces, even mashed potatoes.

STORAGE

When you open Oat Milk keep it refrigerated. It can hold in the refrigerator for about ten days. It spoils quicker than cow’s milk so use it as quickly as possible before it spoils.

Health Benefits Drinking Oat Milk

Oat milk is comparable to 1% cow’s milk in calories and fat, but is little higher in carbs and lower in protein. Oat Milk also has no cholesterol.

You can easily add thickeners to your soy milk to give it a mouth feel of cow’s milk. Naturally soy milk has kind of a beany taste to it, but this can be eliminated or reduced by using proper processing techniques for the soy milk.

Like cow’s milk, soy milk is versatile. So its no wonder soy milk helps make some tasty recipes. Plain soy milk can be used in cooking recipes and in beverage recipes. Soy milk can even be used in coffee beverages and in deserts. Soy milk can be served hot or cold and is often flavored with soy sauce and vegetables to produce a spicy soup.

Also, soy milk can be made into tofu the same way milk can be made into cheese. Soy milk can also be found in many vegan and vegetarian dishes and can be used as a replacement for cow’s milk in many recipes. Infact, many people consider soy milk a healthy alternative to cow’s milk.

SOY MILK PANCAKES/Serves 2

Ingredients

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 tablespoons white sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup vanilla soy milk
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract

How To Put It Together

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
2. In a small bowl, mix the vanilla soy milk, egg, oil, vanilla extract, and almond extract.
3. Pour the soy milk mixture into the bowl with the flour mixture, and whisk together until smooth.
4. Grease a skillet, and heat over medium low heat.
5. Pour about 1/4 cup batter onto the heated skillet, and cook until bubbly.
6. Flip with a spatula, and continue cooking about 1 minute, until golden brown. Repeat with the remaining batter.

SOY MILK PUMPKIN PIE/Serves 8

Ingredients

• 3/4  cup  sugar
• 1 1/4  teaspoons  ground cinnamon
• 1/2  teaspoon  salt
• 1/4  teaspoon  ground ginger
• 1/8  teaspoon  ground nutmeg
• 1/8  teaspoon  ground cloves
• 1  can (15 oz.) pumpkin
• 1 1/4  cups  soy milk (10 oz.)
• 2  large eggs
• Pastry for a single-crust 9-inch pie

How To Put It Together

1. In a large bowl, mix sugar, cinnamon, salt, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves. Add pumpkin, soy milk, and eggs; whisk until well blended.
2. Pour mixture into unbaked pastry in pan.
3. Set pie on bottom rack of a 425° regular or convection oven.
4. Bake for 15 minutes, then reduce temperature to 350°; continue baking until center of pie is set and a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean, about 45 minutes longer.
5. Set pie on a rack until cool, at least 2 hours.
6. After serving, chill pie airtight.

SOY MILK SHAKE/Serves 2

Ingredients

• 2  tablespoons  fat-free chocolate syrup
• 2 1/8  teaspoons  instant espresso granules or instant coffee granules, divided
• 1 1/2  cups  vanilla soy ice cream (such as Soy Dreams)
• 1/2  cup  low-fat plain soy milk

How To Put It Together

1. Combine syrup and 1/8 teaspoon espresso granules in a small bowl, stirring well.
2. Using a spoon, drizzle half of syrup mixture around the inside rim of 2 small narrow glasses.
3. Combine remaining 2 teaspoons espresso granules, ice cream, and milk in a blender; process until smooth. Pour 1 cup ice cream mixture into each glass.
4. Serve immediately.

BANANA SOY MILK MUFFINS/Serves 1 muffin each person (1 dozen)

Ingredients

• 1  cup  wheat bran
• 1  cup  mashed ripe banana
• 2/3  cup  soy milk
• 1/4  cup  packed brown sugar
• 2  tablespoons  prune baby food or prune butter (such as Lekvar)
• 1  large egg, lightly beaten
• 1 1/4  cups  all-purpose flour
• 1/4  cup  soy flour
• 1/4  cup  finely chopped pecans
• 2  teaspoons  baking powder
• 1  teaspoon  ground cinnamon
• 1/2  teaspoon  salt
• Cooking spray

How To Put It Together

1. Preheat oven to 375°.
2. Combine first 3 ingredients; let stand 5 minutes.
3. Add sugar, baby food, and egg; mix well.
4. Lightly spoon flours into dry measuring cups; level with a knife.
5. Combine flours and next 4 ingredients (flours through salt) in a bowl; make a well in center of mixture.
6. Add bran mixture to flour mixture, stirring just until moist.
7. Spoon batter into 12 muffin cups coated with cooking spray.
8. Bake at 375° for 20 minutes or until muffins spring back when touched lightly in center.
9. Remove muffins from pans immediately; cool on a wire rack.

BLUEBERRY SOY MILK SHAKES/Serves 3

Ingredients

• 2  cups  frozen unsweetened blueberries
• 1  cup  soy vanilla yogurt, softened
• 1 1/2  cups  low-fat soy milk

How To Put It Together

1. Process all ingredients in a blender or food processor until smooth, stopping to scrape down sides. Serve immediately.
2. 1% low-fat milk or yogurt may be substituted, if desired.
3. Frozen blueberries will yield a brighter color and smoother texture.

Being vegetarian will lower your chances of being a victim to the following diseases:

1. Hypertension (high blood pressure)
2. Coronary Artery Disease
3. Cancer
4. Type 2 Diabetes
5. Diverticular disease of the Colon

Being vegetarian doesn’t automatically gauranteed you these benefits, but it helps. These benefits and more are reasons why so many people are making the switch to vegetarian.

The number Two reason a meat lover turns vegetarian is for ecological reasons. Live stock and poultry require alot of land, energy, water, and plant food, which is wasteful. According to the North America Vegetarian Society, grains and soybeans fed to livestock in the U.S. alone could feed 1.3 billion people. Livestock also wastes loads of water, it takes 2500 gallons of water to produce a pound of meat but only 25 gallons to produce a pound of wheat.

The number Three reason a meat lover turns vegetarian is for economics. A vegetarian diet is less expensive.

The number Four reason a meat lover turns vegetarian is for ethic reasons. Vegetarians believe that animals should not suffer or be killed unnecessarily. They feel that animals suffer real pain in crowded feed lots and cages. They believe slaughtering animals is traumatic.

The number Five reason a meat lover turns vegetarian is for religious beliefs. Some vegetarians like Seventh-Day Adventists, practice vegetarianism as a part of their religion.