CALF_News_December_2018_January_2019

32 CALF News • December 2018 | January 2019 • www.calfnews.net “We support our members’ demand [for good beef ]. I don’t have a job if not for you [beef producers and feeders],”Huskey added. Jarzombek said HEB’s 400 Texas stores cater to their neigh- borhood clientele.“We focus on people of all incomes and ethnicities,” he said.“Beef is still king in Texas, but the business is becoming more complex. Our customers want more kinds of beef, and price matters.” As an example, offal cuts are more expensive, but different ethnic groups want them.“Ox tails and tongues are about $5 per pound,” Jarzombek said.“We wonder how we can keep beef affordable for some.” He explained that consumers “are very informed and like beef in their diet. Beef skirts for fajitas are about $4 per pound. That’s tough on some.” McAdams said many consumers want to expand their protein intake, but are still unaware that beef is a good source of protein.“A 4-ounce sirloin has about 120 calories and 26 grams of protein,” she said.“We need to educate consumers about that.” Jarzombek agreed, saying “beef is the best source of protein, vitamins and minerals.” He added that “fake beef doesn’t do well” in the beef case, but that HEB stocks to serve customers who want it. Traceability is more important, he said, noting “younger cus- tomers want transparency. We will be asking you [producers TCFA EYES DISEASE TRACEABILITY, OTHER ISSUES The Texas Cattle Feeder’s Association’s (TCFA) overall program to represent member feedyards and others in the beef industry continues to tackle issues like traceability, problems with Corpus Christi packer Kane Beef, an improved feeder cattle index, the Farm Bill, electronic logging for cattle haulers and other issues. CEO Ross Wilson said TCFA and the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association are involved in a pilot program to improve animal ID and disease traceability in order to help meet the concerns of retailers, restaurants and other beef customers. The program would provide a $5-per-head incentive to furnish data on date of birth, origin, animal health products, performance products, weaning date, Beef Quality Assurance (BQA), pasture type, supplements, feedlot performance and carcass information. Kane Beef has been in trouble economically and owes money to producers, feeders, regional government and other creditors. The plant is scheduled to remain open while it works out its financial problems. Wilson said it’s essential to keep the Kane Beef plant open to serve the many South Texas feeders and producers. TCFA, along with other regional cattle groups, support a more uniform feeder cattle index and are working with NCBA to improve the way feeder cattle are traded. Wilson added that TCFA is closely following progress of the 2018 Farm Bill during Congress’ lame duck session. Part of the Farm Bill legislation includes TCFA-backed provisions to fund a “vaccine bank” in the event that foot and mouth disease strikes U.S. cattle, Wilson said. Cattle haulers have a reprieve from having to meet new electronic logging regulations in order to maintain smooth delivery of cattle. TCFA is working further to obtain more permanent electronic logging regulations that benefit the beef industry. Additional issues on the TCFA radar include environmental regulations such as Waters of the United States (WOTUS), which is still under consideration despite agricultural victories in preventing government invasion of private property rights. Immigration reform is also critical, as is the need for a better non-seasonal guest worker measure. And the fight against “fake meat” continues to grow for TCFA, NCBA and other beef groups. Wilson noted that TCFA representatives would again hold key positions on the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef. USRSB is a multi-stakeholder initiative developed to advance, support and communicate continuous improvement in sustainability of the U.S. beef value chain. New chairman During the TCFA business session, Levi Berry, general manager of Quien Sabe Feeders in Happy and Quality Beef Producers in Wildorado, was named 2019 TCFA chairman. Outgoing Chairman Jason Peeler thanked the TCFA staff and previous association leadership for their clear vision in making and keeping TCFA a leader in the nation’s beef industry. Levi Berry TCFA Convention Continued from 31