A California meat company has been temporarily shut down by federal inspectors due to evidence of egregious, inhumane handling and treatment of livestock. The inspectors recently viewed a video made last month at the Central Valley Meat Company by an investiagtor for the Compassion Over Killing animal rights group. A USDA spokesperson told ABC News that several humane handling violations were confirmed. The Food Safety and Inspection Service not only suspended operations at the facility – but is prepared to take further action as warranted by the investigation. Dr. Dave Daley is Associate Dean for the College of Agriculture at California State University and an active member of the cattle community. He says the actions depicted in the undercover videos are disgraceful and not representative of the cattle community. He adds that the vast majority of cattlemen stand firm in adhering to the absolute best animal care and handling guidelines established by veterinarians and other experts. In fact – Daley says cattlemen believe those knowingly and willfully committing any abuse to animals should not be in the business.

Daley notes the farmer and rancher code of conduct within Beef Quality Assurance has been in place since 1996 and condemns the mistreatment of animals. He says the belief is that any individual who witnesses inappropriate animal treatment is responsible for making every effort to stop it immediately – and anyone who mistreats animals must be reported immediately and should be punished in accordance with the law. Daley says it’s important to work together to put a stop to any abuse.

The President of Central Valley Meat stated that his company is committed to correcting any problems identified on the video as quickly as possible. He called the allegations disturbing and surprising. According to a company spokesman – the company is working closely with USDA’s FSIS to address animal-handling concerns arising from the undercover video and is developing a plan of action to present to FSIS to remedy any potential violations of USDA guidelines.

A recent study funded by the United Soybean Board and soy checkoff’s Global Opportunities program proves the deterioration of U.S. highways, bridges, rails, locks and dams continues to threaten U.S. soybean farmers’ competitive advantage in the global marketplace. The study – titled Farm to Market – A Soybean’s Journey – shows how soybeans and other ag products move from the farm to customers and the weaknesses of the system. Improvements to the transportation infrastructure would make movement of U.S. soy and other ag products more efficient – saving U.S. soybean and grain industries nearly 145.9-million dollars a year. USB Director Dale Profit says the entire transportation network has been vital to the U.S. soy industry and it must be protected for the U.S. to remain the preferred soy source around the world.

Monsanto announced Monday Brett Begemann as the company’s new President and Chief Commercial Officer. Hugh Grant will continue serving as Chairman and CEO – focusing on delivering strategic plans and policies for the organization. Begemann has served Monsanto for nearly 30 years – most recently as the Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer for Global Business Operations. He is pleased to assume this new responsibility and to focus on the development and delivery of expanded growth opportunities in Monsanto’s global business.

Agricultural Summary

Although temperatures remained cool, little to no precipitation left producers seeking water for livestock.  Clear skies meant 6.9 days suitable for fieldwork.  Topsoil moisture supply remained a dramatic 90 percent very short, 9 percent short, and 1 percent adequate.  Subsoil moisture supply followed suit at 90 percent very short, 9 percent short, and 1 percent adequate.

Field Crops Report

Corn dough stage and beyond was 96 percent, 11 days ahead of last year, and 16 days ahead of normal (5-year average).  Corn dented was 85 percent, 10 days ahead of 2011, and 18 days ahead of normal.  Corn mature was 51 percent, 17 days ahead of last year, and over 3 weeks ahead of normal.  Corn harvested for grain was 18 percent, 3 weeks ahead of last year, and 24 days ahead of normal.  Silage harvest continued, and aflatoxin was a concern in the northern part of the state.  Corn condition remained similar to last week at 56 percent very poor, 28 percent poor, 12 percent fair, 3 percent good, and 1 percent excellent.  Soybeans blooming and beyond were 96 percent, 1 week ahead of last year, and 11 days ahead of normal.  Soybeans setting pods and beyond were 76 percent, 5 days ahead of last year, and 7 days ahead of normal.  Soybeans turning color were 4 percent, 10 days ahead of last year, and 1 week ahead of normal, and plants were just beginning to drop leaves.  Condition was 43 percent very poor, 35 percent poor, 15 percent fair, 6 percent good, and 1 percent excellent.  Cotton setting bolls and beyond were 95 percent, 2 weeks behind last year, and 5 days behind normal.  Cotton opening bolls was 19 percent, 11 days ahead of last year, and 8 days ahead normal.  Cotton condition was 11 percent very poor, 30 percent poor, 41 percent fair, 16 percent good, and 2 percent excellent.  Rice headed 88 percent, 2 weeks ahead of last year, and 10 days ahead of normal.  Harvest began with rice condition at 5 percent poor, 23 percent fair, 52 percent good, and 20 percent excellent.  Sorghum headed and beyond was 89 percent, 7 days ahead of last year, and 8 days ahead of normal.  Sorghum turning color and beyond was 39 percent, 9 days ahead of last year, and 6 days ahead of normal.  Sorghum mature was 5 percent 4 days ahead of last year, and 5 days ahead of normal.  Sorghum condition was 27 percent very poor, 36 percent poor, 27 percent fair, and 10 percent good.  Alfalfa hay 3^rd cutting was 63 percent, 8 days behind last year, and 1 day behind normal.

Pasture & Livestock

Pasture condition declined from last week to 87 percent very poor, 12 percent poor, and 1 percent fair.  Supply of hay and other roughages remained dire at 59 percent very short, 30 percent short, and 11 percent adequate.  High nitrates remained a concern for forages.  Some producers were selling off livestock early.  Stock water supplies dropped to 69 percent very short, 25 percent short, and 6 percent adequate.

Weather Summary

Temperatures were 4 degrees to 6 degrees below average.  Precipitation averaged 0.38 of an inch.  The south-central district averaged 1.22 inches.

With this year being so dry – and most likely low yields – producers may wonder about nitrogen rate adjustments for the 2013 corn crop. University of Illinois Assistant Professor of Crop Sciences Fabian Fernandez says as a general rule – corn following soybean needs less nitrogen because the quantity and quality of the soybean residue reduces the amount of immobilization and increases the amount of nitrogen mineralization from crop residue and the soil. However – for areas heavily affected by the drought where the amount of nitrogen taken up was reduced – large amounts of unused nitrate-N are left in the field – which Fernandez says makes it difficult to estimate the amount left. He recommends using a direct method – measuring soil nitrate-N levels. To do this – he says to collect at least a 12-core composite from representative portions of the field at different positions with respect to the crop-row at a depth of two to three feet. The two-foot depth should be adequate where little nitrate movement is expected – according to Fernandez – while the three-foot depth is appropriate where rain may have moved the nutrient deeper. He says the Corn Nitrogen Rate Calculator can be used to calculate the maximum return to nitrogen. Go to extension dot agron dot IA state dot edu slash soil fertility slash nrate dot aspx

The U.S. Appeals Court for the District of Columbia Circuit has sided with the Environmental Protection Agency and its partial waiver approval for E15. The initial waiver was filed in March of 2009. Vehicles were tested using E15 for a combined six-million miles, health effects data on the fuel was collected and approved and a first of its kind misfueling mitigation plan was required and approved in order for retailers to offer E15. The EPA ultimately approved E15 for model year 2001 and newer light duty vehicles and all flex fuel vehicles. Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis called the court’s decision to reject multiple legal challenges to the introduction of E15 into the commercial marketplace a win-win for the American consumer and the nation. Bob Dinneen – Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO – says the decision is an important step forward in the nation’s quest to diversify its fuel supply.

According to Dinneen – the addition of the E15 option with other ethanol blends allows consumers to make the fuel decisions that work best for them and their vehicle. He notes ethanol has a 30 year track record of safe and effective use in the marketplace. He says that record will continue. Dinneen adds that allowing additional ethanol use will help lower prices at the pump, create domestic jobs and accelerate the commercialization of new biofuel technologies. The market for ethanol confined to E10 blends has been saturated. But RFA says allowing ethanol blends of up to E15 for 2001 and newer vehicles – along with increasing the availability of higher blends up to E85 – will provide much-needed market access to help ensure the continued growth and evolution of the domestic renewable fuels industry.

U.S. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack believes the severity of the drought may be peaking – with the overall impact beginning to decline. He notes the effects on corn and soybeans likely won’t be known until harvest – but says steadying weather conditions might limit food inflation next year and ease pressure to relax the Renewable Fuel Standard ethanol mandate. For the first time this year – USDA reported last Monday (August 13) the condition of the soybean crop actually improved – albeit slightly. The good to excellent ratings for the corn crop stayed even at 23-percent. The U.S. Drought Monitor reported that the drought in the lower 48 eased to 61.8-percent from 62.5-percent. Even so – the lower temperatures and rain forecast for parts of the Midwest won’t be enough to snap the drought. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says drought conditions will persist in much of the Corn Belt and Great Plains through November.