Pardon the turkey talk
Various sources indicate that the average Thanksgiving turkey lifespan is 14 to 18 weeks, some 2% of the three to four year natural span in the wild. A hen takes 14 weeks to mature while a Tom can take up to 22 weeks. Farm turkeys eat primarily corn and soybean meal with some wheat, barley and canola mixed in. Small amounts of animal protein such as meat and bone meal might be added. Poulters, the turkey farmers, use 84 pounds of feed to produce a 30 pound bird. Nearly 100 years ago, it took 105 pounds to feed a 21 pound turkey, but today with farming advances, that feed would produce a 45 pound monster.
Growing need for new farm bill
The agricultural community continues to look to Congress to pass the newest Farm Bill. The Farm Bureau notes that food security is a key factor with a priority on fair prices and high quality. Farms also provide more than 14% of American jobs. Conservation and research are an important part of the bill. It also deals with weather, inflation concerns and cost of supplies as other issues. Nutrition guidelines and food programs for the most vulnerable in society are paramount. The 2018 bill has a 10 year cost of $8.5 billion, providing stability to farmers, according to the Bureau.
Ag major, major ag appointee
The new administration has named Texas native Brooke Rollins to head the U.S. Agriculture Department. Rollins received an agriculture degree from Texas A&M and a J.D. from the University of Texas. In the first Trump administration, she served as director of the Domestic Policy Council.
Some major agricultural topics she might confront include possible tariff issues, as well as border and population changes that might affect food production. The USDA notes that agriculture and food are responsible for $1.58 trillion of the U.S. economy and 34 million jobs.
Mexican cattle imports suspended after screwworm detected
The U.S. Department of Agriculture quickly suspended the importation of cattle from Mexico on Tuesday after discovering the presence of parasites identified as New World Screwworms. The worms are the larval stage of tiny flies that typically lay their eggs in open wounds of warm-blooded mammals. The price for U.S. live cattle futures initially shot up in response to the news.
CME midday prices: February gold, $2,682 per troy ounce; March silver, $31.08 per troy ounce; March copper, $4.08 per pound. January crude oil: $68.75 per barrel. January natural gas: $3.37 per 10,000 BTU. Price per bushel: January soybeans, $9.88; March corn, $4.32, March wheat, $5.48. December livestock per 100 pounds: Cattle, $188.47; hogs $81.90.
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