Most of us have seen the bumper stickers that say, “If you can read this, thank a teacher.” A more contemporary version of that sentiment might read, “If you've eaten today, thank an immigrant.”
     
Perhaps it's a secret to some, but it's no secret in the dairy industry that a significant portion of the nation's milk supply wouldn't be produced two or three times a day if it weren't for immigrant laborers, some of them not yet legal U.S. citizens. The same situation exists in other areas of production agriculture – that's long been the case in the fruit and vegetable fields across the country. Immigrant labor is also essential to the operation of the nation's meat packing plants, and also to the nation's restaurants and hotels. So it's not a stretch to make the case that without the labor provided by immigrant workers, the U.S. would have a hard time producing food for all its people.

Source: National Milk Producers Federation/ CEO’s Corner/ Jerry Kozak, March 1, 2006
Source URL: http://www.nmpf.org/newsFlash/index.cfm?sectionsCode=CC&nfID=279

U.S. farmers face an increasing cost-price squeeze in the year ahead, said economists from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Farm production expenses that increased $28 billion in the last three years will jump another $7 billion in 2006.

Milk supplies will outpace demand for dairy products. High milk prices in 2004 and 2005 encouraged more production. As a result price projections drop from $15 per hundred received the last two years to $13.49 in 2006. Dairy cow numbers decline as production per cow increases.

Source: University of Missouri/ FAPRI/ News Release, March 2, 2006
Source URL: http://www.fapri.missouri.edu/outreach/press_releases/2006/03-02.asp

Total cheese output (excluding cottage cheese) was 764 million pounds, 1.3 percent above January 2005 but 3.4 percent below December 2005.

American type cheese production totaled 317 million pounds, 1.5 percent below January 2005 and 2.4 percent below December 2005.

Source: USDA/ NASS, March 3, 2006
Source URL: http://www.usda.gov/nass/PUBS/TODAYRPT/dary0306.txt

FLUID MILK:  The nation's milk supply continues to build seasonally across all regions. The impact of the growth has affected both commodity prices and milk prices. Milk production in the West is moving higher at levels well above a year ago. The additional milk is stressing processors and they have to move milk to other regions and be more strategic in handling the milk. Processors are noting that daily receipts in California have surpassed 2005 peak levels. Milk intakes continue to move higher. Arizona and New Mexico production is higher than last year. New Mexico comparisons are higher because of poor conditions in 2005 and increased cow numbers in 2006. Production in the Northwest and Mountain States is fluctuating, depending on weather conditions, but generally moving higher. Midwestern milk supplies are heavier that last year. Milk is moving into the region at reduced prices to find processing capacity. Steady output gains are being reported in the Eastern states. Plants are running on extended schedules as milk supplies are excessive.

Source: USDA, March 3, 2006

Cheddar Cheese prices received for US 40 pound Blocks averaged $1.22 per pound for the week ending February 25. The price per pound decreased 3.4 cents from the previous week. The price for US 500 pound Barrels adjusted to 38 percent moisture averaged $1.20 per pound, down 2.5 cents from the previous week.

Butter prices received for 25 kilogram and 68 pound boxes meeting USDA Grade AA standards averaged $1.20 per pound for the week ending February 25. The U.S. price per pound decreased 2.0 cents from the previous week.

Source: USDA/ NASS, March 3, 2006
Source URL: http://www.usda.gov/nass/PUBS/TODAYRPT/dppr0906.txt

Commercial cattle slaughter during 2005 totaled 32.4 million head, down 1 percent from 2004, with federal inspection comprising 98.3 percent of the total. The average live weight was 1,256 pounds, up 16 pounds from a year ago. Steers comprised 52.8 percent of the total federally inspected cattle slaughter, heifers 30.7 percent, dairy cows 7.1 percent, other cows 7.9 percent, and bulls 1.6 percent.

Commercial calf slaughter totaled 734,400 head, down 13 percent from a year ago with 97.7 percent under federal inspection. The average live weight was 353 pounds, up 23 pounds from a year earlier.

Source: USDA/ NASS, March 3, 2006
Source URL: http://www.usda.gov/nass/PUBS/TODAYRPT/lsan0306.txt

For the week, grain and soybean bids closed higher except wheat which was mix. Weather early in the week was uncertain for the southern plains but the chances of rain grew greater by mid-week to pressure the market. The hard red winter wheat region is in much need of rain as conditions look very poor. The weekly export sales were disappointing coming in at 177,500 tonnes. Corn and soybeans ended the week on a positive note despite the negative news clouding the market. The lack of producer selling lend some support to soybeans. Bird flu spreading across Europe, India, and the Middle-east are causing concerns in the trading pits, along with heavy supplies.

Source: USDA/ AMS, March 3, 2006
Source URL: http://www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/SJ_GR851.txt

Cow numbers were mostly moderate in many areas of the country, but a slight increase was noted as the harvest rates increased. Packers forced live prices lower with lower bids throughout the week. This caused packers to be willing to take a little less money for their lean boneless processing beef. Therefore, the lean complex finished the week lower on moderate demand and offerings. However, the lower lean complex items were sharply lower on moderate demand for heavy offerings. Trading on import boneless beef was very slow this week. Demand was light for light to moderate offerings. Supplies from New Zealand and Australia started increasing for late March and early April delivery. In addition, offerings from Uruguay continued to be light as majority of their product has been diverted to other counties. Cow cuts were mostly higher on moderate demand for light to moderate offerings.
  
Lean boneless beef 92-94% 1.25 to 3.00 lower; 90% 1.50 to 2.00 lower; 85% weak to 1.00 lower; 81% not established; 75% generally steady; 73% not established; 65% 4.00 to 7.00 lower. 100% lean outside rounds and flats/eyes weak to lower; eye of round steady and striploins, S.P.B. and inside rounds higher.

The Cutter cow carcass gross cut out value for Thursday, March 2, 2006 was estimated at 116.65 per cwt, dn .47 from last Friday.

Source: USDA/ AMS, March 3, 2006
Source URL: http://www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/NW_LS850.txt

Method of Study: In Holstein-cloned and normal cows, the fluctuation of granulocytes, monocytes, B cells and T cells, and further T cell subsets (CD4(+), CD8(+), gamma delta, CD8(+)gamma delta and WC1(+)gamma delta T cell) in peripheral blood were analyzed in early lactation stage (ELS) and mid to late lactation stage (MLS) by flow cytometry using specific monoclonal antibodies for cell surface markers.

Conclusions: The population of granulocytes, monocytes, B cells and T cells, and T cell subsets except for gamma delta and WC1(+)gamma delta T cells in cloned cows fluctuated in a manner similar to those of normal cows during lactation. In ELS, the proportions of gamma delta and WC1(+)gamma delta T cells temporarily declined in cloned cows, suggesting that cloned cows may fall into an immunosuppressive state in ELS.

Source: Comparison of T cell subsets between somatic cloned and normal cow. American Journal of Reproductive Immunology 55 (1): 28-35, 2006. Tanaka, S.; Miyazawa, K.; Watanabe, K.; Ohwada, S.; et al.

In order to identify indirect molecular biomarkers of anabolic treatments in veal calves, an animal experiment was performed using two combinations of growth promoters (consisting of boldenone undecylenate and estradiol benzoate, and of testosterone enantate and estradiol benzoate).

Our results indicate that identification of treatment with steroid hormones in veal calves by means of gene expression analysis is a feasible approach and could be improved increasing both the number of genes and the number of controls analysed.

Source: Expression analysis of androgen-responsive genes in the prostate of veal calves treated with anabolic hormones. Domestic Animal Endocrinology 30 (1): 38-55, 2006. Toffolatti, L.; Gastaldo, L.R.; Patarnello, T.; Romualdi, C.; et al.