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The Midwest Cattleman · February 4, 2021 · P3

February 4, 2021 Volume 27 No. 1

US BEEF EXPORTS IN DANGER OF POLL SHOWS COVID-19 TAKING HEAVY
TRIGGERING JAPANESE TARIFF TOLL ON FARMERS’ MENTAL HEALTH
By Bill Tomson A strong majority of farmers/ and farm communities since
The Japanese have imported way to- farmworkers say the COVID-19 AFBF conducted its first rural
so much U.S. beef, it’s looking ward the pandemic has impacted their mental health survey in 2019.
like they will hit a “safeguard trigger, mental health, and more than “My takeaway from this sur-
trigger” designed to protect do- accord- half say they are personally ex- vey is that the need for support
mestic producers with a tariff. ing to periencing more mental health is real and we must not allow
If the U.S. exports more calcula- challenges than they were a year lack of access or a ‘too tough to
than 242,000 metric tons of tions by ago, according to a new Ameri- need help’ mentality to stand in
beef to Japan in the Japanese USDA’s can Farm Bureau poll. the way,” said AFBF President
The survey of rural adults Zippy Duvall. “We are stepping
fiscal year — April to March Foreign and farmers/farmworkers ex- up our efforts through our Farm
— the tariff on U.S. beef rises Agricul- Kent Bacus, NCBA plores how the pandemic has State of Mind campaign, encour-
by more than 10 percentage tural Service, leaving less than affected their mental health aging conversations about stress
points, shooting up from 25.8% three more months with just personally and in their commu- and mental health and provid-
to 38.5%. And the sooner that a little over 16% of what is es- nities, as well as how attitudes ing free training and resources
trigger is set off, the longer the sentially a tariff rate quota left and experiences around mental
tariff increase will be in place. to fill. health have changed in rural continued on page 12
By Jan. 10 — a little over “It’s something we’ll need to
nine months into the Japanese continue to monitor,” says Kent MU EXTENSION HOSTS MARCH WEBINAR
marketing year — the U.S. had Bacus, director of internation- SERIES ON SELLING LOCAL FOOD
exported 203,721 tons of beef to al trade and market access for Producers selling local foods Systems team.
Japan. That’s about 84% of the continued on page 10 can learn about best practices, Participants will hear from
state regulations and available extension specialists, successful
ANOTHER NAMIBIAN FMD OUTBREAK: resources at a four-part online producers and representatives
NCBA CALLS FOR CONTINUED VIGILANCE series in March presented by from the Missouri Department
The National Cattlemen’s for U.S. cattle producers. While University of Missouri Exten- of Agriculture and the Missou-
ri Department of Health and
sion.
Beef Association’s (NCBA) Se- the latest outbreak occurred in “This series will help farmers Senior Services. Attendees will
nior Director of International the buffer zone and north of the and other food producers gain have the opportunity to ask
Trade and Market Access, Kent cordon fence, this is the second knowledge to help them sell questions and exchange ideas.
Bacus issued the following state- occurrence of FMD in a matter their food products direct to con- The sessions, held via Zoom,
ment in response to reports of of months. As we stated in Oc- sumers in these ever-changing are 3:30-5:30 p.m. on four con-
another reported occurrence of tober 2020, FMD is a grave and times,” said Leslie Bertsch, co-
foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) persistent threat to the U.S cat- chair of the MU Extension Food continued on page 12
in Namibia: tle industry and warrants every
“The unfortunate and contin- available caution and protec-
ued presence of FMD outbreaks tion to ensure that the prob- CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM
in Namibia is a serious concern continued on page 10 GENERAL SIGNUP ENDS FEBRUARY 12
Agricultural producers and “This signup for the Conser-
NCBA ROLLS OUT NEW EVENT FOR 2021 private landowners interest- vation Reserve Program gives
CATTLE INDUSTRY CONVENTION ed in the Conservation Reserve producers and landowners an
Program (CRP) can sign up for opportunity to enroll for the first
WINTER REBOOT VIRTUAL EVENT FEB. 23-24 the program until Feb. 12, 2021. time or continue their partici-
Brand new for your opportunity The program, administered by pation for another term,” FSA
2021, the National to connect with USDA’s Farm Service Agency Administrator Richard Fordyce
Cattlemen’s Beef NCBA and serves (FSA), provides annual rental said. “This program encourages
Association is as a kickoff event payments for land devoted to conservation on sensitive lands
hosting a two-day for the Cattle In- conservation purposes. continued on page 12
virtual event for dustry Conven-
cattle producers tion and NCBA
across the country Trade Show that Coming Sales-46
to come together will take place Life is Simple-5
for industry news, Aug. 10-12 at the
updates, educa- Gaylord Opryland Market Report-8
tion and network- Resort and Con- Agribusiness
ing. vention Center in Directory-44
The 2021 Cattle Industry Nashville, Tennessee.
Convention Winter Reboot,
scheduled for Feb. 23-24, is continued on page 10