AS YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED, OUR SITE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING ALOT OF PROBLEMS IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS.

We have lost some of our database, so you may not be able to sign in with a previous username and password.  If you cannot login with your username and password, please try to "Create a new account".  This is under the Login area. Verify your account in your e-mail and try to sign in.  If you still cannot login, please contact me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.

You know that spring is near when:
- basketball tournaments are being held everywhere for boys and girls from small towns to big cities.
- religious activities of Lent from various denominations from across the country are in evidence,
- people are thinking of getting themselves shaped up and lined out before the Easter season just around the corner,
- out on the ranches, calving season is in full swing and folks are looking forward to this year's crop of calves and lambs to see the result if matings they decided upon last year,
- ranchers look forward to their dealings with Mother Nature and her ability to make you look good... or to remind you to study your lessons better,
- the snow banks are melting and there's a bit of green grass showing on the prairies and ridge tops,
- farmers are sitting in the wings, anxiously wanting to get into their fields.

DeLauro won't support USDA animal ID plan
Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) says she doesn't agree with Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack's request for $14 million to fund animal ID for 2011. "I must be honest with you," DeLauro told Vilsack last week. "I don't understand how we're going to have a system run by individual states. How is it going to work? I don't believe it is going to work." DeLauro said the agency has little to show for the $147 million already invested in designing a system to expedite the tracking of animal health events.

Brucellosis...
Mandatory calfhood vaccination... yes or no?

By Linda Grosskopf

The Montana Department of Livestock held a series of meetings between February 17 and February 25 across the state of Montana for the purpose of discussing "a preliminary proposal to implement something called 'Official Calfhood Vaccination' (OCV) on a statewide basis.
The Billings meeting was held at the Public Auction Yards on Tuesday February 23. Although about 40 folks showed up for the meeting, the number of producers was very small.
Dr. Marty Zaluski, our state vet, started the meeting by introducing the chairman of the Board of Livestock, Jan French from Dobson, Montana. From her comments, it appeared that French is in favor of making calfhood vaccinations for Brucellosis mandatory. She pointed out that, if implemented, NOT every female calf would be required to get a Bangs vaccination-just those going into the breeding herd.

It couldn't happen to a nicer bunch...
HSUS sued for bribery, fraud, obstruction of justice, & money laundering

By Leesa Zalesky

On February 16, Feld Entertainment and Ringling Brothers Circus filed suit against the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) under the RICO Act (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act). The suit levels charges of fraud, obstruction of justice, bribery, and money laundering against the HSUS, two of its corporate attorneys, three other animal rights groups, the Washington DC law firm of Meyer Glitzenstein & Crystal, and all three of that firm's named partners.

USCA will appear before U.S. International Trade Commission

The U.S. Cattlemen's Association (USCA) will appear before the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) on March 2. The USITC will be holding a public hearing regarding the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement: Advice on Probable Economic Effect of Providing Duty-Free Treatment for Imports. The hearing is in response to the U.S. Trade Representative's (USTR) investigation into the probable economic effect of a potential U.S. free trade agreement with Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam - the seven countries that the United States will engage to negotiate the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement.
Leo McDonnell, USCA Director Emeritus, Columbus, MT, spoke at length relative to this situation:

Isn't this a lovely photograph? Thanks to Leslie Ahearn for sharing. She wrote: "These were taken north of Carlin, Nevada, at the Red House Ranch, which is part of the Maggie Creek Ranch, headquartered out of Elko. Leaving the stack yard to feed the cows are Kevin Ahearn and his son Brian with team Diamond and Peaches."