Loose Ends

The Matador Cattle Company, managed by Ray Marxer and wife Sue, was honored as the national winner of the 8th Annual National Cattlemen's Beef Association Environmental Stewardship Award. The ranch, with headquarters in Dillon, Mont., was honored for using innovative practices to protect and enhance natural resources, while increasing the profits of the business.

Nominated by the Montana Stockgrowers Association, the Matador Cattle Company was selected from five regional winners including ranches from South Dakota, Iowa, North Carolina and New York. It is comprised of more than 6400 cow-calf pairs and 800 stocker cattle and owned by Charles and David Koch of Koch Industries.

The Matador Cattle Company uses planned grazing systems to reduce soil erosion and increase the quality and quantity of forage. In addition, the company develops off-stream water using gravity flow pipe to move water to metal tanks away from the stream to increase livestock distribution. They also use temporary fences and time-controlled grazing to stabilize stream banks and improve water-carrying capacity.

*****

Texas beef producers who want details on how their beef checkoff dollars are invested can call the Texas Beef Council at (800) 846-4113 for a copy of the fiscal year 1998 state/national annual report.

TBC is required by law to provide an annual report. One side of the brochure carries national checkoff investment information and the other side carries results of programs conducted in Texas to build beef demand.

Beef producers may also write to request either the summary or the audited financial statement. The adress is TBC at 8708 Ranch Road 620 North, Austin, TX 78726.

*****

USDA Secretary Dan Glickman Friday outlined key areas where the government can help cattle producers: price reporting, food safety and access to foreign markets.

Glickman described the government's role as one to "keep the playing field level" and "to ensure that producers can remain competitive."

He announced the release of proposed guidelines for irradiation of ground beef. The USDA guidelines follow approval of irradiation by the Food and Drug Administration in late 1997.

*****

Big Bend Saddlery at Alpine, Texas, will once again host a "Cowboy Trade Party" in conjunction with the annual Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering and Trappings of the West event. The swap meet will run from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 27, in the Big Bend Saddlery parking lot. Participation is open to the public but restricted to trade items rather than items for cash sale. More information is available from Big Bend Saddlery at (915) 837-5551 or (800) 634-4502.