In brief

for Livestock on March 19, 2010

Montana organic beef sales stall

GREAT FALLS, Mont. (AP) -- Officials with the Montana Organic Producers Cooperative say the state's organic beef growers had a rough year in 2009.

Mark Smith, the cooperative's administrator and a Lavina rancher, said sales of organic beef were down 47 percent compared to the previous year. He said two factors contributed to the drop -- the grocery store chain Whole Foods Market changed buyers, purchasing only 20 percent of what it had been buying from the Montana co-op, and consumers bought less organic beef as they looked for ways to stretch their budgets.

Smith said the co-op has reached a new deal with Whole Foods Market and expects to ship more beef to soon.

Wyoming targets grasshoppers

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) -- Gov. Dave Freudenthal said Wyoming will undertake a $2.7 million program to suppress an expected grasshopper infestation this year.

Freudenthal said he has asked the state Department of Agriculture and State Land Office to prepare a robust spraying program to begin this spring.

Experts are forecasting a large grasshopper hatch in the state.

While the state is gearing up for the fight, Freudenthal said he's concerned the federal government isn't putting enough effort into the battle on federal lands.

Utah to renew brands on Web

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Utah ranchers and cowboys can be among the first in the nation to use the Internet to renew or apply for a livestock brand.

About 20,000 brand owners in Utah will get renewal notices in the mail this year. The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food said they can now renew online with a special access code that comes with the notices.

Owners of cattle, sheep and horses are required to renew their brand or ear marking every five years. If a brand expires, it becomes available for someone else to use.

Last year, the agriculture department returned more than 2,100 lost sheep, cattle and horses to their owners.

Bull killed after Virginia rampage

HARRISONBURG, Va. (AP) -- Police shot and killed a bull after the animal escaped from a livestock business and rampaged through Harrisonburg, charging at bystanders and vehicles.

The Black Angus was on the loose for about an hour March 11, making its way through an apartment complex, a city park and a residential neighborhood.

Harrisonburg police Sgt. R. Pollard said the bull was foaming at the mouth and appeared to be "in a deranged state."

Pollard said the bull's owners told police to kill the animal after it couldn't be controlled. Police shot and killed the bull after cornering it in a backyard.