Free Feedstuff Finder Tool Helps Buyers and Sellers
U.S. farmers and ranchers have a free, easy-to-use tool from University of Missouri Extension to help them buy or sell hay and other feedstuffs.
Feedstuff Finder gives users a quick, simple way to calculate a delivered feedstuff cost from a seller so buyers can determine the true cost of their feedstuff. Users can apply filters to easily compare costs and sort out various feedstuffs.
Producers do not have to set up an account to use the free web-based tool. It was designed to help buyers find and cost calculate feedstuffs and provide a market for sellers.
Other features include:
- Nutritional information to help determine value of feeds
- Delivery cost calculations
- Ability to source and price bulk grain byproduct feeds
- Offers current market value for feedstuffs
American Royal Announces 2025 Royal Scholars
The 2025 class of Royal Scholars has been selected to represent the American Royal’s mission and advocate for the agriculture industry throughout the next year.
These 10 recipients, who are studying agriculture, food or natural resources, will each receive a $3,000 scholarship. They were selected from 166 candidates from 29 states, representing 40 colleges and universities.
The 2025 Royal Scholars are:
- Dalton “Drew” Blanton of Plant City, Fla., majoring in Food and Resource Economics and minoring in Agricultural and Natural Resource Law at the University of Florida
- Samantha Bonifas of Roseland, Neb., majoring in Agricultural Economics and minoring in Pre-Law at Kansas State University
- Bailey Boyd of Turpin, Okla., majoring in Agricultural Education at Oklahoma State University
- Rayleigh Carter of Marianna, Fla., majoring in Agribusiness and minoring in Energy Finance & Ethical Leadership at Oklahoma State University
- Makenna Garrett of Bedford, Va., majoring in Plant and Soil Sciences and minoring in Environmental Economics and Politics and Policy and Agronomy at Oklahoma State University
- Sarah Liepold of Arvada, Colo., majoring in Agricultural Business at the University of Wyoming
- Mackenzie Malson of Parma, Idaho, majoring in Agriculture Economics and Global Food Systems Leadership and minoring in International Agriculture and Communications and Education for Agriculture at Kansas State University
- Kamille Mirkin of Jerome, Idaho, majoring in Agricultural Economics and minoring in Ag Commodity Risk Management and Animal Veterinary Science at the University of Idaho
- Elizabeth Schafer of Owaneco, Ill., majoring in Animal Science and minoring in Agriculture Communications at Kansas State University
- Kylie Temple of Hermiston, Ore., majoring in Agribusiness and Applied Economics and minoring in Global Food System Leadership at Kansas State University
The 2025 Royal Scholars will represent the American Royal at events such as the American Royal Livestock Show, Youth Rodeo and Spring Field Trip, as well as attending business and industry visits around the Kansas City area.
Iowa Beef Center Director Names New Director
Aimee Wertz-Lutz is the new Iowa Beef Center director and Iowa State University extension feedlot specialist.
She brings both academic and industry experience to the position. Wertz-Lutz did her post-doctoral research in ruminant nutrition and nutritional physiology at Iowa State, followed by serving as a faculty member in the animal and range sciences department at South Dakota State University. She worked for ADM Animal Nutrition as a manager of ruminant nutrition research, then most recently as ruminant nutritionist for Devenish Nutrition (North America.)
Wertz Lutz says academically she asks ‘what if’ questions and seeks the answers that propel the industry forward. Her industry experience helps her assess what is the best technology available to date to address a problem then make a decision that balances the optimal path for production and economic soundness.
She says the beef industry needs to identify production factors that are fiscally sustainable, and resource and waste management practices that are efficient and sustainable.
“Generational sustainability will require a focus on the emerging generations of animal science students without an agricultural or farming background,” she adds.
As a nutritionist by training, Wertz-Lutz is drawn to impacts of nutrition from calf to packer.
American-International Charolais Association Introduces Docility EPD
The American-International Charolais Association launched a Docility EPD, which gives Charolais breeders and bull buyers a new tool to select for calmer, more manageable cattle.
AICA shares that docility is measurable and heritable. The new genetic tool aims to help with safer handling. It positively correlates with traits like yearling weight to improve performance and adds value to every step of the supply chain.
The Beef Improvement Federation recommends evaluating docility on a scale of 1-6 ranging from docile to very aggressive.
Learn more about this new genetic evaluation tool.
