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Hulett: Packers Take Advantage of Cattle Backup
Hulett: Packers Take Advantage of Cattle Backup

Absenteeism at major packing plants due to coronavirus has again helped create a backlog of market-ready fed cattle. Packers used that fact to push fed cattle prices lower last week.

Cowboy Recalls Career Working At Matador Cattle Co.
Cowboy Recalls Career Working At Matador Cattle Co.

Ray Marxer began working at Matador Cattle Co. in 1974, retiring as general manager in 2011. The ranch, owned by the Koch family since 1950, recently sold to Rupert Murdoch, a businessman, media tycoon, and investor.

Wildfire Donated Hay
Kansas Asks Vilsack to Adjust LIP, Donations to Wildfire Relief Now $1.5 Million

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack outlining the devastating impact of the extreme weather that impacted many Kansas livestock producers on December 15.

Slaughter Levels Slow, Cash Prices Suffer
Slaughter Levels Slow, Cash Prices Suffer

Labor issues continue to plague the packing industry with this week’s slaughter volume lighter than anticipated. Worker absenteeism due to COVID has hindered packers’ ability to run full throttle and prices suffered.

Texas rural land values rose again in 2016, marking six consecutive years of increases, according to data gathered by the Texas Real Estate Center (REC) and Texas A&M University.
White House Will Recruit Rural Land For New Clean Energy Projects, Could it Create Too Much Competition for Land?

The Biden Administration is deploying money and resources to ramp up clean energy projects across rural America. The White House says the plan taps federal lands to install wind, solar and geothermal energy projects.

Meat Institute, FMI Cancel  2022 Annual Meat Conference
Meat Institute, FMI Cancel 2022 Annual Meat Conference

The North American Meat Institute (NAMI) and FMI - The Food Industry Association (FMI) have cancelled the 2022 Annual Meat Conference (AMC).

2022 Happenings on The Hill
2022 Happenings on The Hill

COVID-19-related legislation continues to run the gavel, while rural America urges Congress to deliver on its economic relief promises. Here are three issues to watch.

NCBA Backs WOTUS Recommendations from EPA Advisory Committee
NCBA Backs WOTUS Recommendations from EPA Advisory Committee

NCBA’s Scott Yager says his group supports a recommendation to develop a clear and limited WOTUS definition and protect key exemptions for common agricultural features.

Brubaker Farms Receives Pennsylvania Leopold Conservation Award
Brubaker Farms Receives Pennsylvania Leopold Conservation Award

Brubaker Farms, a dairy and poultry farm near Mount Joy in Lancaster County, is the 2021 recipient of the Pennsylvania Leopold Conservation Award®.

Supply Chain Issues Hamper Animal Medicine Availability
Supply Chain Issues Hamper Animal Medicine Availability

Breakdowns in the global supply chain are hitting home for U.S. livestock producers and the veterinarians who serve them, in the form of shortages of commonly used medications.

Federal Agents Seize Nearly a Ton of Illegal Animal Products in New York City
Federal Agents Seize Nearly a Ton of Illegal Animal Products in New York City

Federal agents seized and destroyed more than 1,900 pounds of prohibited pork, poultry and ruminant products from New York City-area retailers in the past three months.

2022 Annual Meat Conference Cancelled
2022 Annual Meat Conference Cancelled

The 2022 Annual Meat Conference (AMC) to be held in February, hosted by the North American Meat Institute (NAMI) and The Food Industry Association (FMI) has been cancelled.

Iowa Foundation Beef Heifer Award Winner announced
Iowa Foundation Beef Heifer Award Winner announced

Veronica Lents, daughter of Kevin and Mallory Lents, of Creston, Iowa has been announced as the 2022 recipient of the Iowa Foundation Heifer Award.

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Beef Industry Can Cut GHG Emissions Up to 50% in Some Regions
Beef Industry Can Cut GHG Emissions Up to 50% in Some Regions

New research shows that improved management practices can help create a climate-friendly beef system.

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James Riemann, Former Cargill and CAB Executive, 1942 - 2022
James Riemann, Former Cargill and CAB Executive, 1942 - 2022

James (Jim) Riemann, former director of beef research and development at Excel and former CEO for Certified Angus Beef, LLC, died January 8, 2022, at his home in Wamego, Kansas.

China Meat Supply Revised Up 7% in USDA Report
China Meat Supply Revised Up 7% in USDA Report

Total China meat supply in 2022 is expected at 79 million tons, revised up 7% from the prior forecast and again surpassing total meat supplies before ASF struck. Here's a look at the revised forecast.

Farmers Saw Biden's 30x30 Plan As A 'Land Grab,' Here's Why You No Longer Hear About It
Farmers Saw Biden's 30x30 Plan As A 'Land Grab,' Here's Why You No Longer Hear About It

AFBF President Zippy Duvall told members this week he will continue to press for policy that progresses agriculture, citing AFBF's work on changes to the White House's "America the Beautiful" plan as an example.

  USDA’s January Reports Reveal Hay Stocks Hit a 10-Year Low in December
USDA’s January Reports Reveal Hay Stocks Hit a 10-Year Low in December

Dry conditions in the West have plagued producers for months. And while some recent relief has come in the form of rain, a new USDA report shows just how dire the hay situation is for many livestock producers.

Here’s Why Fed Cattle Prices Could Reach $180 by 2024
Here’s Why Fed Cattle Prices Could Reach $180 by 2024

Evaluating market fundamentals has led most analysts to project stronger price trends over the next few years. But just how high could prices go? Studying market patterns over the last 30 years provides valuable clues.

Divestment plan leads to ownership changes for 11 feedlots
Proposed Iowa Beef Plant Seeks Investors

Developers of Cattlemen's Heritage Beef Company are seeking investors for a proposed $450-million beef packing facility to be built in western Iowa south of the Omaha/Council Bluffs area.

A Rare Moment of Honesty from a Waterkeeper
A Rare Moment of Honesty from a Waterkeeper

A new year brought with it another attack on North Carolina’s pork industry. This one arrived in the form of a 16-minute video from an online outfit called Vox. It produced the video with money from an activist group.

BT_Calving
The Calving Process – Understanding the Three Stages of Parturition

Understanding the stages of calving is critical in order to know when/if we need to provide assistance during calving season to increase the likelihood a live calf is born and off to a good start.

Situational Indexes Positively Impact Beef Production Selection Decisions
Situational Indexes Positively Impact Beef Production Selection Decisions

During the Beef Improvement Federation Symposium last June, Bruce Golden explained how beef producers can improve their sales through situational indexes.

Natural Gas Prices Only Account for 15% of Run-Up in Anhydrous Ammonia Prices, Shows New Texas A&M Study
Natural Gas Prices Only Account for 15% of Run-Up in Anhydrous Ammonia Prices, Shows New Texas A&M Study

The report found nitrogen accounts for more than 50% of fertilizer costs for a corn producer at $117 per acre.

Easterday Sentencing Delayed For Third Time
Easterday Sentencing Delayed For Third Time

A federal judge has again delayed the sentencing of the former owner of Easterday Farms and Easterday Ranches following his conviction for wire fraud the resulted of losses of $244 million.

BT_Meat_Consumers_Grocery
U.S. Retail Meat Sales Remain Strong

Despite rising inflation and supply chain disruptions, American consumers continued to purchase meat products at an astounding rate, led by ground beef sales in 2021 that reached $11.3 billion.

TSCRA Applauds Bill to Protect Landowners from High-Speed Rail Projects
TSCRA Applauds Bill to Protect Landowners from High-Speed Rail Projects

TSCRA president Hughes Abell says the cattlemen's group has long opposed the use of eminent domain to force the sale of private property for Texas Central’s high-speed rail venture.

Communicating the Virtuous Cycle of Beef Production
Communicating the Virtuous Cycle of Beef Production

Clay Mathis provided perspective on the incorporation of consumer demand on long-term ranch management strategy, and the trends producers can use to build a resilient operation at the American Gelbvieh Assn. convention.

White House Will Push China to Make Up for $16B Trade Deficit in Phase One, Vilsack Tells American Farm Bureau
White House Will Push China to Make Up for $16B Trade Deficit in Phase One, Vilsack Tells American Farm Bureau

AFBF's in-person annual convention focused on everything from H-2A workers, drought, supply chain chaos and policy changes like the Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule. USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack addressed the group Monday.

Masters of Beef Advocacy Program Reaches 20,000 Graduates
Masters of Beef Advocacy Program Reaches 20,000 Graduates

The MBA program is a free, self-guided online course that provides members of the beef community with the tools and resources needed to become a strong advocate for the beef community.

Winter Supplementation of Beef Calves – When Supplementation Doesn’t Pay
Winter Supplementation of Beef Calves – When Supplementation Doesn’t Pay

Many producers assume providing minimal protein supplementation to target approximately 1.0 pound/day gain during the winter is the most economical system. However, research data would suggest otherwise.

U.S. Meat Production Slows as Omicron Hits Staff and Inspectors
U.S. Meat Production Slows as Omicron Hits Staff and Inspectors

Rising COVID-19 infections among U.S. workers have forced meat plants to slow production and the government to replace slaughterhouse inspectors, meat companies and union officials said.

Beef and Cattle Trade Boosting Cattle Markets
Beef and Cattle Trade Boosting Cattle Markets

Total beef exports were 8.1% higher during November and are 18.5% higher year-over-year for the first eleven months of 2021.

Beef Exports On Target For $10 Billion; Pork Exports On Record Pace
Beef Exports On Target For $10 Billion; Pork Exports On Record Pace

U.S. beef and pork exports continued on record pace through November, with beef exports on pace to exceed $10 billion for the first time. Pork exports are on pace to exceed last year's $7.7 billion record.

How One Family is Breaking the Mold to Carve Out New Path to Process Meat Without White House's Help
How One Family is Breaking the Mold to Carve Out New Path to Process Meat Without White House's Help

Less than 8 months ago, the Hertzogs opened a meat processing facility without any help from investors or federal funds. The family is finding success through breaking the mold and busting through traditional barriers.

Cattle Veterinarians Have New Vaccination Guidelines
Cattle Veterinarians Have New Vaccination Guidelines

The American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP) recently released a first-of-its-kind document on cattle vaccine guidelines.

#AgProud: Farm Bureau Provides Learning Opportunities to Local School
#AgProud: Farm Bureau Provides Learning Opportunities to Local School

With less people living on farms and ranches and understanding where food comes from, Farm Bureau provides agriculturally accurate resources to urban elementary school.

Food Waste is a Growing Problem in the U.S.
Food Waste is a Growing Problem in the U.S.

A new report shows over one-third of the food produced in the U.S. is never eaten. Not only does this waste resources used to produce food, but it also creates a myriad of environmental impacts, EPA said. 

Newborn_Calf
The Importance of Colostrum

Colostrum plays a large role in the health of a newborn calf. Preparing for calving season starts well before the first calf hits the ground.

GRSB Announces 2022 Executive Committee
GRSB Announces 2022 Executive Committee

The Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (GRSB) on Wednesday announced its 2022 executive committee, including incoming president Ian McConnel, Tyson Foods’ director of sustainability.

T Bar S Cattle Company Named American Gelbvieh Association Breeder of the Year
T Bar S Cattle Company Named American Gelbvieh Association Breeder of the Year

“I wanted to be a part of something bigger than me. I wanted to raise what I thought were the best cattle in the cow-calf industry and that led me to the maternal qualities of the Gelbvieh breed,” says Tom Vehige.

CAB Insider: Carcass Premium Structure Advanced in 2021
CAB Insider: Carcass Premium Structure Advanced in 2021

Cattle and beef market dynamics the past year were nothing if not volatile, and in some ways, unprecedented. Supply chain imbalances and processing sector issues have been the focal point of beef price inflation.

Ed Czerwien, Market Reporter and Analyst 1951 - 2022
Ed Czerwien, Market Reporter and Analyst 1951 - 2022

Ed Czerwien, former general manager for the Saint Joseph Stockyards in St. Joseph, MO, and former Livestock & Grain Market News Reporter for the USDA in Amarillo, TX, passed away Monday.

Profit Tracker: Cattle Margins Improving
Profit Tracker: Cattle Margins Improving

Momentum continues to build for cattle feeders as closeouts saw average profits increasing during the final week of 2021. Farrow-to-finish hog operations continue with negative profit margins.

Speer: Policy Makers Should Just Leave Well Enough Alone
Speer: Policy Makers Should Just Leave Well Enough Alone

Critics of the current fed cattle marketing system say increasing negotiated cash sales will lead to higher prices. But that assumption is not supported by data. In fact, 12 years of data suggests the inverse is true.

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Stretching Short Wheat Pasture with High Grain Prices

A significant drought in the wheat pasture regions on the High Plains has stocker operators feeding roughage and supplements. Higher priced grain has ranchers seeking alternative feedstuffs.

Biden’s Action Plan Draws Mixed Reviews From Cattlemen
Biden’s Action Plan Draws Mixed Reviews From Cattlemen

The Biden Administration’s Action Plan to invest $1 Billion to expand competition in the U.S. meat packing industry and strengthen enforcement of antitrust regulations drew mixed reactions from cattlemen.

Machinery Pete Says 2021 Produced the Hottest Used Tractor Market He's Ever Seen
Machinery Pete Says 2021 Produced the Hottest Used Tractor Market He's Ever Seen

Equipment prices soared in 2021. As equipment manufacturers had issues sourcing parts to build new, it placed even higher demand on used. Machinery Pete weighs in on lessons learned during such a dynamic year.

Sexten: Operational Limits
Sexten: Operational Limits

The start of a new year offers an opportunity to reflect and plan at the same time. Many tend to use the new year as a goal setting period while others are more focused on evaluating past successes and shortcomings.

Pests Proved Costly in 2021 with Grasshoppers and Fall Armyworms Wiping Out Entire Fields Across U.S.
Pests Proved Costly in 2021 with Grasshoppers and Fall Armyworms Wiping Out Entire Fields Across U.S.

As drought plagued the West and Plains in 2021, grasshoppers took over many pastures and crops, which demolished grasses and hayfields. In the South and Midwest, fall armyworms were a costly battle for farmers.