The Cattle Business Weekly: Recent Episodes
The Cattle Business Weekly newspaper
For cattlemen, by cattlemen is this podcast bringing you the latest in cattle industry headlines straight from the news desk of The Cattle Business Weekly in South Dakota. It's a dose of what's happening in markets, on the ranch and in Washington, D.C. It's news about everything that impacts a cattle operation's bottomline (aka profit). Listen to us in the feed truck, on the way to a cattle sale or on the porch with a beer! We promise you won't go away without having learned something.
On July 29 U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins visited the livestock inspection facilities at the Douglas, Arizona, Port of Entry, joined by Rep. Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06), Rep. Andy Biggs (AZ-05), Rep. Eli Crane (AZ-02), and Arizona Director of Agriculture Paul Brierley, highlighting the Department’s extensive preparedness measures ahead of the planned reopening of the port to livestock trade on August 24. During her visit, Secretary Rollins also announced USDA’s commitment to invest million toward the opening of a new sterile fly dispersal facility in Arizona to strengthen the nation’s long-term response to New World screwworm (NWS)....
Article Link
Feedlot operators across South Dakota have been under tremendous stress as recent high temperatures have taken a toll on cattle. Keeping cattle cool and comfortable has become a major challenge, and despite producers’ best efforts, death losses continue to mount. Warren Rusche, Extension feedlot specialist with South Dakota State University, says anecdotal reports indicate more than 2,000 head of cattle were lost during the weekend of July 25-26. Feedlots in central South Dakota—from Winner to Kimball and Chamberlain—appear to have been hit the hardest, although a feedlot near Brookings also reported losses. “Unfortunately, when you start multiplying that by...
Article Link
Daniel Wayne Dockter, 44, of Colfax, North Dakota, was ordered to surrender to jail by noon today (July 31) following his sentencing in Southeast District Court in Richland County yesterday for the theft of more than 130 head of cattle. Dockter pleaded guilty July 30 to four counts – two Class A felonies for theft over ,000 and two Class A misdemeanors for the unlawful transport of livestock from the state. Dockter received a 10-year sentence, with eight years suspended. He will serve two years before being placed on three years of supervised probation. He was also ordered to pay...
Article Link
Two key USDA cattle reports published on Friday, July 24 pointed to only limited growth in the beef replacement herd for this calendar year. The biannual Cattle inventory report for July found all cattle and calves rose only 200,000 to 94.2 million, or up 0.21%. The overall cowherd remained flat at 38.1 million. The beef cow herd was smaller, down 200,000 or 1% at 28.5 million. This was balanced by a rise in the milk cow numbers of 200,000 or 2%, to 9.65 million. The dairy herd runs on a different cycle from the beef herd and has been...
Article Link
Codi Vallery-Mills Cattle Business Weekly The USDA Animal Plant Health and Inspection Service announced it will begin to accept live cattle imports from Mexico through its Douglas, Arizona, port on Aug. 24. The news came as a surprise to many, as USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins has kept the border closed in an attempt to stop New World Screwworm from spreading into the United States. USDA reports the Arizona port is adjacent to Sonora and Chihuahua, Mexico, which have maintained a strong animal health infrastructure program. “While the rest of Mexico has not been able to stop the spread of the...
Article Link
Internationally respected cattle judge and educator Kirk Stierwalt, owner of Stierwalt Cattle and Clinics, has been selected to judge at the prestigious Melbourne Royal Show in Melbourne, Australia, held September 24–October 4, 2026. As part of this prestigious invitation, Stierwalt will evaluate the 2026 BioWorma Youth Heifer Feature Show and Showmanship, one of the Melbourne Royal Show’s premier youth cattle events. The Melbourne Royal Show is one of Australia’s oldest and most respected agricultural exhibitions, attracting the nation’s finest cattle breeders and exhibitors while celebrating excellence in livestock, agriculture, and rural communities. An invitation to judge at Melbourne Royal is...
Article Link
Fed cattle carcass weights appear to have bottomed seasonally and are beginning to move higher, according to the CattleFax Closing Bell update released July 17. Weekly USDA slaughter data showed steer carcass weights increased 2 pounds to 963 pounds, while heifer weights rose 1 pound to 880 pounds. Overall fed cattle weights averaged 934 pounds, up 3 pounds from the previous week and roughly 30 pounds heavier than a year ago. Although one week doesn’t establish a trend, CattleFax says seasonal patterns, sales-implied forecasts, and closeout data all suggest carcass weights will continue climbing through the second half of...
Article Link
A new report from Purdue University’s Center for Commercial Agriculture examines the economics of cattle finishing, finding that despite historically strong fed cattle prices, profitability is being squeezed by expensive feeder cattle and elevated breakeven costs. The report notes that cattle finishing remains a narrow-margin business, with profits depending largely on the relationship between feeder cattle prices, fed cattle prices, and feed costs rather than any single factor. Feed costs remain elevated Feeding cost of gain has stayed above 0 per hundredweight since mid-2021. In 2026, costs have ranged from 1 to 4 per hundredweight and are expected to remain...
Article Link
A new report from Purdue University’s Center for Commercial Agriculture examines the economics of cattle finishing, finding that despite historically strong fed cattle prices, profitability is being squeezed by expensive feeder cattle and elevated breakeven costs. The report notes that cattle finishing remains a narrow-margin business, with profits depending largely on the relationship between feeder cattle prices, fed cattle prices, and feed costs rather than any single factor. Feed costs remain elevated Feeding cost of gain has stayed above 0 per hundredweight since mid-2021. In 2026, costs have ranged from 1 to 4 per hundredweight and are expected to remain...
Article Link
Farmland pressure is often discussed as a national acreage-loss problem, but for farmers and ranchers the more immediate challenge is land access. Land can remain technically “agricultural” while becoming harder to rent, buy or keep in production. At the same time, acres converted to development, energy infrastructure or other built uses often do not return to farmland or ranchland. The U.S. is not facing a sudden farmland cliff, but agricultural land is being reshaped by two concurrent forces: physical land-use change and ownership transition. Some acres are shifting among cropland, pasture and the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), while others...
Article Link
Farmland pressure is often discussed as a national acreage-loss problem, but for farmers and ranchers the more immediate challenge is land access. Land can remain technically “agricultural” while becoming harder to rent, buy or keep in production. At the same time, acres converted to development, energy infrastructure or other built uses often do not return to farmland or ranchland. The U.S. is not facing a sudden farmland cliff, but agricultural land is being reshaped by two concurrent forces: physical land-use change and ownership transition. Some acres are shifting among cropland, pasture and the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), while others...
Article Link
For a young woman who has worked with cattle all her life, one moment was all it took to take her from a simple check on a momma cow to ending up in the hospital with multiple injuries. With grit, determination, and inspiration, she’s back on the farm, doing what she loves. “February 25 was just a typical day. I checked on a cow who’d had her baby,” Jamie Hart, 35, of Frederick said. “She’s been a good cow and had her calf next to another cow. I wasn’t next to her or her baby. I turned my back...
Article Link
Through the first half of the year, year -to- date cattle slaughter is 8.7% lower than last year, and placements have been higher this year compared to last year. These two stats provide information about current and future beef production. Another insightful/helpful stat is dressed weight. As supplies have become lower in the last 2 years, dressed weights have increased to help offset the lower slaughter amounts. Weights have increased so much; in March we hit a record average dressed weight of 902 pounds across all cattle. But, as we get into the dog days of summer, we can...
Article Link
For many cow-calf operations in the region, significant culling may be required to match cow numbers to the forage available, not only for 2026, but also for the next few years. For operations that have spent generations building the type of cow they want, there is a strong commitment to retain a core of foundation females from which to rebuild the herd when it rains again. This article covers considerations and possible strategies to retain a core of females to rebuild a cowherd. 1. Conduct a comprehensive herd assessment Before proceeding with retention and culling decisions, consider conducting a...
Article Link
Shrinking margins, declining grain prices, and growing financial pressure have defined recent years for crop producers. But while agricultural economist David Widmar doesn’t believe those challenges are over, he also doesn’t think the outlook is as bleak as many producers may believe. Speaking at the recent South Dakota Governor’s Ag Summit, Widmar says he sees several demand drivers beginning to line up that could gradually improve the grain economy over the next year. “I think there are some opportunities to see some improved prices,” Widmar said during his presentation on the farm economy. “We have put some demand things in...
Article Link
June 2026 featured several widespread heavy rain events across the Northern Plains, with some communities receiving more than a month's worth of rain in just a day or two. Oglala, South Dakota, received almost 7 inches of rain on June 2-3. In north-central Nebraska, multiple June events reported 4-6 inches of rain, but the occurrences were isolated and not widespread. North Dakota was somewhat drier overall, but still had pockets of very heavy rain. Most of central and eastern North Dakota received 2 to 4 inches from late-June thunderstorms. The above-mentioned rains have done little to dampen the dryness felt across...
Article Link
The challenges facing row-crop agriculture aren’t likely to disappear with the next policy announcement or another round of government assistance, according to agricultural economist David Widmar who spoke at last week’s South Dakota Governor’s Ag Summit in Pierre, South Dakota. Instead, Widmar, who is part of Ag Economic Insights, says equal doses of reality and optimism will be needed for the long term. “You must never confuse this faith that you will prevail in the end, which you can never, ever afford to lose, with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of the current reality,” Widmar told producers,...
Article Link
When Grey Zabel talks about farming, he lights up much the same way one would expect him to when talking about his first Super Bowl Championship win. Zabel, an NFL football player with the Seattle Seahawks, was back in his hometown of Pierre, South Dakota, on June 25, speaking at the South Dakota Governor’s Ag Summit. Zabel’s family farm is near Selby, South Dakota, and he spent hours there as a youth. During his off-season from the NFL, Zabel has been farming the land he purchased under his farm name, Northland Farms. “There are so many parallels between football...
Article Link
A lot has been said about beef prices in 2026, and there has been a lot of productive discussion about what is driving them. Some point to historically tight cattle supplies. U.S. cattle inventories are at their lowest since the 1950s, and federally inspected cattle slaughter through May is 1.12 million head below the same period in 2025 and 2.56 million head below 2022, the cyclical peak for the current cattle cycle. Others argue that exceptionally strong consumer demand is the primary reason why beef prices have reached record highs. Both explanations are correct, and the market is more nuanced...
Article Link
The South Dakota Cattlemen’s Foundation was thrilled to donate 2,620 to Feeding South Dakota during the 13th Annual Prime Time Gala held on June 20 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Held annually, this brings the fundraiser’s total donation to Feeding South Dakota to ,319,275 over the last 13 years. The funding has made it possible for Feeding South Dakota to purchase beef for South Dakotans who are in need. “On behalf of the Board of Directors for the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Foundation, I would like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who attended and supported the 13th Annual...
Article Link
By Codi Vallery-Mills It was a packed house on June 20 at the St. Onge Livestock Auction barn as people filled the stands and the tent outside to watch the World Livestock Auctioneer Championship. Thirty-one men from throughout the United States and Canada took part in a two-day competition that critiqued them on their ability to interview and be a spokesperson for the livestock marketing industry, as well as their bid-calling skills and auctioneer chant. Jace Thompson of Billings, Montana, walked away as the 2026 World Livestock Auctioneer Champion. Reserve Champion was Troy Robinett of Decatur, Texas, and Runner...
Article Link
The Livestock Marketeers hosted their 61st annual Hall of Fame banquet on May 27. This years’ event was hosted by the American Angus Association in St. Joseph, Missouri. The 2026 inductees were Bill Bowman, St. Joseph, Missouri and Delvin Heldermon, Sulphur, Oklahoma. Bill Bowman was born and raised in Stet, Missouri and graduated from high school in 1975. He received a BS in Animal Science from the University of Missouri in 1979 and was a Regional Manager trainee for the American Angus Association the same year. From 1980- 1990, Bill worked for VJP Angus and Sydenstricker Angus Farm in management...
Article Link
The Cattlemen’s Ball of Nebraska is an enormous undertaking. It requires 100 committee members, 500 volunteers, and a ranch location for the event. And yet for 28 years, Nebraskans have pulled together and pulled it off. In early June, this year’s event was held at the Howard and Linda Benjamin Ranch near Cozad, Nebraska. The Benjamins co-hosted with neighbors Levi and Bobbie Jo Messersmith. The Cattlemen’s Ball has evolved over the years, but it has never lost sight of its purpose – to be a fundraiser for cancer research. Levi Messersmith has had friends and family impacted by cancer...
Article Link
In May, the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer (AEB) Index survey asked farmers to identify the main factor limiting improvement in their farm’s financial situation. High input costs were by far the most frequently cited constraint, selected by 46% of respondents. Weather risk ranked second at 19%, followed by low output prices at 14%, labor and equipment concerns at 9%, and debt or financial pressure at 5% (see chart). Only 14% of respondents indicated that their farm operations were better off in May than they had been a year ago. Looking ahead to the next 12 months, 22% of...
Article Link
Updated: June 15, 2026– The USDA has confirmed 12 total cases of New World Screwworm in the United States. 11 cases in cattle, sheep and goats in Texas and one case in a dog in New Mexico. Updated: June 10, 2026 — The USDA has confirmed 6 total cases of New World Screwworm in the United States. 4 cases in cattle in Texas, 1 goat in Texas and a case in a dog in New Mexico. Texas now has two cases of New World Screwworm in young calves. Both reside on ranches in Zavala County, Texas, approximately 6 miles apart....
Article Link
The Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) recognized Colyer Herefords and Angus, Bruneau, Idaho, as the 2026 BIF Seedstock Producer of the Year on June 3 during the group’s annual research symposium in Boise, Idaho. This national award recognizes a producer’s dedication to improving the beef industry at the seedstock level. Rooted in Bruneau, Idaho, since 1876, Colyer Herefords and Angus represents a masterclass in balancing multi-generational heritage with cutting-edge genetic progress. Today the fifth, sixth and seventh generations of the Colyer family manage the ranch, which has evolved from a traditional commercial cow-calf operation into one of the nation’s premier seedstock...
Article Link
A new case of New World Screwworm has been detected in a young, 1 month old calf in Zavala County, Texas, 5.6 miles from the first positive case of screwworm in Texas, which the USDA confirmed on Wednesday. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and its Texas partners continue to collect and test other samples from the surrounding area which have come back negative. NWS is a serious pest that threatens livestock, pets, wildlife, and, in rare cases, people. The larvae burrow into the living tissue of animals, causing severe wounds, animal suffering,...
Article Link
Updated June 4, 9 a.m. The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Wednesday confirmed the country’s first case of New World screwworm — the parasitic fly poised to harm the state’s billion cattle industry — in South Texas. The USDA tested a sample from La Pryor in Zavala County at the USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, lowa, confirming the infestation, Secretary Brooke Rollins said during a press conference about the case. The infested animal is a three-week old calf, and there have been no other detections so far. USDA urges residents to contact your veterinarian right away...
Article Link
Have you wondered how virtual fencing might work on your operation, but want to see it in action before making a decision? A two-day bus tour on June 16–17 will give cattle producers the opportunity to evaluate virtual fencing systems in real-world settings. Virtual fencing (VF) has the potential to reduce labor associated with fencing and cattle movement while improving control over grazing distribution and pasture utilization. However, many producers want to better understand how these systems perform under real-world conditions before making an investment. This bus tour provides a practical, side-by-side look at multiple commercially available VF systems...
Article Link
More is needed for drought-stricken areas CBW News Desk Precipitation was seen across the region the middle of May but it was characterized by severe thunderstorms and pronounced moisture disparities, according to the UNL Drought Monitor. Between May 17 and 18, a powerful frontal system traversing the central United States triggered widespread severe weather across the Great Plains and Midwest. This system produced damaging winds up to 80 mph, large hail, and multiple tornadoes across South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, and Missouri, alongside localized flash flooding. In contrast, extreme moisture deficits persisted west of the Rocky Mountains, where weekly...
Article Link
As of early May, just over half of the U.S. is facing some level of drought, and 36 percent is in severe or worse drought conditions. For ranchers, that reality translates into stress, uncertainty, and some of the hardest decisions they will ever make about land, cattle, and family operations. To help ranch families think through those choices, Good Grazing Make Cent$ is hosting a free virtual panel, “When in Drought (2.0) – Making Tough Decisions Count,” on May 27 at 7 p.m. (MST). The live discussion will stream on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram, and will be driven largely by...
Article Link
Almost every year in South Dakota, there is a risk that grasshopper populations will reach levels capable of causing issues for rangeland, crops, as well as yards and gardens. Unfortunately, our prediction for the 2026 growing season won’t change the trend of the last few years. The first hard freeze in the fall of 2025 was late in many areas (Figure 1). Although I think most of us enjoy later cold weather in South Dakota, the later the first hard frost, the more time that adult grasshoppers have to remain active and lay eggs. This can result in increased...
Article Link
Montana Governor Greg Gianforte praised the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) final decision to cancel grazing permits authorizing bison grazing previously issued to the American Prairie Reserve (APR). “This final decision is a victory for the rule of law and the generations of Montanans who have stewarded our lands with care,” Gov. Gianforte said. “For far too long, the Biden administration ignored the clear language of the Taylor Grazing Act in favor of an ideological experiment. I’m proud of our administration for leading the fight to reach this decision and I thank Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and BLM...
Article Link
In 2025, total cattle slaughter was 29.252 million head, down 6.4 percent year over year and down 13.1 percent from the recent cyclical peak in 2022. Cattle slaughter in 2025 was at the lowest level since 2015. Table 1 shows the breakdown of 2025 cattle slaughter by size categories of beef packing plants. This includes both fed and cow slaughter plants. Out of a total of 937 federally inspected packing plants, 94.8 percent (888 plants with capacity up to 100,000 head per year) accounted for 1.92 million head, 7.14 percent of total slaughter. By contrast, a...
Article Link
Ask five-year Adley Johnson what she enjoys most about life on her family’s Harding County ranch and without hesitation, the fifth-generation rancher says, “riding horses.” Her favorite? A palomino named Custer. Adley is the reason her dad, Brad, is happy he returned home after a more than a decade career as a professional steer wrestler. “I enjoy it when Adley comes out and helps me. When we are tagging calves, she writes the tag number and date in the calving book,” Brad said. Amy, Adley’s mom, agrees. “We like having the girls with us when we are working. Sure, things...
Article Link
For Sarah Myers, motherhood and agriculture are not separate roles, they are deeply intertwined, shaped by a lifetime of experience and a commitment to raising the next generation with purpose. “My mom is one of the hardest working people I know,” Myers says. “She had a big influence on how I look at work and how we are raising our kids.” That influence began early. Myers grew up on a diversified farm near Kimball, South Dakota, where her family raises sheep, cattle, and crops. Some of her most meaningful memories are not tied to major milestones, but to the everyday...
Article Link
All across the United States, home cooks are cleaning up their grills, inventorying their seasonings and scrolling social media for new grilling inspiration. The lawn chairs are getting dusted off and lawn mowers are cutting in anticipation of the summer barbecues ahead. It’s May. It’s Beef Month. May is Beef Month. May Beef Month emerged in the 1980s as part of state-led beef promotion efforts and grew alongside the federal Beef Checkoff program established in 1985, eventually gaining formal congressional recognition just last year through a 2025 U.S. Senate resolution. State beef councils often plan their biggest events in May....
Article Link
By Lura Roti for South Dakota Farmers Union As we reflect on the women who raised us this Mother’s Day, South Dakota Farmers Union celebrates the many women who support the state’s No. 1 industry – farm and ranch moms! Read on to learn about Brenda Reis from Reliance and Lindsey Hinsvark from Gary. Brenda Reis, ranches with her husband, David near Reliance. She is mom to Shawn, April, Shane and Zane and grandma to Buster, Swade, Rope, Haleigh, Keeleigh, Wiley, Oakleigh, Arista, Collin, Jozie, Sawyer and Jasper. In addition to Mom and Grandma, “Keeper of the Photos” is the...
Article Link
Thousands of miles. Thousands of cattle. Thousands of handshakes and smiles. As Anita Pepin of rural Belle Fourche, South Dakota, looks back on her career as an ABS rep and AI technician, she can’t quite put a guess on the number of miles she’s traveled, cows she’s bred, or customers’ hands she’s shaken. “It’s A LOT,” she says. Pepin is slowing down from her full-time practice, having sold the business, Black Hills AI Service, to Jessica Kammerer earlier this year. She still has a few small, select clients she will breed for, but says Kammerer is the one to get...
Article Link
The Common Ground Coalition kicked off the first of four regional summits in Reno mid-April, gathering Western livestock perspectives to bolster the industry’s future. This event launches a nationwide effort to strengthen rural communities and secure the U.S. food supply. Fueled by shared conviction, enthusiasm and commitment to the industry, attendees arrived ready to engage in the hard work of identifying positive solutions for the industry. J.M. Peck, a cattle rancher from Melrose, Montana was part of the gathering. “It was interesting to learn how people in other states are facing these issues,” Peck added. “All of us...
Article Link
Schuler Red Angus of Bridgeport is the recipient of the 2026 Nebraska Leopold Conservation Award®. The award honors farmers, ranchers, and forestland owners who go above and beyond in their management of soil health, water quality and wildlife habitat on working land. The Butch and Susan Schuler family raise beef cattle and manage 20,000 acres at Schuler Red Angus in Morrill and Banner counties. The Schulers will be formally presented with the ,000 award later this year. Sand County Foundation and national sponsor American Farmland Trust present Leopold Conservation Awards to private landowners in 28 states. In Nebraska, the award...
Article Link
Dan and Sharon Anderson’s Darling Creek Ranch has been selected as the 2026 South Dakota Leopold Conservation Award® recipient. The ,000 award honors ranchers, farmers, and forestland owners who go above and beyond in their management of soil health, water quality, and wildlife habitat on working land. Sand County Foundation and national sponsor American Farmland Trust present Leopold Conservation Awards to private landowners in 28 states. In South Dakota, the award is presented with the South Dakota Grassland Coalition and South Dakota Soil Health Coalition. The Dan and Sharon Anderson family owns and operates Darling Creek Ranch, located near Meadow...
Article Link
Cindy Gonzalez Nebraska Examiner In a blow to the local economy of Lexington, Neb., Tyson Foods announced that it is closing the town’s longtime Tyson beef plant that employed about 3,200 people. The Arkansas-based Tyson said in a statement that changes were designed to “right-size” its beef business and position it for long-term success. The Lexington plant is to close on or around Jan. 20. The statement did not elaborate on why the plant in the town of about 11,500 people was targeted. The company said it also will convert an Amarillo, Texas, beef facility to a single, full-capacity shift...
Article Link
Tina Barrett Executive Director of Nebraska Farm Business Inc. The past several years have been profitable for cattle producers. Cow/calf operations are amid a period of unprecedented high incomes—something that crop farmers experienced back in 2012 and again in 2022. Strong income years are a blessing, but they also bring challenges: larger tax bills, pressure to spend on prepaid expenses, and the temptation to push income forward or load up on depreciable purchases. There are some lessons that we can learn from the peaks of crop profitability that will hopefully avoid some of the pitfalls that come with a downturn...
Article Link
Weather and markets are the two things agriculture revolves around. While he can’t speak to what is happening in the cattle markets, Colorado meteorologist Brian Bledsoe, who also happens to be a rancher, can speak to a weather outlook for the region this winter and coming spring. Presenting at the recent Range Beef Cow Symposium in Cheyenne, Wyo. Bledsoe walked those in attendance through the past 6 months of weather and what could lie ahead. Bledsoe says a lot of the seasonal forecast starts and stops with what the oceans are doing. East trade winds generally mean a La Niña....
Article Link
Over the last several weeks, we have seen a lot of mayhem in our cattle market. The recent announcement that Tyson Foods will be closing the processing plant in Lexington, Neb., sent traders into a frenzy, pushing the futures market down, down, and further down. Adding fuel to the fire, on Nov. 13, our government lifted the 40 percent tariff on Brazilian beef. This goes to show how volatile our current market is. We have reached new record cattle prices, and any slight negative news shifts the markets drastically. The downturn in the market did not reflect the current USDA...
Article Link
Update: On Thursday, Nov. 20 President Trump lifted the 40 percent tariff that remained on Brazil beef when the below article was published. The largest news rolling out of Washington, D.C. last week was the reopening of the U.S. Government on Nov. 13 after a 43-day shutdown. The compromise reached in Congress brought a year of funding to nearly all of USDA – ensuring farm programs and USDA staff will be operating in case of another shutdown in 2026. It will also help keep the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program available in the new year. In addition to the government...
Article Link
U.S. beef is selling at near record prices but is likely capped without access to China, which is the No. 1 importer of beef globally, reports Tyler Cozzens of the Livestock Marketing Information Center. Speaking at the Range Beef Cow Symposium in Cheyenne, Wyo., on Nov. 10, Cozzens gave an overview of the global beef market. U.S. beef trade with China is down 37 percent this year because of geopolitical conditions and a slowing economy there. Japan and South Korea have picked up some of that beef trade, but not as much as hoped, with only a nine percent gain...
Article Link
It’s time to guess your own Cattle On Feed report. The next report, the first after the government shutdown, will be released Friday, November 21. The futures market topped in October. Feeder cattle futures hit a price of 0 before ending the month down 6.1%. Live cattle futures hit 3 at the peak and dropped, but still finished the month up 2.0%. This beat the broad commodities index (up 1.0%) but trailed stocks (up 2.3%). Auction markets followed futures and ended up flat to lower depending on the exact date and class of cattle. In late-month USDA reported auction sales...
Article Link
At 17, Amber Haugland enrolled in auctioneering school. She had grown up hearing her father’s chant in the background as the entire family worked sales. Twenty-five years later, she has auctioned cattle, farm equipment, land, firearms and estates, and she absolutely loves it. “I love all of that because it really is true, the people make everything. It’s just been such a blessing to me and my family, the people we get to meet,” she smiles. Haugland’s Action Auction is based in Ambrose, N.D. Entering the trade Haugland says she wasn’t raised in a family that separated one...
Article Link
Winter weather isn’t just tough on producers — it’s tough on cattle, too. “There are reasons why we see more BRD challenges in cold and damp conditions,” said Nathan Meyer, DVM, Ph.D., Boehringer Ingelheim. “It really comes down to stress. When animals are stressed, they’re less able to fight off infections as effectively as they would under more ideal conditions.” Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) remains the costliest disease impacting U.S. beef cattle.1 The brisk winter months are the perfect time to reevaluate management practices to improve animal health, comfort and BRD control. Prioritize husbandry during winter Good...
Article Link
The 2025 World Hereford Conference convened in Kansas City, Mo., for an unforgettable unification of the Hereford breed. This global event brought together Hereford enthusiasts, breeders and industry leaders from across the world for networking, learning and sharing insights on the future of the Hereford breed Oct. 16–29. Montana is home to plenty of Hereford history and current-day breed leaders. The state is also commonly regarded as the fountainhead of Line 1 Hereford cattle, founded in 1934 at USDA’s Fort Keogh Livestock and Range Research Laboratory in Miles City. A tour of several of Montana’s Hereford operations was hosted Oct.16-21....
Article Link
For a cow-calf enterprise, the second- or third-largest expense after grazed and harvested feed is often overhead expenses related to labor and equipment. In ranching, an overhead expense is one that doesn’t change much based on the number of cows that are in production. For example, the pickup, tractor, ATV, trailer, feeding equipment and working facilities used to care for 150 cows would also likely be adequate to care for 500 cows. On a cost-per-cow-unit basis, spreading that equipment cost over 500 cows versus 150 cows drastically reduces the equipment cost per cow. This is commonly referred to as...
Article Link
Remember learning how to give an injection by poking a banana with a syringe filled with red dye, then peeling back the skin and observing if you did it right? It’s a basic classroom attempt toward “hands-on” learning. Now imagine going from poking a banana to giving dewormer shots to pigs all in the same class hour? Thanks to the Little Snake River Valley school’s brand-new [post_excerpt].7 million livestock center and teaching lab, that is exactly how Brett Miller, Little Snake River FFA advisor and vocational ag teacher, structures his lesson plans — having a 4,600 sq.ft. building to teach...
Article Link
The Nebraska region is currently in a weak La Nina and that is expected to stick around for the winter. The area is also still in a negative phase of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO). The analogs are based largely on this combination, though other factors and teleconnections may play an even bigger role for our sensible weather this coming winter. Siberian snow cover in the fall can have a big impact on the strength of the polar vortex, as one example. Warm November Favored It has been a very warm October for this region of the country. For some...
Article Link
After a couple of wild weeks in cattle markets, let’s take a step back to review the bigger picture. The supply side remains tight with limited opportunities to expand in the short run. Cull cows from the dairy sector may offset some of the reduction beef cull cows on tighter dairy margins. However, this offset is partial. Additionally, dressed weight increases may be topping out. In September, year-over-year increases in cattle dressed weights ranged from 1.5-2.1 percent. In contrast, dressed weights in January saw year-over-year increases of around 3.2-5.3 percent. Lastly, changes in beef imports are limited and likely more...
Article Link
Close proximity to a good paved road can be a mixed blessing. Just ask Merna, Neb. cattleman Kyle Geiser, whose operation straddles Nebraska Highway 92. Easy access to the thoroughfare is advantageous when shipping cattle, receiving commodity feedstuffs or fetching machinery parts from town. But living next to the highway becomes bothersome when it’s necessary to move cattle from one side to the other. The Geiser family coped with that for years. For example, when implementing protocols for synchronized artificial insemination, heifers or cows running south of the highway had be driven to and from working facilities located on the...
Article Link
The Brian and Vicki Maddock family has been selected as the recipients of the 2025 North Dakota Leopold Conservation Award. The award honors farmers, ranchers, and forestland owners who go above and beyond in their management of soil health, water quality and wildlife habitat on working land. They will be presented with the ,000 award in December. Sand County Foundation and national sponsor American Farmland Trust present Leopold Conservation Awards to private landowners in 28 states. In North Dakota, the award is presented with North Dakota Grazing Lands Coalition, North Dakota Association of Soil Conservation Districts and the North Dakota...
Article Link
North Dakota’s brand inspectors are busy this time of year Connie Sieh Groop Cattle Business Weekly As cattle move from summer pastures, it’s crunch time for the North Dakota brand inspectors. “We’re pretty busy from now until the end of January,” Corby Ward with the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association says. “As the chief brand inspector for North Dakota, I oversee the brand inspection program across the state. I’m a licensed law enforcement officer in North Dakota. We enforce the laws dealing with livestock and work to protect owners against loss and theft. As brand inspectors, we inspect livestock any time...
Article Link
Coleman Cornelius Colorado State University Communications Temple Grandin, a world-renowned University Distinguished Professor in Colorado State University’s Department of Animal Sciences, is the subject of a newly revealed painting that will hang in the Smithsonian Institution’s National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C. The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum, education and research complex. Its National Portrait Gallery highlights Americans of remarkable character and achievement, who remind visitors of who we are as a nation and what we can aspire to be. Included in the gallery will be Brocken Spectre and Glory: Portrait of Temple Grandin, an oil painting by...
Article Link
By Codi Vallery-Mills It’s here. The end of October is upon us, and that means as of today, we have 64 days left of the year 2025. Recently, the concept of October Theory hit my radar in an article I read online. Psychologists note that the month of October is more motivating to some people than January is. As people realize the year-end is nearing, they begin to make goals so they can finish the year strong. In 2023, the October Theory was a large trend on TikTok. Shorter deadlines (months vs. a year to do projects in) were very...
Article Link
(Washington, D.C., October 22, 2025) – Today, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins, Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Small Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler announced a suite of actions to strengthen the American beef industry, reinforcing and prioritizing the American rancher’s critical role in the national security of the United States. Since 2017, the United States has lost over 17% of family farms, more than 100,000 operations over the last decade. The national herd is at a 75-year low while consumer demand for beef has grown 9% over the past decade. Because increasing the size of...
Article Link
Mark Johnson Beef Cattle Breeding Specialist OSU Extension Some basic rules of thumb to follow when determining the hay supplies you will need to sustain your cow herd over the winter and into next spring: Determine your average mature cow size. This can be done by weighing your 4 to 7 year old cows and calculating the average weight. From mature cow size, we can approximate the amount of forage dry matter cows will need to consume per year or per day. For example: a 1,000-lb. cow will consume about 26 lb. of forage dry matter per day. A 1,400-lb....
Article Link
Jessica Hartman American Angus Association American Angus Association members looking to better understand the programs, services and tools available to them are invited to take part in the inaugural Angus University Herdsman Bootcamp Dec. 1-2, 2025, in St. Joseph, Mo. The bootcamp is designed for new members or new employees of members who would like to expand their knowledge of Association resources. “This is an opportunity for producers to get to speak with staff, ask their questions and better understand the depth of resources that are available through their Association membership,” says Levi Landers, director of member and field services...
Article Link
Producers report favorable conditions in eastern South Dakota Melisa Goss Cattle Business Weekly Eastern South Dakota farmers are experiencing one of their better harvest seasons in recent years, with both corn and soybean yields exceeding 2024 numbers despite periodic weather interruptions and an uptick in combine fires across the region. Pat Harrington grows corn and soybeans near Armour in Douglas County. He reports his soybeans averaged 10 to 15 bushels better than last year, while corn yields are running 25 to 30 bushels above 2023 levels. Harrington finished his soybean harvest around mid-October and estimates he’s about one-third complete...
Article Link
Those of you reading this already have a stake in the cattle business. From cow-calf producers to cattle feeders, we need to voice our displeasure with increasing beef imports from Argentina, or for that matter, any country. I urge you to contact Senators Thune and Rounds, as well as Congressman Johnson here in South Dakota. For those of you reading this outside of South Dakota, please contact your Washington representatives as well. According to USDA data in 2024, we imported the most beef from Australia, followed by Canada, Brazil, Mexico, and New Zealand. The data indicates we imported over 1.1...
Article Link
Cattle country reacts negatively By Codi Vallery-Mills Aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Oct. 19, President Donald Trump suggested to reporters that purchasing beef from Argentina might be a solution to bringing down grocery prices for American consumers. “We would buy some beef from Argentina,” he told reporters aboard Air Force One during a flight from Florida to Washington. “If we do that, that will bring our beef prices down.” It’s the second time the President has hinted at an Argentine beef deal, after first suggesting it last week. Retail beef prices have been higher this year, with ground beef...
Article Link
Franny Fritz learned to work smarter to run her cattle operation Connie Sieh Groop Cattle Business Weekly When they called her name, announcing she was the 2025 Dakotafest Woman Farmer-Rancher of the Year on Aug. 21, Franny Fritz was shocked. As one dedicated to raising cattle, she said, “I thought, ‘Who’d want to recognize a silly cow-calf operator?’ When they called my name, I was thunderstruck, and it’s been quite a ride since then.” When asked about the honor she received at Dakotafest, she credited her neighbors for making her look good. Since being honored at the farm show, she’s...
Article Link
U.S. agricultural producer sentiment changed little in September as the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer reading of 126 was just one point higher than a month earlier. However, there was a shift in producers’ perceptions of current conditions and their expectations for the future. Producers’ perceptions of current conditions on their farms weakened as the Index of Current Conditions fell 7 points to 122. At the same time, farmers in September were a bit more optimistic about the future than in August, as the Index of Future Expectations rose 5 points to 128. This month’s survey was conducted the...
Article Link
The North Dakota Stockmen’s Association (NDSA) presented the Crighton Ranch of McKenzie County with its 2025 Rancher of the Year Award during the annual banquet at the organization’s 96th Annual Convention & Trade Show in Minot, N.D., this evening. David Lee and Nancy Crighton and their daughter, Nikki Winter, run the cow-calf operation. The Crightons are 40-year NDSA members. David Lee’s Uncle Ronald Crighton homesteaded on the east side of the Little Missouri River, across the water from where David Lee grew up. David Lee’s Grandpa Dave ran that homestead until the Crightons bought their current place on the west...
Article Link
From the backroads to the county roads to the interstate highways, the trucks are hauling. First and foremost, this is the time of the year when everyone needs to pay a little more attention when they are behind the wheel. The days are getting shorter, and the wildlife are starting to roam, but more importantly, a truck loaded with cattle or a semi hauling grain with an extra trailer can cause a deadly accident if you happen to pull out in front of them. Please be mindful of your surroundings. The cattle market, which seemed to be subsiding a couple...
Article Link
Every fall The Cattle Business Weekly newspaper based in Philip, S.D. releases its Top 10 Industry Leaders list. Each year the publication selects a group of men and women involved in the U.S. cattle industry who are doing their best to improve their businesses, communities and industry. The Top 10 is routinely made up of leaders who represent production agriculture, marketing, ag affiliate services, education, research, finance, and ag advocating. Named to this year’s class of Top 10 are Jake Miller, an ag entrepreneur from Culbertson, Neb.; ag broadcaster Lane Nordlund, Belt, Mont.; cattle feeder Patrick Maher, Timber Lake, S.D.;...
Article Link
Curtis Riganti National Drought Mitigation Center Recent precipitation in parts of the High Plains and West led to improvements for the northern Colorado Front Range into the southeast half of Wyoming, and in portions of New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and Oregon. Continual dry weather led to worsening conditions in northern Montana and adjacent western North Dakota, where abnormal dryness and moderate and severe drought expanded in coverage. Here’s a closer look at how September ended, and October began for cattle producers located in the middle of the U.S. High Plains Mostly warmer-than-normal temperatures occurred across the High Plains last...
Article Link
Taylor Grussing Cow/Calf Field Specialist SDSU Extension Weaning time is here and with that the decision to retain or sell heifer calves is front and center. The cattle cycle continues to be strong for both steers and heifers compared to years past, and herd rebuilding is slow or yet to start in some regions. Record low cow inventory has increased the value of all cattle and this should continue until the rebuild occurs or consumer demand decreases. Therefore, the opportunity cost of retaining heifers is something to strongly consider before loading the truck. Regardless of selling or retaining heifers, there...
Article Link
The North Dakota Stockmen’s Association (NDSA) presented the 2025 Environmental Stewardship Award to Spickler Ranch North of Glenfield, N.D., during the NDSA’s 96th Annual Convention & Trade Show in Minot, N.D. in late September. Spickler Ranch North is a third- and fourth-generation registered Angus seedstock operation that focuses on stewardship, sustainability and generational succession. The operation is owned and operated by Justin and Sara Spickler and their children, Wyatt, Will, Jessa and Watson. Established in the early 1940s by Justin’s grandparents, the ranch has been a member of the NDSA for 76 years. The Spicklers have adapted their practices...
Article Link
Westphal Red Angus of Grass Range, Montana, owned and operated by Vic and Shari Westphal, was recognized as the Red Angus Association of America’s 2025 Pioneer Breeder of the Year during the 72nd Annual National Red Angus Convention in Loveland, Colorado. The award honors longtime breeders who have upheld high standards of quality and excellence through dedicated breeding practices. Westphal’s introduction to Red Angus came in the 70s, when Vic noticed a herd along the highway near his hometown of Great Falls, Montana. At a time when many breeds were red, he believed Red Angus offered the best fit for...
Article Link
DENVER, Oct. 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The U.S. is bracing for a record grain harvest totaling 21.5 billion bushels of corn, soybeans and grain sorghum this fall. The bumper crop arrives during a period of heightened uncertainty surrounding the future of the U.S. trade relationship with China, low export market demand for U.S. soybeans and depressed crop prices. Meanwhile, grain storage and transportation logistics are shaping up to be much more complicated than usual. According to a new report from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange, grain storage space will be extraordinarily tight this fall with grain merchandisers charging higher fees due...
Article Link
Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is one of the greatest threats to young calves, and gaining protection through vaccines isn’t always straightforward. Maternal antibodies, passed through colostrum, can block some vaccines from boosting immunity. The key to overcoming that hurdle? Choosing a vaccine with the right adjuvant. Maternal antibodies can interfere with vaccines “Years ago, vaccine response was so variable in young calves,” said Curt Vlietstra, DVM, Boehringer Ingelheim. “At the time, we didn’t know if their immune system simply wasn’t ready, or if there was a problem with the vaccines. With the research we have now, we understand that...
Article Link
The American Gelbvieh Association (AGA) has released three new economic selection indexes and four new EPDs that are now available to all AGA members and stakeholders. “AGA is excited to introduce these new selection indexes to commercial cattlemen. They combine relevant traits and applicable pricing information to create tools that will assist producers in finding animals that best fit their ranch profitability model. The new EPDs bolster AGA’s impressive suite of traits that can be implemented by both AGA members and commercial producers using Gelbvieh and Balancer® genetics,” said Harold Bertz, AGA executive director. Economic Selection Indexes The new indexes...
Article Link
Jesse and Michelle Weber, owners of Weber Land and Cattle in Lake Benton, Minnesota, were recognized as the Red Angus Association of America’s 2025 Breeder of the Year during the 72nd Annual National Red Angus Convention in Loveland, Colorado. The award honors seedstock producers who uphold the highest standards of genetic excellence and have made significant contributions to the advancement of the breed. Jesse Weber’s passion for Red Angus began at age 13, when he purchased his first heifer from a neighbor. The docility, maternal strength and adaptability of those cattle made a lasting impression. “These cattle work for anybody...
Article Link
The North Dakota Stockmen’s Association (NDSA) recognized long-time brand inspector Mark Scherbenske of Lehr, N.D., with the organization’s Honorary Local Brand Inspector Award at a special banquet during its 96th Annual Convention & Trade Show in Minot, N.D. Scherbenske has been serving North Dakota livestock producers as a local brand inspector since Ronald Reagan was the president. A 36-year NDSA member, Scherbenske remembers being at the Gackle Feeder Calf Show when Wade Moser, then the NDSA executive vice president, approached him about becoming a local inspector, and he accepted. Brand inspection is a perfect match for him – as one...
Article Link
I am currently attending the South Dakota Angus Tour based in Aberdeen. We are traveling to a number of breeders in the northeastern part of the state. This has been a very interesting tour with many of the hosts dating back generations in the Angus breed. When families homesteaded back in the 1800s and today the 4th, 5th, and 6th generation continue to farm the ground it is impressive. Then, consider that Angus cattle have roamed the pastures for 70 to 80 years, it is even more impressive. We have had a nice crowd of Angus enthusiasts in attendance looking...
Article Link
On Sunday, Sept. 21 Mexico’s National Service of Agro-Alimentary Health, Safety, and Quality (SENASICA) confirmed a new case of New World screwworm (NWS) in Sabinas Hidalgo, located in the state of Nuevo León, less than 70 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border. This is now the northernmost detection of NWS during this outbreak, and the one most threatening to the American cattle and livestock industry. Sabinas Hidalgo is located near the major highway from Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, to Laredo, Texas, which is one of the most heavily trafficked commercial thoroughfares in the world. “Protecting the United States from NWS is non-negotiable...
Article Link
By Sarah Hill Cattle Business Weekly Telling the story of rural America is no easy task, but The Honorable Luke Lindberg, Under Secretary of Agriculture for Trade & Foreign Agricultural Affairs (TFAA) at USDA, is taking his South Dakota experiences to the global stage in his new role. Lindberg is more commonly known in South Dakota as the founder, president and CEO of South Dakota Trade. This public-private partnership promotes international trade for the Rushmore State. A less commonly known fact about Lindberg is that his father-in-law is Senator John Thune. Lindberg married Thune’s daughter, Brittany, in 2014, and they...
Article Link
The USDA released its World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates on Sept. 12. Here are the key takeaways for beef cattle. Beef production for 2025 has been reduced The forecast for red meat production was lowered from the previous month. Beef production is down due to reduced steer and heifer slaughter and lower cow slaughter in Q3 & Q4. Beef production in 2026 is slightly higher The report projects a small increase in beef production in 2026. This is expected because of higher expected fed-cattle slaughter, which offsets lower bull slaughter. Imports and exports revised Beef imports for 2025 were...
Article Link
Friedt makes move to mountain region A familiar face, Aaron Friedt, Mott, N.D., was recently named the American Hereford Association’s mountain region field representative. His new territory covers Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming, along with central and western Canada. Friedt previously served the north central region — the states of Minnesota, South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas — for more than two years. “A familiar face indeed, Aaron will be an invaluable asset as he transitions to the mountain region,” says Kane Aegerter, AHA director of seedstock marketing. “His dedication to the breed and strong work ethic have...
Article Link
BROOKINGS, S.D. — Sept. 15, 2025 — Michelle Rook has been named the 2025 recipient of the South Dakota State University Friend of the Beef Industry award for her contributions to the South Dakota beef industry. Currently the national news and market reporter for Farm Journal, Rook has spent her career covering the beef industry, and South Dakota agriculture in general. “I am honored to be recognized as a friend of the beef industry, and humbled since there are so many people that deserve this award,” Rook, a native of Clear Lake, said. “I’ve been fortunate throughout my career...
Article Link
While it seems easy enough to eyeball animals to guess individual weights, the human eye can be deceiving. When you have digital cattle scales available, you can expect hefty benefits, such as: Improved Reproductive Performance By capturing individual weights more frequently, producers can make more accurate breeding decisions that maximize reproductive performance and profit through timing, calving ease, bull selection, and improved overall calf health. Effective Management of Weight Gain Cattlemen can easily monitor rate of weight gain for individual cattle. This allows for tailored feeding programs, more closely tracking input costs, and optimum sale day weights. Reduced Treatment Cost...
Article Link
British Whites acclaimed at Iowa farm By Melisa Goss Cattle Business Weekly Of the 94.2 million head of cattle in the U.S., only about 2,500 are British Whites. While the breed is uncommon, there’s a lot to appreciate about them, says Paul Gieselman. Gieseman runs PaSa Farms with his wife Sara in southeastern Iowa. The couple has three sons, August, Benjamin and Capp. Their diversified operation includes corn, soybeans, hay, aronia berries, chickens and about 35 purebred British White cattle. Originally, Gieselman finished calves to sell at auction, but today most of his beef goes straight to local customers. He’ll...
Article Link
In programs of beef promotion, research, consumer information, industry information, foreign marketing, and producer communications In action at the end of its September 3-4 meeting in Denver, Colo., the Beef Promotion Operating Committee (BPOC) approved Checkoff funding for a total of 14 “Authorization Requests” – or grant proposals – for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2025. The committee, which includes 10 producers and importers from the Cattlemen’s Beef Board and 10 producers from the Federation of State Beef Councils, also recommended full Cattlemen’s Beef Board approval of a budget amendment to reflect the split of funding between budget categories...
Article Link
At the 2025 South Dakota State Fair By CBW Staff The afternoon of Aug. 30, the Supreme Row Champions were selected in the Open Class Beef Show at the 2025 South Dakota State Fair. Fairgoers gathered together in the DEX to see judges Bill Wilderman, Union Bridge, M.D. and Jirl Buck of Madil, Okla. sort through the individual breed champions. The Supreme Champion Bull was the Hereford from Fawcett’s Elm Creek Ranch, Ree Heights, S.D. along with Hollis Fawcett, Kirk Gilbertson, Rosebud Cattle, Grimmel-Schaake and Jared Werning Cattle while the Supreme Champion Female honors went to the Charolais cow/calf...
Article Link
A large study found that animal protein is not linked to higher mortality and may even help lower cancer-related deaths. Eating foods that contain animal protein is not connected to a higher chance of death and may even provide some protection against cancer-related mortality, according to new research. The findings, published in Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, are based on an analysis of data from nearly 16,000 adults aged 19 and older who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Researchers looked at how much animal and plant protein participants consumed and compared those patterns with their...
Article Link
Select Sires is thrilled to announce that Brent Thiel has joined the Select Sires team as a beef sire analyst. He will be responsible for working with the beef sire acquisition team to select new sires to enhance the Select Sires lineup. With 40 years of experience as a nationally recognized cattleman, Thiel is known for producing some of the most sought-after purebred Charolais and Angus genetics in the industry. His exceptional eye for quality will undoubtedly enhance our commitment to excellence. His background in creating well-rounded, maternally focused genetics in multiple breeds adds a wealth of knowledge and experience...
Article Link
By Ben Beckman & Ryan Benjamin Nebraska Extension Educators As the growing season winds down and pastures go dormant, weed management might not be top of mind—but fall can be one of the most effective times to control some of our toughest rangeland invaders. Fall offers a window of opportunity, especially for targeting perennial and biennial weeds. Understanding which species respond best to fall control and how weather affects treatment success can help improve rangeland productivity and reduce weed pressure heading into next spring. Why Fall Matters for Weed Control In the fall, perennial and biennial plants shift energy reserves...
Article Link
If feed resources allow, here’s why today may be the best time from a breakeven perspective to expand by adding new females to the herd. By Mark Johnson Oklahoma State University Extension There is some evidence of an increase in heifer retention with improved drought conditions across much of the Central Plains and summer video auctions reporting a smaller percentage of heifer calves. Retention does not appear to be aggressive. With the calf market on pace for another year of record prices providing incentive, herd rebuilding remains sluggish compared to past cycles. Lingering drought continues to limit forage availability in...
Article Link
Will Continue to Fall Moving Ahead By Matt Dabrowski Interest rates for livestock loans are falling, but rising sale prices means loan principals are growing. The Federal Reserve Banks of Dallas and Kansas City both survey lenders in their regions about feeder cattle loan rates. The Dallas survey primarily covers bankers in Texas, and the Kansas City survey those in Missouri, Kansas and Nebraska. These rates peaked in the fourth quarter of 2023, at 9.43% for Dallas and 8.96% for Kansas City. Feeder cattle loan rates have dropped nearly a percentage point since these highs, reaching 8.51% for Dallas and...
Article Link
By Melisa Goss for The Cattle Business Weekly While the farm bill is on its second one-year extension, South Dakota’s political leaders said President Trump’s officially titled One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) has taken care of much of what it would have covered. According to the Farm Bureau, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projects that the final version of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will boost agricultural spending by about .6 billion from fiscal year 2025 through 2034. Of that, billion will go toward strengthening core farm safety net programs like Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC), Price...
Article Link
By Sarah Hill Cattle Business Weekly The beef industry never lacks for discussions around politics and hot industry topics, and the Midwest Agricultural Export Summit in Sioux Falls on August 13 had plenty to talk about. The Summit featured many political heavy hitters sharing their insights on the current landscape in Washington, D.C., and how it relates to the agriculture industry. “If we can’t feed ourselves or produce our own energy, we can’t have national security,” said the Honorable Kip Tom, Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. “There are four pillars for building a strong economy, and agriculture...
Article Link
USDA takes more steps against New World Screwworm By Codi Vallery-Mills Cattle Business Weekly The Cattle Business Weekly took part in a USDA webinar on Aug. 13 regarding the New World Screwworm in Mexico and the U.S. response to it. Veterinarians presenting on the webinar emphasized that the New World Screwworm (NWS) is a threat to American cattlemen and women. “We are very concerned about NWS coming here,” said Dr. Joanna Davis, Veterinary Medical Officer with USDA APHIS. NWS is a devastating pest and the USDA is treating it as such. When NWS fly larvae (maggots) burrow into the flesh...
Article Link
By Codi Vallery-Mills Cattle Business Weekly The Cattle Business Weekly took part in a USDA webinar on Aug. 13 regarding the New World Screwworm in Mexico and the U.S. response to it. Veterinarians presenting on the webinar emphasized that the New World Screwworm (NWS) is a threat to American cattlemen and women. “We are very concerned about NWS coming here,” said Dr. Joanna Davis, Veterinary Medical Officer with USDA APHIS. NWS is a devastating pest and the USDA is treating it as such. When NWS fly larvae (maggots) burrow into the flesh of a living animal, they cause serious, often...
Article Link
By Melisa Goss Cattle Business Weekly Knock on wood, but this summer, at least so far, Mother Nature has been kind to producers across the upper Midwest - a welcome respite from the significant drought that has plagued much of the region over the last few years. In fact, when the snow melted and spring arrived, some area producers were preparing for the worst. “If we rewind back to May, it was pretty bleak. I was thinking that we would be stricken with drought once again,” says Adam Grabenstein. Grabenstein is a fifth-generation farmer and rancher who runs a cow-calf...
Article Link
In Donations for Ronald McDonald House of Charities The 43rd annual Iowa Governor’s Charity Steer Show continues to make an impact, raising 9,000 for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa. Including this year’s donations, the Iowa Governor’s Charity Steer has surpassed million in donations since its inception in 1983. All money raised benefits the three independent Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa, located in Des Moines, Iowa City, and Sioux City. These three houses have served over 55,000 families from all 50 states and many foreign countries. Families from all 99 counties in...
Article Link
By Karla Wilke Nebraska Extension Cow/Calf Systems and Stocker Management Specialist By interseeding annual grass into established alfalfa fields and applying water with a K-line irrigation system, Jerry Weekes has developed a system for maintaining cows on limited perennial acres. Jerry Weekes has spent a lifetime in the cattle industry. Most recently, Jerry sold the local sale barn he owned for 27 years, in the Nebraska Panhandle, but continues to develop innovative approaches to the cattle industry. Intensive grazing management is not a new concept and is certainly not new to Jerry Weekes who was first introduced to the Allan...
Article Link
Whether you’re a seasoned producer or an ag professional, Dakotafest 2025 promises to deliver something for everyone on the 45 acres of showgrounds at Mitchell, S.D. Here are a few highlights of what to expect: Educational Forums & Policy Talks Tuesday, Aug 19 (noon): A forum hosted by the South Dakota Farm Bureau tackles hot topics like property taxes with experts, including Secretary of Revenue Michael Houdyshell and others Wednesday, Aug 21: 12:15 PM: Presentation on the upcoming High Plains soybean processing facility near Mitchell 2:30 PM: Ag policy update featuring U.S. Senators Mike Rounds, John Thune, and Rep. Dusty...
Article Link
The South Dakota Beef Industry Council (SDBIC) is proud to announce Jon Dilworth as its new Executive Director. In this key leadership position, Jon will oversee the Council’s statewide beef promotion, education, and research programs funded through the Beef Checkoff. He will serve as a primary voice for South Dakota’s cattle producers while leading strategic outreach, retail and foodservice collaboration, and producer engagement initiatives that strengthen beef demand from pasture to plate. Jon brings a wealth of experience across the beef supply chain—from production and education to promotion and food processing. Most recently, he served in operations leadership at...
Article Link
By CBW Staff After 72 years of being held, the Sioux Empire Livestock Show will mark 2025 as its final year. In a Facebook message it was announced that the show would not continue on. “After thoughtful consideration, the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce has made the difficult decision to retire the Sioux Empire Livestock Show, with 2025 marking its final year. This decision was driven by long-term financial challenges, staffing and volunteer limitations and facility constraints—not by any lack of passion or support from our incredible agriculture community. To our exhibitors, volunteers and attendees: thank you. Your...
Article Link
Thomas Herefords of Gold Creek has been selected as the recipient of the 2025 Montana Leopold Conservation Award®. The award honors ranchers, farmers, and forestland owners who go above and beyond in the management of soil health, water quality, and wildlife habitat on working land. Thomas Herefords, owned by Bruce and Tammy Thomas, and Richard and Shirley Thomas, will be presented with the award at the Montana Farm Bureau Annual Convention in November. They receive ,000 for being selected. Sand County Foundation and national sponsor American Farmland Trust will present Leopold Conservation Awards to landowners in 28 states this year....
Article Link
From CBW News Desk As the calendar turns to August, farmers and ranchers begin to think about autumn work. Here’s a recap of what is being forecasted for this fall’s weather, September–November 2025. Regional Outlook from NOAA & NWS According to NOAA Climate Prediction Center’s August–October outlook, the Northern and Central Great Plains—covering eastern Montana, the Dakotas, Nebraska, and inland Kansas—are expected to see above‑normal temperatures combined with below‑normal precipitation, especially in the Dakotas, eastern Montana, and much of Nebraska NWS Central Region’s seasonal outlook reinforces this: a persistent upper‑level ridge will drive warmer and drier conditions across the...
Article Link
In the heart of rural South Dakota, a business in the town of Philip marks a significant milestone this year: the 20th anniversary of The Cattle Business Weekly. Since its founding two decades ago, the publication—underscored by its motto “For Cattlemen by Cattlemen”—has grown into a regional voice for the beef industry, serving producers across a nine‑state region Co-founded by Don Ravellette and Donnie Leddy, and still family‑owned by Donnie Leddy today, the newspaper first appeared in Philip, S.D., with the goal of delivering timely market reports, policy updates, and human interest stories to ranchers and cattle affiliates. Today, its...
Article Link
After 36 years under Madden leadership From Wyoming News Exchange Chuck Petersen and Lander Nicodemus became partners in Torrington Livestock Markets on July 10, taking over one of the nation’s largest auction markets by volume after longtime owner Lex Madden stepped away due to health concerns. The transition marks the end of an era for the southeastern Wyoming facility, which has operated under the Madden family leadership since 1989. Brothers Shawn and Lex Madden built the operation into what industry sources describe as the largest independent livestock market in the nation. Petersen joined Torrington Livestock Markets as a field representative...
Article Link
By Aaron Berger, Nebraska Extension Livestock Educator Weigh-up cow prices have increased dramatically over the last two years and are now currently at prices that are close to double the average price of what they were just 3 years ago in 2022. To put this in perspective, the average annual weigh-up cow prices per CWT were .05 in 2020, .40 in 2021 and .12 in 2022, as reported by USDA Market News at the Joplin Regional Stockyards in Missouri. This chart shown by the Livestock Market Information Center shows just how dramatically market prices have increased. Income from Breeding Stock...
Article Link
By Codi Vallery-Mills Six herds in Iowa have confirmed Theileriosis – a disease being spread by the Asian Longhorned Tick. A protozoan parasite carried by the tick, Theileriosis, infects red and white blood cells and can cause anemia in cattle, which can lead to death. The disease is reportable but not actionable, says Iowa State Veterinarian Dr. Jeff Kaisand. This means vets that witness the disease must report it to the state Department of Agriculture, but no action (like the closing of state borders) will happen. Dr. Kaisand was part of a webinar hosted by the Iowa Farm Bureau recently...
Article Link
The Cattle Business Weekly is celebrating its 20th Anniversary! Oh, a lot has changed over the last 20 years! In 2005, the price of corn was around , and they were bidding on fat cattle in Nebraska. ,000 would get you a new Ford F-250, and ,000 would get you a nice gooseneck trailer to pull behind it. Furthermore, 0 to 0 an acre would buy a lot of grass in western South Dakota! Oh yes, a lot has changed in 20 years! What has remained the same is that we still have an office in downtown Philip, S.D....
Article Link
From CBW News Desk There has been recent movement in trade negotiations regarding beef. Some of it will be beneficial while others might just be for show. Japan An increasing market for U.S. beef has been Japan with it becoming the second top destination for U.S. beef and pork. This has been in part to actions during President Trump’s first term when a U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement was reached. This new agreement continues those efforts to strengthen trade to the benefit of U.S. livestock producers and Japanese consumers. European Union On Sunday, President Donald Trump announced a preliminary trade agreement with...
Article Link
By Maci Guay, Texas A&M University Most livestock species have thicker skin than humans, but it’s still vulnerable to harsh summer conditions. Sun exposure, bacterial infections and increased activity of parasite-carrying insects can all take a toll on livestock skin. Each year, the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) receives samples that reveal how sweltering summers affect livestock health. It’s essential to act promptly to prevent skin irritation from becoming painful and causing serious harm. Effective diagnostic testing, paired with veterinary care, can help guide treatment and protect both animals and producers’ livelihoods. Erin Edwards, veterinary pathologist at TVMDL,...
Article Link
Temple Grandin – a tireless speaker, prolific author, and distinguished professor of animal science at Colorado State University – is often circled by students on the Fort Collins campus. She is flagged down by fans at the airport. And she is surrounded by admirers at agriculture conferences and gatherings for families of children with autism. She is a pioneer in food-animal welfare who has achieved global distinction with insights attained from her own autism. Chief among them is her ability – gained through visual thinking – to understand livestock behavior and to design effective and humane handling systems used by...
Article Link
By Justin Slabaugh, Blue Reef Agri-Marketing This last Friday’s monthly Cattle on Feed leaves the market with much to digest. For starters, let’s go through the results. Cattle on feed as of July 1st, 2025, were estimated to be down 0.8% versus a reported 1.6% decrease versus last year. Cattle marketed during June of 2025 came in 4.4% lower than a year ago opposed to the average trade estimate of a 3.6% less marketings. However, the biggest surprise came from placements. Analysts pegged placements in a range of 96-101% of a year ago, with the average guess being 98%. USDA...
Article Link
Have you watched any of the cattle sell on the video sales the last couple of weeks? We are at levels never seen before! , , .50, and yes, some of the fancy smaller calves will bring a pound! It looks like good steers weighing from 600 to 650 pounds are worth ,500 to ,650, and a 585-pounder will dollar up over ,400 a head. This Fall, when the mornings cool off and the trucks start rolling, the value of the calves they are hauling will be around 0,000 a pot load! A few strings of yearlings are bringing...
Article Link
By Codi Vallery-Mills In visiting with one of my college roommates, who now lives on the East Coast, we compared our Fourth of July parades. The two were in stark contrast to each other. She described hers as a liberal parade with various organizations representing environmental concerns, human rights, and animal welfare. There were outdoor clubs and construction equipment that rolled through as well, she said. The July 4th parade my family took in had rodeo queens by the dozen, classic cars harkening back to simpler days, and floats representing youth organizations and class reunions. There weren’t as many marching...
Article Link
Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.1 million head on July 1, 2025. The inventory was 2 percent below July 1, 2024. The inventory included 6.88 million steers and steer calves, up 1 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 62 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.24 million head, down 5 percent from 2024. Placements in feedlots during June totaled 1.44 million head, 8 percent below 2024. Net placements were 1.39 million head. During June,...
Article Link
On July 17, Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen was joined by Senator Barry DeKay and Nebraska Department of Agriculture Director Sherry Vinton at Shamrock Locker in O’Neill, Neb. to ceremonially sign LB246. The new law bans the manufacture, distribution and sale of lab-grown or cultivated meat in Nebraska. Passage of the measure during the most recent legislative session builds on the Governor’s executive order from last year which prohibits agencies from purchasing lab-grown meat and requires state contractors to certify they will not discriminate against natural-meat producers in favor of lab or cultivated meat producers. “Nebraska feeds the world and...
Article Link
By Matt Dabrowski It’s time to guess your own Cattle On Feed report. The next report will be released Friday, July 25. Despite some late drawdowns, June was a positive month in the cattle complex. Live cattle rose 4.8% to all-time high prices, while feeder cattle rose 4.0%. This was matched by similar gains in the broad commodities index (+4.1%) and stocks (+5.0%). Feeder markets reflected this strength with rising prices, though many auctions ran light schedules for the summer. In late-month USDA reported sales in South Dakota, feeder steers averaged 5/cwt—lower than earlier in the month but still elevated....
Article Link
Cattle producers from across the country were recognized during the industry’s Summer Business Meeting in San Diego through the 2025 Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP). Regional award recipients were honored for their commitment to conservation and stewardship. The national winner will be announced during CattleCon 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee, in February. “It is an honor to recognize these cattle producers for their commitment to conservation,” said NCBA President Buck Wehrbein. “Not only are they protecting natural resources for future generations, but they also serve as stewardship role models for producers across the country.” Regional ESAP winners undertake stewardship efforts unique...
Article Link
After a close call with wildfire, cattle ranchers reflect on what they’ve learned. By Paige Nelson With oil fields to their west and cedar, ash, and cottonwood trees to their south and east, Pete and Vawnita Best of Watford City, N.D. know there will be more wildfires burning their way in the future. The October 2024 Elkhorn fire came close enough to leave its mark on the ranch’s trees and fences, but spared the houses and the livestock. Although Bests didn’t have to evacuate their home last October, they’ve done some pondering about what they’ll have ready before the next...
Article Link
By Lura Roti, South Dakota Farmers Union Ralph, S.D., had a general store, a post office, a Lutheran church, a cemetery and a school when Louise Jenson and her husband, Gene, were newly married and moved onto the ranch within eyesight of the Harding County village. Sixty-three years later, Louise maintains the grounds around the now, mostly vacant buildings and cemetery. Thankfully, even though Ralph is no more, the Jenson Ranch family is thriving. In addition to grounds maintenance, Louise spends quite a bit of time watching her great-grandchildren. “It is just heaven,” explained Louise, of getting to help care...
Article Link
The Cattle Business Weekly is honored to be this year’s South Dakota Stockgrowers Association’s Industry Award recipient. We were awarded this week during the Stockgrowers' annual convention held in Rapid City, S.D. A big thank you goes out to Doris Lauing, Executive Director, along with her staff and Chuck Willard, Stockgrowers' President, and the entire board of directors. It is humbling to be honored among your peers in the cattle business. From the day this newspaper began publishing, we have strived to develop relationships with the producer organizations our readers belong to, so we can better amplify the work these...
Article Link
While everyone was busy celebrating the Christmas holiday, here’s what was happening in the news. From CBW News Desk Farm Bill Extended for Another Year Congress passed the year-end spending package and with it a one-year extension of the 2018 Farm Bill. The bill includes billion in economic relief for farmers affected by rising input costs and falling crop prices in 2024. The economic relief package is said to be critical for corn farmers, who face a significant gap between crop revenues and production costs this year. While it won’t fully resolve the financial struggles of farmers, it is...
Article Link
Every year at the Minnesota Cattle Industry Convention, the Minnesota Beef Council announces the winner of the Prime Promoter award. This year’s convention was held December 6th - 7th at River’s Edge Convention Center in St. Cloud, Minnesota. The Prime Promoter Award was started in 2017 by the Minnesota Beef Council and the Beef Checkoff Program and is given to recognize any group or organization who performs outstanding promotion of beef throughout the year. Winners of the Prime Promoter Award are provided with a plaque and 0 to go towards beef promotions. This year’s recipient of the award was Three...
Article Link
By Codi Vallery-Mills Rebuilding the U.S. cattle herd looks more like a marathon than a sprint. At least that is what cattle producers who sat in the CattleFax session at the recent South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association Convention surmised from comments by Holden Ramey. Ramey, who is with the market analyst firm, told cattlemen and women in the group that the U.S. beef cattle cycle is drawn out and the rebuild looks slow. “It is going to be in the late 2020s before we see these herd numbers go up,” Ramey said. Herd expansion is driven by grass and cash. Ramey...
Article Link
By Codi Vallery-Mills Rebuilding the U.S. cattle herd looks more like a marathon than a sprint. At least that is what cattle producers who sat in the CattleFax session at the recent South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association Convention surmised from comments by Holden Ramey. Ramey, who is with the market analyst firm, told cattlemen and women in the group that the U.S. beef cattle cycle is drawn out and the rebuild looks slow. “It is going to be in the late 2020s before we see these herd numbers go up,” Ramey said. Herd expansion is driven by grass and cash. Ramey...
Article Link
There is no doubt that 2024 is a year to remember if you are in the cattle business. We have experienced prices like never before. Prices that make it fun and profitable! The weigh-up market has been on fire for the last twelve months. It is fun to sit around the sale barn and listen to the auctioneer “crack one off” for near a pound then hear “some Ol’ timer” say “Oh ya, we sold a lot of them pound cows for 32 cents!” This weigh-up market is sure better. You don’t have to be a banker...
Article Link
The South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association (SDCA), in partnership with Farm Credit Services of America and the South Dakota Corn Utilization Council, announced the inaugural class of the SDCA Leadership Academy during the 76th Annual Convention and Trade Show. “The Leadership Academy will foster industry knowledge, enhance leadership, improve communication skills, and promote mentorship among emerging leaders. The program will drive sustainable growth and positively impact the beef production industry by equipping participants with critical skills, knowledge, and networks,” said Warren Symens, SDCA President. “Congratulations to the inaugural Leadership Academy class,” Mitchell Vander Wal | Howard, SD Colin Geppert | Kimball,...
Article Link
This issue of The Cattle Business Weekly publishes on Christmas Day. From all of us at The Cattle Business Weekly we hope you have a happy and blessed holiday season. I came across this poem written by Paul Kern in 2009. With conflicts occurring around the world, we can only pray that they soon come to an end and no more lives are lost. We can also pray that our borders are closed and our beloved United States becomes a safer place to live. A Cowboy Country Christmas By Paul Kern It’s a cowboy Christmas evenin’, Cain’t hardly...
Article Link
By Amy Blum, CBW Falls Park in Sioux Falls, S.D. lights up with a spectacular Winter Wonderland display each Christmas season, and thanks to the Stockyards Ag Experience team, this year’s display featured a special connection to agriculture. “We believe there is a place for everyone in agriculture,” says Abby Bischoff, Executive Director of Stockyards Ag Experience. “Our museum and plaza location at Falls Park gives our state’s largest industry an interesting opportunity to be shared with others, and our first Country Christmas event was a memorable way to connect.” According to Bischoff, Country Christmas sparked from an idea board...
Article Link
By Matt Dabrowski It’s time to guess your own Cattle On Feed report. Producers are enjoying a hot market in advance of the next report, to be released Friday, December 20. The first week of November was tough on cattle futures, with the election driving volatility across financial markets. For the rest of the month, though, the trend was upward. Feeder cattle led the way as late fall precipitation energized cash auction markets, pushing futures up 5.7%. Live cattle followed with a 2.3% gain. The broad financial market sentiment remains ‘risk on’, supporting continued strength in cattle prices. We make...
Article Link
Creates Formal Mediation Process for U.S. Forest Service Boundary Disputes About 2.6 million acres in South Dakota are federally owned, 76 percent of which are managed by the United States Forest Service (USFS). Congress has authorized land agencies to offer leases to local producers to use the land in a way that supports economic activity while also preserving natural resources, such as grazing or mining. Many producers who obtain these leases also have private land that borders USFS land which is typically where boundary disputes arise. Earlier this year the Maude ranch family of Hermosa, S.D. found themselves in...
Article Link
Compiled by Codi Vallery-Mills, CBW The year 2024 is slowly coming to a close. As Cattle Business Weekly looks back on the year, we are reminded of all that happened in cattle country. Many of the headlines were about diseases and natural disasters, nothing on a too positive note. But if you dug further into the newspaper this year, you would find a few nuggets of good news – silver linings amongst all the black and white printer ink. You’ll find a few of those headlines below: Relief funds created for wildfire victims – Much of the region saw larger...
Article Link
By Leah Heidler, Casey Peterson Ltd. There is often much confusion on whether an agricultural producer needs to file their tax return by March 1st or April 15th and rightfully so. There are many factors that contribute to whether an agricultural producer needs to file their tax return earlier than other taxpayers. The first thing to remember is that if you did not have any tax liability for the prior year, take a breath, you don’t need to file by March 1st. The earlier March 1st deadline for agriculture producers is actually a provision to avoid penalties for not...
Article Link
By Kelly Brandlee, CBW The story of Fink Polled Herefords is one deeply rooted in family and a passion for quality cattle. Established in 1976 by Mike Fink’s father, Marvin, the operation began with a commitment to raising registered Hereford cattle. Marvin’s purchase of the first purebred polled Herefords from a ranch in North Dakota marked the start of a journey that Mike, then just eight years old, remembers vividly. Growing up in the business, Mike witnessed firsthand the dedication and quality values that define Fink Polled Herefords of Bridgewater, South Dakota today. Even when life took him to law...
Article Link
By Paige Nelson, CBW For livestock owners, winter is also known as “ice-chopping season”! Frosty mornings get even colder when ice has to be broken and removed from the stock tanks before cattle can drink. There’s also the timeless question of “pitchfork or shovel” when throwing hunks of ice out of the trough. Fourth-generation ranchers Shondah and Randall Otwell, of Oshoto, Wy., were sick of water in its solid state in their stock tanks. They were also tired of relying on costly and inefficient tank heaters. Randall decided to design a more effective tool. “After several years of design and...
Article Link
Tyson announces plant closure, Canada herd is consolidating, and Australia increases exports By CBW Staff Tyson Foods on Monday announced it would close its beef and pork processing facility in Emporia, Kan. in February 2025. More than 800 employees will be impacted. Tyson says around 200 employees will be able to shift to work at the Holcomb, Kan. plant, but that is more than four hours away and would require workers to relocate. The company has had several plant closures – beef, pork, and poultry – in the past five years. According to Reuters, Tyson’s beef segment reported an...
Article Link
By Sarah Kocher, American Angus Communications Specialist Family-run businesses that last 100 or more years often leave a legacy, and when an Angus herd lasts that long the breed comes together to celebrate the accomplishment. At the 2024 Angus Convention in Fort Worth, Texas the American Angus Association® honored Sitz Angus of Dillon and Harrison, Montana with the Century Award for their 100-plus years as a registered Angus herd. “Being able to say we’ve been in the Angus business for over 100 years – that’s a feat itself,” said Jim Sitz of the Sitz Angus. William and Frieda Sitz started...
Article Link
New soybean plant set to come online in October 2025 By Bart Pfankuch South Dakota News Watch Several cranes tower above a busy construction site along state Highway 37 south of Mitchell, South Dakota where work is rapidly progressing on a 0 million grain plant that will be the latest addition to South Dakota’s growing agricultural processing industry. For generations, the state has served as an agricultural production hub in the Great Plains, growing millions of bushels of corn and soybeans and raising millions of cows and hogs annually. For many years, most of the state’s high-output food producers...
Article Link
New Research Shows U.S. Agriculture Has Potential to be Greenhouse Gas Negative By Jamie Mara, U.S. Farmers & Ranchers in Action Peer-reviewed report provides more scientific evidence that agriculture is part of the solution to climate change U.S. agriculture, with enhanced implementation of conservation practices and emerging technologies, has an opportunity to more than offset its carbon footprint while increasing farmer profitability and farm resiliency, according to a new report initiated by U.S. Farmers & Ranchers in Action (USFRA) and published by the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST). The report, “The Potential for U.S. Agriculture...
Article Link
By Sarah Hill Have you ever tried “birthday beef”? The more commonly known term is Wagyu beef, but this type of high-end beef is typically reserved for special occasions. If you live in southern Minnesota and you’ve tried Wagyu beef, there’s a good chance that the Wagyu you consumed was sourced from Fellers Ranch. Not Competing with Conventional Beef Fellers Ranch is only a little over three years old, but all four partners have been involved in the livestock business for well over three decades. One partner, Jeremy Johnson and his wife, Darcy, owns Conger Meat Market, a USDA-certified processing...
Article Link
Steve Hanson, a rancher and cattle feeder from Elsie, Neb., is the new U.S. Meat Export Federation chair, succeeding Minnesota pork and grain producer Randy Spronk. The USMEF concluded its annual strategic planning conference in Tucson, Ariz., this past Friday with the election of officers for 2024-25. Hanson has previously held many beef industry leadership roles, including chair of the Nebraska Beef Council and Federation of State Beef Councils and president of the Nebraska Cattlemen. He also served on the Beef Promotion Operating Committee, where he came to appreciate the importance of international marketing programs for U.S. red meat....
Article Link
By Alfredo DiCostanzo, Nebraska Extension Educator & Connor Biehler, Nebraska Extension Educator The U.S. beef herd inventory was at 28.2 million cows as of January 2024. During the last peak of the cattle cycle in January of 2019, the U.S. beef herd inventory reached 31.6 million cows. That is a drop of 3.4 million cows (11% of the inventory) in five years. Will the U.S. beef industry rebuild to the same inventory as 2019? Likely not! Many factors will affect the size of the U.S. beef herd at the next peak. Some might consider that beef on dairy crosses...
Article Link
By Jaclyn De Candio Having eyes on the calving pen when you cannot be there is invaluable. Thanks to the proliferation of camera types and capabilities, it is now easier than ever to make this once fanciful idea a reality you can appreciate each season. Perhaps there are too many options on today’s market, making it an overwhelming task to choose the option best suited to your operation. There are many considerations, including features, accessibility and cost along with installation and maintenance. Below are some farm and ranch-friendly products with ideal features for calving. Barn Owl Barn Owl’s...
Article Link
Newly elected board members for the American Angus Association.The American Angus Association® 141st Annual Convention of Delegates gathered November 4 in Fort Worth, Texas. Five members were elected to the board of directors. They are Paul Bennett (second term), Red House, Virgina; John Dickinson (second term), Auburn, California; Ron Hinrichsen, Westmoreland, Kansas; Mark Johnson, Orlando, Oklahoma; and Danny Poss, Scotia, Nebraska. The delegation also elected new officers; Jonathan Perry, Fayetteville, Tennessee, president and chairman of the board and Jim Brinkley, Milan, Missouri, vice president and vice chairman of the board. Darrell Stevenson, White Sulphur Springs, Montana will serve as the...
Article Link
By Codi Vallery-Mills Scattered throughout this Cattle Business Weekly is news about the recent election and how agricultural issues fared at the state level. With Donald J. Trump becoming the president-elect, agriculture in 2025 could see some changes under a Trump administration. Here’s what to watch for: Tariffs and trade will be targeted again under a second Trump administration. In his first term as president, Trump placed tariffs on billion of Chinese-made goods. President Biden kept much of those tariffs in place during his term. Trump campaigned on increasing tariffs and says he will again crack down on China,...
Article Link
By Lura Roti Two weeks after graduating from Southern State college with a associate of life science and electronic repair degree, Ray Martinmaas was drafted into the Army. It was 1970 and while many of his classmates went to Vietnam, the Army had other plans for Martinmaas. “I took airborne training and worked in explosives and defusing bombs,” Martinmaas said. “Our entire unit had college degrees – I think my electronics degree had something to do with it because there are a lot of electronics in high explosives.” Because he served in Special Operations, Martinmaas cannot share much about the...
Article Link
By Troy Smith Most cattle folk have at least heard about genomics. They understand that cattle genomics is the study of all the DNA that cattle possess - all of the genes and how their interrelationships influence life functions, including health, growth and overall performance. Cattle producers may understand that but still wonder how genomic research impacts their individual operations. Producers attending the 2024 University of Nebraska Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory (GSL) Open House learned how genomics is contributing to the development of management tools with real-world applications. Among topics discussed by UNL researchers was the recent discovery of a...
Article Link
How community and the internet set one rancher’s capacity to create ablaze. Birds chirp in no-man’s land. A tall red barn, weathered paint but no hint of a lean, stands as the beacon welcoming you into the yard of Paul Williams, military veteran and newly invested Montana landowner. For all the silence, his yard is lively. A smiling Jack Russell Terrier looks up from the seat of an old ranch pickup. The reluctant Australian Cattle Dog keeps a wary eye on a drone capturing aerial footage, eager to grab hold if it gets too close. Crisply colored chickens waddle behind...
Article Link
By Sarah Hill Small cattle herds can still produce some of the most high-quality cattle—such is the case for Gall Red Angus, Hurley, S.D. The herd of about 30 head was started in 1998 by Corey Gall with just 10 head of registered Red Angus cattle from two Minnesota herds. Disposition is Key In 1996, Gall started out with black Angus cattle, and wasn’t pleased with how aggressive the animals were, especially at calving time. Switching to Red Angus gave Gall everything he was looking for—a quiet disposition, good mothering ability, and still high amounts of growth. “I wanted...
Article Link
By Troy Smith The cattle industry moves in cycles. It’s been that way at least as long as analysts have been charting cattle numbers and prices. They have collected plenty of data showing how low total cattle inventory translates to an increase in cattle prices, and how lower prices follow inventory expansion. It’s a matter of supply and demand. Cyclical swings in price result in greater risk and increased financial uncertainty for cattle folk. Uncertainty about the future creates a cyclical marketing and production dilemma, because so many producers base their own herd expansion and contraction decisions on short-term...
Article Link
By Codi Vallery-Mills, Editor As always, it has been a busy fall season both on the ranch and in the Cattle Business Weekly office. I’m sure many of you can relate. This October, the weather on the western side of South Dakota has lent itself to one of the more beautiful falls I can remember. The days have been pleasant, the autumn colors have been spectacular, and we even got our first rain in over a month. The moisture arrived with a dreary, cool day perfect for getting inside work done. After catching up on a few house chores,...
Article Link
By Bethany Johnston, UNL Extension If current USDA rules are not changed, orange metal clips will soon be a relic of the past. Starting November 5, 2024, your veterinarian will not be tagging with metal clips, but instead will use electronic identification (EID) tags. Veterinarians used metal clips to identify heifers receiving the brucellosis vaccine (“bangs”), and to identify animals moving between states. In the spring of 2024, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announced mandatory EID tags for certain bovine classes. This builds upon the 2013 ruling that only requested visual ID tags. The electronic version...
Article Link
Berwald Red Angus, owned by Austin and Becky Berwald of Toronto, South Dakota, has been crowned the 2024 Breeder of the Year by the Red Angus Association of America. The award was presented by, Seth Leachman at the National Red Angus Convention in Lincoln, Nebraska, on Sept. 12. Recipients of the prestigious Breeder of the Year award have shown exceptional dedication to preserving and enhancing the Red Angus breed’s reputation within the cattle industry, while upholding and advancing the highest standards of genetic excellence. “Austin has been extremely progressive with his operation,” said Leachman. “He’s built the kind of genetics...
Article Link
The calf runs across western South Dakota are in full swing and if you have not been to one, I’d encourage you to read through the sale reports in this week’s Cattle Business Weekly. It looks like our commercial cow/calf producers are having a pretty darn good year! I’ll list a few highlights from last week. Fort Pierre Livestock Auction sold three loads of 637/638-pound steers from one producer that brought 307.50! Philip Livestock Market had a big load of 654-pound steers that brought .99! Faith Livestock Auction sold a load of 635-pound steers that sold for 1.50 while...
Article Link
European cattle raisers are interested in Montana Angus genetics By Codi Vallery-Mills Taking in a few stops on the Montana Angus Tour in September were European cattle producers from Estonia, Finland, Bulgaria, Austria, and Hungary. They were part of the Montana Department of Agriculture’s Beef Genetics Inbound Trade Mission which brought foreign cattle producers to the Big Sky state to view cattle genetics. International Marketing Officer Weston Merrill with the Montana Department of Agriculture (MDA) says planning for the mission started last February when MDA received interest from several European Union (EU) countries regarding Montana Angus genetics. The trade mission...
Article Link
By Matt Dabrowski It’s time to guess your own Cattle On Feed report. The next report, to be released on Friday, comes in a transitional time for cattle markets. Cattle futures declined the first week in September, mirroring the downward trend seen in most other commodities. But the Federal Reserve cut interest rates for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic on September 18. Since then, the combination of favorable volatility and easier financial conditions has benefited our markets. Live cattle gained 5.7% through the first two weeks of October, a better return than the S&P 500 (3.5%). Our guess...
Article Link
By David Anderson, Ph.D. Professor and Extension Specialist – Livestock and Food Product Marketing Department of Agricultural Economics Texas A&M University Fed cattle prices have been climbing, slowly, following the market correction that began in late July-early August. After falling from a high of 7.09 to 1.18 per cwt. the 5-market weekly average has climbed back to 6.89 over the last 4 weeks. Prices were in the 8 range later during the week ending October 4th. Normally, fed cattle prices increase, seasonally, in the Fall. A 10 year seasonal fed cattle price index would suggest that prices increase about 5 percentage points from...
Article Link
USDA has proposed rules regarding Alternative Marketing Agreements From CBW News Desk During a Farmer and Ranchers in Action event at the White House on Oct. 8, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced several steps to create transparency and fairer trading in the cattle markets. Vilsack said the new actions are part of the effort under the Packers & Stockyards Act of 1921 to enhance price discovery in cattle markets. The agency released a report showing unjust and anticompetitive pricing strategies that exist in today’s beef market. For years, USDA has fielded complaints from producers around beef packers using reported...
Article Link
Frost is one of the primary environmental factors that can lead to increased prussic acid content in sorghum species, forage sorghum, sorghum x sudangrass, and sudangrass. When a frost occurs, the stress it places on the plant can cause an accumulation of dhurrin, a compound that breaks down into prussic acid. If livestock consume forage with elevated levels of prussic acid, it can result in acute toxicity, leading to symptoms such as muscle twitching, staggering, and even death within minutes. Iowa State University extension forage specialist Shelby Gruss offered these guidelines for managing risk from frost events. To mitigate the...
Article Link
The North Dakota Stockmen’s Association (NDSA) presented 24-year NDSA members Chuck and Annette Steffan of Belfield, N.D., with its 2024 Rancher of the Year Award during the organization’s 95th Annual Convention & Trade Show this evening in Bismarck, N.D. Chuck and Annette both grew up raising commercial Red Angus cattle, and they were committed to having their own ranch from the day their marriage began. The couple began their lives together by renting a 5-acre homestead and raising feeder cattle, sheep and hogs. In 1995, Chuck and Annette developed a partnership with her parents, Bud and Cecilia Obrigewitch, with the...
Article Link
The 71st Annual National Red Angus Convention wrapped up in Lincoln, Nebraska, with a packed Commercial Cattlemen’s Symposium. On Friday, Sept. 13, academic and industry leaders took the stage, offering invaluable insights on a range of critical topics, equipping attendees with essential knowledge to navigate the future of Red Angus cattle production. Derrell Peel, Ph.D., from Oklahoma State University, discussed the challenges and opportunities in the cattle market, highlighting the historically low cattle numbers. Due to drought, U.S. cow herds have shrunk to their lowest since 1961, likely resulting in the smallest calf crop since 1941. Beef production surged temporarily...
Article Link
By Troy Smith Most cow folk have realistic expectations. They understand that reproductive failures can and do occur in cow-calf operations. Some cows do fail to become pregnant and some cows may conceive but experience early embryo loss or abortion. Conscientious cow-calf producers want to minimize the occurrence of reproductive failures by addressing the reasons they occur. But the right reasons can be hard to identify. “There are many potential causes,” says South Dakota State University (SDSU) Extension Veterinarian Russ Daly, noting how the reasons for reproductive failure vary among different operations and can vary from year to year on...
Article Link
Weather, port worker strikes and a looming presidential election has many farmers feeling skeptical. Declining income expectations helped to push farmer sentiment down again in September as the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer Index fell 12 points to 88. Both of the barometer’s sub-indices, the Index of Current Conditions and the Index of Future Expectations, declined as well. The Current Conditions Index fell 7 points to 76, and the Future Expectations Index dropped 14 points to 94. These were the weakest barometer and future expectations readings since March 2016, when the farm economy was in the throes of an...
Article Link
By Amy Blum The Heartland Saddle Award was established in 1976 by the Beadle County 4-H Council to recognize people dedicated to the betterment of South Dakota, especially to the state’s youth. Artist M.C. Lee of DeSmet, SD, handcrafted the full-size, intricate leather saddle that has traveled from home to home for nearly 50 years. This year’s recipients joined a long line of dedicated volunteers, 15 of whom were on hand to present the handcrafted saddle before the SD Beef Boosters Awards Ceremony in the DEX at the South Dakota State Fair. Like many of the best volunteers, this couple...
Article Link
As I am writing this week’s column much of South Dakota and surrounding states are under a Red Flag Warning. And yes, we have strong winds, very little humidity, and very warm temperatures. The conditions are prime for fires to get out of control. I know of a number of you who have shut down harvesting for a few days until the temperatures decline and the wind gusts diminish. It is amazing how dry this region of the U.S. has become. Even in the areas that received abundant moisture through the Summer, now they are in need of moisture....
Article Link
By Hannah Baker, M.S. State Specialized Extension Agent - Beef and Forage Economics Range Cattle Research and Education Center University of Florida / IFAS Extension The fall months are when a majority of producers across the country are selling spring-born calves or yearlings from last fall. Due to the increase in supply of calves, prices typically decline during these months. A way to show this seasonality trend is to look at the seasonal price index. The average annual price index shows the relationship between each month’s average price and the annual average price. When the price index is above 100%,...
Article Link
There was something for everyone on the Fall Angus Tour hosted by the ND Angus Association Angus enthusiasts from across the country, toured through Northeastern North Dakota recently, on the Fall Angus Tour hosted by the North Dakota Angus Association (NDAA). People from ten states and two Canadian provinces came together September 14th through 16th in Devils Lake and set out to view the areas Angus cattle ranches. The tour group put on roughly 574 miles on the two-day excursion, that toured 14 Angus breeders’ operations. “We had a fantastic Angus tour,” said Kathy Tokach, NDAA President. “The tour hosts...
Article Link
By Codi Vallery-Mills U.S. farmers and ranchers continue to remain under pressure financially. USDA’s recent update to the national farm income forecast shows income will continue to fall in 2024 but at a lower rate than the previous year. After reaching record highs in 2022 – at 2.0 billion net farm income – the expectation for this year is a decrease to 0.0 billion. That’s down .5 billion (4.4 percent) from 6.5 billion seen in 2023. Cash crop receipts are projected to be the hardest hit declining .7 billion (12.2 percent) during the year, while animal/animal product cash receipts are...
Article Link
The South Dakota Cattlemen’s Foundation was honored recently as the 2024 recipient of the South Dakota State University Friend of the Beef Industry award for its contributions to the South Dakota beef industry. "The South Dakota Cattlemen’s Foundation is humbled and honored to receive the Friend of the Beef Industry award," said Ryan Eichler, president of South Dakota Cattlemen's Foundation. “The foundation's mission is to facilitate the generosity of the South Dakota beef industry and ensure its long-term viability. We're proud to accept this honor on behalf of South Dakota beef producers who work tirelessly to provide the world with the most...
Article Link
Rancher Ray Franz of Sidney, Montana was recently presented with a Quilt of Valor for his U.S. military service. The Commemorative Quilt of Valor Program Award was given by the Richland County 4-H. Franz was born in Sidney, Montana December 28, 1931, to Fred and Ethel Franz. He attended rural grade school and graduated from Sidney High School in 1949. Ray was raised on the family farm and ranch in the Girard Community and worked on the family operation until enlisting in the U.S. Navy shortly after turning 19 in 1951. He went to boot camp in San Diego,...
Article Link
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is announcing the launch of the Debt Consolidation Tool, an innovative online tool available through farmers.gov that allows agricultural producers to enter their farm operating debt and evaluate the potential savings that might be provided by obtaining a debt consolidation loan with USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) or a local lender. A debt consolidation loan is a new loan used to pay off other existing operating loans or lines of credit that might have unreasonable rates and terms. By combining multiple eligible debts into a single, larger loan, borrowers may obtain more favorable payment...
Article Link
Seeks total ban on sales in 2025 By Zach Wendling, Nebraska Examiner Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen and the Nebraska Department of Agriculture announced new regulations Aug. 29 against “lab-grown meat” or “fake meat,” with Pillen eyeing 2025 legislation to prohibit the sale of such products within the state. On top of new regulations, standards and the potential legislation, Pillen signed an executive order that prohibits state agencies from procuring lab-grown or other meat alternatives. The order also requires entities that contract with the State of Nebraska to promise not to discriminate against natural products in favor of laboratory or cultivated...
Article Link
By Miranda Reiman The world has changed, cattle have changed and those managing them must keep up. The 19th annual Certified Angus Beef (CAB) Feeding Quality Forum in Dodge City, Kan., gave 260 attendees tools and information to do just that. For 17 years the United States’ top trading partner was China, taking in billion of U.S. agriculture goods every year. That’s not the case today, and it has rippling effects, said Dan Basse, Ag Resource Co. Farm revenue is down billion, or 37%, since 2022. Yet, the beef sector remains a bright spot. Cow-calf margins are estimated...
Article Link
From CBW News Desk Following multiple reports of wolves attacking nearby livestock, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) officials announced they will capture and relocate wolves from the depredating Copper Creek Wolf pack. “The decision to capture and relocate the Copper Creek pack was made with the careful consideration of multiple factors and feedback from many different stakeholders,” said CPW Director Jeff Davis. “Our options in this unique case were very limited, and this action is by no means a precedent for how CPW will resolve wolf-livestock conflict moving forward. The ultimate goal of the operation is to relocate the pack...
Article Link
During National Farmers Union President Visit By Lura Roti Tables were packed at a Buffalo, South Dakota restaurant where nearly 50 Harding County ranchers gathered Aug. 26 to discuss pressing agriculture issues with the President of National Farmers Union, Rob Larew. “It was exciting to have the President of National Farmers Union out here in Harding County so that we could share our way of life and the challenges we face with someone who has influence in D.C.,” said fourth-generation rancher, Joe Painter. Reinstating mandatory country of origin labeling (MCOOL) topped the list of policy issues Painter and other ranchers...
Article Link
By Codi Vallery-Mills The cattle cycle is still very much alive according to Lance Zimmerman of Rabobank. He recently sat down with The Cattle Business Weekly during the Ag Media Summit to talk cattle numbers and the fall market ahead. “The challenge is we’ve went through just an absolutely brutal five-year stretch until really about this time last year. The markets finally started waking up and behaving a little bit more rationally if you’re a cattle producer,” Zimmerman. That five-year stretch included a lot of volatility in the market based on shifting demand preferences, losses in pasture availability, and...
Article Link
By Connie Sieh Groop, Cattle Business Weekly Being ready in a world where a disease can quickly cripple an industry is critical. According to Dr. Alan Young at Medgene in Brookings, they are ready with a rapid development cycle for prescription vaccines to fight emerging animal diseases such as Avian Influenza virus H5N1, Porcine Circovirus PCV-4 and Avian Metapneumovirus aMPV. Medgene’s technology was invented by Basel Institute and Harvard-trained scientist, Dr. Young. He is also a professor of veterinary medicine at South Dakota State University. In recent months, news reports have informed the public of the spread of Avian...
Article Link
By Codi Vallery-Mills Heat, drought, and erratic winds spelled disaster for Wyoming last week. When a lightning strike-filled thunderstorm moved through the northeast portion of the state last Wednesday, Aug. 21 it wasn’t long before fires began to pop up. With the state’s current dry conditions, the strikes quickly turned to blazes. Multiple fires began burning after the storm rolled through with four of them reaching over 450,000 acres combined. The Fires The Remington Fire started in Wyoming and quickly ran north into Montana. According to the Southwest Area Incident Management Team the Remington Fire is just under 200,000...
Article Link
By Codi Vallery-Mills The first day of autumn, Sept. 22, is less than a month away. I’m ready. Forever and always I will be a lover of the fall season. Is it the pumpkin spice lattes and the cozy sweaters? You ask. Negatory. It has more to do with the sights, sounds, and smells that go along with Fall on a farm/ranch operation. Soon from my office window, I will see the birds begin to cluster – swooping and swaying through the air like acrobats. It’s always my first sign that a change in the weather is coming. The air...
Article Link
How years of prairie cultivation have led back to native grass. If walls could talk, the pistachio green surface of Sally Austin’s kitchen would instantaneously have you settled in over a cup of steaming Folgers. A gallery of framed photos, some slightly askew, tells the story of the 70 years Austin has lived on the ranch. Tucked among them, funeral programs and a well-worn flyswatter remind you of life’s unvarnished realities. Legacies experience loss. Ranches have bugs. Perched atop a cushioned kitchen chair, Austin reflects on the history of the 125 years the property has been in the hands of...
Article Link
Canada has been making headlines in the U.S. ag industry lately. Here’s what’s been happening. Rail Strike Possible Railroad Union workers are on the brink of a major strike which could have major impacts in Canada and ripple into the United States. On August 9, 2024, the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) announced its ruling that work stoppage due to strike or lockout, from Canada’s two major railway companies, Canadian National (CN) Railway and Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited (CPKC), would not present a threat to public health and safety. With this announcement, if a negotiated settlement cannot be completed,...
Article Link
Guess your own Cattle On Feed report: August 2024 By Matt Dabrowski Want to guess your own Cattle On Feed report? The key USDA report, published next Friday the 23rd, can be distilled into a straightforward calculation that even the busiest producer can quickly grasp and apply. At its core, the report is based on three numbers: last month's inventory, plus the net change in inventory (plus placements, minus marketings and disappearance), equals this month's inventory. This new inventory figure is then divided by last year's inventory to produce the topline figure. What many may not realize is that we...
Article Link
By Matt Dabrowski The cattle market has experienced record prices this year, but that hasn’t stopped the price action from throwing us more than its share of curveballs, particularly in the futures markets. For much of this year, feedlot inventory has surprised to the upside, fat cattle prices have shown unexpected resistance, while calf prices have been eye popping. How can we make sense of things when markets seem crazy? Let’s use two tools of financial economics: price ratios and volatility. First consider consider the durable relationship between live cattle and feeder cattle futures prices. Historically, live cattle prices average...
Article Link
In another record-breaking year, the 42nd annual Iowa Governor’s Charity Steer Show continues to elevate the bar raising 8,000 for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa. This was a significant jump from last year’s record of 1,000. Including this year’s donations, the Iowa Governor’s Charity Steer is inching close to million in donations since its inception in 1983. All money raised benefits the three independent Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa located in Des Moines, Iowa City, and Sioux City. These three houses have served over 55,000 families from all 50 states and many foreign countries. Families from...
Article Link
A collaborative project will develop novel algorithms needed for soil moisture mapping. Accurate soil moisture measurements are essential for helping farmers with their agricultural management decisions. Soils that are too wet can lead to nutrient leaching, while soils that are too dry can mean decreased crop yield and quantity. Understanding the soil moisture levels can help farmers make informed decisions that allows for improved crop yields and efficient water-usage. Despite its importance, widespread mapping of soil moisture levels has been difficult. Since the 1970s, scientists have been experimenting with remote sensing — the measurement of properties on Earth’s surface via...
Article Link
By CBW Staff A grand jury has indicted South Dakota ranchers Charles and Heather Maude of Caputa, South Dakota for theft of government property. If found guilty, the couple faces thousands of dollars in fines or imprisonment of up to 10 years. For generations, the Maude family has had a grazing permit with USDA on the Buffalo Gap National Grassland which is managed by the United States Forest Service. U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D in a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said the Maudes had been working with the USDA to resolve a recently identified boundary discrepancy but...
Article Link
By Paul Beck, Oklahoma State University Extension Beef Cattle Nutrition Specialist In recent weeks I covered some of the impacts of drought on cow numbers and feeder cattle supply based on comments I made at a symposium at the American Society of Animal Science meeting held in Calgary “Increasing the Resilience of the Beef Cattle Feeder Supply”. This week I will cover some additional impacts of drought and changing weather patterns on performance and health of feeder calves. Along with reduced cow rebreeding rates, heat stress or nutrient restriction of gestating cows will result in long-term reductions in productivity of...
Article Link
Heaton Ranches of McKenzie has been selected as the recipient of the 2024 North Dakota Leopold Conservation Award®. The award honors ranchers, farmers, and forestland owners who go above and beyond in their management of soil health, water quality, and wildlife habitat on working land. Heaton Ranches is owned and operated by Lewis and Sherry Heaton, and Colleen and Albert Kershaw. The graze 800 cow-calf pairs on 14,000 acres of rangeland and grow 6,000 acres of crops. They will be presented with ,000 and a crystal award during the North Dakota Association of Soil Conservation Districts’ Annual Convention in...
Article Link
The Cattlemen’s Ball of Nebraska is proud to announce the successful conclusion of its 2024 event, hosted near Minatare, Nebraska. This year’s event, held June 7-8 brought together over 3,000 attendees, all united in their support for cancer research and local health and wellness programs. The 2024 Cattlemen’s Ball raised an impressive [post_excerpt],685,176.87 for the Buffett Cancer Center and 7,242 for local wellness initiatives. Ninety percent of the funds raised will be directed to the Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, where they will support groundbreaking cancer research and treatment initiatives. The remaining ten percent was distributed to local health...
Article Link
Learn to identify aquatic insects to determine if your livestock’s water sources are healthy and provide the nutrition they need. By Laura Nelson When Wyatt DeSpain began work at the Noble Research Institute, he knew his work would require a long-term view. DeSpain is a research associate on Noble’s transitions team of scientists, which monitors changes in wildlife, soils, vegetation and water on Noble Ranches. The team compares the data it gathers each year to the baseline conditions of “year zero” or 2022, the year Noble began its transition from conventional to regenerative management. His focus is limnology – the...
Article Link
By Kyle Harris, Denverite Denver spent decades trying to undo its cowtown aura. But former Mayor Michael Hancock pushed to keep the National Western Center inside the city with a billion-dollar project. Now, private development is coming to Denver’s Livestock Exchange. Developer Andrew Feinstein, of the EXDO Development Group, is turning the historic building at 4701 Marion St. into The Exchange, rebooting it as a Western agriculture industry hub. Feinstein’s family has roots in the area. They lived in the Curtis Park neighborhood since the late 1800s and have helped turn the industrial Five Points neighborhood into the River North...
Article Link
As of July 1, the total supply of cattle on feed at 11.304 million head was 279k head lower than the previous month but still 61k head (+0.5%) higher than a year ago. Feedlot inventories tend to decline during this time of year as feedlots market more cattle while placing less. The supply of market ready cattle remains well above year ago levels, a function of the placement rate earlier in the year. Fed cattle weights have been trending lower since mid May but preliminary data suggests that the trend is about to shift, with heavier weights expected in the...
Article Link
“There is some ability to select animals that produce less methane, which is pretty good news for us, because we can tell a really good story if we are able to handle this problem,” said Christine Baes, University of Guelph. Baes was a featured speaker during the 2024 Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) Symposium June 12 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Baes’ talk centered around the role genomic research can play in enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of beef cattle. She highlighted how innovative genomic selection can significantly reduce methane emissions, improve fertility and increase the overall productivity of cattle. “When we measure,...
Article Link
By Codi Vallery-Mills Sometimes this old world can feel large and unfriendly to today’s youth. That’s what makes the Summer Spotlight livestock show happening this week in Huron, S.D. so special – it’s a place where kids can be kids and families can reunite every summer. “I love it at Spotlight. It’s like one big reunion with friends you only see once a year,” says Lily Blume, 18, of Redfield, South Dakota. Blume would know. She has been coming since she was eight, tagging along with older siblings who were showing. She says the fact that the Spotlight is more...
Article Link
According to Farmers National Company, the agricultural land market has been “nothing short of exceptional during the past five years.” Gains in value are prevalent across all classes of land in every region of the country. Strong commodity markets, moderate interest rates, buyer demand and an overall healthy agricultural economy have also supported the growth of land values during this time. “But a lot has changed in the past 12 months, and even more has changed within the past five years,” said Paul Schadegg, senior vice president of real estate operations at Farmers National Company. “Moving into the second half...
Article Link
Record-breaking rain and floods have devastated fields in areas of Iowa, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Nebraska. Up to 1 million acres of farmland were affected, and farmers and communities have started tackling the aftermath. With many acres completely drowned out and some not planted at all, determining what to do next can be intimidating this far into the growing season. Justin Fruechte, a Minnesota farmer and Product Expert with Renovo Seed, is experiencing these challenges first-hand. “The number one goal farmers and ranchers affected by the floods should think about right now is getting a living root growing on their...
Article Link
From CBW News Desk The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently pledged about 0 million to smaller and independent meat processors — including one in South Dakota — to expand their capacities in an effort to increase competition in the industry and to give farmers more options. The federal grants announced this past Thursday range in value from about 3,000 for a small custom meat shop in Washington state to million for an expansion of a new producer-owned beef plant in Texas that plans to employ 1,500 people. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said the grant awards to...
Article Link
By Stan Wise, South Dakota Soil Health Coalition Producers and land stewards who practice regenerative agriculture often enjoy learning about what is happening under the ground. In August, they’ll have a chance to learn from a visitor from Down Under. Australia, that is. Regenerative ag pioneer Colin Seis, a producer from New South Wales, will present a workshop on Aug. 6 in Fort Pierre, SD. Seis didn’t set out to help reinvent agriculture. Instead, he changed the way he farmed in 1979 because he had no choice. “I started down in this direction quite a long time before it was...
Article Link
The South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association (SDCA), in partnership with Farm Credit Services of America and South Dakota Corn Utilization Council, proudly announces the launch of the SDCA Leadership Academy. The SDCA Leadership Academy will cultivate the next generation of influential leaders and shape the future of the cattle industry. This exciting new program will foster industry knowledge, enhance leadership, improve communication skills, and promote mentorship among emerging leaders. The program will drive sustainable growth and positively impact the beef production industry by equipping participants with critical skills, knowledge, and networks. “Leaders in our industry must understand the unique challenges...
Article Link
Event to Address Key Issues Including Markets, Trade, Tax Climate, Livestock Risk Protection, Labor Challenges, and Support for Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Billings, Montana — The Cattle Producers’ Forum is set to take place in Billings, Montana on July 23-24, 2024. Co-hosted by the United States Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) and the Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA), and presented by headline sponsor, Ag Risk Advisors, the event aims to focus on industry collaboration to address issues that matter to all cattle producers. The event kicks off with a reception on Tuesday evening, July 23, in conjunction with the Northern Livestock Video Summertime...
Article Link
From Noble Research Institute By the midpoint of the growing season, ranchers typically should have accumulated more than half of the necessary forage their livestock will need for the year and the remainder of the dormant season. However, during La Niña years, such as 2024 is predicted to be, forage production can fall short in the next six months if and when weather patterns shift toward drier and warmer conditions in many states. Understanding and adapting to these changes is not just beneficial for ranchers – it’s essential for sustainable operations. La Niña conditions can drastically alter precipitation levels and...
Article Link
Put on your red, white and blue, set up those lawn chairs and fire up the grill. The Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. brand, funded by the Beef Checkoff, has amazing recipes, perfect for throwing on the grill and keeping everyone happy while you wait for the Fourth of July fun to light up the sky. If you plan to start celebrating early in the day, these Country Style Bourbon BBQ Short Ribs have you covered with easy prep that won’t take you out of the fun. Slow cooked then finished on the grill this mouth-watering dish is ideal...
Article Link
By Erin DeHaan, SDSU Extension Beef Specialist Floods can be one of the more challenging weather events to prepare for. Weather monitoring websites and tools can be used to aid in monitoring flood levels. If there is a lot of predicted precipitation in the forecast, and your cattle herd is located in a lower area of land, you may want to be proactive and consider moving the herd prior to the weather event. In the aftermath of a flood event, there are different items to be considered for beef herds. Cattle Safety Whether your cattle herd is located out in...
Article Link
U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman and Sen. Cynthia Lummis, both R-Wyo., on June 20 introduced a joint resolution disapproving of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) rule mandating electronic identification (EID) ear tags for bison and cattle moving interstate. Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., has also joined this legislation as an original cosponsor. Hageman said in a news release: “This rule is a solution in search of a problem that will advance a federal mandate which the American ranching community will have to pay for. This unfunded mandate raises serious privacy concerns for ranchers and their herds, with the potential...
Article Link
Total donation from South Dakota Cattlemen’s Foundation exceeds .7M in 11 years On Saturday night , June 22 during the Prime Time Gala, the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Foundation presented a donation to Feeding South Dakota, on-stage at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center, in the amount of 3,622. This makes the overall donation to Feeding South Dakota ,720,044 in the last 11 years. As of May 31, funds raised from past galas have helped to purchase 1,543,890 pounds of beef for those that need it the most across South Dakota. “On behalf of the entire board of directors for the South...
Article Link
Flooding takes out bridges, weakens dams, evacuates towns By Codi Vallery-Mills It began as one inch, and then two, and before farmers in southeastern South Dakota, Nebraska, and northwestern Iowa knew it they were past the 10-inch mark for rain in a few short days. South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem stated in a press conference Monday that Canton, South Dakota had received 18.2 inches since Thursday of last week. It was said 21 of the state’s 66 counties were experiencing flooding. Iowa was even worse with the majority of the state seeing flood waters. Both states’ Governors Kristi Noem and...
Article Link
By Matthew Diersen, Risk & Business Management Specialist, Ness School of Management & Economics, South Dakota State University Heading into the June Cattle on Feed report, the average trade expectation was for a slight decrease in the total on feed, with no analyst expecting an increase. Marketings were expected to be unchanged from last year. Placements were expected to be lower, with little consensus about the level. After the markets closed last Friday the report came out showing the on-feed total at 11.6 million head, unchanged from a year ago. Overall, this is bearish news for nearby cattle contracts and...
Article Link
By Sean Lusk, Walsh Trading In my view the packer continues to show they are worried about cattle supply. It has been my experience that they don’t pay up unless they have to. They are showing they have to pay higher prices to get needed numbers to slaughter. Fed cattle slaughter has been moving higher as a percent of total slaughter as cow slaughter has dropped. They are lucky feed costs have fallen, in my opinion as it has allowed feedlots to keep cattle in their yards longer to get them to weights needed for the packer. I remember in...
Article Link
The Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) announced new directors and officers June 12 during the group’s annual symposium in Knoxville, Tennessee. Gordon Jones, Lafayette, Tenn., was introduced as the 2024-25 BIF president during the Wednesday awards luncheon. Gordon Hodges, Hamptonville, N.C., is the new vice president. Directors elected to serve on the BIF board were breed association representatives Lindsay Upperman, Red Angus Association of American; and Bruce Holmquist, Canadian Simmental Association. Matt Woolfolk, American Shorthorn Association, was reelected to serve another term as a breed association representative. Casey Worrell, Harper, Texas, was elected to the board as a central region director...
Article Link
The Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association (MSCA) Summer Tour has traveled around the state of Minnesota for 50 years, this year making its way to Thief River Falls on June 25. The Northwestern Stockmen’s Association (NWSA), one of 21 MSCA local affiliate associations, will host the tour, highlighting cattle operations and unique businesses in northern Minnesota. “The NWSA and supporting cast are very excited to host this year’s Summer Tour,” says NWSA President Dana Didrikson. “We’ve put together a wide range of tour stops to touch on everything northern Minnesota and the beef industry have to offer. We invite you...
Article Link
By the time you are reading this week’s column, the calendar says we are officially enjoying the Summer season of 2024. For most of us, it is a much better year than a year ago. Mother Nature has been kind, giving us adequate moisture since the beginning of April. The pastures are green and growing, the dams are full of water and the creeks continue to flow. All in all, the first six months of 2024 are much better than we had back in 2023. Unfortunately, if you live near Hoover or Reva, South Dakota, the lack of adequate rain...
Article Link
By Codi Vallery-Mills As summer officially arrives on the calendar so does the summer lull of cattle going through the local auction barns. There are still weekly sales, but weighup bulls and cows make up the bulk of the consignment listing. In the fed cattle market, a few places like Yankton’s Stockmen’s Livestock Auction are still bringing good numbers for fat cattle. On June 4, the barn sold close to 3,000 head. “Cash exploded in the north last week with trading as high as 198.00 on a live basis and 310.00 on a dressed basis,” says Ben DiCostanzo, senior technical...
Article Link
Interest in Solar Leasing Rising By James Mintert and Michael Langemeier, Purdue Center for Commercial Agriculture Farmer sentiment recovered somewhat in May following a sharp drop-off in April. Increases in crop prices provided producers with a somewhat more optimistic financial outlook, which helped boost producer sentiment. Although sentiment and financial performance expectations improved in May compared to April, they both remain weak from a longer-term perspective. There was a small uptick in the Short-Term Farmland Value Expectation Index in May, but sentiment about farmland values in 2024 remains weaker than last fall. Interest in leasing farmland for solar energy production...
Article Link
Jerry Oster of Yankton is the 2024 Governor’s Ag Ambassador Award recipient. Jerry will be recognized on Wednesday, June 12, as part of the annual Governor’s Agricultural Summit (Ag Summit) in Huron. Throughout his 49-year long career with WNAX Radio Station, Jerry Oster provided immeasurable benefits to South Dakota’s agricultural community and listeners across a 5-state region. Jerry worked daily to provide credible, real-time updates of the everchanging commodity market reports, weather forecast, and current events. His voice informed producers about the most important news impacting agriculture in South Dakota and across the nation, allowing them to make the...
Article Link
As commercial cow/calf producers drive through their pastures evaluating their spring calf crop and contemplating which heifer calves will make the short list of future herd replacements, now is the time to think about genetic testing. Genetic testing is a practical, proven tool that provides dependable genetic predictions and actionable insights about individual animal performance. In situations where resources are limited or herd inventories need to be tightly managed, information from genetic testing can be used to confidently confirm pasture observations and to inform and validate selection, breeding and marketing decisions. As a genetics sales representative with Zoetis Beef Genetics,...
Article Link
By Codi Vallery-Mills When a blizzard rolls in or a grasshopper infestation sweeps through, you and your neighbors are often on the same footing. It doesn’t matter political affiliation or cattle association allegiance – everyone faces the same struggles. This spring the Montana Stockgrowers Association hosted listening sessions to gauge what farmers and ranchers list as their top struggles in being profitable and sustaining an operation for the next generation. Politics and “big ticket” cattle policy matters were set aside. Survivability and bottom-line thinking were encouraged. Turk Stovall, Vice President of the Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA) served as moderator for...
Article Link
Beef cattle play an important role in sustainability – and sustainable management practices are critical for ranching resilience. With increasing opportunities for premiums, incentives, and cost-shares linked to sustainability, ranchers have new options to improve herd efficiencies as well as their soil and grassland health. So, where do they go to find incentives, premiums and cost-share programs? And what impact will these programs have on their operations? A Friday, June 21 panel discussion held at 4:30 p.m. in Sioux Falls seeks to answer these questions and more ahead of the 2024 South Dakota Cattlemen’s Foundation Prime Time Gala. Hosted by...
Article Link
From cheese curds to chip dust, burgers as big as dinner plates to multiple patty burgers, fresh veggies to cheeses, and sauces to spreads, this year’s Top 10 Iowa’s Best Burger restaurants had it all! However, only one can claim the title of Iowa’s Best Burger in 2024 and this year’s winner goes to JJ’s Tavern + Grill in Ankeny, Iowa. Owners Rick and Lilia Romero and Michael Roberts, also the general manager, and Liberty Van Genderen, say JJ’s Tavern + Grill is about family. They have worked diligently to build this for their employees, but also want their customers...
Article Link
By Katarina Sostaric Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill into law this May that bans the “misbranding” of lab-grown and plant-based meat and egg alternatives. Starting July 1, lab-grown and plant-based imitation meat and egg products sold in Iowa stores will have to be labeled with words like “fake,” “lab-grown,” “meatless,” “imitation,” or “vegan.” The labeling requirements also apply to meat alternatives made with insect protein. Reynolds signed the law at a farm in Ladora. She said it’s about transparency and making sure consumers know what they’re getting. “It’s about the common sense idea that a product that’s labeled...
Article Link
By Kristen Smith Vanhove Show Cattle of Madison, South Dakota is home to Rob and Sherly Vanhove. Home to the Dakota Classic Female Sale and the newly added, Madison Genetics. 4-H and the passion for making great cattle is where Vanhove Cattle Company started 25 years ago. Their mission is to help their customers achieve their goals in the show ring and the barn. For years, Vanhove’s used artificial insemination before making a transition toward embryos. Vanhove’s felt they were playing a big part in the process with embryo work, and while working with ABS and 605 Sires, a...
Article Link
Cattle have long been a cornerstone of agriculture, providing us with milk, meat, and various other products that nourish and sustain our communities. Ensuring the cattle’s health and optimal muscle development is vital when producing high-quality beef. However, various genetic conditions can disrupt muscle metabolism, affecting animals’ well-being and the quality of the meat they produce. Researchers at the University of Nebraska — Lincoln have discovered a new defect in composite cattle (Simmental, Red Angus, Gelbvieh) that often caused physical collapse when they exercised, with some calves unable to recover. This is an autosomal recessive genetic defect, which means both...
Article Link
By Lura Roti for South Dakota Farmers Union Lance and Roni Lesmeister’s ranch house sits atop a bluff overlooking the Cheyenne River Valley. From the glass patio doors in their living room the couple can take in the breathtaking scene of rolling hills, the river and more than a hundred horses. Happy horses. Triple L Ranch bucking horses spend their days grazing the Cheyenne River breaks with their colts bucking in the sunshine. And when its rodeo season, they only perform about 16 seconds a week. “We don’t train bucking horses – we breed them,” Roni explained. Roni’s...
Article Link
By Lura Roti for South Dakota Farmers Union Lance and Roni Lesmeister’s ranch house sits atop a bluff overlooking the Cheyenne River Valley. From the glass patio doors in their living room the couple can take in the breathtaking scene of rolling hills, the river and more than a hundred horses. Happy horses. Triple L Ranch bucking horses spend their days grazing the Cheyenne River breaks with their colts bucking in the sunshine. And when its rodeo season, they only perform about 16 seconds a week. “We don’t train bucking horses – we breed them,” Roni explained. Roni’s...
Article Link
Kaycee Feild, who set the gold standard for PRCA bareback riders, winning an event record six PRCA World Championships, headlines the 2024 ProRodeo Hall of Fame class announced on April 8. Feild, who won PRCA World Championships in (2011-14, 2020-21), is joined in the class by contestants – team roper Art Arnold, a 1968 RCA World Champion; bull rider, the late Blue Stone, a PRCA World Champion in 2001 and 2002; stock contractor Sammy Andrews; bullfighter Darrell Diefenbach, who was selected to work the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo 12 times (2001-12), notable J.D. Yates, who made the NFR as a...
Article Link
By M.P.Cremer A piece of advice young people hear in regard to romantic relationships is “date your best friend.” It makes sense — if your relationship is successful and lifelong, you’ll likely be around this person daily and will make tough decisions with them. A solid foundation built on friendship is important in those hard-to-deal with situations. But could the same be said for the relationship between two business owners? Lily Andersen and Lauren Kett, co-owners of The Spur Line feed store in Livingston, Montana, prove that the old timer’s piece of relationship advice applies to their working...
Article Link
Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.6 million head on May 1, 2024. The inventory was 1 percent below May 1, 2023. Placements in feedlots during April totaled 1.66 million head, 6 percent below 2023. Net placements were 1.60 million head. During April, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 335,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 220,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 375,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 451,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 205,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 70,000...
Article Link
By M.P.Cremer A piece of advice young people hear in regard to romantic relationships is “date your best friend.” It makes sense — if your relationship is successful and lifelong, you’ll likely be around this person daily and will make tough decisions with them. A solid foundation built on friendship is important in those hard-to-deal with situations. But could the same be said for the relationship between two business owners? Lily Andersen and Lauren Kett, co-owners of The Spur Line feed store in Livingston, Montana, prove that the old timer’s piece of relationship advice applies to their working...
Article Link
Kaycee Feild, who set the gold standard for PRCA bareback riders, winning an event record six PRCA World Championships, headlines the 2024 ProRodeo Hall of Fame class announced on April 8. Feild, who won PRCA World Championships in (2011-14, 2020-21), is joined in the class by contestants – team roper Art Arnold, a 1968 RCA World Champion; bull rider, the late Blue Stone, a PRCA World Champion in 2001 and 2002; stock contractor Sammy Andrews; bullfighter Darrell Diefenbach, who was selected to work the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo 12 times (2001-12), notable J.D. Yates, who made the NFR as a...
Article Link
Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.6 million head on May 1, 2024. The inventory was 1 percent below May 1, 2023. Placements in feedlots during April totaled 1.66 million head, 6 percent below 2023. Net placements were 1.60 million head. During April, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 335,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 220,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 375,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 451,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 205,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 70,000...
Article Link
Winner Rodeo Family Shares Their Story By Lura Roti for South Dakota Farmers Union All three of Heather and Cody Moore’s sons are rodeo athletes. And the Tripp County parents say in addition to all the great life lessons Rowdy, Roper and Rider have gleaned from competing in the sport, it’s the friends they have made that they are most grateful for. “There’s the rodeo family, and then there’s your other family,” Heather explained. “The whole family goes to the rodeo together, so we have all met friends,” Cody added. “Whatever rodeo we go to, pretty...
Article Link
Winner Rodeo Family Shares Their Story By Lura Roti for South Dakota Farmers Union All three of Heather and Cody Moore’s sons are rodeo athletes. And the Tripp County parents say in addition to all the great life lessons Rowdy, Roper and Rider have gleaned from competing in the sport, it’s the friends they have made that they are most grateful for. “There’s the rodeo family, and then there’s your other family,” Heather explained. “The whole family goes to the rodeo together, so we have all met friends,” Cody added. “Whatever rodeo we go to, pretty...
Article Link
By Jeff Beach, North Dakota Monitor A North Dakota rancher said he is working on a deal for a small group of investors to take over a cattle and beef marketing business that was labeled a Ponzi scheme and owes North Dakotans millions of dollars. Wylie Bice, who ranches near Killdeer, said the group is close on a final price for Texas-based Agridime, with the goal of making it an asset to North Dakota ranchers. Bice said he hopes the group can close on a deal by July 1 to take over Agridime facilities in Texas, Arizona and Kansas. He...
Article Link
By Sydney Vanderhoff SDSU Extension Beef Nutrition Field Specialist There is nothing quite like seeing green grass after what seems like a long winter. It is an encouraging reminder that spring is on its way and marks the start of a new grazing season. When preparing to turn your herd out to pasture, there are a few management decisions that need to be made. Having a simple checklist is an easy way to make sure you are prepared. Turnout Checklist 1. MINERAL The picturesque view of lush spring grass being grazed is one that is hard to beat, but grass...
Article Link
By Becky Funk, DVM, Animal Health Teaching and NE Extension Specialist & Kacie McCarthy, UNL Cow-Calf Specialist We are nearing spring turnout and breeding season, and with that, many producers may be getting bulls tested right before turnout. So, what should producers be considering to maintain herd health within their mature bull battery? Bovine trichomoniasis “trich” testing – what is it? Trichomoniasis (trich) is a venereal disease that causes infertility, open cows, and the occasional abortion in cows and heifers. Bulls carry the protozoa in their prepuce and transmit it to cows through breeding. Clean bulls can also become infected...
Article Link
By Becky Funk, DVM, Animal Health Teaching and NE Extension Specialist |and Kacie McCarthy, UNL Cow-Calf Specialist We are nearing spring turnout and breeding season, and with that, many producers may be getting bulls tested right before turnout. So, what should producers be considering to maintain herd health within their mature bull battery? Bovine trichomoniasis “trich” testing – what is it? Trichomoniasis (trich) is a venereal disease that causes infertility, open cows, and the occasional abortion in cows and heifers. Bulls carry the protozoa in their prepuce and transmit it to cows through breeding. Clean bulls can also become...
Article Link
By Larry Kuehn and Mark Thallman Across-Breed EPD (ABEPD) Adjustment Factors: National Cattle Evaluation (NCE), and the resulting Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs), have resulted in substantial genetic change since their inception in the 1970s. However, EPDs are generally only comparable within breed because of differences in the genetic base. Since 1993, the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC) has produced a table of factors to adjust the EPDs of cattle so that the merit of individuals can be compared across breeds. Adjustment factors for carcass traits have been calculated since 2009 and carcass weight was added in 2015; to...
Article Link
Montana Farm Bureau has expressed strong concern at the proposal by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to remove agriculture from Refuge lands. In a letter to the federal agency, the state’s largest general agricultural organization pointed out that hard-working, family businesses raise food and fiber on a combination of private, federal and state land and some of those families have cooperative agreements on wildlife Refuge lands. MFBF President Cyndi Johnson explained that with 22 wildlife refuges in Montana, such as the C.M. Russell Wildlife Refuge, the impact of removing or restricting agricultural use will be significant and economically devastating....
Article Link
U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today, May 8, introduced legislation that would prevent federal government overreach on the operations of South Dakota farmers and ranchers. The bill would prevent the Secretary of Agriculture from implementing any rule or regulation requiring the mandatory use of electronic identification tags, or RFID tags, on cattle and bison. In January 2023, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) published a proposal to require cattle and bison to have visually and electronically readable tags. This proposed rule would also require records to be entered into a tribal, state or...
Article Link
North Dakota cropland values increased 11.59% heading into the spring of 2024, marching upward from 2,863 per acre to 3,174 per acre, says Bryon Parman, North Dakota State University (NDSU) Extension agricultural finance specialist. This represents the third year in a row where North Dakota cropland values have increased more than 10%. The increase follows cropland values appreciating 10.92% and 13.46% in 2022 and 2023, respectively. This is according to the North Dakota Department of Trust Lands Annual Land Survey data which has been weighted for this article by county acreage count and put into NDSU Extension regions. The original...
Article Link
By Codi Vallery-Mills After months of waiting, there is movement on farm bill legislation in Congress. On May 2, both the House and Senate provided farm bill proposals. The USDA has been operating on a 1-year extension of the 2018 farm bill. That is set to expire on Sept. 30. Areas taking top priority in the two bills are conservation, nutrition programs, and energy alternatives and incentives. Deeper in the proposals, emphasis is placed on beginning farmers and ranchers. Lending is of concern with such high-interest rates and lack of credit options. Under the credit title in the House’s farm...
Article Link
In a two-part Texas A&M University research study by Cooke et al. (2024)*, researchers administered FerAppease to finishing cattle and evaluated its impact on carcass characteristics. Results showed that FerAppease, a unique analogue of the naturally occurring Maternal Bovine Appeasing Substance (MBAS), lowered plasma cortisol concentration upon slaughter and improved carcass dressing percentage. The study was recently published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society of Animal Science (ASAS) in the journal Translational Animal Science. “Feedlot cattle are exposed to several stressors during processing for slaughter, such as handling, transport and exposure to new environments, and that...
Article Link
By Sarah Hill The future of South Dakota’s beef industry sure looks bright—especially with a cohort of 43 Junior Beef Ambassadors educating consumers about the benefits of beef. The South Dakota Beef Industry Council (SDBIC) operates the Junior Beef Ambassador program, and Riley Zoss-Littau, Communications Manager for the SDBIC, coordinates the program. “Our youth are the future of the beef industry, and the South Dakota Junior Beef Ambassador program is giving these kids the platform to tell their beef story alongside South Dakota beef farmers and ranchers and the South Dakota Beef Industry Council,” says Zoss-Littau. The Junior Beef Ambassadors...
Article Link
SDSU was the first university in the country to create a program that teaches and helps farmers use precision ag By Bart Pfankuch, SD News Watch South Dakota State University’s new precision agriculture program has had success at persuading in-state and some other Midwestern farmers to use more technology in their operations, while other states lag in their adoption of it. SDSU was the first university in the country to create a program that teaches and helps farmers use precision ag, the science of new technologies and traditional methods that make operations more efficient to increase crop yields while...
Article Link
Colombia Bans U.S. Beef Colombia has become the first country to ban imports of U.S. beef and beef products from states where dairy cattle have tested positive for avian influenza. The U.S. Meat Export Federation says the restrictions have no scientific basis. The U.S. is Colombia’s largest supplier of imported beef, and the suspension of beef from specific states is unworkable and misguided. Exports are prohibited from Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, South Dakota, and Texas. Testing Ground Beef for Avian Flu The USDA is beginning to collect ground beef samples from retail outlets where avaian influenza...
Article Link
By CBW Staff The U.S. Department of Agriculture is getting set to publish the agency’s final rule, “Use of Electronic Identification Eartags as Official Identification in Cattle and Bison,” in the Federal Register. The rule would require official eartags sold for or applied to cattle and bison to be readable both visually and electronically (EID). Cattle organization R-CALF has strongly opposed the rule stating, “The USDA has slapped independent cattle producers, who have worked closely with the USDA in the past to very successfully control, contain, and eradicate foreign animal diseases, in the face. “We will fight...
Article Link
I am closing in on the end of my 2024 bull sale season, I have just a few Spring grass time turn-out sales left. I must admit that from the early sales back in January to the sale I went to the last Saturday in April, the demand has been very good in 2024. The interest in high-quality bulls and the prices paid for them are as strong as I can recall in my 32 years in this business. The marketing of seedstock sure has changed since I began back in 1992, from the information available on the bulls to...
Article Link
By Aaron Berger, Nebraska Extension Beef Educator | Matt Stockton, Nebraska Extension Ag Economics Specialist Calf prices are encouraging cow-calf producers to increase cow inventories to have more calves to sell. Consider the following points when evaluating growing the cowherd. Contribution Margin Is the operation fully stocked on owned land or on land leased by the acre? What are the current overhead costs including labor and equipment associated with owned and leased acres? If more cows can be added to the ranch to make it “fully stocked,” what is the additional “contribution to margin” that comes from adding a cow? ...
Article Link
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen is asking the Montana Board of Land Commissioners to remove the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation’s decision-making authority over private water rights at the Board’s meeting next month. At a Land Board meeting last week, Attorney General Knudsen and the other commissioners heard from farmers and ranchers who are concerned by the DNRC’s decision to take water rights from landowners who utilize their private water on public land they are leasing from the state to irrigate state land or provide water for their cattle. Attorney General Knudsen’s proposal before the commissioners would require...
Article Link
By Josh Haiar, South Dakota Searchlight Ranchers urged Republican U.S. Senators John Thune of South Dakota and John Boozman of Arkansas to consider grasslands and cattle – not just crop support – as they finalize federal legislation that will govern many agricultural and food programs for years to come. The feedback came as the senators fielded questions from various agriculture and conservation groups during a listening session at a Valley Springs-area farm. The federal farm bill is officially known as the Agriculture Improvement Act. The bill covers everything from farm credit and crop insurance to nutritional programs and conservation. The...
Article Link
Blioux River Ranch of Castlewood has been selected as the recipient of the 2024 South Dakota Leopold Conservation Award. The ,000 award honors ranchers, farmers and forestland owners who go above and beyond in their management of soil health, water quality and wildlife habitat on working land. Given in honor of conservationist Aldo Leopold, the award recognizes landowners who inspire others with their dedication to environmental improvement. Sand County Foundation and national sponsor American Farmland Trust present Leopold Conservation Awards to private landowners in 27 states. In South Dakota, the award is presented with the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association and...
Article Link
By Codi Vallery-Mills Weather. That’s usually a farmer or rancher’s biggest variable in an operation but following close behind is the economy. And more specifically the macro economy of employment, inflation, gross domestic product, and national debt. In a recent Farm Credit Services of America webinar, economists Brent Gloy and David Widmar joined ag lender Justin Wagner to review key economic indicators and unpack long-term rates. Turbulence in the macro economy can spill over into the ag sector and it can cause a lot of changes and adjustments that need to take place. Currently, there is inflationary pressure...
Article Link
How one rancher’s unconventional approach is bringing water back to an arid landscape. The sweet peas are popping up in north Phillips County, enjoying the cool Montana spring before the heat of summer puts them to rest for another year. Birds chirp. The breeze is cool, the air fresh. And in the mind of Brian Fox, the gears are turning. Will the ranch improvements he’s made in the last year equate to the improvements he’s after? They were unconventional, he’ll give it that, but also natural in a way that we may be just starting to appreciate. Fox has found...
Article Link
PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Department of Agriculture (DANR) and the Animal Industry Board (AIB) have received confirmation from the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) of the detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza in a dairy cattle herd in South Dakota. This is the first confirmed case of HPAI in a dairy farm in South Dakota. “South Dakota Dairy Producers encourages all dairy producers to closely monitor their herd and contact their herd veterinarian immediately if cattle appear symptomatic,” said Marv Post, Chairman of South Dakota Dairy Producers. “USDA continues to emphasize that pasteurization kills...
Article Link
By CBW Staff The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is canceling the July Cattle report as well as all County Estimates for Crops and Livestock beginning with the 2024 production year. “The decision to discontinue these surveys and reports was not made lightly, but was necessary, given appropriated budget levels,” read the notice from NASS. The cancellation of the July Cattle inventory report is seen as problematic for a few reasons, chiefly because the report has always provided a mid-year pulse on what was going on in cattle country. How did the spring calf crop fair? Will yearlings come...
Article Link
A documentary that examines the influence and life’s work of Temple Grandin is coming to broadcast television. By Nik Olsen “An Open Door” will air on RMPBS at 7 p.m. and midnight on April 11, and at 10 a.m. on April 28. The film will be streamable through RMPBS. “Rocky Mountain PBS viewers are always appreciative of powerful storytelling, even more so when the lens is turned on a Colorado legend,” said Brad Haug, director of programming for RMPBS. “We are thrilled to feature this portrait of a true pioneer.” “An Open Door” delves into conversations with Grandin, her peers,...
Article Link
By Connie Sieh Groop Results from a recently published study at North Dakota State University point to the need for enhanced nutrition during gestation for cows. Results showed a 36 lb. increase in calf weight at weaning time. In December, NDSU published a study titled, “Effects of providing vitamin and mineral supplementation throughout gestation on subsequent F1 replacement heifer liver and muscle oxygen consumption and mitochondrial function throughout pregnancy.” The aim of this fetal programming research study was to evaluate the effects of maternal vitamin and mineral supplementation during pregnancy. The Purina product used in this NDSU study is a...
Article Link
From CBW News Desk Colorado Parks and Wildlife has confirmed a wolf killed a calf in Grand County on April 2 marking the first depredation event since wolves were formally reintroduced in the state back at the start of the new year. “The field investigation found multiple tooth rake marks on the calf’s hindquarters and neck, and hemorrhaging under the hide, consistent with wolf depredation. Wolf tracks were also found nearby,” Parks and Wildlife Area Wildlife Manager Jeromy Huntington said, according to a news release. The agency released 10 gray wolves from Oregon on Colorado’s Western Slope in December and...
Article Link
By CBW Staff Texas was the first to announce it had dairy cattle infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza. HPAI has been confirmed in dairy herds in Texas (7) Kansas (2), Michigan (1), and New Mexico (1) and several other states are waiting on test results from possible cases. In Minnesota, goats housed with a poultry flock that had HPAI also tested positive. The Cattle Business Weekly reached out to the South Dakota State Veterinarian Beth Thompson to get her initial response to the HPAI news. “Generally, influenza viruses tend to stay within a species or maybe a small group...
Article Link
Producers surveyed across the United States intend to plant 90.0 million acres of corn in 2024, down 5% from last year, according to the Prospective Plantings report released today by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). Planted acreage intentions for corn are down or unchanged in 38 of the 48 estimating states. Acreage decreases of 300,000 acres or more from last year are expected in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, South Dakota, and Texas. If realized, the planted area of corn in Arizona and Oregon will be the largest on record. Soybean growers intend to plant 86.5 million acres...
Article Link
Farmers and livestock producers in the market for a new semi-truck could face a different market in 2027 under new greenhouse gas (GHG) standards for heavy-duty vehicles finalized by the Biden administration on Friday, March 29. EPA announced new, final national emission standards for heavy-duty vehicles model years 2027 through 2032. Officials stated the new rule would avoid 1 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions while reducing air pollution for 72 million people who live near heavy trucking routes as well. The new rule includes delivery trucks, refuse haulers or dump trucks, public utility trucks, transit, shuttles, school buses and...
Article Link
By Jaclyn De Candio for Cattle Business Weekly Building a beef herd with a strong genetic base means sourcing the best animals you can, even if they are several states away. The internet has opened a new world of possibilities for both buyers and sellers. And while it's easier than ever before, it still requires skill, human connection and relationship building. Pleasant Valley Farm in Brookeville, Md. (operated by Randy and Bob Stabler along with Randy’s two daughters, Kelsey and Shelby), recently made such a transaction, purchased a bull from an annual sale held by Bush Angus in Britton, S.D.,...
Article Link
By Chip Kemp Director, American Simmental Association & International Genetic Solutions, Commercial and Industry Operations You want a plan. You need tangible steps. You demand credible actions that can benefit your beef business and your family. Frankly, you deserve clarity and plain speech. This is the third article within a four-article series (Part 1 and Part 2) to highlight a Genetic Action Plan to put your commercial cow/calf operation on the genetic footing necessary (as deemed by you and your family) for long-term, multigenerational success. In the first article I highlighted the fallacy of straightbreeding in a commercial cow/calf herd...
Article Link
By Kindra Gordon The inaugural South Dakota Grasslands Summit was held March 18 and 19, 2024 at Arrowhead Conference Center in Oacoma, SD, with nearly 250 attendees. The two-day event took a focus on connecting landowners, state organizations, and land management agencies around the future of South Dakota’s most important resource: grasslands. Presentations focused on grassland economics and profitability, how grasslands can be a solution to environmental issues, and recognizing how prairie ecosystems help sustain water infiltration and quality, soil, health, wildlife and bird habitat and populations, as well as rural economies and healthy communities. The event kicked off with...
Article Link
In major cattle states, ranchers have been coping with intense precipitation events, followed by long stretches with no rain. By John McCracken, Investigate Midwest Thirty years ago, the weather on Annie Doerr’s family ranch felt reliable. Now that she’s taken over from her parents, it’s been anything but. In recent years, drought has made finding good pastureland for beef cattle to graze increasingly difficult. “I always pray for a normal year,” she said, “which I don’t really know what that looks like anymore.” Drought has affected operations at her 500-head beef cattle farm in Creighton, Nebraska, less than an hour...
Article Link
BISMARCK, N.D. – With the support of North Dakota’s cattle and bison industry associations, the State Board of Animal Health officially recognized those states that have earned the status as free of bovine brucellosis and bovine tuberculosis under United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS) guidelines. This recognition allows producers to buy and import beef cattle and bison from these states with reduced vaccination and testing requirements for these two diseases. Michigan remains the lone state not recognized to be free of tuberculosis due to infections in some deer populations in the northern part of the...
Article Link
By Codi Vallery-Mills Virtual fencing has become a regular topic presented at cattle industry symposiums and more and more cattlemen are interested in the technology. Virtual fences allow ranchers to better utilize their pastures in a variety of ways. Animals can be moved through a rotational grazing system that doesn’t require permanent fencing or poly wire to be strung. Also, certain areas of pastures, say a wetlands area, can be kept off-limits to cattle easily. Jack Keating of Nebraska has designed a cattle wearable that is used in these virtual fencing scenarios. He was raised near Atkinson, Nebraska on...
Article Link
From quaint hometown diners to upscale urban eateries, the competition was fierce as the Iowa Beef Industry Council and the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association accepted nominations for the 15th annual Iowa’s Best Burger contest. This year’s contest saw record-breaking engagement, with more than 7,500 burger enthusiasts casting their ballots, underscoring the deep-seated love and passion for beef in Iowa. The restaurants making the 2024 Top Ten finalists list (in alphabetical order) include: Big Head Burger, Waterloo Chuckwagon Restaurant, Adair Flight Bar + Grille, Huxley Houston’s On Main, Milo JJ’s Tavern + Grill, Ankeny Lucile’s at The Continental Hotel, Centerville The Flying...
Article Link
By Chip Kemp Director, American Simmental Association & International Genetic Solutions, Commercial and Industry Operations You want a plan. You need tangible steps. You demand credible actions that can benefit your beef business and your family. Frankly, you deserve clarity and plain speech. This is the second of a four article series to highlight a Genetic Action Plan to put your commercial cow/calf operation on the genetic footing necessary (as deemed by you and your family) for long-term, multigenerational success. In the first installment we highlighted the reality that commercial cow/calf operations need to specifically avoid straightbreeding and need to...
Article Link
By M.P. Cremer If you attend just about any agricultural industry conference, “marketing” will most likely be a topic of discussion on the agenda — and for good reason. It’s something cattlemen and women, beef producers, packers, and meat sellers need to keep their business alive and thriving; it’s how the 15.8 million head of steers in the U.S. go from your pasture to someone else’s plate. Although it’s been around for centuries in some way, shape, form, or fashion, marketing can still be tricky and the demand for unique and creative marketing practices is higher than ever before. At...
Article Link
If you frequently drive Highway 2 between Hyannis and Alliance, Nebraska chances are you have seen Jacki Musgrave out pounding the pavement running, preparing for her next race. Musgrave, of Bingham, Nebraska, is a long-time research technologist at the Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory, and recently accomplished her long worked-for goal of running a marathon in all 50 states. “There is a 50 states marathon club you can join after you’ve ran in 10 states,” explained Musgrave. “I didn’t really have a timeframe, but I thought it would be a neat lifelong goal and way to see the country.” Musgrave said that...
Article Link
By James Mintert and Michael Langemeier, Purdue Center for Commercial Agriculture Farmers’ optimism for the future improved slightly in February compared to a month ago, while their financial performance expectations did not. That’s the summation of the which survey’s producers monthly throughout the year. The February survey was conducted from Feb. 12-16, 2024. The Barometer’s February Farm Financial Performance Index reading of 85 was 1 point lower than in January and 13 points below its most recent peak in December. Weak crop prices continue to weigh on financial expectations as mid-February Eastern Corn Belt cash prices for corn and soybeans...
Article Link
(EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was adapted from a Cattlemen U Podcast Episode.) Today we discuss fine tuning cattle nutrition and give insight on what industry experts are saying. Travis Muliniks joins us to talk about managing cattle nutrition, educating producers on what opportunities exist. Travis grew up on a cow calf operation, and went on to New Mexico State University for his Masters and PhD in Range and Cow Calf Nutrition. Since then, he has performed in several beef research positions, and continues range nutrition research. He has seen a wide variety of systems in his travels and understands the...
Article Link
By Codi Vallery-Mills It’s a story that is starting to repeat itself over and over again and auction barn owners are getting nervous. The story setting might change locations, but the storyline stays the same – cattlemen are getting out of the cattle business and few are replacing them. “We are on the front lines at our auction barn,” says Mark Barnett who resides at Gutherie, Ky. and is the current president of the Livestock Marketing Association (LMA). “We have dispersal sales and there is no one to take over these cattle.” Barnett says the location of his Kentucky-Tennessee Livestock...
Article Link
By Kristen Smith North of Mechanicsville, Iowa you’ll find a feedlot belonging to Eric and Heather Ehresman. The story of Lone Oak Cattle goes much further than just the Gelbvieh and Angus cattle they raise. In college, Eric and Heather met, married and in 1993 they bought a herd of stock cattle. As a commercial-focused seedstock operation, it didn’t take long for Eric to realize his passion was for good genetics when it came to his cattle. “God has been good to us, and we are blessed to be a part of the cattle industry,” says Eric. Growth is important...
Article Link
As I am writing this week’s column, the wildfires in Texas have been burning for over a week now. Six fires in the Panhandle have been raging and now encompass millions of acres. Smokehouse Creek is the largest fire, burning over 1.1 million acres and 500 buildings, and is only 15 percent contained according to the Texas A&M Forest Service. Other fires include the Grape Vine Creek Fire which covers 34,900 acres and is 60 percent contained. The Windy Deuce Fire covers 144,300 acres and is 55 percent contained. The Magenta Fire covers 3,297 acres and is 85 percent contained....
Article Link
By Connie Sieh Groop “Interest rates are at the top of everyone’s mind,” according to Aberdeen ag banker Lance Vilhauer. “They are at the highest they’ve been since 2006-2007. The needs of each ag operation are different as we deal with those who are beginning farmers to the well-established. The higher interest rates are affecting the short-term money or operating loans the most, but it’s not only the interest that has gone up.” Meeting with bankers is a vital step to set up ag financing each year. A big question is what will the interest rate be when...
Article Link
South Dakota lawmakers debating 10 bills this session. ‘The core of the issue is about taking people’s lands.’ By Bart Pfankuch, SD News Watch Some of the most contentious, emotionally charged debates during the 2024 South Dakota legislative session have been about property rights and whether a private company can use eminent domain to force a carbon dioxide pipeline onto land against the owner’s will. The heated discussions are driven by a proposal from Summit Carbon Solutions to run 470 miles of a 1,900-mile underground pipeline across eastern South Dakota. The pipe would carry liquified carbon dioxide gas from regional...
Article Link
By Donnie Leddy, CBW Publisher A few weeks ago we started seeing the calf market really begin to strengthen, selling calves at levels from [post_excerpt],800, [post_excerpt],900, and ,000 per head on up. That trend has continued through the final week of February. If you have been watching the sale barn reports, you'll notice that sale barns continue to reach record levels on big groups of backgrounded calves selling for ,000, ,100, ,200, and even more per head. It appears that this market will continue to hold and even possibly gain strength as we get further into Spring. It also looks like the...
Article Link
Even considering strong demand and historically high prices for calves and feeder cattle this winter, the Hereford and Hereford-influenced sale at Mitchell Livestock Marketing in South Dakota Feb. 15 was a head-turner. For instance, 63 head of straight Hereford steers weighing 663 pounds brought 0 per hundredweight (cwt.). Seventy-five Hereford steers weighing 716 pounds brought an average of 8. Approximately 85% of the 4,471 head reported selling at Mitchell were Hereford or Hereford-influenced. Overall, steer calves and feeders weighing 550-900 pounds sold - per cwt. higher week to week. “They dollared up against any of the best black cattle in...
Article Link
By Codi Vallery-Mills When Missouri’s largest cattle ranch, listed for .5 million, sold recently it begged the normal questions that go along with a ranch sale. Who bought it? For how much? And will it stay in production? Cattle Business Weekly asked those questions of Bruce Brock the real estate agent who handled the Circle A Ranch sale. From his Brock Auction Company office in Iowa, he answered what he could and commented on the real estate market ahead. Brock couldn’t disclose the price paid for the property but did note that the asking price for the 18,500 acres (which...
Article Link
By M.P.Cremer Oftentimes, we hear of “the future” painted in a negative light: the environment, the government, the economy, and most importantly, the people. However, within the agricultural industry, it seems the future is something to look forward to, and a perfect example of this can be found within Montana’s Beartooth Stock Association. “We have to engage our younger generation. We have to figure out a way to keep them involved,” Beartooth Stock Association Secretary and Chair of the Carbon and Stillwater County Heifer Futurity Contest Denise Loyning said. The Loynings ranch on a Hereford seedstock operation, L – W...
Article Link
But numbers down from previous year The U.S. Meat Export Federation recently released beef export numbers for 2023 with a total of 1.29 million metric ton. This was down 12% from the 2022 record year. Although export value fell 15% to just under billion, this was still the third highest annual value for beef exports. As well, beef exports closed 2023 on an encouraging note as December’s per-head value exceeded 0. The 2023 average was 7.04 per head, down 11% from the record level (8.57) posted in 2022. U.S. beef exports closed out December with a total 108,497 mt,...
Article Link
USDA Releases 2022 Census of Agriculture Data The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) announced the results of the 2022 Census of Agriculture, spanning more than 6 million data points about America’s farms and ranches. The average American farmer is now 58.1 years old, which is an increase of about half a year compared to the last census conducted in 2017. Farmers who are 65 and older increased by 12% in this census, while farmers aged 35-64 decreased by 9%. There were 1.9 million farms and ranches (down 7% from 2017) with an average size of...
Article Link
Did I make a lot of money in Crypto Currency?.....NO! Did I make a lot of money in Bitcoin?.....NO! Did I win the Powerball Lottery?.....NO! Are you following me on Facebook?......STOP! I have an imposter! Yes, I have an imposter on Facebook. Someone gained access to my Donnie Leddy Facebook account and has become my imposter. Whoever those %$#@s are, they have been exploiting me by implying I had a windfall of cash and can help my "friends" do the same. Well, that is all a bunch of BS. I am not sure how they picked my profile, but it...
Article Link
By Codi Vallery-Mills Imagine you run a feed yard where you are receiving cattle several times a month, maybe even weekly. Now imagine most of those cattle all have the same coat color, lack facial markings, and don’t carry ear tags. That’s not a stretch of the imagination as many feed yards routinely find themselves trying to differentiate one set of calves from another. A lot of feed yards will choose to put in short-term, lightweight ear tags for ID while other feedlots choose not to go to the expense. Individually identifying the cattle usually isn’t a large concern...
Article Link
Leaders of the wheat and cattle industries, from opposite corners of the state, are the latest inductees into the North Dakota Agricultural Hall of Fame. Brian O’Toole and Roger Stuber will be officially inducted on March 6th during the ND Winter Show in Valley City, North Dakota. Roger Stuber, a third-generation owner and partner of Stuber Ranch near Bowman, North Dakota has a lifetime of service to the beef industry on the local, state and national level. Stuber’s unique contributions to the U.S. cattle industry came through positions of leadership, including serving as president of the North Dakota Stockmen’s...
Article Link
Iowa’s recent heavy snowfall has brought much-needed moisture, significantly improving drought conditions across the state, according to the latest Water Summary Update. Record January precipitation: January brought 1.97 inches of precipitation, double the usual amount for the month. This follows a consistent trend of above-average rainfall, with three out of the last four months exceeding normal levels. Since October 2023, the state has received 7.24 inches of precipitation, which represents 106% of its typical amount. Drought watch replaces drought warning: Thanks to the improved moisture levels, Iowa’s Drought Plan shows significant improvement and stabilization. While northwest and north central Iowa...
Article Link
By CBW Staff The 2024 Watertown Winter Farm Show selected its Supreme Champions in the cattle breeds on Feb. 9 in Watertown, South Dakota. Kelsey Becking with the Watertown Winter Farm Show says the pleasant winter weather helped the show have another successful year of show and sales for the cattle breeds on hand. “The 2024 Watertown Winter Farm Show was heavily attended last week. The Chamber Ag Committee was excited to host the 79th event with a full classroom schedule and utilized two buildings that housed nearly 150 commercial booth vendors,” says Becking. “Cattle numbers continue to increase...
Article Link
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Economic Research Service released its annual Farm Sector Income Forecast report for 2024. “After the three highest consecutive years on record in 2021-2023, the first farm income forecast of 2024 indicates net farm income this year will return to prior levels,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “During this period of record farm income, U.S. farmers rose to the occasion by producing strong harvests and increasing commodity stocks while the U.S. economy recovered more quickly and more robustly than that of the global economy from COVID-19. As a result, while we have rebuilt the global supply, we...
Article Link
By Megan Hindman, clinical assistant professor, CVM Veterinary Field Services As if I have to say it, calving season is quickly approaching. Or if you’re like me, in denial that calving season is already here. Wherever you might be, hopefully, you’re getting prepared for the calves to hit the ground. But what if they happen earlier than anticipated? What do we do, how do we handle it? Who are you going to call? I’ll give you a hint: it’s not Ghostbusters. This article will hopefully clarify some information and provide at least a road map for late-term abortions. Late-term abortions...
Article Link
By Codi Vallery-Mills The sawdust and dirt are being hauled out of The Monument in Rapid City, S.D. as this paper goes to press, signaling a finality to the end of the Black Hills Stock Show and Rodeo Rapid City. This year’s event was well-attended with springtime-like weather the first weekend of the event. Large crowds came out for the horse sales and the two nights of Xtreme bulls and broncs. Mid-week saw slower crowds, but the Ranch Rodeo on Tuesday night at the James Kjerstad Event Center was sold out and seemed to bolster numbers for the Wednesday Broncs...
Article Link
By Jaclyn De Candio April 19, 2020, was a day that changed the life of Laura Cunningham of SkyView Farms in northern Iowa. It was the onset of the COVID-19 shutdown. Consumers scrambled to source local food in droves to ensure their families were fed amid uncertainty and shortages in the retail sector. Cunningham was among the many beef producers who were unexpectedly inundated with orders for beef. “I don’t think I’ll ever forget that day,” she reflects. “By the end of that day, I had sold everything I had to offer via locker appointments for a year...
Article Link
The two Haugen brothers walk us through their decision to have a smaller cow herd By Sarah Hill We’ve all heard the statistic that the average U.S. farmer is 57.5 years old, according to recent USDA data. With so many growers looking at retirement in the near future, making a change to how your farming operation may be in the mix. But what’s the best way to go about it? A pair of brothers from Hannaford, N.D., share their experience with reducing their cattle herd to make more room for life. Troy and Lynn Haugen own and operate a registered...
Article Link
The federal grazing fee for 2024 remains [post_excerpt].35 per animal unit month for public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management and [post_excerpt].35 per head month for lands managed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service. An animal unit month or head month – treated as equivalent measures for fee purposes – is the use of public lands by one cow and her calf, one horse, or five sheep or goats for a month. The newly calculated grazing fee takes effect March 1. The fee will apply to nearly 18,000 grazing permits and leases administered by the BLM...
Article Link
Mark Eisele, a Wyoming rancher, ascended to the role of NCBA president during the 2024 Cattle Industry Convention, held this week in Orlando, Florida. Eisele, along with his wife, Trudy, and their children, operate the historic King Ranch near Cheyenne, Wyoming, grazing both public and private lands. The 2024 NCBA officer team, approved by the NCBA Board of Directors, took office at the end of this year’s convention. Buck Wehrbein of Nebraska was named president-elect and Gene Copenhaver of Virginia was elected vice president. Kim Brackett of Idaho was elected chair of the NCBA Policy Division and Skye Krebs of...
Article Link
Jerome Ollerich of Winner, SD answers the question By Connie Sieh Groop As January winds down, Hereford cattleman Jerome Ollerich, 67, is relieved that this year has seen just a little snow compared to last year. He and his brother James Ollerich, 66, operate Ollerich Bros. Herefords near Winner, SD. When chatting with Jerome on the phone, he sounded pretty relaxed. “We’re feeding cows and putting together our bull catalog,” Jerome said. “In the next couple of weeks, we’ll get calls and visits from people checking out our bulls.” With 55 years of experience raising cattle, he knows the ins...
Article Link
By Donnie Leddy, Publisher The record-setting warm temperatures forecasted for Rapid City, South Dakota during The Black Hills Stock Show and Rodeo have been a welcomed change to what we all experienced a few weeks ago. 62 to 65 degrees sure beats the negative 60-plus windchills much of the region experienced in January. The horse sales last weekend were very well attended. The horses averaged over ,000 with top sellers commanding ,000 and ,000. The market for top-quality horses continues to be very strong! On Monday, the Angus cattle were in big demand with the bulls averaging ,022 and the...
Article Link
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Purebred cattle breeders vied for the coveted ,000 Supreme Row purse, sponsored by The First National Bank in Sioux Falls, First Bank & Trust, and The Cattle Business Weekly during the week of the Sioux Empire Livestock Show Jan. 23-28 in Sioux Falls. The All Other Breeds, PGC Buffalo Trace 3205 ET, a Charolais, was named Supreme Row Bull. Consigned by PGC Cattle, Pipestone, Minn., he was sired by TR DSUL 100 PROOF B24 ET and out of PGC MS FEBE 8882 ET. He sold for ,000 to Weston Cattle Source, Crawford, Neb. The Angus,...
Article Link
By CBW Staff Rodeo Rapid City is one of the top PRCA rodeos in the nation, nominated 23times as PRCA’s “Large Indoor Rodeo of the Year,” winning this award in 2002-2003, 2020-21 and nominated to win in 2023. This is the fifth time Rodeo Rapid City has won PRCA Large Indoor Rodeo of the Year. Rodeo Rapid City competed against four other rodeos, all in Texas: San Angelo, Fort Worth, San Antonio and Houston for the title. Rodeo Rapid City is produced by Sutton Rodeo of Onida. Sutton Rodeo is a sixth-generation rodeo company, founded in 1926, best known for...
Article Link
The Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce has named Jeff and Nancy Kirstein as the 2024 Farm Family of the Year and Phil DeGroot as the 2024 Agribusiness Citizen of the Year. The Kirsteins own and operate Good Earth Farm, located near Lennox, South Dakota. They use a Community Supported Agriculture model and also embrace agri-tourism, welcoming visitors to their farm to enjoy pizza, drinks and interacting with the animals. DeGroot is an Ag Banker with The First National Bank in Sioux Falls. He also farms 150 acres in northwest Iowa. DeGroot has been an active volunteer for the Sioux...
Article Link
The Red Angus Association of America recently recognized Hub City Livestock Auction in Aberdeen, South Dakota, for their excellence in marketing Red Angus and Red Angus-influenced cattle. The award was presented to Hub City Manager Glenn Gaikowski by RAAA Commercial Marketing Specialist Rachael Oliver on Jan. 10. “Hub City has continually supported Red Angus producers throughout the years by hosting special Red Angus feeder calf sales and is well deserving of this award,” said Oliver. “Glenn has been a huge Red Angus supporter and without his tenacity for fair marketing, the demand for Red Angus feeder cattle in that region...
Article Link
Nebraska producers share about their January weather By Rita Brhel Calving in January is a gamble. But even the six days of round-the-clock windchill warnings that came with the latest Arctic airmass sitting over Nebraska was a rare weather event to wager against. “December was beautiful,” says Lisa Johnson of Lonesome River Ranch near Anselmo in the Nebraska Sandhills. “The weather started changing at Christmas and really hasn’t let up much.” Cow-calf producers across Nebraska are calving now, and the experience has been hard. “This cold is almost like three steps: the good, the bad, and the ugly,” says Jason...
Article Link
It was an emotional moment at this year’s National Western Stock Show (NWSS) when judges slapped the grand champion market steer. At the end of the lead rope was the son of a well-known and respected cattleman from South Dakota who along with three others, lost his life in an airplane accident in 2014. Following the deaths 10 years ago of Nick Reimann, 33, Ree Heights, Logan Rau, 25, Java, Brent Beitelspacher,37, Bowdle and pilot D.J. Fischer, 30, of Gettysburg, who were returning to Gettysburg, S.D., from a cattle sale in Texas, there was a huge outpouring of tributes...
Article Link
Part 2: The Last 5 Tips By Robert Wells, Noble Research Institute To round out our Top 10 list of management practices and concepts to consider that can help keep you from paying to be in the ranching, here are 5 additional tactics that can contribute to ranch profitability. 6. Develop a short and defined breeding season. Increasing the number of earlier-calving cows within your defined calving season will increase the average weaning weight at marketing time. Consider this: if a calf is born 30 days earlier in the calving season and gains 2 pounds per day while on the...
Article Link
By Codi Vallery-Mills Sept. 30 deadline likely to be missed, extension needed The deadline to pass a new Farm Bill by Sept. 30 will likely come and go. Since returning from its August recess, Congress has been taking up its time with passing an appropriations package and deflecting a government shutdown. While progress in the appropriations arena is happening, it still means the 2018 Farm Bill will likely see an extension to it before being fully addressed later in 2023 or even into early 2024. Senate Ag Committee Democrat Tina Smith told Agri-Pulse Newsmakers, “We need a strong b-partisan...
Article Link
Cattle producers in the region can learn the benefits of heifer development through a unique research program administered by South Dakota State University Extension and University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension. Producers can apply this fall to enroll heifers at the Great Plains Heifer Development Center at the UNL Haskell Beef Lab near Concord, Nebraska. Nebraska and South Dakota producers will receive priority, but producers from bordering states will be accepted if space is available. The program will provide custom heifer development data to enrolled producers to help them optimize their operations and promote longevity in their cow herds. Heifers are evaluated...
Article Link
By Stephen R. Koontz, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Colorado State University Labor Day is behind us, and the fall run of calves is in front. What portends for the rest of September and October? Historically, October is a tough month for fed cattle markets with the summer demand season winding down and fed cattle weight winding to some of their seasonal highest. Likewise, calves have a tendency to be plentiful. This year is likely to not follow the trend. Boxed beef values are well above 0/cwt and the Choice-Select spread is /cwt. These are strong values compared to...
Article Link
By Jaclyn Krymowski Hager Cattle Company is home to both registered and commercial Limousin cattle. Herd owners Leah and Austin Hager are the fourth generation to operate this gem in Karlsruhe, N.D. Throughout the state’s intense winters, the pair has worked to build a tough, reliable animal to thrive in such an environment. With four growing children (Bailee, Pitch, Tripp, and Remmi), the family understands first-hand the need to breed and develop cattle that grow well, and thrive in intense winters. Under Austin’s leadership, they have worked diligently to breed more rib shape, capacity and fleshing ability while constantly striving...
Article Link
James Krantz, Howard, S.D., was recently selected as the 2023 recipient of the South Dakota State University Friend of the Beef Industry award for his contributions to the South Dakota beef industry. “Humbling best describes my feelings towards this award,” said Krantz. “Our state is extremely fortunate to have numerous individuals, past and present, who have helped construct a beef industry that is so well recognized and respected.” Krantz graduated from SDSU in 1969 with a degree in animal science. During his college career, Krantz enjoyed working at the SDSU Meat Lab and being part of the Meat...
Article Link
The wheat harvest is in the bin, silage chopping is finishing up and the combine is out of the shed ready to go to work. Visiting with folks from all over the Midwest, the yields are going to be up and down no matter where you live! Moisture this past summer has varied from one side of the county to the other in every midwestern state. Locally in South Dakota, some of our most productive ground in eastern South Dakota will have below-average yields while fields of corn in western South Dakota could break all-time records! While much of eastern South Dakota is...
Article Link
By Codi Vallery-Mills Sept. 30 deadline likely to be missed, extension needed The deadline to pass a new Farm Bill by Sept. 30 will likely come and go. Since returning from its August recess, Congress has been taking up its time with passing an appropriations package and deflecting a government shutdown. While progress in the appropriations arena is happening, it still means the 2018 Farm Bill will likely see an extension to it before being fully addressed later in 2023 or even into early 2024. Senate Ag Committee Democrat Tina Smith told Agri-Pulse Newsmakers, “We need a strong b-partisan...
Article Link
South Dakota State University Extension is pleased to welcome Sami Nordmann as the new statewide 4-H Livestock Program Manager. As the SDSU Extension 4-H Livestock Program Manager, Nordmann will support the 4-H livestock programs and oversee all state 4-H livestock events, including livestock shows, judging and skill-a-thon competitions. She will be based in Brookings on the SDSU campus. “Sami’s a firm believer in the power livestock projects can hold in the lives of young people,” said Tim Tanner, SDSU Extension State 4-H Program Director. “She will be a real asset as 4-H strengthens young South Dakotans who share her passion...
Article Link
‘Welcome Home’ is theme of Sept. 28-30 event The North Dakota Stockmen’s Association (NDSA) is a cattle producers’ trade association that dates back to 1929. Cattlemen on the Fort Berthold Reservation and surrounding areas were tired of the chronic cattle rustling plaguing their herds. Andrew Johnston, a Watford city, N.D.,-area cattleman, decided to call a meeting to determine what could be done about it. That gathering took place June 6, 1929 — now considered christening day for the NDSA — in Watford City. Founders at that meeting elected John Leakey as their president and each pitched in a person...
Article Link
By Megan Underwood “The market signals are clear for weights – everyone gets paid by weight throughout the beef value chain and it’s obvious the value of the genetic gain,” explained Dr. Peter Amer, AbacusBio Limited managing director. Amer gave his presentation titled “Precision Breeding Opportunities in an Evolving Breeding Objective Landscape” during the 2023 Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) Symposium July 4, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Amer described beef improvement as a road trip that deserves reflection. Looking back at the ground that has been covered in the past, seeing where we are now and facing forward for potential forks...
Article Link
Part 1: The First 5 Tips By Robert Wells, Noble Research Institute The ranching business has always been subject to the variability and extremes of external factors, such as market volatility and weather extremes. Neither of these seems to be letting up any time soon. So for ranchers to economically survive market downturns as well as capitalize on good times, it helps to get back to the basics, fine-tune their operations and plan for the long-term. An extremely viable strategy is to start working more with nature and less against it through implementation of regenerative ranching principles. In this two-part...
Article Link
The Old Farmer’s Almanac is weighing in on the fall forecast. Recently Bob Smerbeck and Brian Thompson, Old Farmer’s Almanac meteorologists released new fall weather maps and expectations. They report temperatures won’t be as extreme as seen in the August forecast—which shows temperatures far above what’s typical. However, the temperatures will still be unseasonably warm in many areas, compared to past years. September 2023 Forecast Throughout the month of September, Smerbeck and Thompson expect cool weather across the northeastern U.S., where there could be some early crispness in the air. Meanwhile, a warmer-than-average month will lead to a summerlike feel...
Article Link
By Codi Vallery-Mills There are still drug mules trailing through her pasture. New Mexico rancher Erica Valdez was in Rapid City, S.D. on Aug. 18 as part of the R-CALF Convention speaker lineup. She had spoken to Cattle Business Weekly back in 2021 and took time at the convention to give CBW readers an update. Valdez ranches in the southwest corner of New Mexico, having a starter feed yard 25 miles north of the U.S./Mexico border and ranch land farther north of it. Valdez grew up in the Animas area and is the third generation to see the trials...
Article Link
This year’s event raised 1,000 for the Ronald McDonald House Charities Continuing the upward streak, the Iowa Governor’s Charity Steer Show held during the Iowa state Fair exceeded the previous year’s fundraising total. Donated to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa, this year’s event raised 1,000. Including this year’s donations, the Iowa Governor’s Charity Steer Show has raised almost .5 million since the event’s inception in 1983. All money raised benefits the three independent Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa, located in Des Moines, Iowa City, and Sioux City. These three houses have served over 55,000 families from all...
Article Link
By Lura Roti, SDFU As a kid, Becky “Alexander” Rose loved being actively involved in 4-H and FFA because of the fun trips and the opportunity to leave her family’s Clark, S.D. dairy farm to show at the State Fair where she got to know South Dakota youth from across the state. Today, at 39, she reflects on these opportunities through the experienced eyes of a mom to four sons: Dusty, 17, Austin, 14, Ty, 11 and Lane, 6. “I have a different perspective, and I am glad I was involved in these two organizations because they gave me lifelong...
Article Link
It’s Fair Time! Labor Day weekend is just around the corner and for many of us that means it is time for the South Dakota State Fair! Yes, a number of you reading this column share my love for our state fair. This year will be different as the cattle events will be held in the new Dakota Events Complex (DEX) facility. It will be exciting to see the facility in action! “Beyond the 150,000 square foot facility, we’ve worked hard on the electrical system, the ventilation system, the water pressure and sound system throughout the building to improve the...
Article Link
By Codi Vallery-Mills “Hold the line.” That was the advice Eva Vlaardingerbroek, a Dutch Farmers Advocate and political commentator, told those in attendance at the R-CALF USA meeting in Rapid City, S.D. on Aug. 18. A global advocate for freedom and farming, Vlaardingerbroek walked the audience through the events leading up to mass protests by Dutch farmers. She gave examples of government overreach and expressed concern over what could potentially happen in the United States. According to Vlaardingerbroek, life for Dutch farmers has become increasingly complicated since 2019 when the government in the Netherlands declared a nitrogen crisis. Citing...
Article Link
They started out with 10 cows, a goal and the opportunity of a lifetime. “Two brothers who farmed this ground did not have children interested in farming, and they wanted a young couple to come and farm it,” explained Lincoln County farmer Jason Twedt. In 2015, Jason, his wife, Bridget, and his dad, Milo, signed the papers to purchase all the farm’s equipment and they began leasing all the farm and pasture ground. “We always say we are blessed that the Young family gave us a hand up to start farming ourselves because the start-up costs of farming without having...
Article Link
It is not a surprise to many that when the USDA cattle inventory numbers were recently released we saw a decline in our cattle population. According to the report, cattle inventories totaled 89.27 million head or a 3 percent decline over a year ago. The biggest decline is associated with America’s cow herd. We are currently at 29.4 million beef cows, down 3 percent from 2022. This is based off higher cull cow prices which created an 11 percent increase in cow slaughter in 2022. Having over a million fewer mother cows is a sizable number. The current cowherd...
Article Link
Here’s why you should make the trip On August 15-17 Dakotafest will be held in Mitchell, SD. Here are the top reasons to attend Dakotafest: • Nearly 500 exhibits focused on agriculture • Seed plot demonstrations • Technical product demonstrations • Livestock-focused exhibits and live chute demonstrations • Family fun events • Education and political learning sessions • Register to win prizes • Delicious food vendors Livestock Tent is the Place to Be at Dakotafest Cattlemen and women won’t want to miss the education, experts and activities happening in the BioZyme Livestock Tent at Dakotafest, Livestock Tent Schedule Tuesday,...
Article Link
Farmer sentiment improved modestly in July 2023, according to the monthly Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer, which surveyed producers between July 10 and 14. The Ag Economy Barometer rose two points above its June reading to an index value of 123. Economists attribute the two-percent rise to farmers’ improved perception of current conditions on their farms. Farmers’ rating of financial conditions on their farms was virtually unchanged in July, compared to June, as the Farm Financial Conditions Index rose just one point to 87 vs. a reading of 86 in June. However, the percentage of producers rating their farm’s...
Article Link
From CBW News Desk U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) announced that they introduced bipartisan legislation to rein in abuse of the farm payment system and ensure taxpayer support is targeted to those actively engaged in farming. The Farm Program Integrity Act would create a hard cap of 0,000 per year in total commodity support for any one farm operation and require subsidy recipients to be working farmers that spend half the year actively engaged in farm operations. Currently, just 10 percent of farms receive 70 percent of farm payment subsidies. “It isn’t right to...
Article Link
The Wyoming Stock Growers Land Trust is pleased to announce that Mark Eisele and the Eisele family, of the King Ranch Company in Cheyenne, Wyoming, have been chosen to receive the 2023 Kurt Bucholz Conservation Award. The Eiseles are being recognized for their dedication to agricultural land conservation, water rights, and habitat conservation. The nomination was submitted by Justin Derner of the United States Department of Agriculture and Rex Lockman of Laramie County Conservation District. The Bucholz Conservation Award is given in memory of the late Dr. Kurt Bucholz, DVM, rancher from Carbon County, and early supporter of the Wyoming...
Article Link
The North Dakota Stockmen’s Association (NDSA), together with the North Dakota Beef Commission, the North Dakota CattleWomen and numerous sponsors, saluted nearly 1,400 active-duty military, reserve and National Guard personnel and their families at the Beef Industry Military Appreciation Day July 25 during the North Dakota State Fair in Minot, N.D. This was the 18th year the beef industry and partners teamed up to give a formal thank-you to military members through a complimentary roast beef and all beef hotdog meal prepared by North Dakota State University’s Carnivore Catering and children’s activities on the North Dakota State Fairgrounds. “It is...
Article Link
By Donnie Leddy, Publisher As we flip the calendar to August, our communities will be hosting summer stock shows, county fairs, and achievement days. The 113th Annual Faith Stock Show and Rodeo takes place the second weekend in August with the coveted Pen of Three Show being held on Friday, August 11th. For a smaller community like Faith, this event draws a number of folks into town for some friendly competition. The Turner County Fair was first held in 1880 in Parker, SD. This year’s 143rd annual will be held from August 14th through the 17th. You can find everything...
Article Link
By Sarah Hill If you’re looking for excellent steak in the Minneapolis area, Manny’s Steakhouse is the place to go. The restaurant was recently named one of the top 10 steakhouses in Minnesota and for good reason. Big Steakhouse Experience Manny’s Steakhouse got its start in 1988, founded by Phil Roberts and Pete Mihajlov. The restauranteurs owned a couple of other restaurants at the time and felt like Minneapolis was missing a big, New York-style steakhouse destination, according to Manny’s Steakhouse General Manager, Dave Wilson. “Phil and Pete brainstormed what they liked from the steakhouses they’d seen across the country,...
Article Link
Earlier this summer, Terrel Vineyard, a young Nebraska cowboy, was struck dead by lightning along with his horse while doctoring calves in the pasture. Vineyard, worked for Van Newkirk Herefords, Oshkosh, Neb., for many years. To assist the family, Van Newkirk Herefords is offering pick of their 2023 Spring heifer crop, with free delivery anywhere in the Continental U.S., courtesy of Loomis Trucking. All proceeds will go to Vineyard’s wife Stacey, and their three girls. Everyone considered Vineyard their best friend. Terrel was known to be extremely humble, with a quick wit, a kind heart, deep character, and an “always...
Article Link
By Codi Vallery-Mills She read the Little House on the Prairie books and fell in love with the family and lifestyle portrayed in the stories. Now, Japanese Chef Rika Yukimasa can say she has been to South Dakota where Laura Ingalls Wilder once lived. Thanks to the South Dakota Beef Industry Council, Beef Logic, Inc, and the United States Meat Export Federation(USMEF) Chef Yukimasa spent last week in the state visiting ranches, restaurants, a meat processor, and one of the state’s biggest rodeo events. Chef Yukimasa is the host of “Dining with the Chef”, a popular NHK TV cooking program that...
Article Link
Music, though I often sing off-key and can’t play more than beginner songs on the piano, is very important to me. I find it’s that way for a lot of people. There are songs that remind us of a certain someone, a time in our lives, or a moment captured. Music is a form of therapy too. Need your kid to pop out of a certain mood? I find music is the answer. Need to boost my own mental health? Music to the rescue. And whether you need to sulk and lick your wounds, or dance a lively two-step with...
Article Link
Nebraska Brand Committee Executive Director John Widdowson has informed the Nebraska Brand Committee of his intention to resign his position later this year. Widdowson, a fifth-generation family farmer and rancher, has served as the Brand Committee’s Executive Director since February 2020 and previously served as a member and Chairperson of the Brand Committee. “It has truly been an honor to serve the Nebraska Brand Committee as a member and as its Executive Director. When I took this job I told the Committee that I would remain in this position only until the ship was righted. It’s not only righted,...
Article Link
There were 95.9 million head of cattle and calves on U.S. farms as of July 1, 2023, according to the Cattle report published July 21 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). Other key findings in the report were: • Of the 95.9 million head inventory, all cows and heifers that have calved totaled 38.8 million. • There are 29.4 million beef cows in the United States as of July 1, 2023, down 3% from last year. • The number of milk cows in the United States remained unchanged at 9.40 million. • U.S. calf crop...
Article Link
Farm Bill, Trade, Climate Change and More Were on Tap at the Event By Connie Sieh Groop Those attending this year’s Governor’s Ag Summit in Watertown, S.D. listened to excellent speakers who shared a wide range of critical agricultural information, including speculation about items which may be included in the 2023 Farm Bill. Hunter Roberts, South Dakota’s Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources, welcomed the crowd and praised those involved in the ag industry. While attendance was down from the previous summits, producers and policy makers networked to address issues in agriculture. “The long-term success of our state’s number one...
Article Link
Murray and Pipestone County Cattlemen’s Associations hosted the Minnesota State Cattlemen’s Association (MSCA) Annual Summer Tour on July 18. The tour brought in 630 attendees who hopped on one of 11 busses that traveled around southwestern Minnesota to various tour stops, and over 800 steaks were served at the evening meal. On July 17, the MSCA hosted their July Quarterly Meeting at Key Largo on Lake Shetek, Slayton, followed by the MSCA Political Action Committee (PAC) Event. The MSCA PAC’s purpose is to support candidates running for public office who have showed support for MSCA’s policy agenda. The PAC Event...
Article Link
Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.2 million head on July 1, 2023. The inventory was 2 percent below July 1, 2022. The inventory included 6.73 million steers and steer calves, down 3 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 60 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.47 million head, unchanged from 2022. Placements in feedlots during June totaled 1.68 million head, 3 percent above 2022. Net placements were 1.61 million head. During June, placements of...
Article Link
The song “Try That In A Small Town” and the video that was produced for it have received a lot of press over the past couple of weeks. I'll admit, I do not pay attention to music videos and listen to more news programs on the radio than songs. But, the recent upheaval over the Jason Aldean's music video “Try That In A Small Town” is disturbing to me. Yes, after the initial reports that CMT banned the video, I did go to YouTube to view the video. I was not offended by the lyrics nor the video, but it did bring back memories of just how bad things have gotten here in the United States over the past few years. The riots, killings, and disrespect for our men and women protecting our country is disheartening. The video is showcasing footage from actual news reports. The sad part is how too many in our society have lost respect for fellow human beings. I feel blessed to live in rural America and moreover, blessed that my children plan to remain in South Dakota! Krecia and I took in the movie Sound of Freedom, another controversial piece. Our...
Article Link
By Stan Wise South Dakota Soil Health Coalition PIERRE, SD – Cover crops offer a wide range of potential benefits for producers – better nutrient cycling, more weed suppression, more livestock forage, better soil structure, increased soil organic matter, and healthier soil microbial communities. To reap those benefits, producers need to make some careful decisions. Those decisions start with the goal for the cover crop. Is it intended primarily to produce forage for livestock, provide weed suppression, or feed the soil? The answer to that question is the first piece of data needed, but it’s not the only one. Another...
Article Link
Cattle ranchers and social media influencers Natalie Kovarik and Brandi Buzzard are two of the mentors set to advise participants in the Animal Agriculture Alliance’s 2023 College Aggies Online (CAO) scholarship program, which begins on September 11. Registration is now open for undergraduate, graduate, and professional students studying in the U.S., as well as collegiate clubs and classes. Last year, nearly ,000 in scholarships and prizes were awarded to participants. Sign up for this year’s competition here: https://animalagalliance.org/initiatives/college-aggies-online/. CAO connects college students from across the country who are passionate about sharing positive, factual information about agriculture. Participants receive nine interactive...
Article Link
But farmers remain optimistic, depend on weather By Abbey Stegenga Farmers in South Dakota and across the U.S. will likely take home less income this year because of increasing input costs and decreasing commodity prices. However, halfway through the growing season, some are optimistic the state could have a good year if the weather cooperates. “We’re relying on rain throughout the growing season, but for right now, it’s so far, so good. If we continue to get rains, we should have a pretty good crop,” said Glenn Storm, who grows corn and soybeans east of Corsica, S.D. The U.S. Department...
Article Link
A Long Breeding Season Can Have Advantages By Troy Smith “I hated pulling bulls,” says fourth-generation Montana rancher Keon Holzer, referring to the practice of removing bulls from breeding pastures at the end of breeding season. Located some 30 miles west of Lewistown, the Holzer operation includes scattered, non-contiguous properties with rough terrain that presents some management challenges. “We have to drive cattle across neighbors’ land to get them in and out, so trailering bulls out in mid-summer isn’t an option,” explains Holzer, noting that keeping bulls separate is a nuisance anyway. “They’re never easier to manage than when they’re...
Article Link
The Minnesota Board of Animal Health confirms the state’s first anthrax case in animals in more than a decade in Kittson County, affecting multiple cattle and a horse, and has quarantined the affected property. The Board recommends producers keep their livestock up to date on anthrax vaccinations, especially in northwest Minnesota. “One of the reasons we don’t see a lot of anthrax cases in the state anymore is because we have proactive measures to protect livestock like vaccinations,” said Dr. Katie Cornille, who oversees the Board’s bovine programs. “With this detection in Kittson County, livestock producers who graze their animals...
Article Link
By Elliott Dennis, Assistant Professor & Extension Livestock Economist, Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Nebraska - Lincoln Cattle prices are up. There’s no doubt about that. For example, Nebraska feeder cattle prices have risen significantly over the last four months. Nominally prices are at or higher than where we were in the 2013 to 2015 cycle. June 2023 average monthly prices for 500-600 lb. steers were approximately 0 per cwt. The November Feeder Cattle contract at the CME stubbled down through June as the corn market rallied but has since recovered and broken previous price resistance levels into 2/cwt....
Article Link
The University of Nebraska is hosting an open house at the Barta Brothers Ranch on July 25th from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. The Barta Brothers Ranch is a 6,000-acre property donated to the University of Nebraska by Clifford and James Barta in 1996. The ranch has housed a variety of research projects over the years including studies on Sandhills’ biocomplexity and a 20-year-long grazing systems production survey. One of the newest research projects, commonly referred to as CAM (collaborative adaptive management), will be the primary focus of the open house. Attendees will hear from University researchers and stakeholders involved...
Article Link
By Codi Vallery-Mills It’s always nice to have cattle out on summer pasture, but then comes the task of checking on them routinely to make sure they are in said pasture. In recent years, electronic tracking collars, GPS tags, invisible boundary areas, and the use of satellites have been introduced as ways to watch over one’s herd. Ron Smith who ranches west of Austin, Texas by 60 miles uses technology from 701X, a North Dakota company, to monitor his herd’s whereabouts. Smith has a small herd of commercial cattle and show steers. With the recent drought in Texas, the cattle...
Article Link
By Serena Davis, CBW Intern The Black Hills area where I reside in western South Dakota is known for its beautiful scenery and western feel but the best part in my opinion is the food. I’m lucky enough to live in an area with various options for whatever I’m hungry for that day. If you are vacationing in the Black Hills this summer there is a hidden gem just across the border from Spearfish, S.D. in Beulah, Wyoming. The Buffalo Jump Steakhouse has one the most unique atmospheres I’ve ever seen, it was originally a post office and then...
Article Link
By Amy Quinton, UC Davis News Lab-grown meat, which is cultured from animal cells, is often thought to be more environmentally friendly than beef because it’s predicted to need less land, water and greenhouse gases than raising cattle. But in a preprint, not yet peer-reviewed, researchers at the University of California, Davis, have found that lab-grown or “cultivated” meat’s environmental impact is likely to be “orders of magnitude” higher than retail beef based on current and near-term production methods. Researchers conducted a life-cycle assessment of the energy needed and greenhouse gases emitted in all stages of production and compared that...
Article Link
The Livestock Marketing Association (LMA) and BlockTrust Network in cooperation with various livestock auction barns are conducting a pilot project to determine how blockchain technology offered by BlockTrust Network may allow LMA member livestock marketing businesses to leverage voluntary data capture of cattle moving through the auctions. The first of a series of sales kicked off in June in Petaluma, Calif.. It was conducted by the Mobile Cattle Marketing Group and featured 1,500 fancy calves and yearlings. Additional sales are scheduled for July 8 and July 22. “We see opportunity in discovering how the decentralized database technology, like...
Article Link
The Alltech ONE World Tour is putting a spotlight on agriculture and fostering conversations with international agri-food-industry leaders. June 19-20 the tour was in Dublin, Ireland convening more than 500 international agri-food leaders to discuss collaborative solutions and strategies for success in today’s agriculture and agri-food industries. The discussions aim to explore collaborative solutions to the greatest challenges facing the agri-food industry as it confronts the “4 Cs” — the major forces of climate, conflict, consumer trends and rising costs. Mark Lyons, president and CEO of Alltech, welcomed delegates to Dublin and shared the stage with Dr. Vaughn Holder,...
Article Link
The Nef and Gonzenbach families of Milbank, South Dakota have been named the 2023 Governor’s Ag Ambassador Award recipients. They will be recognized on Tuesday, July 18, as part of the annual Governor’s Agricultural Summit (Ag Summit) in Watertown. In 1929, Alfred Nef and Alfred Gonzenbach founded Valley Queen Cheese in Milbank, South Dakota. Today, their families continue to operate the company as a privately held enterprise, committed to growth and development in the state. The Nef and Gonzenbach families’ unwavering commitment to innovation and willingness to take calculated risks has spurred South Dakota’s dairy industry into a world-class destination...
Article Link
Join Good Grazing Makes Cent$ for Discussion on Public Grazing Regulatory Changes RENO, NEVADA – Public lands ranchers will have the opportunity to communicate face to face with federal agency administrators in Reno, Nevada on Tuesday, July 11, 2023, during an event hosted by Good Grazing Makes Cent$. Slated for conversation are important issues like the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) proposed Public Lands Rule, potential grazing regulation changes, and how public lands grazers can benefit from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) risk management and disaster aid programs. Attendees will be able to ask questions and share concerns with...
Article Link
The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) serving South Dakota is pleased to announce that Riley Kammerer and his family received the South Dakota Hugh Hammond Bennett Producer Award for 2022. Riley Kammerer along with his wife, Jimmie, and their three daughters (Karlie, Katelyn, and Kymbal) manage the family ranch using adaptive grazing management in Piedmont, South Dakota. Each year, the South Dakota NRCS gives a state-level Hugh Hammond Bennett Producer Award with the award recipients nominated for the national Hugh Hammond Bennett award. The Producer Award is presented to a producer who demonstrates a commitment to conservation planning, pioneering new...
Article Link
By Sarah Hill Ray’s Western Wear & Saddlery has been a staple of the Chamberlain and Oacoma, S.D., retail community since 1957. Today, the store offers a wide variety of Western clothing for the entire family, and tack and equipment to outfit all of the family’s horses, too. Ray Steckelberg purchased a men’s clothing store on Main Street in downtown Chamberlain in April 1957, and sold tack out of the basement. In 1970, the store was remodeled, and tack was moved onto the main floor and Western wear became the focus of the business, along with Western lifestyle. Ray’s son,...
Article Link
Much of the lower 48 states experienced near to below normal temperatures this past week, with the exception of parts of the northern Great Plains, Upper Midwest, southern Texas, and parts of the Lower Mississippi Valley. Large portions of southern Texas experienced excessive heat this week, with daytime high temperatures averaging well above 100°F for several locations. A mean frontal boundary draped across much of the lower 48 states resulted in periods of heavy rainfall across portions of the western Great Plains and Intermountain West, leading to improvements to drought conditions across much of the western half of the lower...
Article Link
Agriculture, growing food to feed others, is a time-honored tradition but unfortunately, those doing the work are growing older every year. According to the USDA, the average farmer/ rancher age has increased from 56.3 to 57.6 years old from 2012-2017. This makes many turn their attention to the next generation of agriculturists. Two students from South Dakota State University are approaching agriculture differently and share their thoughts and hopes when it comes to the future of agriculture. Tessa Erdman (20), a senior agriculture communications major, and Caleb McGregor (19) a sophomore agriculture bioengineering and agronomy major both served as state...
Article Link
By Jacob Fischler U.S. House Republicans and GOP Govs. Kristi Noem of South Dakota and Mark Gordon of Wyoming teamed up Thursday to rail against the Bureau of Land Management’s proposed rule to allow conservation leases on federal lands. Noem and Gordon joined the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee for about half of a 4-1/2 hour hearing that saw Republican members raise familiar objections to the BLM’s proposal that would treat conservation as a use on the same level as mining, oil and gas development or livestock grazing. The proposed rule would create a conservation leasing system, similar to how...
Article Link
From KBHB Radio New owners of the Philip Livestock Auction in Philip, S.D. are no strangers to the area. The Slovek families are known for generations of ranching and farming. And now, one is adding auction market owner to that chore list. Casey Slovek and wife April worked their first sale as owners of Philip Livestock Market this week. “It was my first time on the auction block and I enjoyed it,” said Slovek. “The market is good – probably as high as we’ve ever seen – and it’s nice to see people happy and making money. And the people...
Article Link
By Sarah Hill Summer has finally arrived, and the hillsides are scattered with cattle peacefully grazing. Summer care of the cattle herd includes so much more than that idyllic scene. Ensuring adequate water, shade and mineral access are very important for beef producers. Water is a Huge Issue For Billy Clanton, Buffalo, S.D., making sure his family’s commercial SimAngus crossbred cattle have access to fresh water during the summer is a major focus. The ranch has pipeline to ensure that cattle have plenty of water. “We used to rely on rain with runoff, but we’re able to hit well water...
Article Link
By David P. Anderson, Professor and Extension Economist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Not to be outdone by record fed cattle prices, cutout values have jumped higher. While the cutout out is dramatically higher, it is not at record highs. The Choice cutout hit 7.43 per cwt on June 12th, up over the last week and up .99 since June 1st. It is the highest value since August 2021 and just slightly below the 7.56 the on June 11th 2021. The increase in cutout value included all primal cuts. The rib, loin, and brisket all increased by more than...
Article Link
Allowing veterinarians to respond to emerging diseases faster. The USDA Center for Veterinary Biologics (CVB) has allowed animal health company, Medgene, of Brookings, S.D. license to produce and market a USDA - approved category of vaccines called Platform Vaccines to the cattle industry. Specific cattle vaccines available under this new Platform Vaccine category include Influenza D, Coronavirus, Rotavirus, and Papillomavirus. Medgene’s vaccine approaches leverage USDA-approved “platform technology” guidelines that are safe, and easily adapted to multiple animal disease targets. The result is the development of vaccines and an understanding of how diseases move across species and geographies within a fraction...
Article Link
The South Dakota Beef Industry Council (SDBIC) begins year four of the Junior Beef Ambassador program, a program giving area youth, ages 5 to 18, the opportunity to share their beef story. The 2023/2024 program has 42 Junior Beef Ambassadors from across South Dakota. They will be assisting with various SDBIC promotion events and sharing photos and videos highlighting their ranch and what they do as South Dakota beef farmers and ranchers for consumer promotions on social media. They will also be sharing delicious beef recipes for everyone to try! "Our youth are the future of the beef industry, and...
Article Link
By Lura Roti for SDFU It doesn’t surprise Rustin or Kama Bruns that their children love rodeo. “Our kids grew up on horses,” Kama explained. “I would be pregnant riding horses and they would be babies and riding with us. So, it was pretty natural just to go in and start rodeoing.” The family raises Angus and Hereford cattle with Rustin’s parents, Bob and Roberta, near Plankinton. So, horses are part of everyday life for the Bruns family because they use them year-round to help with cattle work – to move feedlot cattle, to sort pairs, to move cows...
Article Link
Sell cows or buy feed? That’s the question most ranchers face when drought hits. The best time to plan for drought is in a wet year, and one of the best ways to plan for drought is to build flexibility into a cattle operation. Adding a stocker or yearling element to a cow-calf operation is one way to provide short-term flexibility without sacrificing capital or genetics. When the operation includes either a retained or purchased stocker or yearling herd, it can be adjusted when feed supplies run short, allowing the core cowherd to be maintained. It is also an option...
Article Link
Daniel Munch, an economist with the American Farm Bureau Federation walks readers through a small portion of the current math surrounding the upcoming Farm Bill negotiations. The Congressional Budget Office’s (CBO) most recent Baseline for Farm Programs, released on May 12, identifies expected outlays for farm program spending, assuming existing programs continue without changes, and indicates program spending available to Congress as crafting of the 2023 farm bill kicks into high gear. CBO releases these projections on expected spending for farm programs for the 10-year baseline – the current budget year plus 10 years – up to three times a...
Article Link
By M.P. Cremer The measurement of Expected Progeny Difference (EPD) hit the scene in 1993 and the cattle world has never been the same. From measuring easy-to-collect data such as weaning weight to quantifying calving ease, EPDs continue to evolve to new heights for the cattle industry — in the U.S., that is. “In Australia, they use a different system called Estimated Breeding Values or EBVs; they don’t use EPDs. These EBVs rely on the government for their genetic evaluation. And the government — called Meat and Livestock Australia, basically their USDA — is not as advanced as IGS in...
Article Link
By M.P.Cremer A few years ago I designed a handful of “pro-agriculture” t shirts and listed them on a site called Redbubble. This week I found out that my account was suspended from Redbubble because it “broke community guidelines.” Let’s chat about that… Redbubble is a popular site for artists of all kinds to get their artwork out there. Designs are uploaded by artists and then can be printed on canvases, coffee cups, t shirts, stickers — heck, you can even get designs printed on shower curtains if you want — the possibilities are endless. The real beauty of selling...
Article Link
Today we pushed cattle out to summer pasture in a downpour of rain. It was a sprinkle as we unloaded the semis and soon after we watched a wall of rain come over us. Thoroughly drenched, I was reminded of a book I am currently reading about the Dust Bowl. In the book, it tells the tale of a Texas family that goes west to California to hopefully escape the black dust storms that ravaged crops, livestock, and people during the severe drought known as the Dust Bowl. Dust pneumonia was a real danger for people and livestock from 1930-1940....
Article Link
By Serena Davis, CBW Intern May is national beef month, to some that simply means eating a hamburger, but to one Hulett, Wyo. student it means giving back to his school with a great beef-eating experience. Paxton Pravecek is an 11-year-old rancher from Hulett, Wyoming who has been raised around Angus cattle and feed yards but during Covid-19 he ventured further into his own livestock business with bum calves and eventually longhorns. Paxton started raising his own livestock in 2020 when his family got Angus calves from Fall River Feed Yard in Hot Springs, S.D. His mom, Amy,...
Article Link
On May 24, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) officials celebrated the dedication and ribbon-cutting of the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) in Manhattan, Kan. This facility, which offers the highest level of biocontainment laboratories and safety protocols, is the first of its kind in the United States and will allow scientists to study and diagnose critical animal diseases. “America’s farmers, ranchers and consumers count on our researchers to understand, monitor for and develop solutions to combat a variety of high-consequence animal pathogens, and a facility of...
Article Link
By Serena Davis, CBW Intern Miss Rodeo USA will be representing South Dakota for generations to come with a perpetual crown donned in Black Hills Gold donated by Gold Diggers and Stamper Black Hills Gold Jewelry. Miss Rodeo USA 2023, Anna Woolsey, is the first rodeo queen to represent rodeo with the new crown and was proudly wearing it at the crowning ceremony on Monday, May 23 in Rapid City, S.D. Representatives from Congressman Dusty Johnson’s, and Senator John Thune’s office and a note from South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, explained the proud heritage of Black Hills gold and rodeo...
Article Link
By Stephen R. Koontz, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Colorado State University The USDA Cattle on Feed Report released on May 19 appears to be rather neutral with continuing evidence of the smaller numbers ahead. Focusing on the most important piece of information first, placements were lower than the prior year and were modestly lower than anticipated. Pre-report expectations suggested that placements would be 96.4 percent of the prior year with a range of 91.8 to 99.6 percent. Actual placements during the month of April were 95.8 percent at 1.748 million head. The futures market reacted lower on Monday but the weakness was...
Article Link
The Food and Drug Administration is changing guidance for using implants in beef cattle after June 2023. Implants for beef cattle are placed under the skin of the ear and promote growth and improve feed efficiency. “The new guidance from the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine redefines beef cattle’s production phases, which will affect the label claims of existing and new drugs,” says Zac Carlson, North Dakota State University Extension beef cattle specialist. “This affects implants for beef cattle production because they are considered a drug.” The new production phases are: 1. Calves nursing their dams less than 2 months...
Article Link
From CBW News Desk In May a complex, slow-moving storm system delivered heavy rain across much of the nation’s mid-section, but largely bypassed some of the country’s driest areas in southwestern Kansas and western Oklahoma, as well as neighboring areas. Still, the rain broadly provided much-needed moisture for rangeland and pastures, immature winter grains, and emerging summer crops. Ten days of rain on the Front Range and Eastern Plains of Colorado reduced drought conditions in the state by more than 60%, continuing a statewide recovery from drought over the past year. The amount of the state experiencing drought conditions has...
Article Link
From Animal Ag Alliance The Animal Agriculture Alliance’s 2023 Stakeholders Summit was held in Arlington, Va. May 4-5 and attracted nearly 320 attendees. Themed “Partners in Progress: Building a Sustainable Future for Animal Ag,” the event featured speakers from across commodities and the food supply chain and included an opening keynote from Ray Starling, former agriculture advisor to the president and general counsel of the North Carolina Chamber. Starling emphasized the theme of this year’s event by highlighting the need to make connections and reach those outside of our silos. The premise of Starling’s “Farmers Versus Foodies” concept and the...
Article Link
The USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded animal health company Medgene of Brookings, SD grant funding to study the Asian longhorned tick and its ability to spread diseases in animal livestock. The company will be using its proprietary platform technology to develop and test vaccine approaches to prevent the spread of diseases caused by the tick. Dr. Alan Young, Chief Technology Officer for Medgene, has been researching parasite borne diseases since 2013, studying the effects of tickborne diseases in whitetail deer. "Animal parasites and insects are major disease vectors that have significant impacts on wild animals...
Article Link
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is announcing an atypical case of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), a neurologic disease of cattle, in an approximately five-year-old or older beef cow at a slaughter plant in South Carolina. This animal never entered slaughter channels and at no time presented a risk to the food supply or to human health in the United States. Given the United States’ negligible risk status for BSE, we do not expect any trade impacts as a result of this finding. USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s (APHIS) National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) confirmed that this cow...
Article Link
By Stan Wise South Dakota Soil Health Coalition PIERRE, SD – It can take time for scientists to build new knowledge of biological processes, especially when those processes play out over the course of years. Researchers with the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service North Central Agricultural Research Laboratory near Brookings, South Dakota, have put in that time – decades, in fact. Thanks to their work, farmers now have more reliable information to use when designing their crop rotations. The ongoing Alternative Rotation Experiment has been running at the Eastern South Dakota Soil and Water Research Farm since 2000. “We...
Article Link
Courtesy: Canva By Russ Daly Professor, SDSU Extension Veterinarian, State Public Health Veterinarian Written with contributions by Heidi Carroll, former SDSU Extension Livestock Stewardship Field Specialist & Beef Quality Assurance Coordinator. Lameness in cattle is a commonly encountered condition stemming from pain in one or more limbs, which affects not only how the animal moves, but their productivity as well. Cattle producers understand that lameness is a condition that varies greatly among individual animals. There is a wide gradation of clinical signs, with some animals exhibiting obvious “dead” lameness, while other cases of lameness almost escape detection. Subtle Cases of...
Article Link
By Codi Vallery-Mills Spring turnout for bulls into the cowherd is nearing. What a rancher decides to manage for during the bull breeding season will be seen in the results come calving season and later at market. With calf prices predicted to be higher in fall 2023 and onward, every pound that calf carries with it the more money a cattleman will make. One tool to help ensure pounds on calves in 2024 is to tighten the calving window. This brings more calves into the world at an earlier date allowing those animals to have more days on milk and...
Article Link
Ralco announced the launch of Nutri-Graze™, a pasture product that helps beef producers reduce off-farm feed costs by increasing their forage production. Feed prices have steadily increased year after year, placing an unwelcome burden on beef producers already struggling with tight margins. “Nutri-Graze helps producers get more out of their pasture resources – over 25% more per acre – reducing their feed bill come wintertime,” said Dr. Jeff Hill, product manager and ruminant nutritionist for Ralco. A Central Minnesota cattle producer trialing the product commented, “I was shocked with the results we saw after using Nutri-Graze in a pasture that’s...
Article Link
By Codi Vallery-Mills Each year cattle ranchers lose money through bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) – which can be disastrous to pregnant cows causing spontaneous abortions and low birth rates. Some infected calves survive to birth and remain infected for life, shedding massive amounts of virus to other cattle. While vaccine usage has helped in the control of the virus, it still costs the U.S. cattle sector billions of dollars annually. Acknowledging this impact on cattle producers, scientists have researched ways to better control BVDV. In an ongoing study, scientists have collaborated to produce the first gene-edited calf with resistance...
Article Link
The Nebraska Beef Council recently took part in helping to fund the annual “Pasture to Plate Tour,” held annually in California and hosted by the California Beef Council. The tour is a three-day immersive experience, where beef industry and nutrition professionals among others get to visit cattle ranches, a dairy, feedlot, stockyard, a processing facility and speak with experts in the industry as well. Nebraska Beef Council Board Member, June Loseke, attended the event and represented Nebraska. Loseke has been a host of the Nebraska Beef Council Industry Influencer tours at her family’s feedyard near Columbus in past years, and...
Article Link
The 21st annual North Dakota Stockmen’s Association’s (NDSA) Feedlot Tour will be June 27 at feedlots near Wing, N.D., and Goodrich N.D. The tour stops will include Vollmer Angus Ranch and Kirby Steichen's hoop barn. Bus transportation will be provided to and from the stops. The bus will depart from Kist Livestock Auction in Mandan, N.D., at 9 a.m. and will make a stop at Cenex in Sterling, N.D., at 9:30 a.m. and then return to Sterling at approximately 4 p.m. and Mandan at approximately 4:30 p.m. Here’s a tour preview: Vollmer Angus Ranch near Wing will be the first stop...
Article Link
By Ross Bronson Modern agriculture has provided more opportunities for producers to manage their risk, which are welcome in an industry that has a substantial amount of it. The industry is also known for its rich history and traditions. In this age of world markets and new technologies, it can be hard to know when to move away from traditional practices and to adopt new ones. One traditional risk management tool that has been utilized in the industry for years is the practice of hedging in the commodities markets. Hedging can be defined as “any technique designed to reduce or...
Article Link
Montana would lose one member under new rule The USDA published a proposed rule in the Federal Register to adjust membership on the Beef Promotion and Research Board to reflect shifts in cattle inventory levels since the last board reapportionment in 2020, as required by the rules governing the board. Written comments on the proposed rule must be received by June 1. Under the proposal, total board membership would decrease by two members, from 101 to 99, and would include the following changes: Domestic cattle producer representation on the board would decrease from 94 to 92 members. The remaining seven...
Article Link
A combination of fall drought and a delayed spring due to colder-than-normal temperatures are expected to cause significant delays in grass development and growth this spring. Air temperature in the spring is the main environmental factor that determines the rate of grass development. Miranda Meehan, North Dakota State University Extension livestock environmental stewardship specialist, explains that each leaf produced on a stem requires a specific amount of accumulated heat, or heat units. The temperature when plants initiate development, the base temperature, is 32 degrees Fahrenheit for cool-season grasses and 40 degrees Fahrenheit for warm-season grasses. The temperature or heat units...
Article Link
Value added by processing American Wagyu Seeking a niche market, an Andover, SD, family grows beef with Japanese Wagyu genetics, known for its predisposition to marbling of fat on the inside of muscle tissue. The result is exceptional and that led the family to design and build a meat-processing facility where they can slaughter their own animals and offer the meat to those in South Dakota and eventually, across the United States. Their dream of adding value to their beef resulted in “The Meathouse” which is nearly complete along U.S. Highway 12, about 30 miles east of Aberdeen, SD. The...
Article Link
Pasture leases are influenced by land sales. Here’s what you need to know. By Rita Brhel 2022 was a year of record-breaking farmland sales. After Plymouth County in northwest Iowa saw 55 acres of cropland sell mid-October for ,250 per acre for continued corn and soybean production, Richardson County in southeast Nebraska quickly broke that record with 116 acres selling to a local crop farmer for ,400 per acre. A month later, 75 acres in northwest Iowa’s Sioux County changed hands from farmer to farmer at ,000 per acre. These astronomical land prices inform agricultural land valuation across the Northern...
Article Link
By CBW Staff The South Dakota Hall of Fame will soon have a display about the Berry family of Belvidere, S.D. Specifically, Baxter, Lyndall, Paul and Tom Berry who helped found the cattle organization that would go on to be the American Highland Cattle Association. Baxter purchased cattle from Walter Hill of Montana in 1922. Hill was said to have made one of the first Highland cattle importations into the United States. From that herd, Baxter took four bulls and forty-five cows. The cattle would make up the first Highland registery in the United States. According to association history, on...
Article Link
Show Me Youth Ag Academy provides immersive education in livestock production By Allison Jenkins, MFA Incorporated Lamar, Mo., is known as a football powerhouse bringing home several state championships. But if proponents of the Show Me Youth Ag Academy have their way, Lamar will soon be known as a powerhouse in agricultural education as well. The one-of-a-kind program is in its second year of providing interactive, in-depth learning opportunities for high school juniors and seniors who are interested in animal science and ag business. “My family has a small beef farm, about 40 head, so it’s really neat to...
Article Link
May is BEEF month and “BEEF It’s What’s for Dinner”! I believe that is still the most powerful slogan our industry has come out with. It debuted on May 18, 1992, by the National Livestock and Meat Board based in Chicago. The initial campaign lasted for 17 months at a cost of million. The current slogan “I Choose Beef!” campaign is sponsored by the checkoff through the South Dakota Beef Industry Council. The SDBIC slogan encourages consumers to get out and choose BEEF during the grilling season. May is the ideal month to start up the grill and enjoy...
Article Link
Temperatures are likely to remain cooler than average in May for northern South Dakota, according to a recent report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center. Spring and summer precipitation remains a challenge to forecasters this year, with a lot of uncertainty in the months ahead. “The last three months have been colder than average across South Dakota,” says Laura Edwards, South Dakota State University Extension State Climatologist. “The outlook for May indicates that we are likely to continue with cooler temperatures as compared to normal, at least for northern South Dakota.” The NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center...
Article Link
Hard Decisions are Being Made Due to Prolonged Drought Stress and Cool Temperatures By Troy Smith It’s the common topic of conversation at the sale barn, feed store or church fellowship dinner. Wherever cattle folk gather, they talk about how the calendar says we’re well into spring, but the grass doesn’t show it. Temperatures have remained too cool to prompt much growth. And it’s still awfully dry across much of cow country. While the High Plains caught plenty of winter snow, spring moisture has been scarce. According to the drought monitor map, much of the region is categorized...
Article Link
By Donnie Leddy, Publisher The first of May is right around the corner and with that, the end of bull sale season is right around the corner, too! I do not remember a year, except for possibly 1996/1997 when we had such adverse weather. Snow, wind, and closed roads started way back last Fall and continued into this Spring. Let's hope that we can increase our temperatures and increase our chances of rain showers for those of you who still are suffering from drought conditions. The bull sales this Spring have been very exciting. We saw increased demand and record...
Article Link
Brookings, S.D. - South Dakota State University hosted the centennial celebration of Little International from March 31- April 1 at the Animal Science Arena in Brookings. Little International, or “Little I,” is a two-day agricultural exposition planned, organized and implemented by SDSU students. Little “I” has a long tradition of providing 4-H, FFA and collegiate students with an opportunity to showcase their knowledge by competing in judging contests, livestock showmanship competitions and livestock fitting challenges. This year, over 160 collegiate students competed in horse, sheep, lamb lead, goat, dairy, beef, and swine contests at this year’s event. Interested students who...
Article Link
By M.P.Cremer On October 19, 2019 I acquired a small, black and tan dog named Creed after Creedence Clearwater Revival. I was living in an apartment building in a new town, 1,000+ miles away from my family and hadn’t met too many people outside of work. I needed some company and knew a pup, such as a half dachshund/half yorkie (or dorkie, if you will) would fit the bill and I was right. About a month later, I went on my first date with my now husband, Lane, and within a few weeks Creed would make his first trip to...
Article Link
By Codi Vallery-Mills, Editor The heavens danced last night. Did you see it? It was the best display of the Northern Lights I have seen this year. We got our daughter out of bed, into the car, and headed for the ridge line where we would be away from any light from the yard lights. The pulsing lights all drew to one point in the sky above us coming in waves. It was something. The month of April has sped by, and I don’t find myself with a topic on my heart that I want to write about. Instead, just...
Article Link
Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.6 million head on April 1, 2023. The inventory was 4 percent below April 1, 2022. The inventory included 7.12 million steers and steer calves, down 6 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 61 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.50 million head, down 2 percent from 2022. Placements in feedlots during March totaled 1.99 million head, 1 percent below 2022. Net placements were 1.94 million head. During March,...
Article Link
Valentine Livestock sees record prices for fall-born calf market By Codi Vallery-Mills Several cattle outfits “rang the bell” at Valentine Livestock’s sale on April 13 in Nebraska. Topping the fall-born calf market was Burdick Ranch with 54 Angus steers weighing 507 bringing 1.05 and a second draft weighing 424 selling at 4.00. The heifer mates brought 7.50 for 439-weight. Several other ranches selling that day saw good prices, especially for heifers. A heifer consignment from Ries & Keller saw 106 black heifers weighing 439 bring 0.50. “The heifer deal… that’s the big deal. Those are steer prices being paid...
Article Link
After a three-year hiatus, the Annual Meat Conference was recently held in Dallas, TX. At a conference that is all about meat, here were the common themes gleaned from the event: 1. Meat sales strong, but inflation nipping at our heels. In 2022, meat was the star of the show: Meat sales soared +5.7% versus a year ago and almost 87% of all home-prepared dinners featured meat/poultry. Additionally, self-described “flexitarians” are on the decline and demand for alternative meat also fell. But, the meat industry must be hyperaware of the ongoing challenge of inflation: Consumers spent more than 25% more...
Article Link
By Stephen R. Koontz, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Colorado State University Fed cattle markets have moved into and through April on a very strong upward trajectory. The prior high in the live cattle futures market of 2.75 established in November 2014 was broken. The April 2023 live cattle contract will likely settle above the prior record high and the deferred contracts expiring in February, April, and June of 2024 are currently trading above the prior record. These prices are clearly communicating the current strong demand and anticipated tighter future supplies. The cash market is moving with futures and...
Article Link
The continuing Russia-Ukraine war affects farms and food production within Ukraine, but also influences other parts of the world. “We were already in a challenging period; even before the invasion of Ukraine, prices were rising for food, fuel and fertilizer,” said Rob Bertram, chief scientist at the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Bureau for Resilience and Food Security. He said the invasion “really affected the availability of key foods, especially wheat and vegetable oil, sunflower oil, in particular, that were heavily exported out of Ukraine.” He added the war is tough on countries heavily dependent on wheat from...
Article Link
April 17, 2023, is a historic day for the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association (NDSA), the North Dakota Stockmen’s Foundation (NDSF) and the state’s cattle producers. The first ground was broken for the organizations’ new headquarters building in north Bismarck April 17. The NDSA and NDSF have been working together on this project for many years, following a directive passed by NDSA members at the convention in 2015. The NDSA purchased the lot at 4520 Ottawa Street in 2021. The NDSF is building the new industry headquarters on that site with a lease-to-own agreement with the NDSA. The new headquarters will...
Article Link
By Donnie Leddy, Publisher Many of you reading my weekly column will agree that the Winter of 2022-2023 was one of the longest on record. And the folks in the northern part of the region are still dealing with drifts and piles of snow left over from record amounts last Winter. The snow, along with the record cold temperatures, put plenty of stress on livestock and the folks who care for them. Where I live in northeastern South Dakota, the snow melt is causing flooding – potential record flooding in a number of communities. It was amazing that on Easter...
Article Link
Midwest Veterinary Supply, a Minnesota-based company that supplies prescription drugs for animals to veterinarians, farms, feedlots and other businesses, pled guilty last week to introducing misbranded drugs into interstate commerce and agreed to pay more than million in criminal fines and forfeiture. “The Department of Justice will continue to ensure that all companies follow federal laws regarding distribution of prescription drugs,” said United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh of the Western District of Virginia. “In this case, millions of dollars were obtained from the illegal distribution of veterinary medicine and, just like pharmaceuticals intended for human-use, my office will...
Article Link
By Lee Schulz, ISU extension livestock economist The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022 directed USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service to create a Cattle Contracts Library Pilot Program. Its goals are to: •Increase market transparency. •Improve price discovery. •Provide enhanced signals to producers with respect to output and better insights regarding market demand and supply for cattle. Under this pilot program, AMS collects, maintains, and reports aggregated purchase information on contracts between fed cattle producers and packers who are within the reporting threshold. Data are published every Monday for the prior week’s trade. The Cattle Contracts Library Summary dashboard provides the most...
Article Link
From CBW News Desk Before the Easter holiday weekend, President Biden denied Congress by vetoing the Congressional Review Act (CRA), which was a joint resolution that would have overturned the Environmental Protection Agency’s Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule. Democratic and Republican lawmakers from both the Senate and the House sought to halt the implementation of WOTUS as it is said to be a flawed and overreaching rule that expands which types of wetlands can be regulated under the Clean Water Act. Following the veto, American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall said in a press release, “This veto flies...
Article Link
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Guidance for Industry (GFI) No. 263 goes into effect in June 2023, transitioning 91 livestock antibiotics, previously available over the counter (OTC), to prescription status. Some manufacturers may transition before this timeframe. To help producers get ahead of the changes to come, Valley Vet Supply Technical Service Veterinarians, Lacey Fahrmeier, DVM, and Tony Hawkins, DVM, joined in conversation to help producers navigate the changes ahead. Hawkins explains, “GFI No. 263 provides guidance for the manufacturers of these antibiotics that are currently considered OTC. When we say ‘OTC,’ that means that you do...
Article Link
By Lura Roti for South Dakota Farmers Union Meadow, S.D. rancher Brian Flatmoe says fall is his favorite time of year. “It’s hay hauling and harvesting and working calves and selling calves – you can see the fruits of a year’s work in the fall,” explained the third-generation Perkins County cattle rancher. Fall is also when the community hosts the Coal Springs Threshing Bee. Held each year the fourth weekend in September, during the Threshing Bee, the Flatmoe family and neighboring ranch families put antique equipment to work, demonstrating how farm work was done when the land was first settled...
Article Link
By Matthew Diersen, Risk & Business Management Specialist, Ness School of Management & Economics, South Dakota State University Despite last quarter’s record high heifer placement numbers, feedlot placements in recent months have been lower than a year earlier, especially of heavier feeder cattle. Steer and heifer weights in 2022 set record-high levels. Recent slaughter weight patterns are sending mixed signals about available beef supply. On a monthly average, the carcass weights are slightly higher than a year ago; however, the most recent weekly average carcass weight is slightly less than a year ago. On an absolute measure, the weights are...
Article Link
By Grant Dewell, ISU extension beef veterinarian With many cow-calf producers at the peak of calving season, some also will be experiencing outbreaks of calf diarrhea. Typically, these calves are 1–3 weeks old and become dehydrated extremely rapidly. Most can survive with supportive care if received in a timely manner, but they are still at risk to some secondary bacterial infections, and in some cases death loss can be high. The cold wet weather experienced by many can increase scours due to concentration of cattle in feeding and shelter areas and the muddy conditions. Once an outbreak of calf scours...
Article Link
By Rita Brhel While calving difficulties tend to lighten as the weather warms, there is always at least a few newborn calves that struggle no matter the season. How producers have been advised to treat these weak calves has changed over the years. “If we turn these calves out to pasture without any help,” said Dr. Becky Funk earlier this month at Nebraska Extension’s Cow/Calf College, “they’ll probably continue to circle the drain.” This annual beef production seminar was held March 21 at the Clay County Fairgrounds in Clay Center, Neb, postponed two months due to a January snowstorm. Funk...
Article Link
A record value of beef and pork exports brought significant returns to the U.S. corn and soybean industries in 2022, according to an independent study conducted by World Perspectives, Inc. and released by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). U.S. pork and beef exports contributed an estimated total economic impact of 15% per bushel to the value of corn and 13% per bushel to soybeans in 2022, according to the study. “For every bushel of corn we marketed in 2022, a little over [post_excerpt] was attributed to red meat exports and with soybeans, pork exports contributed [post_excerpt].94 per bushel,” says...
Article Link
By Brock Irwin, Vita Plus In 2016, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published data on suicide rates by occupation from 2012 to 2015. It was one of only a few articles that attempted to summarize suicide rates by occupation. These data showed that farmers, ranchers and other agricultural managers had a suicide rate higher than the general population. This report ignited a conversation about mental health in rural America, and the agriculture industry responded well on a large scale. For example, the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN) was revived in the 2018 Farm Bill and...
Article Link
By Sarah Hill Winter has overstayed its welcome in many parts of South Dakota this spring. It’s been challenging for cattle producers to deal with the excess snow, ice, blowing winds and bad roads, in addition to keeping cattle sheltered, fed and healthy. Here’s how a few of those working in the beef industry have dealt with what Mother Nature has thrown at them this winter. Craig Thieman has seen more than 80 inches of snow this winter on his ranch near Clearfield, S.D. He’s seen other cattlemen in his area experiencing a lot of pressure on feed and hay...
Article Link
Happy Easter to everyone reading this week's column! I hope everyone can take time out of their schedule to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Since Winter will not give up, let's celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus. Let us praise Jesus who died on the cross, He Died and three days later rose again and now sits at the right hand of the Father. Jesus said in the book of Mathew, " Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." I know all of you are weary and burdened and...
Article Link
The following sales have postponed their sales due to the next round of snow in our region. • Vollmer Angus Ranch has postponed until April 13 at 1:00 p.m. at the ranch, Wing, ND • Driscoll Cattle Company has postponed until April 14 at 1:00 p.m., Huron Continental Marketing, Huron, SD • Fox Angus Farm has postponed until April 14 1:00 p.m. at Glacial Lakes Livestock- South Sale Barn, Watertown, SD • Schelske Angus has postponed until April 19, at 1:00 p.m., at the ranch, Virgil, SD • Pass Creek Ranch has postponed until April 26, 1:00 p.m. at the ranch in Wyola, MT
Article Link
By Troy Smith Patterns are everywhere. That’s a good thing because people typically find a sense of stability or comfort when their lives follow certain patterns or routines. Patterns help people find direction. It’s perfectly natural too, because life is all about patterns – the repeating events and recurrent structures, associations and relationships found at every turn. The earth and every creature on it experience cycles, rhythms and seasons. Throughout human history, learning to recognize such patterns has helped inform decision-making. Recognizing behavioral patterns of wild game animals allowed humans to become successful predators and avoid becoming prey....
Article Link
Ranchers should make plans for moving feed and livestock to higher ground before flooding this spring, according to North Dakota State University Extension specialists. The latest flood forecast shows a high probability of moderate to major spring flooding along the Red River Basin, as well as minor to moderate flooding potential along portions of the Souris River. In addition to riverine flooding, there is the potential for overland flooding due to snowpack across the state. The risk of flooding will be dictated by additional precipitation and the melt/thaw cycle. Due to overland flooding, many areas that typically do not flood...
Article Link
By Timothy Hill (Editor’s Note: National Ag Day was celebrated March 21, 2023 with a focus on the ag industry’s efforts to stem climate change and foster sustainability. The annual student essay contest hosted in conjunction with that event spotlighted that theme and produced this winning essay by student Timothy Hill from Orlando, FL.) As our world continues to face the devastating impacts of climate change, it’s becoming increasingly important to find ways to reduce our carbon footprint and create a more sustainable future. American agriculture is at the forefront of this movement, working hard every day to grow a...
Article Link
USDA NASS released Cattle on Feed Friday which showed a significant drop in placements, down 7.2% from a year ago in February. Weight breakdowns were universally lower, but the categories closest to a year ago were 900-99 pounds and over 1000 pounds. Pre-report ranges estimated placements would be substantially lower, but actual data came in on the low end of the range. Marketings were very close to the average of pre-report estimates, 95% of a year ago vs the estimate of 95.8. On feed numbers were in line with the pre-report estimate. Cattle on feed longer than 90 days grew...
Article Link
By M.P. Cremer Picture this: it’s 2:00 a.m. in the middle of March and your alarm goes off, there’s a foot of snow on the ground and you’re finally catching some sleep after essentially being a bovine mid-wife to inexperienced, incredibly pregnant heifers. Before you decided to rest your eyes a few hours earlier, you moved a heavy heifer into your barn, expecting her to calve sometime tonight. You need to check on that heifer so you roll over, unlock your iPad, open up your barn camera app, and check on her progress — nothing yet, but she looks a...
Article Link
Achieving ideal timing to maximize spring grazing may feel as tedious as Goldilocks’ pursuit of the perfect porridge. Turn livestock out too soon, and you’re liable to damage future growth. Wait too long, and you risk missing the most productive opportunity of the season. Getting it just right, Noble Research Institute Ranch Facility Manager Curt Larson says, depends on keen observation, flexibility and responsiveness to your environment. Larson manages the Oswalt Ranch in south-central Oklahoma. In the decade and a half he’s been there, he has seen and experimented with about every approach to spring grazing. “We’ve had to change...
Article Link
By Troy Smith If you’ve been a hands-on cow person for any length of time, you’ve probably had to deal with heifers and cows that experienced dystocia. Maybe you’ve had to contend with dummy calves too. One sometimes leads to the other. Because oxygen deprivation, acidosis and hypothermia frequently accompany delayed or difficult births, dystocia ranks high among the causes of so-called dummy calves. More correctly it’s called weak calf syndrome - a condition that may have many causes. Nutritional deficiencies can make calves weak at birth, because the dam’s diet was lacking in protein or energy, or...
Article Link
Many Iowa farmers hire some custom machine work in their farm business or perform custom work for others. Others rent machinery or perform other services. In order to help producers and custom operators examine the market, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach publishes the Iowa Farm Custom Rate Survey. This year’s survey, published in March, includes 88 responses and 2,454 custom rates for tasks related to tillage, planting and seeding, spraying, harvesting, farm labor and more. Additions to the survey for 2023 include ground (broadcast) spraying with a self-propelled, tall-crop sprayer and liquid fertilizer high clearance application with drop hose...
Article Link
A year ago, drought conditions were affected 75% of the Continental U.S. Today that figure has fallen to just under 55%. 2022’s drought was the most widespread the U.S. had seen since 2012 and for the Northern Plains it followed 2021, a year that was anecdotally considered by many producers to be the driest since 1988. Conditions are improving as the La Nina weather pattern breaks up, but for agriculture we’re not out of the woods yet. The updated Seasonal Drought Outlook from the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center expanded the improvement and removal of drought across California and...
Article Link
By Justin Waggoner, Extension Beef Cattle Specialist One of the most common questions addressed in 2022 concerned the cost of gain in feedyards. The figures below illustrate reported feedlot cost of gain for steers and heifers in 2020, 2021 and 2022 from K-State “Focus on Feedlot” reports. Cost of gain for both steers and heifers has steadily increased since January 2021, achieving new highs in 2022 when the average for heifers reached 2.18/cwt. in August and the steer average reached 5.95/cwt. in October 2022. Previously, the highest reported cost of gain for steers and heifers occurred in March 2013 at...
Article Link
By Stephen R. Koontz Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Colorado State University Cattle markets are approaching the end of the first quarter of 2023 on a very strong note. Animal prices across the board have been very robust. Fed cattle have traded above 5, 7-8 cwt feeder cattle have traded above 0, and 5-6 cwt calves have traded just short of 5/cwt. Live cattle futures approached within /cwt of all-time high prices established in November 2014. However, feeder cattle are well below their records due to the strength in the forage and feedgrain markets. Cow-quality hay is routinely above...
Article Link
By Rick Stowell, Extension Specialist in Animal Environment Cattle operations in many areas have had to manage their animals through significant snowfall that led to muddy conditions in holding areas, walk lanes, feedyard pens, and other high-traffic locations. Poor performance, health challenges, and generally undesirable conditions for man and beast often followed. With wet late-winter, early-spring weather still on the horizon, some operators may be giving more thought to improving their outdoor facilities this year. This article addresses questions about placing concrete or other pavement over sloping ground, including ‘Should I pave noticeably sloping areas?’ and ‘What considerations need to...
Article Link
Wyoming project brings beef to kids in need By Codi Vallery-Mills Imagine coming home from school hungry and needing a snack but the kitchen cupboards are bare. It’s a reality that many children in the United States face. Even in rural, agriculture-based states hunger and food insecurity is a problem. In Laramie County, Wyoming there is an effort to change that through the Friday Food Bag Foundation. In February that program was beefed up. After over a year in the making, the Beef for Backpacks pilot program was launched. Now, every kid in the Friday Food Bag Foundation will receive...
Article Link
-- New Product-- By Kiera Leddy GROWERS released an app called GROWERS App, which is designed to take the heavy lifting off of ranchers and farmers when finding affordable inputs for their operation. GROWERS was founded in 2012 by CEO Steven Valencsin. Valencsin has a background in farming. He grew up on a farm in Washington state. In addition to serving in the Navy, he worked in the fertilizer space as well as a soil testing lab. He now lives on a farm in North Carolina. Valencsin created GROWERS because he wanted to improve technology and software in the...
Article Link
By James Mintert and Michael Langemeier, Purdue Center for Commercial Agriculture Farmer sentiment weakened in February as producers continue to be concerned about high input costs and, increasingly, the risk of declining output prices and rising interest rates. That’s according to the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer sentiment index, which is calculated each month from 400 U.S. ag producers responding to a phone survey. The survey was conducted Feb. 13-17, 2023. Specifically, the index dipped 5 points in February to a reading of 125. Farmers’ perspectives regarding both current conditions on their farms and their expectations for the future...
Article Link
Beginning in June of 2023, livestock owners will need a prescription from a licensed veterinarian to purchase all medically important antimicrobial drugs, says Dr. Gerald Stokka, North Dakota State University Extension veterinarian and livestock stewardship specialist. Currently, there are several antibiotics sold over-the-counter (OTC) that do not require a veterinary prescription to purchase. The changes being implemented in 2023 are the latest in a plan put into place in 2012 by the Food and Drug Administration. At that time, the FDA recommended limiting the use of antimicrobial drugs that are considered necessary for assuring animal health to include veterinary...
Article Link
As the 2023 grazing season approaches, North Dakota State University Extension specialists provide an outlook for this year’s forage production. “Despite residual impacts of the 2021 drought, we had good forage production in 2022 due to high rainfall in the fall of 2021 and timely spring rainfall,” says Miranda Meehan, NDSU Extension livestock environmental stewardship specialist. “However, as we moved into summer and fall, precipitation was below normal across the state, causing drought conditions to return.” As of March 1, 70% of the state is experiencing some level of drought. The two factors that will influence...
Article Link
By Matthew Diersen, Risk & Business Management Specialist, Ness School of Management & Economics, South Dakota State University Consistent beef demand, current and expected tighter supplies of fed cattle have pushed the currently-listed futures prices to consistent life-of-contract high levels. Looking back at earlier years, most live cattle futures prices peaked in mid- to late-2014 with the February 2015 contract topping out at 1.83. Most of this past week the April 2024 contract has been above 2. Thus, if it seems like prices are high, it is because they are high. Generally, the prices are at or near contract highs...
Article Link
Imagine your favorite cured meat like beef jerky, pepperoni or bacon without any added sodium nitrite from any source currently necessary for color and shelf life. Wes Osburn is working on creating exactly that. Osburn, associate professor in meat science in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Department of Animal Science, has set out to find an innovative method to generate the nitric oxide and residual nitrite needed to cure meat and poultry products, but without the addition of natural or synthetic nitrite sources. Conventional curing of most processed meat products involves adding sodium nitrite to meat...
Article Link
By Codi Vallery-Mills When one walks into a grocery store and sees a beef package labeled with “Product of the USA” on it most consumers assume that product is wholly USA raised and slaughtered. That hasn’t been the case though as meats raised and slaughtered in different countries have been able to be repackaged by companies in the U.S. and then given the Product of the USA label because it was processed here. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced a proposal Monday, March 6 that would close that loophole in the label. Speaking at the National Farmers Union convention in...
Article Link
Twenty years ago, the King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management was established with the mission of: sustaining ranching heritage through education, innovation, and outreach. Affiliated with Texas A&M – Kingsville, the program engages the next generation of ranch managers, and offers the only Master of Science in Ranch Management program in the world. Additionally, KRIRM provide quality lectureships and symposia to stakeholders in the ranching industry, including the Annual Holt Cat Symposium on Excellence in Ranch Management held each October. In 2022, this event’s theme focused on “Ranching in the 21st Century: Learn Proven Strategies from Industry Leaders.” Led...
Article Link
Suggestions on managing calving during wet conditions Given the recent precipitation and the weather forecast, things are shaping up to create very muddy conditions in Iowa just as spring calving season is really taking off. Mud is always a headache but it can be particularly challenging for cattle producers during calving season. Chris Clark, ISU beef specialist, describes some of these challenges and offers a few suggestions to help producers manage muddy conditions. “Muddy conditions increase the risk for hypothermia, failure of passive transfer, and infectious disease of newborn calves,” he said. “Wet, muddy coats do not insulate as effectively...
Article Link
By Codi Vallery-Mills In a third round of funding under the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPPEP) through USDA a South Dakota meat processor will receive .3 million in grant monies to build a new facility at New Underwood, S.D. Located to the east of Rapid City along Interstate 90, the new meat plant, aptly named I-90 Meats, is part of CNF Enterprises LLC which is made up of Ken Charfauros, Janet Niehaus, and Tom Fitch (CNF). Charfauros and Niehaus have already made a large impact in western South Dakota will the success of Wall Meats in Wall, S.D. and...
Article Link
The South Dakota State University College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences (CAFES) has appointed Kristi Cammack as Assistant Dean of West River Operations and Director of SDSU West River Research and Extension in Rapid City, South Dakota. In this position, Cammack will guide the operations of SDSU’s Cottonwood Field Station near Philip and the West River Research Farm at Sturgis. She will also continue to provide oversight of staff, research and outreach activities at the West River Research and Extension Center. Cammack has served as Director of West River Research and Extension since 2016. “Dr. Cammack’s role and contributions...
Article Link
By Joshua Haiar Proponents and opponents of legislation to change the way South Dakota Brand Board members are selected have agreed to table the bill and instead put together a work group to address the problems the bill aimed to resolve. Brands are the symbols on hot irons used for marking livestock and identifying ownership. The board is responsible for registering and regulating livestock brands in South Dakota, and ensuring new brands do not conflict with existing registered brands in the state. The bill would have shifted the power of appointing South Dakota Brand Board members from the governor to...
Article Link
Recent reports have been quite bullish for the cattle market moving forward in 2023 and beyond. The recent Cattle on Feed Report indicates that placements on February 1, 2023 were 11.7 million head, down 4 percent compared to a year ago. The marketing of fed cattle was 1.85 million head which is 4 percent above a year ago. These numbers are encouraging for our calf market next fall. The United States Meat Export Federation presented its final 2022 numbers earlier this month, and meat exports set a new record in 2022. This report indicates that beef exports were at 1.47 million metric tons, up 2 percent from 2021. The value was .68 billion up 10% over 2021. If we can have similar export numbers or possibly have an increase in 2023 that too would be very encouraging for our calf market for next Fall. At the end of January, the Cattle Inventory Report was quite bullish as well. Total cattle inventory is down 3 percent compared to 2022 with cow inventory down 4 percent. The report also shows replacement heifer numbers are down 6 percent compared to a year ago. If our current inventory is down and we have 6 percent more replacement heifers in the feed yard, our calf numbers over the next few years will be lower and that is very exciting for the cow-calf producer not just in 2023, but more so in 2024 and 2025. Yes, these reports are very bullish for the cattle market moving forward over the next few years. It is going to take time to rebuild the cowherd in the United States. Yes, much of our region is receiving moisture and California is experiencing flooding but portions of the South especially Texas have had above-normal temperatures and average moisture or below. I do not believe that our beef production will increase for a few years down the road, and we should enjoy a new level of prices.
Article Link
Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.7 million head on February 1, 2023. The inventory was 4 percent below February 1, 2022. Placements in feedlots during January totaled 1.93 million head, 4 percent below 2022. Net placements were 1.87 million head. During January, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 405,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 420,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 540,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 402,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 100,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 65,000...
Article Link
Palmer, Neb. youth will gain hands-on livestock experience From CBW News Desk There are a variety of ways people get interested in the cattle business. For some students in Palmer, Neb. this year it might be through their FFA chapter. Feb. 18-25 is National FFA Week. It is a weeklong tradition, which began in 1948, recognizing George Washington’s birthday and his legacy as an agriculturist and farmer. It’s also a week of activities associated with FFA Chapters across the nation. As an organization, “FFA has been influencing generations that agriculture is more than planting and harvesting — it involves science,...
Article Link
By Kindra Gordon Nebraska farmer and ag economist Brent Gloy says the bottom line in the ag industry is: “Risk abounds.” He encourages producers to think ahead, plan, run the numbers to determine what prices are needed when marketing your cattle or crops, and ask “what if” questions with regard to how you would handle odd events or market slides. He advises, “Get specific about risk for your farm. Ask yourself: what three risks are you most concerned about in 2023.” Once you identify and prioritize them, share, discuss, and evaluate options, and he says, “Build resiliency and think strategically.”...
Article Link
By Sarah Hill It’s something that happens from time to time—a cow loses her calf at birth, or a cow dies giving birth, leaving an orphaned calf. Cattle producers want to set that calf up for success right away, which preferably means nursing another cow and not being bottle-fed. But grafting a calf onto a different cow is a process that requires patience and persistence. When to Graft “I especially hate to see a younger cow or good producing, older one go without a calf, if the calf died through no fault of her own,” says rancher Jay Blum, Oacoma, SD....
Article Link
Chestnut Angus is now Feb. 26 at the Farm near Pipestone, MN Mount Rushmore Angus will now be Feb. 26 at the ranch, Rapid City, SD Wagner Hereford is now Feb. 26, Redfield, SD Larson XL has postponed to Monday, February 27 at Lemmon Livestock, Lemmon, SD Bar JZ Ranches bull sale is now Feb. 27, at the ranch, Hollabird, SD Brenner Angus will be February 27, at Kist Livestock, Mandan Rossman Farms Genetics has postponed to Tuesday, Feb. 28, Oronoco, MN Gant Angus and Polled Herefords moved to February 28th at the ranch, Geddes Symens Brothers sale is...
Article Link
Many of you are aware of Senate Bill 185. This is a bill proposed by Governor Noem to restrict the ownership of agricultural land here in South Dakota. According to the US Agricultural Landholdings in South Dakota, less than 1% of our land is owned by foreign entities from Canada, United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, and others. This bill has been proposed over national security concerns when a Chinese group, The Fufeng Group purchased farmland near Grand Forks North Dakota Air Force Base. Referring back to the Foreign Holdings of US Agricultural Land report, 383, 935 acres of farmland...
Article Link
By M.P.Cremer The Superbowl is right up there with Christmas morning and the 4th of July for me — I love it. Admittedly, I am not a big NFL fan, I’m more of a College Football girl; nonetheless, I love the Superbowl. And what’s not to love? The food is always divine, the halftime show is always entertaining, the game is always fun to watch, and my husband always places a few sports bets he’s bound to lose which creates a good laugh for me. The only aspect of the Superbowl that is not a consistent win in my book...
Article Link
By Connie Sieh Groop Taking care of cattle for the family is the responsibility of 25-year-old Scott Roney of Oakes, ND. “Cattle are my life. My dad, Mitch Roney, passed the torch to me. I’m the fifth generation on this farm and live in the same house where I grew up. I’ve worked with cattle all my life and learned a lot from my dad and grandparents on both sides.” In fact, Scott said, “I learn something new every day. I mainly have a feedlot where I feed cattle of all breeds and colors. Order buyers purchase the animals for...
Article Link
Interest in American grown, high-quality Wagyu, Angus By Connie Sieh Groop As a beef exporter, Trevor Abell is always looking for new markets. When the opportunity to travel to Kenya with the North Dakota Department of Agriculture Trade Mission became available, Trevor knew he needed to go. Trevor, 38, runs the day-to-day operation as the CEO of Yellowstone River Beef of Williston, N.D. “For the last 15 years, I’ve been exporting ag commodities. I’ve focused on small niche countries that bigger packers overlook in providing beef exports,” Trevor said. “Working with Yellowstone River Beef for the last four years, some...
Article Link
The CBW team has attended a number of production sales over the past month and OH BOY have they been exciting! I will assure you that not only have the averages been up, but so have the crowds of people in the seats. Sure, milder weather the past couple of weeks has allowed people to travel but, in my opinion, cattlemen, cattlewomen and cattle kids enjoy the excitement of bull sales. Folks can go and enjoy a nice lunch do business buying bulls and stick around for hospitality after the auction. It is not just about doing business, but it is about taking part and enjoying the cattle business. The demand for bulls may be at an all-time high. Last summer’s weigh-up market brought a number of bulls to local auction barns. Last December's extremely cold and harsh winds prior to Christmas created fertility issues for even the best stockmen. The reports from many cattle producers are anything but positive regarding bulls’ testicles freezing. If you have not semen tested your bulls in the past, I urge you to do so prior to turnout later this year. I promise you will be better off knowing now rather than when you preg check cows later in 2023. The past couple of weeks with temperatures above the 32-degree mark have sure been appreciated. As the snow settles, many of you are starting to see some of the damage it created...from livestock to buildings and oh, yes, your pasture fences. And OH...
Article Link
By Codi Vallery-Mills The Black Hills Stock Show wrapped up its 2023 event with beautiful weather and a packed house at The Monument in Rapid City, SD. Large crowds were seen in the vendor areas, rodeos, concerts and cattle alleys. The Black Hills Stock Show and Rodeo Rapid City each ended on high notes. The Hubbard Feeds Supreme Row cattle champions were an impressive set this year and judges John Christensen, Wessington, S.D., Tom Marcy, Gordon, Neb. and Cody Chabot, Sundance, Wyo. acknowledged they had their work cut out for them. Judging took place in the Crystalyx Bio-Barrel Sale...
Article Link
By Sarah Hill Great beef operations come in all shapes and sizes, but that doesn’t mean that the quality of the cattle produced is any less. Washington Lake Cattle Company, owned by Eric Schoenbauer, Hamburg, Minn., is one of those small but mighty breeders. Although the operation is on the smaller size, the Shorthorn cattle raised by the Schoenbauer family are high-quality and would stand out in any showring. Schoenbauer got started in the cattle business with Simmentals, thanks to a friend. He was just out of high school and did not have his own farm yet. The cattle were...
Article Link
Tight supplies of ag commodities set the stage By Kindra Gordon A new year is all about forecasting – what will the markets, weather, and global economy do in the months ahead? For the ag sector, economists have been sharing their predictions over the last several weeks, and I’ve been on the frontlines listening to the commentaries provided by Brent Gloy, David Weaber, Shawn Hackett, and Brady Sidwell. Some common themes emerged: tight beef supplies, higher operating costs, favorable cattle prices, weather concerns, interest, inflation and global recession. For those in the cattle industry trenches, these are not surprising revelations....
Article Link
By Rita Brhel After last winter’s nearly nonexistent precipitation, many Nebraska cattle producers welcomed the New Year’s winter storm that covered virtually the entire state. The Jan. 2-4 event dumped as much as 18 inches of snow across the Panhandle, Sandhills, North Central, and Southwest on the backside of a swath of ¼-inch ice stretching from south central to northeast portions of the state, according to the NOAA National Weather Service. East Central and Southeast Nebraska saw approximately ½ inch of rain out of this system. Farmers and ranchers were hopeful that the devastating drought, which has gripped much of...
Article Link
The popular CattleFax Outlook Seminar, held as part of the 2023 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show in New Orleans, shared expert market and weather analysis. Prices and profitability will again favor cattle producers in 2023. The cattle industry is entering 2023 with the smallest cattle supply since 2015 as drought caused the industry to dig deeper into the supply of feeder cattle and calves. While the exact path to drought relief is unknown, improvements are also expected to translate to moderating feed costs, especially in the second half of 2023. Combined with increased cattle prices, cattle producers, especially...
Article Link
Purebred cattle breeders vied for the coveted ,000 Supreme Row purse, sponsored by Tri-State Neighbor, The First National Bank in Sioux Falls and C&B Operations, during the week of the Sioux Empire Livestock Show Jan. 24-29 in Sioux Falls. The Angus, SHLI Payweight 2101, was named Supreme Row Bull. Consigned by Shane Lindsey Angus, Prairie City, Iowa, he was sired by WILKS Payweight 7096 and out of CB Pegette 613. He sold for ,800 to Larry Mines, Pukwana, S.D. The Angus, BPC Lady Edit 40K, was named Supreme Row Female. Consigned by Blueprint Cattle Company, Otley, Iowa, she was...
Article Link
From CBW News Desk Johnson Cattle Bills Seek to Drive Competition in the Packing Industry U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) re-introduced two cattle-focused bills to improve the industry – his Butcher Block Act with co-lead Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) and the Amplifying Processing of Livestock in the United States (A-PLUS) Act with lead Rep. Mark Alford (R-MO). According to a 2020 report, an increase of packing capacity by 5,000-6,000 head of fed cattle per day is needed to get back to the historic baseline. Building new facilities could cost 0-250 million for every 1,000 head of cattle processed daily, according...
Article Link
By Twila Schmitt When it comes to the Watertown Winter Farm Show, Jeff Heesch believes the future is as important as the past. Even as this Ag Committee veteran is being honored this year, he credits the next generation with keeping the Farm Show’s reputation strong. “It’s not just having younger blood involved, but it’s seeing a true passion in these young men and women who wish to see the Farm Show continue to grow, evolve and be the best,” he said. The Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce Ag Committee, which organizes the Watertown Winter Farm Show, annually honors an...
Article Link
By Twila Schmitt John K. Weismantel has been a behind-the- scenes fixture at the Watertown Winter Farm Show since 1983. This year, he will be honored during the 78th Annual Watertown Winter Farm Show. The Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce Ag Committee, which organizes the Watertown Winter Farm Show, annually honors an individual or family who has spent years contributing to its success by dedicating the Farm Show to their name. In 2023, two individuals will share this honor – John K. Weismantel and Jeff Heesch. Weismantel, Owner/Operator of Weismantel Rent-All, followed in his father’s footsteps in the rental business....
Article Link
By Kindra Gordon “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got.” This Henry Ford quote was shared by Dallas Mount, owner of Ranch Management Consultants (RMC), with attendees during a Jan. 26 workshop held in Belle Fourche, SD. As Mount asked the ag producers and business owners in the room to ponder that sentiment, he noted that without making changes, you can’t get different results. To this, Mount noted that most coffee shop conversations – and even cattle industry programs – tend to dwell on three topics: the weather, the market and the...
Article Link
An exciting challenge has been issued by Farm Credit Services of America to the 20X High School Rodeo Team. When the team members compete in the 20X High School Rodeo in the Summit Arena at The Monument in Rapid City, SD, this Sunday, Jan. 29 they will be competing for much more than the first-place buckle. If they can meet or exceed the set challenge scores, they can win for their national team, 0 per each of the 10 scheduled events for a total of [post_excerpt],000. This money will be donated by Farm Credit of Services of America to...
Article Link
By Laura Edwards, SDSU Extension State Climatologist A rare third consecutive year with La Niña conditions is coming to an end soon, but not without bringing its trademark cold temperatures in early February. This winter’s climate has been different than the last two winter seasons, even though La Niña has been active throughout the last three years. One common factor, however, has been colder than average temperatures in the month of February in both 2021 and 2022. The long-term outlook points to a repeat again in 2023. The temperature and precipitation outlooks for February through April were released by...
Article Link
Snow totals, feed alternatives, parts frustrations, and more discussed By Connie Sieh Groop Snow. Cold. Wind. Ice. More wind. More snow. Mix those things together and you get a South Dakota winter. While conditions have been extremely tough for many West River, cattle feeders and cow-calf guys in the northeastern part of the state are pushing snow and looking forward to spring. Redfield: Watching the crush margin After a day of sorting cattle, Jay Esser of Redfield shared a few of his thoughts on how things are going. “With 18 inches of snow, we have just enough. We had some...
Article Link
By Codi Vallery-Mills The Black Hills Stock Show is well underway with its horse events and its cattle shows and sales are just about ready to kick off Jan. 30 with the Angus breed. The annual winter livestock event is a must attend for numerous cattle operations throughout the United States. Several of this year’s consignors refer to the culture surrounding the event as one of the reasons they continue to return to the Black Hills Stock Show. “It’s an annual trip for us now. The people and the culture are just different out there and it is something...
Article Link
Dean and Paula Swenson will be honored by the North Dakota State University Saddle and Sirloin club as Agriculturalists of the Year at this year’s Little International Showmanship contest. The 97th Little I will be held Feb. 10-11. The Swensons will be honored at the Agriculturist of the Year banquet Friday, Feb. 10, at the Sanctuary Events Center in Fargo. The Swensons graduated in 1973 from NDSU, where they were both active in the Saddle and Sirloin club, as well as many other campus organizations. They married after graduation and later bought a farm in Walcott, North Dakota, where they...
Article Link
When you are reading this week’s edition of The Cattle Business Weekly, I will have settled in for The Black Hills Stock Show and Rodeo. For many of us involved in agriculture, year in and year out, we spend a few days or the entire week in Rapid City for the winter event. From the horse sales the first weekend to the cattle sales all week long, a lot of business will be done through the auction block. Beyond the sales, the trade shows always draw a huge crowd and yes, I do expect Rodeo Rapid City to set a record attendance during its second year in the amazing Monument. Whether it is your first time, or you are a regular, I hope to see you at the BHSS. The CBW field staff are getting into the full swing of bull sales. Oh yes, the demand and prices have been strong. It sure looks like high-quality bulls are commanding top dollar from commercial cattlemen and fellow seedstock producers. The calf market has been profitable and the rumors of calves bringing even more next Fall have most of us optimistic about the future of the cattle business. I do see value in some of the bred heifers selling over the past few weeks. No doubt the current snow levels and lack of feedstuffs create pressure on that market. But when the snow melts around the region and all the fog we have had over the past several weeks turns to rain the demand will heat up. I promise you that when May comes the grass will turn green and the creeks will be flowing and the demand for pairs will go through the roof!
Article Link
Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) Director Sherry Vinton has announced the hiring of Hilary Maricle for the position of deputy director. Maricle, who has extensive experience and education in agriculture, agribusiness, natural resources, and leadership, begins her position at NDA today, Jan. 18. “Hilary is a multi-generation farmer/rancher in Nebraska, studied agriculture at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln and has devoted her career to ag education, mentoring and leadership,” said NDA Director Vinton. “With her extensive background and knowledge, Hilary understands agriculture and how important ag is to growing Nebraska’s economy. I can’t think of a better person to...
Article Link
If you’ve been waiting for a sign it’s time to deal with the shoebox of receipts piled in the corner of your office or shop or on the kitchen table – this is it. Dan Childs and Jason Bradley, two agriculture economic consultants at the Noble Research Institute, say that to manage your financial year well, most of the work should be done throughout the year. “Don’t wait until the end the year to cram it all in,” Bradley says. To make the most of your tax consultation meetings, be prepared with updated income/expense records, then use this data...
Article Link
Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.7 million head on January 1, 2023. The inventory was 3 percent below January 1, 2022. The inventory included 7.03 million steers and steer calves, down 4 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 60 percent of the total inventory. Heifers and heifer calves accounted for 4.65 million head, down 1 percent from 2022. Placements in feedlots during December totaled 1.80 million head, 8 percent below 2021. Net placements were 1.75 million head. During December,...
Article Link
The American Farm Bureau Federation has joined 17 other organizations representing agriculture, infrastructure and housing, as well as county and state Farm Bureaus in filing suit over the federal Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule. President Zippy Duvall says, “Farmers and ranchers share the goal of protecting the resources we’re entrusted with. Clean water is important to all of us. Unfortunately, the new WOTUS rule once again gives the federal government sweeping authority over private lands. This isn’t what clean water regulations were intended to do. Farmers and ranchers should not have to hire a team of lawyers and consultants...
Article Link
Canines could potentially detect disease that is the greatest challenge to the cattle industry A Texas A&M AgriLife researcher is taking a page out of human disease research to see if dogs might be able to sniff out bovine respiratory disease, BRD, one of the largest health challenges for the feedlot cattle industry. Courtney Daigle, Ph.D., an animal welfare specialist in the Texas A&M Department of Animal Science in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and her doctoral student, Aiden Juge, are beginning the second round of training to determine if dogs can routinely and accurately detect...
Article Link
Ranchers reflect on December’s winter storms By Sarah Hill Many cattle producers are still recovering from the “once-in-a-generation” winter storm that hit 17 states in mid-late December. Unofficially named Winter Storm Elliott by The Weather Channel, the storm packed a one-two punch of several inches—or even feet—of snow followed by multiple days of dangerously cold, below-zero temperatures with deadly wind chills. While flights were cancelled and interstates were shut down, livestock producers still had to do their best to care for their animals, despite the horrible conditions. Back-to-Back Hits “Having the two storms back-to-back was the big issue,” says Tammy...
Article Link
Through three generations, members of the Herbert J. Schulte family have held high their loyalty to South Dakota State University, and now they’re being honored as the SDSU Family of the Year. On Feb. 18 at the women’s basketball game against Omaha, the Schultes will be honored as the SDSU Family of the Year by the SDSU Alumni Association. In addition to being honored during the basketball game, the Schultes will be the guests of honor at a luncheon that day with SDSU President Barry Dunn at the SDSU Alumni Center. The list of SDSU Schulte graduates begins with Herbert...
Article Link
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) announced the appointment of key cattle industry leaders to serve on the association’s policy committees. The policy committees review, discuss, and vote on policy resolutions brought forward by NCBA members. These grassroots policies guide NCBA’s advocacy efforts in Washington, D.C. “Policy committee leaders play a crucial role in directing NCBA’s advocacy efforts and addressing the issues facing the cattle industry,” said NCBA President-Elect Todd Wilkinson, a South Dakota cattle producer. “As a grassroots organization, we rely on volunteer leaders to step up and make their voices heard. I am proud of this new group...
Article Link
Small schedule changes for 2023 event By Codi Vallery-Mills The American Quarter Horse events at the Black Hills Stock Show kick-off this Thursday, Jan. 19 in Rapid City, S.D. While the official start to the Black Hills Stock Show (BHSS) is still days away on Jan. 27 the horse events have become so popular they start a week ahead of time. “The horse events here have become pretty well-known for being a well-run, quality show and there is a lot of interest,” says BHSS Livestock and Ag Education Manager Dani Herring. She says the Farm Credit Services of America Horse...
Article Link
By M.P. Cremer There’s a girl I follow on TikTok who frequently posts short videos in a series called “hot takes.” She starts these videos out by saying “I have had exactly one glass of wine and here are my thoughts on life,” she then proceeds to — you guessed it — give her audience her thoughts on life. Today, I’d like to do something similar. Although I have not had a glass of wine, I am caffeinated and that’s…not even remotely close to the same thing, but you’ll get my point. And instead of giving you my thoughts on...
Article Link
Compiled by Kindra Gordon The consumer is still king – and what they want prevails in the marketplace. For the meat industry, the consumer macro trends presently influencing the market include: health/well-being, convenience and technology. What can be expected as a result? Midan Marketing recently released a report of the anticipated consumer trends for 2023, and here’s a glimpse at those trends: 1. Protein remains popular. Many consumers focus on health and wellness, and some of the most popular diets include low-carb or ketogenic, with an emphasis on high-quality protein. In 2021, more than a quarter of U.S. shoppers followed...
Article Link
By Russ Euken, ISU extension livestock specialist, and Lee Schulz, ISU extension livestock economist Herd numbers and cattle on feed Recent USDA reports in July of inventories of Cattle and in November of Cattle on Feed show cattle numbers are declining. Drought in many areas has led to beef cow liquidation and more heifers in the slaughter mix. The Livestock Marketing Information Center (LMIC) projects the January 1, 2023 national beef cow herd to be more than 4% below the January 1, 2022 level. This would make the U.S. beef cow herd smaller than in 2014, which was the last...
Article Link
USDA awarded 23 Value Added Producer Grant program grants totaling .9 million to help producer-owned companies process and market new products. By CBW Staff USDA Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack announced 25 new investments to increase independent meat processing capacity this past week in a press call with the media. For the past 12 months, the Biden Administration has been undertaking efforts to expand market capacity and market opportunity. The projects announced on Jan. 5 are another round of funding for establishing new or expanding processing capacity within the meat industry. “We’re constantly looking for ways in which farmers can figure...
Article Link
The Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce has named the Jordan and Samantha Scott family as the 2023 Farm Family of the Year and Julie Hammer as the 2023 Agribusiness Citizen of the Year. The Scotts grow corn and soybeans on their farm near Valley Springs, South Dakota. Jordan Scott grew up on the family farm and began working in partnership with his father, Kevin, seven years ago. He is in advocacy for the ag industry, and recently joined the board of the American Soybean Association. Jordan and Samantha have two sons, Lincoln and Dane. Julie Hammer is employed by...
Article Link
USDA awarded 23 Value Added Producer Grant program grants totaling .9 million to help producer-owned companies process and market new products. By CBW Staff USDA Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack announced 25 new investments to increase independent meat processing capacity this past week in a press call with the media. For the past 12 months, the Biden Administration has been undertaking efforts to expand market capacity and market opportunity. The projects announced on Jan. 5 are another round of funding for establishing new or expanding processing capacity within the meat industry. “We’re constantly looking for ways in which farmers can figure...
Article Link
A cattle herd in Park County was confirmed as “Brucellosis affected” following laboratory testing at the Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory (WSVL), Laramie. Laboratory results were confirmed at the National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL), in Ames, Iowa, December 6, 2022. One cow tested positive on blood tests at both laboratories. Further testing, including bacterial culture, will be conducted in addition to the serology tests already completed. Brucellosis positive cattle are not uncommon within Wyoming’s Designated Surveillance Area (DSA), encompassing all or part of six counties along the western side of the state. Specified cattle from the DSA are required to be...
Article Link
The recent Transporter 6 mission carried with it the world’s first agriculture-focused satellite constellation. From CBW News Desk It isn’t often that space science and agriculture intersect. That was the case though on Tuesday, Jan. 3 when the Transporter 6 mission by SpaceX launched off from Cape Canaveral in Florida. EOS SAT-1, the first imaging satellite to be built by Dragonfly Aerospace lifted off as part of the Transporter-6 ride share mission. It is one of 114 satellites on the Falcon 9 rocket. The satellite is the first of a seven-satellite constellation in low Earth orbit for customer EOSDA (EOS...
Article Link
Compiled by Kindra Gordon A “New Year” means new trends to anticipate. For the meat industry, economic pressure – including record high inflation and rumors of recession – are causing some market shifts. Midan Marketing recently released a report highlighting several expected trends for the year ahead, including: 1. Meat case mix up. Midan forecasts that at the meat case consumers “will continue to trade up, down, out and everything in between.” This change in meal plans and shopping habits is being prompted by the economic pressures consumers are experiencing. More than half (59%) of shoppers are comparing prices between...
Article Link
Robbins Land and Cattle is no stranger to the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association. Since taking part in the Iowa Cattlemen’s Leadership Program in 2014, Justin Robbins and his wife, Lacie, have been active members of the organization, serving in many leadership and volunteer roles. Justin has been the ICA District 8 Director since 2017 and part of the ICA Membership Committee and Foreign Animal Disease Committees since 2015. He has served on the Greene County Cattlemen’s Board since 2014 and is currently serving as president. Despite all of these commitments, Justin, Lacie and their son, McKinley, are also dedicated to improving...
Article Link
WASHINGTON (December 30, 2022) – Today, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) issued the following statement on the Biden administration’s finalized Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule. “For too long, farmers and ranchers have dealt with the whiplash of shifting WOTUS definitions. Today, the Biden administration sought to finalize a WOTUS definition that will protect both our nation’s water supply and cattle producers across the nation.” said NCBA Chief Counsel Mary-Thomas Hart. “While the rule retains longstanding, bipartisan WOTUS exclusions for certain agricultural features, it creates new uncertainty for farmers, ranchers, and landowners across the nation.” NCBA previously called for...
Article Link
Hugh Aljoe with Noble Research Institute gives comment on the new term. By Codi Vallery-Mills Every year has a word. A word that frequents headlines, daily conversations, and business dealings. For The Cattle Business Weekly that word just might be climate-smart this year. The Biden Administration has placed a large emphasis on the environment and reducing greenhouse gases. Electric cars have been promoted, oil and coal operations have been abandoned and climate-smart agriculture practices are being touted. Climate-smart is not new. It is the terms regenerative and sustainable simply recoined. Hugh Aljoe with the Noble Research Institute sat down with...
Article Link
Janelle Booth, Montana State University’s director of government affairs, will leave the university on March 17, 2023, to lead a nonprofit agricultural training organization in her home state of South Dakota. Booth will continue in her university role through mid-March and then transition into her role as CEO of the South Dakota Agricultural and Rural Leadership Foundation, which trains individuals to become leaders who are involved, lifelong learners with broad knowledge of agriculture and agribusiness. Booth has held roles at MSU and in the Montana University System for 15 years, most recently serving as the director of government affairs for...
Article Link
From CBW News Desk The U.S. Senate and U.S. House passed the fiscal year 2023 Omnibus Appropriations bill, sending to President Biden’s desk several crucial investments to advance the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) priorities for rural America: Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said a successful year was wrapping up at USDA were priorities were to build more, new and better markets for producers, tackle food and nutrition insecurity, and ensure wealth is created and stays in rural communities. “I’m pleased that Congress has come together to pass the Omnibus bill that delivers some resources crucial to continuing our work on...
Article Link
Multi-breed heifer sale, Yards Hall of Fame Induction, Wine and Bluegrass also featured At the National Western Stock Show in 2023, cattle producers aren’t just bringing their cattle to Denver – they’re also bringing their beef! For the first time in its history, Stock Show attendees can sample some of the best beef in the United States at a special “tasting” event. The Stockyards Beef Festival will be held at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 12, 2023 in the Stockyards Center. This is an entirely new event, created by ranchers from around the country, with the desire of showcasing some...
Article Link
South Dakota millionaire Neal Wanless, who became wealthy back in 2009 with a winning 2.1 million Powerball ticket, has sold his 48,000-acre Bismark Trail Ranch north of Rapid City for million. It is said to be one of the largest ranches sold in South Dakota and ranks as one of the most significant sales in South Dakota history. The Bismarck Trail Ranch, so named for the wagon trail running through the ranch that brought people from the train station in Bismarck, North Dakota, to the gold rush in Deadwood, has nearly 42,000 deed acres, about 6,000 leased acres, 1,600...
Article Link
By Codi Vallery-Mills When I am 90 I will talk about December 2022. I bet you will join me. It’s 9:14 p.m. three days before Christmas. The current temp is -9˚ and that folks is a heat wave after the past two days. Winter Storm Diaz left us with measurable snow and drifts as big as tractors last week. This week an arctic blast has plummeted temperatures across the region with wind chills recorded at a whopping -51˚. Ground blizzards are blasting snow into different counties. I awoke this morning knowing it was going to be a long day with...
Article Link
Dear Santa, Well hey there old pal! I haven’t written you in a while. I hope all y’all at the North Pole are getting along just fine. As you probably saw from my postage, my address has changed since we last corresponded. That’s right, I moved all the way from the swampy lands of Northeast Texas to the windy hills of South Central Montana. Which is what I need to talk to you about today. I married a rancher up here in the High Country which has opened me up to an entirely new world of agriculture. I’m learning a...
Article Link
Everyone at The Cattle Business Weekly would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas! In this Joyous Season, I think each and everyone of you cattlemen could use a special prayer. From harsh winds, snow and blizzard conditions for days to extreme cold weather, the past few weeks have been anything but fun and easy. My hats off to all who spent hours upon hours feeding and bedding your herds. Let’s pray that Mother Nature is kinder and gentler over the next three months, but I remember the Winter of 96/97 quite vividly... A Cattleman’s Prayer Now O Lord...
Article Link
By Kindra Gordon & Codi Vallery-Mills Reflecting on the past year undoubtedly brings to mind some concerning occurrences. The Russian/Ukraine War started in the early months of 2022 and quickly the world was feeling the effects. As spring came, continued drought in the Great Plains region saw cattle herds being liquidated. Summer storms flattened fields and structures in derecho winds. Then gas and diesel prices began to rise alongside other farm and ranch expenses. As late summer and fall arrived interest rates ticked upward on ag operating notes. All that in one short year. So, you’re asking what possible...
Article Link
The South Dakota Beef Industry Council (SDBIC), Beef Logic Inc., and Sanford Health welcomed three Build Your Base Team USA Olympians back to South Dakota December 5-8, 2022. U.S. Pole Vaulter, Chris Nilsen; U.S. Hammer Thrower, Deanna Price, and U.S. Shot Put Thrower, Payton Otterdahl shared their experience with the program as part of a multi-state program training. As a follow up to the training they visited multiple schools and universities and rounded out the week with visits to some of the state’s VA Medical Centers. These Build Your Base athletes know the importance of having a high-quality protein like...
Article Link
By Amy Blum Christmas 2022 in the South Dakota countryside looks to be plenty white, even if it might not be all calm and bright for the state’s livestock farmers and ranchers! Yet, thanks to a tradition born in 1981 when Gov. Bill Janklow asked his friend Dottie Howe to organize an old-fashioned, handcrafted Christmas at the Capitol, everyone can enjoy the festive traditions of a country Christmas in the South Dakota Capitol Building. According to Leah Haugan, Special Projects Coordinator with the SD Bureau of Administration, the 41st Annual Christmas at the Capitol theme, Merry Prairie Christmas, has...
Article Link
During the American Shorthorn Association Annual Meeting on November 19th, delegates from across the country gathered to elect new ASA board members and officers at the Hilton Kansas City Airport. The nominating committee submitted three candidates for the available positions: Lee Miller of Ohio, Rick Osterday of South Dakota and John Russell of Texas. All three will serve a three-year term; Miller and Russell will serve their second term; this will be Osterday’s first term. The board elected new officers for the nine-member board. John Sonderman of Nebraska was elected President and Toby Jordan of Indiana was elected Vice President....
Article Link
No two carbon credit contracts are written the same, and that is why Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service agricultural law specialist Tiffany Lashmet, J.D., said there is a list of considerations she advises everyone to take before entering a carbon credit contract. “That fine print is really important,” Lashmet said. “Don’t read the first paragraph, then the dollar amount, and be done.” She recommends all landowners seeking to enter into a carbon credit contract ask up front if the company is willing to negotiate, as this will save a lot of time and trouble. Similarly, she recommends finding a good...
Article Link
By Codi Vallery-Mills A warning bell is ringing. And Dirac Twidell, Associate Professor in Range and Forage Sciences at the University of Nebraska -Lincoln is among those ringing it. He recently spoke in South Dakota at the Stockgrowers Association Convention about the increasing loss of grasslands to woody encroachment. Showing slide after slide of grasslands now dotted with eastern red cedars and juniper trees, Tidwell told landowners in the audience that it was time to take action. Through his research with UNL he says the region’s biggest grasslands – the Nebraska Sandhills – is actively collapsing. Along with it the...
Article Link
Introduced bill would exempt family farmers and ranchers from greenhouse gas emissions reporting. U.S. Senators John Boozman (R-AR), ranking member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, and Mike Braun (R-IN) introduced legislation to protect family farmers and ranchers from burdensome greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reporting rules proposed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). In March 2021, the SEC announced a climate disclosure proposal that would require all public companies to disclose GHG emissions from operations a company owns or controls; from the generation of purchased electricity, steam, heat or cooling consumed by company operations;...
Article Link
Undercover videos, marketing campaigns targeting human emotion, and legislative pressure continue to be used by anti-ag groups The Animal Ag Alliance releases reports from 2022 animal rights conferences has concluded its release of reports from five prominent animal rights extremist conferences held over the course of 2022. The conferences included: Humane Society of the United States’ Taking Action for Animals (TAFA) Conference (held July 16-17), The Rancher Advocacy Program’s (RAP) Summit (held July 30), Animal Place’s Farmed Animal Conference E-Summit (FACES) (held September 16-18), Animal Legal Defense Fund’s (ALDF) Animal Law Symposium (held September 24), and ALDF and the Center for Animal...
Article Link
By Tim Schaefer Are you sometimes left wondering if your employees understand the farm’s priorities and goals? Do your employees ever feel they get conflicting messages and wonder, “What does the boss want?” You are not alone; communication is always a challenge. When we survey farms, we find that improving communication is almost always one of the top three priorities. The truth is, people power your business. The more engaged and inspired your employees are, the more productivity and value they deliver. It’s rare to find a thriving farm that doesn’t have great communication. Communication and engaged employees are the...
Article Link
The second class of South Dakota State University Professional Program in Veterinary Medicine students was honored at a Blue Coat Ceremony on October 22, 2022, where each student was presented with a personalized blue Carhartt® work coat. The blue coats are SDSU’s way of honoring students’ entrance into the veterinary medicine profession. Each coat is sponsored by a veterinarian from South Dakota or the surrounding region. “This is a work coat that symbolizes the hard work you are doing both in veterinary school, but also in your career as a veterinarian,” said Russ Daly, SDSU professor, SDSU Extension...
Article Link
By M.P.Cremer This past week, I had a long day of traveling from Rosalie, Texas back to Big Timber, Montana. Between driving multiple hours to DFW, flying from Dallas to Minneapolis to Billings, and driving an hour and a half home from the airport, I had lots of time to think — and I chose to think about the ag industry. All this pondering led to a few questions, which made me say, “does this even make sense?” So, without further ado, here is my shortlist of things in the ag industry that just don’t make a whole lot of...
Article Link
Hailey Kinsel made it three round wins out of five, winning Round 5 with a 13.52-second run. Kinsel added the Round 5 victory to her Round 2 (13.61 seconds) and Round 3 (13.59 seconds) wins. On Monday, Kinsel split the Round 5 win with Lockhart as each had 13.52 seconds. “It’s special here. Las Vegas and the Thomas & Mack Arena have their own unique energy that you remember, and you want to get back to,” Kinsel said. “To come back and be able to do well again, it’s awesome. This rodeo is so tough. This field of...
Article Link
President Joe Biden recently appointed three U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regional positions, including two Farm Service Agency (FSA) State Executive Directors and one Rural Development (RD) State Director. Among them was William Bunce as FSA State Executive Director for Wyoming. William ‘Bill’ Bunce brings decades of agriculture production and agribusiness experience to USDA’s FSA, having managed multiple large-scale Wyoming ranches, including livestock, sheep, and cattle feedlot operations. A graduate of the University of Missouri, Bunce’s career has spanned ranch management, agribusiness, and livestock breed association management, including service as senior operational management with the American Quarter Horse Association, the...
Article Link
Compiled by Kindra Gordon New product to decrease stress, BRD A new product is in development to help decrease calves’ stress levels. Called maternal bovine appeasement substance (MBAS), the product is composed of naturally occurring pheromones and fatty acids. Mammals, including beef cattle, produce MBAS on the udder when newborns are nursing, which helps to soothe them. A lab-produced MBAS has been found to reduce stress when sprayed on the calf’s muzzle and back of the head. The pheromone enters the nose and quickly travels via the vomeronasal gland to the brain’s fight-or-flight zone, the hypothalamus and amygdala, calming the...
Article Link
The Creighton University Rural Mainstreet Index (RMI) fell below growth neutral for a sixth consecutive month, according to the monthly survey of bank CEOs in rural areas of a 10-state region dependent on agriculture and/or energy. Overall: The region’s overall reading for November once again sank below the growth neutral threshold. The November index did increase to a weak 45.7 from 44.2 in October. The index ranges between 0 and 100 with a reading of 50.0 representing growth neutral. This was the sixth straight month the overall reading has fallen below growth neutral. “The Rural Mainstreet economy is now experiencing...
Article Link
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack released the following statement after his meeting with Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador on the U.S.- Mexico bilateral trade relationship and its importance for U.S. farmers, ranchers and producers: “We appreciate the President welcoming us to Mexico and engaging in a productive dialogue. The meetings provided a venue to raise the United States Government’s and our producers’ deep concerns around President López Obrador’s 2020 decree to phase out the use and importation of biotech corn and other biotechnology products by January 2024. The President’s phase-out decree has the potential to substantially disrupt trade, harm farmers...
Article Link
CSU to provide grants for rural communities with a wolf population As wolves grow their presence in Colorado, Colorado State University is partnering with ranchers in rural communities to develop sustainable approaches that help livestock producers reduce conflict with wolves. As part of those efforts, CSU plans to offer a series of grants through the Wolf Conflict Reduction Fund to support ranching livelihoods in landscapes with wolves. The grants will help fund CSU and partners to develop and implement on-the-ground non-lethal tools and peer-to-peer learning experiences to assist producers and communities in areas with wolves. The effort is led by...
Article Link
Ranchers Stewardship Alliance Helps Fund Accessibility to Water During Drought By Kayla Walker for Ranchers Stewardship Alliance If there is a water line to add, a tank to set, or a unique water set up to try, it’s likely Dusty Emond has done it on his ranch south of Malta, Montana. Of the nearly 12 miles of pipeline on his place, six new miles were added just last fall following the harsh drought of 2021 to send water to an additional 7,500 acres that could not be utilized by cattle last summer due to a lack of water. However, along...
Article Link
By Hannah Smith, Nebraska Extension Beef Systems Extension Educator & Travis Mulliniks, UNL Beef Cattle Nutritionist, Range Production Systems Daily energy intake can be a limiting factor for cow performance while grazing winter range or dormant forages. As forages advance in stages of maturity, there is an inadequate supply of crude protein, which effectively limits energy intake and overall intake itself. Intake declines rapidly as forage crude protein falls below about 7%, a relationship attributed to a deficiency of nitrogen (protein) in the rumen, which inhibits activity of the rumen microbes. If the forage diet contains less than about 7%...
Article Link
The Friday after Thanksgiving, I had a sale near Meadow, SD. I stopped in Milbank and filled up with gas...the price made me smile....99 per gallon! As I headed west on Highway 12, I decided I needed to pay attention to the gas price along the way. Well, from Summit through Webster and Aberdeen unleaded with ethanol was .39. But when I got further west from Bowdle to Selby to Mobridge and Timber Lake the price jumped to .59. Wow! That is quite a difference and with my 36-gallon tank a 60-cent difference is a bill! I also need to replace the tires on my half-ton pickup before the end of the year. I found a set of Michelin tires I liked for 2 per tire installed. I decided to shop around a little and although no one had them in stock they could get them for 9 to 9 per tire installed. So the 2 per tire looks pretty darn good but I'm still not giving them the to dispose of my old one. We are living in an interesting world these days. I am glad the tank of gas and set of tires both came from locally owned businesses and not a big box store. As an owner of a small business, I am a firm believer in doing business with other small business owners. As we move into the holiday season, I encourage each of you to remember where you are spending your money. Spending your money locally benefits people just like you and me.
Article Link
Continuing and intensifying drought across northwest Iowa has cattle producers wondering how to prepare for 2023. Pastures were overgrazed, and the U.S. Drought Monitor has most of northwest Iowa rated as severe or extreme drought. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach beef specialist Beth Doran said a series of three meetings is planned to help producers manage previous drought conditions and prepare for continuing drought. "Our speakers will cover USDA financial assistance programs, a new insurance program, hay stand assessment and repair, and considerations for different forages," she said. "All meetings are offered at no charge, but please preregister with...
Article Link
Now that the Thanksgiving Holiday is over, it is time to stock up! No, I am not referring to gifts for the holidays, but it is time to evaluate your cowherd. All the experts are calling for increased BEEF demand over the next few years and in order to be ready your herd needs to be young and productive. The past year, the cattle market has been quite strong for feeder and fed cattle. Moreover, for many of you reading this column, the cull cow and bull market over the past twelve months has positively impacted your operation. When you sell those open cows for well over [post_excerpt],000 and your retired bulls for over ,000 that sure helps your bottom line and makes your banker smile! The current market makes it an easy decision to cull those cows that are not raising a big calf for a bull whose breeding value is subpar and replace them with higher-quality animals. You have noticed over the past few weeks that a few operations are marketing high-quality bred heifers, the kind that will go on to be tremendous producers. Some of the bred heifers are selling through auctions while others are available off the ranch. We have also seen some local dispersions through our local auction barns. It looks like you can buy some top-notch bred heifers and young cows for what a couple of your weigh-up cows bring. That looks like darn good business to me. When the moisture comes, and it will, the price of these bred females will be getting 0 to [post_excerpt],000 more per head. It's time to stock up!
Article Link
By CeCe Blythe, Alltech Sustainability – you have probably been hearing this word a lot lately. It is a hot topic around the globe right now, and beef industry sustainability is at the center of the conversation. As puts it, “all of us within the industry, regardless of what our role is, have to think about and have to be talking about [sustainability] going forward, because it really isn’t an issue that is ever going away.” Capper, who has been working in the sustainability space for about 15 years, shared some thought-provoking insights into what should be considered going...
Article Link
North Dakota has a multitude of things that make it special, but the one at the center of it all is agriculture. Crop and livestock production create the fiber of North Dakota’s statewide community, and Valley City gets to be a big part of that as host to the largest cattle show in the state. Part of that tradition returns for 2022 with the 23rd Annual North Star Classic, December 2-4. The North Star Classic is an agriculture-oriented show that focuses primarily on the livestock sector of production agriculture. The North Star Classic began in 2000, and has grown every...
Article Link
Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.7 million head on November 1, 2022. The inventory was 2 percent below November 1, 2021. Placements in feedlots during October totaled 2.11 million head, 6 percent below 2021. Placements were the lowest for October since the series began in 1996. Net placements were 2.05 million head. During October, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 545,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 465,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 450,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 378,000 head,...
Article Link
Editorial by SDCA President Eric Jennings We often hear the term “Grassroots Organization.” It makes for good messaging, but what does it really mean? It doesn’t surprise me that people are drawn to the term because we are fortunate to live in a country with a government that is “of the people, by the people, and for the people,” and in that culture we expect our voices and opinions to be heard. A true grassroots organization should function in a manner where the members decide on the policy direction of the organization and where that policy remains consistent through changes...
Article Link
By M.P. Cremer Every rancher has their own definition when it comes to defining good and bad years. Maybe those labels are determined by calving ease or shipping weights; maybe they’re determined by the weather or the cattle market. Whatever draws the line between a good and a bad year for one rancher may not even be on another rancher’s radar because, simply put, no ranching operation is the same. However, in the case of Keith Dee Johnson of Dry Fork Land and Livestock, it is undeniable that he has had a “good” year. Dry Fork Land and Livestock is...
Article Link
Several large retailers and wholesalers (including Sysco, US Foods, Kroger, Hy-Vee, Albertson, Associated Grocers, Subway, SuperValu, and Cheney Brothers) recently filed claims similar to those brought originally in April 2019 by R-CALF USA and National Farmers Union (NFU) against the Big 4 packers. Those claims are that the packers’ efforts to jointly manage their slaughter volume and their cattle purchasing practices caused beef prices to rise while also pushing cattle prices lower. In response, the U.S. District Court held a hearing and decided to coordinate these new claims with R-CALF USA and NFU’s suit ahead of trial. This does not...
Article Link
Leo and Sam McDonnell of Columbus, Montana; Dave Nichols of Anita, Iowa; and Becky and the late Arlen Sawyer of Bassett, Nebraska and Jim and Sue Coleman of Modesto, California were recently honored as Heritage Foundation inductees by the American Angus Association. At the 2022 Angus Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah,these three couples and one individual were inducted into the Heritage Foundation because of their innovation, service and leadership. Over the past 130 years, the business breed has proven itself as an industry leader and expert. Inductees of the Heritage Foundation depict the type of individuals who built a...
Article Link
The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) Strategic Planning Conference got underway Wednesday in Oklahoma City, attracting farmers, ranchers, processors and exporters from throughout the nation. While U.S. red meat exports will likely set a value record approaching billion this year, the industry faces an array of obstacles related to the sluggish global economy, weakening currencies of key trading partners and lingering effects of the COVID pandemic. Challenges are also mounting on the production side, especially for livestock producers impacted by drought. Keynote speaker Randy Blach, CEO of CattleFax, detailed the larger-than-expected contraction of the cattle herd, which helped drive...
Article Link
By Bridget Wasser, Midan Marketing Various marketing attributes and label claims have permeated the fresh meat case and restaurant menus as brands seek to differentiate and win sales. But which attributes have the most impact on consumer behavior and how can marketers capitalize on them? This question was the impetus for Midan Marketing’s self-funded market research focused specifically on the U.S. beef consumer. Today’s marketplace faces no shortage of challenges with inflation at the top of the list. So, Midan set out to help beef marketers better understand how to identify and leverage product attributes to stand out from the...
Article Link
By: National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff Dawn Breitkreutz grew up in a small town in Minnesota, struggled through high school and wasn’t sure what she wanted to do with her life. Her mom passed away when she was 15 and she felt lost and in need of direction. A military recruiter visited Dawn’s high school, the opportunity to serve sounded interesting, and she was off to basic training in San Antonio, Texas. “Joining the Air Force was the best decision at that time in my life,” said Dawn. “The military was exactly what I...
Article Link
By David P. Anderson, Professor and Extension Economist Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service The October Consumer Price Index (CPI) was released last week to a lot of headlines given the importance of the latest inflation numbers. Retail beef prices are included in the CPI and beef is one of the items that has been below a year ago and falling further. Two average retail beef prices are reported: Choice beef and the All Fresh beef. The Choice beef price is an average beef price of USDA Choice quality grade. The All Fresh includes fresh beef of any USDA grade. They both represent a number...
Article Link
K-State beef cattle experts recommend turning to local experts for advice on supplementing cow’s diets By Lisa Moser, K-State Research and Extension news service MANHATTAN, Kan. — Many start their day with a multivitamin to supplement their diet in hopes of being as healthy as possible. In much the same way, mineral supplementation can overcome deficiencies in the grasses that cattle graze, said the experts at Kansas State University’s Beef Cattle Institute. Speaking on a recent Cattle Chat podcast, the beef cattle experts stressed the importance of minerals in a grazing animal’s diet. “Cattle get the majority of their...
Article Link
By Brenda Boetel, Professor Agricultural Economics, University of Wisconsin - River Falls Corn price and Dry Distiller’s Grains tend to move in the same direction. There are years where this is the exception, including 2017 and 2020. When examining weekly Kansas City corn price data and 10% Dry Distillers Grain price data from May 2006 to March 2022, the correlation between the two prices series is 0.86, indicating DDG and corn prices tend to move in the same direction. A regression analysis using the data was conducted to find which price series indicated a relationship with DDG. Weekly high protein...
Article Link
Earlier this fall, the USDA released updated projections of net farm income. The most common observation was that farm income would slip lower in 2022, which didn’t come as a surprise given rising production costs. After diving through the data, however, we found three overlooked insights about the farm economy in 2022. 1) Another Phenomenal Year While there are always regional and commodity expectations – especially when there is significant drought – the farm economy in 2022 looks to be phenomenally good. Not only are 2022 conditions historically favorable, but the USDA also estimates similar conditions in 2021. Figure 1...
Article Link
We recently took in the 2022 National Angus Convention held in Salt Lake City, UT. While official numbers have not been released, an estimated 1,400 Angus enthusiasts attended the weekend event. I can assure you that South Dakota and surrounding states were very well represented. This was the first time The Cattle Business Weekly had a booth within the trade show. I was very surprised and impressed with how many customers we had stopped by and visited with us! The trade show had a wide variety of industry-related products. You could buy everything from a Silencer chute to Plain Jane gloves and see industry giants like Zoetis and Corteva. Beyond the trade show and social gatherings, the Angus board holds its annual membership meeting and elects new board members. Our region continues to be very well represented with Jerry Connealy serving as President. Charles Mogck and Darrell Stevenson continue as board members as well. On Sunday morning, we attended the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. It was simply amazing! 360 singers and 110 musicians perform year around to huge crowds from around the world! I am looking forward to next year's convention which will be held in Orlando, FL November 4th-6th. I expect a huge crowd of Angus families will attend and enjoy the Florida hospitality.
Article Link
Greater Omaha, South 40 Beef, Upper Iowa Beef, and North Prairie Butchery among recipients By Codi Vallery-Mills Grocery store meat cases bathed in fluorescent lighting sat starkly empty in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic back in 2020. It was a shocking reality for consumers and beef producers alike to learn of a few major hiccups in the beef supply chain. Chief among them was the lack of harvesting capabilities nationwide. Under the Biden Administration, USDA has made a commitment to expand meat and poultry processing capacity. This past week in Omaha, Neb., Secretary Tom Vilsack announced...
Article Link
By Rita Brhel As Martin Neal neared retirement after 31 years in the U.S. Army and Army National Guard, he decided that his next stint of service would be in agriculture. Neal Family Farm established in 2020 near Hickman, Neb., with the assistance of the Center for Rural Affairs (CFRA) based in Lyons, Neb. What began as five acres now includes 100 row-crop acres, approximately 200 laying hens, and plans to add beef cattle and a market vegetable garden. “As a veteran and someone who has experienced combat-type situations,” Neal said, “it’s relaxing for me to be able to be...
Article Link
By Elliott Dennis, Assistant Professor & Extension Livestock Economist, Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Nebraska – Lincoln Cumulative national feeder and stocker cattle receipts are slightly lagging both 2021 and the 5-year average (2017-2021) at 12,098,700 head through Oct 21. In 2022, more of the receipts are coming from cattle weighing less than 600 lbs. and heifers – both signals that the drought in various parts of the United States is affecting feeder and stocker cattle being sold. Cow-calf producers who still have calves are in the process of deciding whether to sell or retain weaned calves. This decision...
Article Link
More Than 3 Million in Grants and Loans Will Increase Competition and Economic Opportunities for Meat and Poultry Processors and Producers around the Country, and Help Lower Costs for Working Families OMAHA, November 2, 2022 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the Biden-Harris Administration is investing million in 21 grant projects through the first round of the(MPPEP). MPPEP delivers on President Biden‘s call to increase competition across the economy to help lower costs for American families. Today’s announcement will expand meat and poultry processing capacity, which in turn increases competition, supports producer...
Article Link
PIERRE, SD – The South Dakota Beef Industry Council (SDBIC) is pleased to announce Jodie Anderson as the new SDBIC Executive Director. Anderson assumed her new role on November 1, 2022. Anderson hails from a ranch in Haakon County and considers Pierre, South Dakota her hometown. She earned her B.S. in Agricultural Business from Colorado State University then lived and worked in several western states before returning to South Dakota. SDBIC President, Veabea Thomas says they are excited to welcome Jodie to the team. “We are so excited to have Jodie Anderson. She has been working part time at...
Article Link
By Jeff Bahr Three Florida men were arrested in October as part of an investigation into beef and pork being stolen from packaging plants in the Midwest. Some of the beef stolen originated at the JBS beef plant in Grand Island, Neb. said Capt. Dean Elliott of the Grand Island Police Department. On June 27, the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office began an investigation into several stolen semi-trailers and loads of frozen beef occurring in Nebraska, including Lancaster County. The Lancaster County Sheriff’s office described the theft ring as a sophisticated and “highly organized criminal enterprise.” In the initial investigation, the...
Article Link
By Codi Vallery-Mills The fall of the year is a busy time for cattle work. Whether processing cattle into a feedlot, giving preconditioning shots for weaned calves or pregnancy testing the cowherd, the hours chute side can get long – if you let them. Tim and Chandy Olson of CATL Resources in St. Onge, S.D. along with their accompanying veterinarians Levi Garbel and Holly Krueger and staff members Dana Youngberg and Allison Grygiel are no strangers to working cattle. Through their veterinary and A.I. service businesses, the CATL Resources team works thousands of head of cattle for ranchers in...
Article Link
By Megan Underwood Often times it is the bull that is given the spotlight when it comes to pinpointing a herd’s genetic advancement. But at the Commercial Cattlemen’s Symposium at the 69th annual National Red Angus Convention at the Hilton Garden Inn in Kalispell, Montana recently the female, specifically the heifer, was given time to shine. In Part 1 of last week’s Elevate the Female article, genetics and captured data were discussed in terms of the cowherd. This week, nutrition is brought to the forefront. The symposium highlighted a heifer-nutrition panel with information for any breed of cattle. The...
Article Link
Compiled by Kindra Gordon Antioxidants to enhance steak color Spraying antioxidants of the surface of steak may be a viable solution to prevent discoloration of steaks in the meat case – or meat cuts being shipped for export. With funding from the Idaho Beef Council via the beef checkoff, research was conducted at the University of Idaho by Michael Colle, Jessie Van Buren and the meat science laboratory to evaluate the effectiveness of spraying rosemary extract and acerola cherry powder on the surface of thinly cut (0.5 inches thick) steaks from chuck rolls and bone-in short ribs that were aged...
Article Link
The Walter family opens the gates to share their passion for Angus cattle. By Jessica Travis Watch video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/XLW1kzWhN78 Teaching an appreciation for Angus cattle comes naturally to Terry and Becky Walter. Along with their children Trevor, Ty and Katelyn, they’ve built Walter Angus into a fifth-generation seedstock ranch that specializes in high quality at a high elevation. Hudson, Colo., provides awe-inspiring views of the pristine Rocky Mountains as a backdrop to their picture-perfect cattle. It’s the ideal spot to introduce visitors to the place where beef begins. Their spirit of hospitality and work to share how they...
Article Link
From CBW News Desk Livestock and animal feed haulers were hoping for another extension on the hours-of-service rules exemption set to expire Oct. 15 but that didn’t happen. Originally created during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the waiver allowed drivers who were moving goods “in support of emergency relief efforts related to the COVID-19 outbreaks” to not have to follow the hours-of-service regulations, which limit the number hours a driver may work without rest breaks. The declaration was extended or modified over 10 times over the last two years. When issued, it marked the first time the Hours...
Article Link
Now is the time to calculate Harvested forages are a critical component of winter feeding programs for many of North Dakota’s cattle herds. “Conducting a hay inventory now will give producers a good idea of possible deficiencies and allow time to develop the best options for the upcoming feeding season,” says Janna Block, North Dakota State University Extension livestock systems specialist based at the Hettinger Research Extension Center. The first step is to get an accurate count or measurement of bales harvested. Bales should be grouped by lot, which is defined as similar species harvested from the same field within...
Article Link
By Stephen R. Koontz Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Colorado State University The USDA Cattle on Feed Report released on October 21 appears to be neutral with evidence of the smaller numbers ahead. Placements were softer and were exactly as anticipated. Pre-report expectations anticipated that placements would be 96.2 percent of last year with a range of 91.8 to 99.0 percent. Actual placements during the month of September were 96.2 percent of the prior year at 2.080 million head. The futures market reacted sharply higher on Monday but the main strength in the up move was in the nearby as opposed to the...
Article Link
Commercial Cattlemen’s Symposium focuses on replacement heifers By Megan Underwood The American Red Angus Association recently held its Commercial Cattlemen’s Symposium at the 69th annual National Red Angus Convention at the Hilton Garden Inn in Kalispell, Montana. Jordan Thomas, Ph.D., assistant professor and state beef reproduction specialist in the Division of Animal Sciences at the University of Missouri, kicked-off the symposium with his keynote address titled, “The Building Blocks of a Profitable Commercial Cow: What Do Heifers Need to Do?” Thomas began his address by defining the job description of replacement heifers. Thomas shared that heifers have to be structurally...
Article Link
I believe everyone reading this week’s column of The Cattle Business Weekly could use rain. From the Dakotas to Texas and Iowa to California, significant rainfall would sure be a blessing. Many of us have not seen measurable moisture for several weeks, to several months. Wildfires are a true danger for most of us. Whether it is with a combine harvesting crops or a 4-wheeler gathering pairs, the fuel is primed and ready to be ignited by a spark or hot exhaust pipe. As we reach the end of October, here in South Dakota, our days are getting much shorter and...
Article Link
By Matthew Diersen, Risk & Business Management Specialist, Ness School of Management & Economics, South Dakota State University New-crop corn futures have steadily increased over the past two months. Thus, there is not any relief in sight for higher feed costs. With higher interest rates, the cost of storage becomes a larger concern. There is currently very little carry in the corn futures prices, suggesting that going hand-to-mouth for feed needs could be considered if the feeder can ensure they can secure supplies later. Corn yields in the northern plains are not great, but production levels and old-crop stocks levels...
Article Link
By Cali O’Hare More than 100 people gathered earlier this fall for an unveiling of the newly restored historic cattle dipping vat on national forest land near Bondurant, Wyo. Used routinely from 1936 to 1938 during outbreaks of sarcoptic scabies, the strange structure has long protruded into the skyline along Jack Creek Road, a reminder of the quarantines issued for cattle herds by the state veterinarian nearly a century ago, and the physical and financial hardships that followed. Following construction in October 1936, Hoback ranchers used the elevator-style cage and hoists within the structure to dip their cattle, one at...
Article Link
Wasserburger family builds beef quality into maternally-driven herd. By Laura C. Nelson, freelancer for Certified Angus Beef The Wasserburger family in Lusk, Wyoming, thrives on keen competition. They bring an athletic intensity and drive that once won championships on the wrestling mat to now topping the charts in livestock auction ring. The 2022 Certified Angus Beef (CAB) Commercial Commitment to Excellence Award winners accepted the award at the brand’s Annual Conference Sept. 29 in Phoenix. They earned it with big wins in their herd’s maternal and marbling scorecards. The ranch is led by JD and Laurie Wasserburger, with their sons...
Article Link
Company positioned for growth by combining multiple corporate offices to world headquarters Tyson Foods announced plans to bring together all its corporate team members from the Chicago, Downers Grove and Dakota Dunes area corporate locations to its world headquarters in Springdale, Arkansas. The move will foster closer collaboration, enhance team member agility and enable faster decision making, positioning Tyson to win with its team members, customers, and consumers. Team members will begin the phased relocation in early 2023. “Tyson’s diverse portfolio of products and brands provides us with an unmatched strategic advantage to serve our customers,” said Donnie King, President &...
Article Link
The North Dakota Stockmen’s Association (NDSA) presented the 2022 Environmental Stewardship Award to Bartholomay Kattle Kompany of Sheldon, N.D., during the NDSA’s 93rd Annual Convention and Trade Show, “All In,” in Bismarck, N.D., this evening. Bartholomay Kattle Kompany, a diversified crop and cow-calf operation that always has environmental stewardship on its mind, is located in the heart of the Sheyenne Delta. The Bartholomay family has been farming and ranching in the area for nearly 127 years. Keith and Sandi Bartholomay own and operate the ranch along with their son, Karl, and Karl’s fiancé, Rebecca Anderson. Due to the sandy soils...
Article Link
Sometimes, you have to think small to think big It’s been said that tough times don’t last but tough people do. So what about wild, uncertain, and just plain crazy times? In times like these, it’s the people willing to embrace change and think about ranching in non-traditional ways who will survive. Are they wild and crazy? Not likely. What is likely is that history will look back at this era in the beef business and frame people like Jim Purdy and JR Crozier as forward thinkers willing to take a risk and change to meet a new and...
Article Link
At a meeting of the White House Competition Council on Monday, President Biden announced two new efforts by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to support fair and competitive meat and poultry markets, as part of the Department’s role in the President’s Competition Council. These efforts include (1) publishing the proposed Inclusive Competition and Market Integrity Rules Under the Packers and Stockyards Act to protect farmers and ranchers from abuse, and (2) a new million Agricultural Competition Challenge to ramp up collaboration with the State Attorneys General (AG) on enforcement of the competition laws, such as the laws against...
Article Link
Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 11.3 million head on Sept. 1, 2022, USDA NASS reported on Friday. The inventory was only 45,000 head more than a year ago. This is the second-highest Sept. 1 inventory since the series began in 1996. According to DTN Livestock Analyst ShayLe Stewart, total on-feed numbers for Sept. 1, 2022, totaled 11,279,000 head, which is only 45,000 head more than a year ago. The major feeding states that showed steady/higher year-over-year on-feed numbers were Iowa (steady, 590,000...
Article Link
Feeder cattle imports shifted considerably in the month of August. Year to date (through Labor Day weekend), feeder cattle imports, from Mexico are down 217,517 head. In the first half of the year feeder cattle volumes posted more than 20,000 head declines each month, with the exception of June. June feeder cattle volumes declined less than 10,000 head from 2021 that month, followed by a July that saw another decline of more than 10,000 head. August was similar to June, less than 10,000 head off the prior year. The newest North American Drought Monitor, released Wednesday 9/15/2022, points to dryness...
Article Link
U.S. beef exports again topped [post_excerpt] billion in July and posted the fifth-largest volume on record, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). July beef exports totaled 126,567 metric tons (mt), up 3% year-over-year. Export value increased 7% to [post_excerpt].006 billion, topping the [post_excerpt] billon mark for the sixth time this year. For the first seven months of 2022, beef exports increased 6% from a year ago to 870,471 mt, valued at .2 billion (up 29%). “Global demand for U.S. beef continues to be amazingly resilient, especially at the retail level,” said...
Article Link
The Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB) will invest approximately .5 million into programs of beef promotion, research, consumer information, industry information, foreign marketing and producer communications during fiscal 2023, subject to USDA approval. In action at the end of its September 7-8 meeting in Denver, Colorado, the Beef Promotion Operating Committee (BPOC) approved Checkoff funding for a total of 13 “Authorization Requests” – or grant proposals – for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2022. The committee, which includes 10 producers from the Cattlemen’s Beef Board and 10 producers from the Federation of State Beef Councils, also recommended full Cattlemen’s Beef...
Article Link
By Lura Roti for South Dakota Farmers Union (EDITOR’S NOTE: Farm Safety and Health Week is Sept. 18-24. We share the Boomsma’s farm story as a reminder to stay safe at all times on the farm.) Troy Boomsma says if someone told him that he would lose a son in a tractor rollover, he would say that could never happen. But it did. And when the Boomsma family lost 7-year-old Jaxon to a farm accident on his grandparents’ farm Easter Weekend 2017, Troy Boomsma made it his mission to promote farm safety. His hope is, other families will not experience...
Article Link
From CBW News Desk South Dakota Senator John Thune and South Dakota Farm Bureau President and farmer, Scott VanderWal testified Sept. 7 before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on behalf of Thune’s Livestock Regulatory Protection Act. The Livestock Regulatory Protection Act aims to prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from issuing Clean Air Act Title V permits for emissions like carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, water vapor, or methane that result from livestock production. These emissions are naturally occurring due to cattle’s biological functions and cattle producers continue to employ innovative practices to mitigate the impact of these emissions...
Article Link
NASCAR beefs up the Xfinity Series season opener for a third consecutive year For the third year in a row Daytona International Speedway announced its partnership with Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner to sponsor the 42nd season-opening race for the NASCAR Xfinity Series – The Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner.® 300. The race is scheduled to kick off the season on Saturday, February 18 at Daytona International Speedway, the day before the 65th annual DAYTONA 500. Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. is an iconic brand funded through national and state support of beef farmers and ranchers as part of the...
Article Link
Barney Creek Livestock of Livingston in Park County is the 2022 recipient of the Montana Leopold Conservation Award®. Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the prestigious award recognizes farmers, ranchers and forestland owners who inspire others with their dedication to land, water and wildlife habitat management on private, working land. Sand County Foundation and American Farmland Trust present the award in Montana with the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, and the Rangeland Resources Committee. As owners of Barney Creek Livestock, Pete and Meagan Lannan are cattle ranchers and land managers who are showing others how conservation...
Article Link
Randy Blach recognized for 2022 Industry Achievement Award at Feeding Quality Forum. By Morgan Boecker In 1980, Randy Blach put his Colorado State University animal science degree to work at CattleFax as a market analyst. It was a way to help bring value back to the family ranch near Yuma, Colo., where he would soon return. “I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to spend a couple of years learning,” he says. But CattleFax became a channel for his career passion – which has now served the beef industry for more than 40 years. “Honestly, I just fell in...
Article Link
For the last 93 years, the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association (NDSA) has been uniting, protecting, promoting, educating and serving North Dakota’s beef industry. NDSA members will be celebrating the organization’s achievements, selecting new leaders and re-commiting to “All In” support of the beef cattle industry during the NDSA Annual Convention & Trade Show Sept. 22-24 at the Bismarck Hotel and Conference Center (formerly the Ramkota Hotel) in Bismarck, N.D. The event will feature an educational series, informational speakers, policy-development sessions, business, networking and fun. Thursday, Sept. 22 The convention begins on Thursday morning at 9 a.m. with a Golf Scramble and...
Article Link
Top cattle in their respective breeds paraded on Aug. 31 at the South Dakota State Fair. The Supreme Row judging took place at 6 p.m. that night after days of individual cattle breed shows. Winning Supreme Row top honors was the Champion Charolais bull from Diamond P Cattle, ECP Cattle and Bertsche Cattle LLC of Onida, S.D. Winning Supreme Heifer was the Champion Chianina heifer shown by Samantha Podzimek, Mitchell, S.D. Others vying for the honors were: Champion Angus Bull, Tostenson Family Cattle Champion AOB Bull, Sinkie Ranch Champion Charolais Composite Heifer, Taylor Harriman Champion Chianina Bull, Sinkie Ranch...
Article Link
Walmart and Sustainable Beef LLC announced Aug. 31 that Walmart signed an agreement to acquire a minority stake in Sustainable Beef LLC, a rancher-owned company based in North Platte, Nebraska. Walmart’s equity investment is part of a broader strategic partnership to source top-quality angus beef from Sustainable Beef LLC’s new beef processing facility. This partnership helps supplement the current beef industry and provides additional opportunities for ranchers to increase their business. As part of the investment, Walmart will also have representation on Sustainable Beef’s board. Walmart’s investment will help Sustainable Beef LLC open their beef processing facility in North Platte,...
Article Link
By Heather Gessner SDSU Extension Livestock Business Management Field Specialist Grass hay and alfalfa bales currently fill the landscape. Haying season provides a feed inventory analysis opportunity for each producer. Beyond “how many bales,” the inventory should look at the quality of the feed in storage. The big question should be, “Do I have enough bales to create a balanced ration, which meets the nutritional requirements of my cow herd through each stage of production? And what kind of supplementation (if any) will be needed?” Samples must be taken and submitted for analysis to determine feed quality. Many factors affect...
Article Link
By Laura Edwards, SD State Climatologist, SDSU Extension According to the calendar, summertime is coming to an end, and fall is right around the corner. This time of year our thoughts turn to fall harvest weather for corn and soybeans, planting for winter wheat, and our first fall frost for crops and gardens. September temperature and precipitation outlook For the month of September across South Dakota, there is an increased likelihood of warmer than average temperatures in the month ahead. The first ten days of September have a high likelihood of being warmer than average, with high temperatures on Labor...
Article Link
Call it "The Big One", call it "The Dirt Fair", or call it "a South Dakota tradition", for many of us, Labor Day weekend has included taking in The South Dakota State Fair for generations. When I was younger, the slogan was "South Dakota State Fair, Gonna Have A Good Time There" and I can say that is a true statement for me personally since the first time I attended in 1969. I believe I even had a shirt with that slogan on it from back in the day! Unfortunately, we are still without an Open Class Beef Barn again this year. And yes, unfortunately, we are not surprised because anyone who has building plans of their own realizes getting materials is one issue, but getting a labor crew is an even bigger challenge. Let's hope that in 52 weeks, we will be celebrating the Grand Opening of the new livestock complex the DEX! It is encouraging to report that Haakon County and much of western South Dakota received needed moisture last week. It was a true blessing. Besides the rain, a big part of South Dakota experienced several mornings of fog. I guess time will tell if that old wives tale comes true and we have a Thanksgiving blizzard!
Article Link
By Codi Vallery-Mills The month of August holds within it some of the highs and lows found in summer for all of us. August is when we discover just how far our kids have come in their growth. Maybe it’s found at the county fair, rodeo, or livestock show; it doesn’t matter where because when it happens it leaves each of us parents with tears in our eyes. August is when the summer projects we said we were going to get to stare us down and ask to be taken seriously. It’s the month when fresh chapters smell like crayons...
Article Link
The Iowa Governor’s Charity Steer Show set another record, raising more than 0,000 for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Iowa. In 2021, cattle producers and local supporters raised 5,000, the most funds raised in the show’s history. In addition to breaking another show record, we surpassed million raised since 1983. The Iowa Beef Industry Council, Iowa Cattlemen’s Association and Office of the Governor of Iowa hosted the 40th Annual Iowa Governor’s Charity Steer Show on Saturday, Aug. 13. Brian McCulloh, of Viroqua, WI, judged this year’s steer entries and picked Steer 15 as Grand Champion. John Lawrence, Iowa...
Article Link
Sometime between Friday, August 19 and Saturday, August 20, someone cut the top two wires of the fence surrounding Selby, S.D. rancher Vaughn Thorstenson’s cattle pasture and took several head of cattle reports Keloland News. Thorstenson reports it appears the cattle were gathered in an area, fence was cut and vehicle tracks were present in the road ditch. On further inspection, calves were found to be missing. This isn’t the first time it has happened as Thorstenson was missing calves last year too. “This year we discovered the calves gone on the day they were taken,” Thorstenson told The Cattle...
Article Link
One rancher talks about the use of carbon credits to increase income By Codi Vallery - Mills As farmers and ranchers look to support their finances during this season of high inflation and input costs one solution might be found in carbon credits. With more and more emphasis put on climate-smart agriculture, there are numerous companies and opportunities for landowners to vet whether a carbon credit program would work for their operation. Todd Trask of the Wall, S.D. area found what he was looking for in the Agoro Carbon Alliance a newly created company that is backed by the world's...
Article Link
By Kindra Gordon “You have to be flexible,” says Jim Gilles as he talks about direct marketing beef to consumers. Gilles raises Angus cattle in conjunction with his parents and operates Hill View Farms Meats as a custom meat sales business on the family farm. They are located near Owensboro, KY, which has a population of about 60,000. It’s a valued-added effort the family began in 2013 by selling beef quarters, halves and wholes. Requests for smaller quantities of beef prompted Gilles to also foray into retail beef sales via a booth on Saturdays at the local Farmer’s Market. Today,...
Article Link
By Codi Vallery-Mills There are 654 million acres of grazing lands and about 391 million acres of cropland in the United States. With those acres, the ag sector could provide land and management practices to help with carbon sequestration to offset emissions from not only ag industries but the energy and transportation industries also. Agriculture is the lowest greenhouse gas emitter at 11 percent, but it is the only sector able to capture emissions and act as a “sink” for itself and other industries. This information was all part of a recent panel held during the Ag Media Summit in...
Article Link
By Donnie Leddy, publisher After my last week’s column entitled, Heating Up!, it sure was a blessing that much of South Dakota and other parts of our region received moisture over the weekend! The Good Lord blessed many of us with an inch or two of rain! And, yes, certain places like southeastern South Dakota, had five to six inches or more accumulated from the weekend thunderstorms. We would all agree that any rain in August is a blessing! Yes, our corn crop and alfalfa benefit from August rains, but more than that, the pastures and soybeans received the most good! The wheat harvest is well underway and it sounds like a respectable crop. No, not a "bin buster", but a profitable year for those with wheat to combine. Compared to a year ago, many producers were happy to say they had a crop to combine...
Article Link
By Matthew Diersen, Risk & Business Management Specialist Ness School of Management & Economics, South Dakota State University Price insurance for fed cattle has been available in various forms and offered in multiple states for twenty years. Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) insurance is currently available for fed and feeder cattle. Historically there was little incentive to use LRP compared to buying put options on live cattle. In contrast, demand for LRP for feeder cattle has been more robust through time as it is more suited for covering calves and lot sizes that do not always match the contract specifications of...
Article Link
By Codi Vallery-Mills “Meat-sommelier” that’s one of the titles German chef Rüdiger Brümmer owns proudly and put on display this past week during his visit to South Dakota. He and fellow chef Hauke (Howie) Grant spent time learning about the state’s cattle and beef industries with the help of the South Dakota Beef Industry Council and the U.S. Meat Export Federation. While in South Dakota, the chefs visited the ranches of Nate and Jayna Fredrickson in Spearfish, Les and Ann Shaw at White Owl, and Josh and Shasta Geigle at Wall. They also visited local butcher Ken Charfauros at Wall...
Article Link
By Ted Perry, Beef Technical Solutions, Purina Calves are on pasture with their dams where life is good. Suddenly, they’re faced with a plethora of stressors and challenges. Weaning calves typically includes the weaning itself, shipping, commingling, processing, a change in nutrition and – to top it off – potential swings in weather. Weaning calves are often hungry, meaning they tend to bawl for their dam. Bawling for extended periods can irritate a calf’s throat and potentially lead to respiratory challenges. These stressors, paired with a still-developing immune system, can ultimately lead to reduced disease resistance. But, if you can...
Article Link
Compiled by Kindra Gordon Sustainability was the focus of a preconference webinar series this past spring hosted by the Animal Ag Alliance. In a session titled: “Sustainability: Where Are We Going and How Can We All Help Get There?”, speakers: Sara Reichelt, DVM, Director of Animal Welfare and Sustainability, Aviagen North America; Sara Crawford, PhD, Vice President, Sustainability, National Pork Board; and Sara Place, PhD, Chief Sustainability Officer, Elanco Animal Health; shared comments and experiences. Reichelt noted, “Customers and consumers, as we all know, are more focused on sustainability than they ever have been.” The trio agreed that there are...
Article Link
By Connie Sieh Groop Every livestock producer does all they can to keep their herd healthy. But when an animal dies and the local veterinarian can’t provide answers, staff at a facility on the campus of South Dakota State University in Brookings can find clues and identify potential disease and/or treatment options for others in the herd. South Dakota’s Animal Disease Research and Diagnostic Laboratory serves as the front line of defense in protecting South Dakota’s .3 billion livestock industry against diseases. Besides working with local producers and veterinarians, the lab provides expert veterinary laboratory diagnostic and research capacity important...
Article Link
By M.P.Cremer It is currently 3:31 a.m. on Tuesday, July 26, 2022. For once, I’m not up this late after binge watching whatever true crime, cult documentary series; I am up because it’s fair week in Montana’s Sweet Grass County. Last year, the Sweet Grass County 4-H Council offered me the gig to photograph the county fair and I readily jumped at the opportunity. I was new-ish to town and eager to meet community members because a.) I’m a people person and b.) I really wanted to get my name out there as a photographer. On top of that, I’m...
Article Link
Livestock farmers in Minnesota and the region are facing limited meat processing access due to processor closures and fully booked processing appointments, according to a new report out from the University of Minnesota, Minnesota Farmers Union and Minnesota Department of Ag. “Solving the Meat Processing Workforce Bottleneck” authors interviewed 57 small- to medium-scale meat processors across the state of Minnesota. They found processors are at capacity and looking to hire long-term, reliable employees who could be trained to fit their business needs. “We’re really struggling in the skilled labor section of the business – butchering, breaking down and processing. It’s...
Article Link
By Elliott Dennis, Assistant Professor & Extension Livestock Economist, Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Nebraska – Lincoln It is no secret that slaughter cow numbers this year have been elevated but it’s the rate they have occurred that has been puzzling. Higher input costs in the form of hay, pasture rent, fuel, etc. partially caused by general economic inflation, low stock-to-use ratios in corn and soybeans, and high crude oil prices have raised the cost of production. Add to that a worsening drought, several years of low feeder cattle prices, and cull cow prices not seen since 2014/15 pulled...
Article Link
Award recognizes three junior’s outstanding performances across three contests. Setting goals and challenging themselves is no new feat to junior Angus members. In the contest room, that dedication is amplified. The Stockman Contest, held annually at the National Junior Angus Show (NJAS), pushes juniors to a new level. The contest is not factored by performance in one contest, but instead accounts for scores from three: the judging contest, quiz bowl written exam and skill-a-thon. Three contestants with the highest combined scores were recognized at the 2022 NJAS awards ceremony on July 8. “The Stockman Contest is a unique avenue for...
Article Link
The U.S. International Trade Commission ruled Monday, July 18, against imposing tariffs on nitrogen fertilizers imported from Russia and Trinidad and Tobago. “This comes as a welcome relief,” says National Corn Growers Association President Chris Edgington. “We have been sounding the alarms and telling the ITC commissioners that tariffs will drive up input prices to even more unaffordable levels for farmers and cripple our supply. I am so glad they listened.” The decision comes after CF Industries filed a petition with ITC in late 2021, requesting that the commission place tariffs on urea ammonium nitrate, which is used in liquid...
Article Link
The South Dakota Beef Industry Council is excited to welcome German Chefs, Rüdiger Brummer and Howie Grant to the United States of America July 25-29, 2022. They will tour several South Dakota beef farms and ranches and other key sectors of the industry that make beef one of South Dakota’s leading economic drivers. The SDBIC will also host a Producer Meet and Greet at Sturgis Brewing Company in Sturgis, South Dakota on Tuesday, July 26, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. Food Network Celebrity and Team Beef South Dakota Chef, Justin Warner, will join Chef Brummer and Chef Grant to demonstrate preparation...
Article Link
A new series of billboards touting the quality beef raised in Nebraska is now on display in the Omaha and Lincoln markets. The campaign, implemented by the Nebraska Beef Council, features a Nebraska-shaped steak along with a spin off the state’s slogan creating a simple but straight forward statement: “Good Life. Great Steaks.” Through the summer grilling months, 22 billboards will be displayed in various parts of Omaha in high-traffic areas. One digital billboard will also be placed on north 27th Street in Lincoln, one of the city’s most traveled throughways. The total campaign will garner over 3 million...
Article Link
By Dusty Schley, cattle producer from Stratford, SD (Editor’s note: A little background, Dusty and Brittany Schley and their kids Clay, 6, and Rye, 2, left for Europe just before Christmas and zipped across the continent for four months. Their experiences there led to this column written by Dusty who has a cattle operation at Stratford, SD.) Follow me to a place that looks similar to your ranch or farm, but the private property rules are very different. Ask yourself if you would find these rules acceptable. In the United Kingdom and much of northern Europe, there is this thing...
Article Link
By Bryce Doeschot A new report that analyzes President Joe Biden’s 30 by 30 conservation plan shows that the United States may already be meeting the land goal. Dave Aiken, University of Nebraska – Lincoln Extension Water and Agricultural Law Specialist, dug deep into the numbers of the controversial plan, known as the “America the Beautiful” Initiative. Soon after taking office, President Joe Biden issued an executive order to “tackle the climate crisis at home and abroad.” In it, he established a goal to conserve at least 30 percent of U.S. lands and 30 percent of U.S. Ocean areas by...
Article Link
By Lindsey Sawin, Angus Media editorial intern The most common approach to producing cattle is to choose a sire and dam based on expected progeny differences (EPDs) and phenotypic features. However, that wasn’t the case for research conducted by Ty Lawrence, professor of animal science at West Texas A&M University. Lawrence, a self-proclaimed meathead, grew up on a cattle operation with his dad making choices by looking at EPDs and phenotypes. Lawrence has extensive experience in the meat science industry, leading him to begin the PrimeOne research project, a project that began with the end — a USDA Prime, Yield...
Article Link
U.S. beef exports set new volume and value records in May, topping [post_excerpt] billion for the fourth time this year, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). While pork exports were well below last year’s large totals, shipments were the largest of 2022 in both volume and value. U.S. lamb exports continued to trend higher, led by growth in the Caribbean and Mexico. Beef exports to Korea, Japan and China/Hong Kong already top [post_excerpt] billion May beef exports reached 135,006 metric tons (mt), up 1% from the previous high posted in...
Article Link
By Codi Vallery-Mills More details were provided about a proposed meatpacking plant slated to be constructed just outside Rapid City at a meeting on June 30. It was hosted by Megan Kingsbury of Kingsbury & Associates and Sirius Realty who is developing the Western Legacy Development Corporation packing plant. The event served as a two-hour question and answer session. Cattle producers in attendance during it heard from Kingsbury herself along with Kyle Treloar of Dream Design who is constructing the industrial park which is said to be the preferred location for the plant. Two other panelists were James Halverson of...
Article Link
By Kaylee Wheeler, Masters Student, UNL Animal Science Department Forage quality and yearling rate of gain decline throughout the summer, particularly in cool season grasses. Strategically supplementing yearlings with dry distillers grains in the second half of the summer as the grass quality declines will increase average daily gain (ADG), but will it increase returns? A study was conducted at the High Plains Ag Lab in Sidney, Nebraska to explore this strategy. Yearlings grazed for an average of 112 days from late May to early September on crested wheatgrass pastures. They were supplemented either throughout the entire grazing...
Article Link
By Casey Kinler, Animal Agriculture Alliance Consider the scenario when a photo of a cow (or other ag life scene) is posted on Facebook and then hundreds of negative comments start pouring in. Perhaps the person posting the image had included how the cow received antibiotics for pneumonia and is now on the mend, (or shared information about some other common practice in livestock agriculture) but the comments begin to criticize and accost production agriculture. Unfortunately, this scenario is all too common for farmers and veterinarians advocating for animal agriculture on social media. Negative comments have the potential to steer...
Article Link
Through CRISPR and other gene-editing technologies, researchers and developers are poised to bring dozens -- if not hundreds -- of new products to grocery stores: mushrooms with longer shelf lives, drought-resistant corn and bananas impervious to a fungus threatening the global supply. A few, including a soybean variety that produces a healthier cooking oil, are already being sold commercially in the U.S. Advocates say gene editing is faster and more precise than traditional crop breeding methods. It can address rapidly evolving challenges to produce food and benefit consumers. Critics argue this new technology could create unintended consequences and that...
Article Link
By Codi Vallery-Mills Many ranches have hunters walk its coulees and prairie vistas every year in search of wild game. Often the hunters return year after year – developing relationships with the ranch owner and land alike – and it becomes more about the relationships and the connection to the area than the actual hunt itself. When John Lee was called in 2019 asking about his interest in buying the ranch he routinely hunted in Harding County, South Dakota he didn’t hesitate much about the idea. Located in the Short Pines, the ranch’s terrain is surprisingly hilly for western...
Article Link
Clayton explains the opportunities for feeder cattle exports driven by genetic demands. “The power of the pedigree is what drives the interest in U.S. demand,” said Tony Clayton, Clayton Agri-Marketing Inc. president. Clayton gave his presentation titled “U.S. Genetic Exports: Where Are They Going and How Are They Doing?” during the Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) Symposium June 3 in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Clayton explained the impact of exporting U.S. feeder cattle to open new marketing opportunities that increase profitability and particular obstacles producers face when exporting feeder cattle. Drivers of U.S. cattle export demand The export market is driven...
Article Link
Drought management resources offered. The U.S. Drought Monitor continues to classify parts of South Dakota in a level one to level three drought. For many producers, dry conditions have persisted since 2020. These conditions have caused them to make non-traditional management decisions in an effort to keep their operation viable. Decisions have included selling livestock, changing grazing practices and rental agreements and making changes to feed rations. Each of these decisions needs to be dealt with, whether the drought is persisting or improving in their area. During times of low precipitation, many decisions regarding the normal livestock inventory need to...
Article Link
By Connie Sieh Groop “If I can.” That message at this year’s Governor’s Ag Summit captivated the audience as the Canadian farmer skateboarded across the stage as he shared his story as a “normal” guy who was born without arms and legs. Chris Koch challenged the group of South Dakota ag leaders who gathered in Brookings for the South Dakota Governor’s Ag Summit June 22-23. Around 300 registered for the event, which drew a mix of producers and ag professionals. With the many hardships facing the ag world, Koch encouraged each individual to understand his message, “If I can,” and...
Article Link
Recent rains and rising temperatures have led to a need for cattle producers to clean feeding areas, says K-State livestock specialist Joel DeRouchey. Among the chores, DeRouchey suggests: Pull manure out of areas where it has accumulated. Make sure drainage areas are clear. Remove manure from the pens and consider using it as a fertilizer source. Repack and rebuild mounds, if utilized. DeRouchey said cleaning pens after the winter and spring months is important even during the busy summertime, especially if the area is used for continuous feeding. “Once we get some dryness in the pens, we...
Article Link
A new study published by Kansas State University suggests there may be benefits from feeding cattle industrial hemp. The research shows a decrease in stress and an increase in time the cattle are lying down. The study, “Short-term feeding of industrial hemp with a high cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) content increases lying behavior and reduces biomarkers of stress and inflammation in Holstein steers,” focused on the effects seen in Holstein steers and determined that repeated daily doses of CBDA do not result in an accumulation of cannabinoids in blood, which means they don’t linger in the meat. This was similar to...
Article Link
Cattle feeders and producers have the opportunity to view a variety of cattle feeding facilities and practices as part of a Feedlot Tour presented by the South Dakota Cattle Feeders Council, an affiliate of the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association. Warren Rusche, SDSU Extension Beef Feedlot Management Specialist is helping coordinate the tour. “The sites chosen for this tour represent a cross-section of housing systems and management strategies. One of our goals was to demonstrate the variety of options available and to highlight that cattle can be fed successfully in South Dakota.” The tour bus will leave from the Mitchell Technical...
Article Link
By Rita Brhel Agriculture is unsurprisingly a major contributor to the economy of South Dakota, with the beef industry leading the way. A 2021 study by Commodity.com concluded that of all the U.S. states, South Dakota is the most dependent upon agriculture with more than 5 percent of the state’s nearly 900,000 population involved in farming and ranching—and this doesn’t include the thousands of jobs that exist as part of the agribusiness sector. It makes sense that South Dakota schools place extra emphasis on developing the next generation of the agricultural workforce, and that’s exactly what the Sioux Falls School...
Article Link
By CBW Staff The South Dakota Cattlemen’s Foundation hosted its 9th annual Prime Time Gala on June 18 in Sioux Falls at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center. Each June, cattle producers and friends of the beef industry join for one night of fun and recognition to raise donation funds for Feeding South Dakota. The money generated by the evening’s meal, auction, and the concert goes towards Feeding South Dakota so it is able to provide beef to families in need. With one out of every nine individuals in South Dakota food insecure the proceeds raised for the evening are being...
Article Link
By James Mintert and Michael Langemeier, Purdue Center for Commercial Agriculture The Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer plummeted in May 2022 to a reading of just 99, the weakest farmer sentiment reading since April 2020. The May 2022 barometer reading marked just the 9th time since data collection began in fall 2015 that the overall measure of farmer sentiment fell below 100. The sentiment index is calculated each month from 400 U.S. agricultural producers’ responses to a telephone survey. This month’s survey was conducted from May 16-20, 2022. Agricultural producers’ perceptions regarding current conditions on their farms, as well...
Article Link
We will be spending this year’s Father’s Day, just like we have many in the past, at the Charolais Junior National that is being held in Grand Island, Neb. this year. Dating back to my first "Junior National", in 1986, the event often falls over Father’s Day weekend. I am certain others have similar experiences with rodeos, fishing trips, or other family adventures annually on this holiday. A heavenly Father’s Day wish goes out to my dad, Arlo, and to Krecia's dad, Richard. Time sure goes fast, as my father has been gone for 24 years and Krecia's will be...
Article Link
Application and nomination forms are now available for the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association’s (NDSA) and North Dakota Stockmen’s Foundation’s (NDSF) Hope After Haley Disaster Relief Fund. The groups teamed up to support the state’s cattle ranchers who suffered serious impacts in back-to-back, record-setting storms in April. Livestock industry impacts ranged from widespread livestock death and illness to damaged buildings and fences. The Hope After Haley Disaster Relief Fund will help North Dakota cattlemen and women offset the losses from these disastrous storms and those that linger even after the snow has melted. The NDSA and NDSF kickstarted the fund...
Article Link
At the recent North Dakota State Board of Animal Health (BOAH) meeting, the board removed the requirement for cows and heifers 12 months of age or older to be Official Calfhood Vaccinates (OCV) for Brucellosis if imported from Montana. Montana holds a Brucellosis Class Free Status, meaning the state is considered free of the disease. In southwest Montana, Yellowstone National Park has wild bison and elk that are infected but the Montana Department of Livestock in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture maintains a Designated Surveillance Area (DSA) around the park and regularly monitors movement in and around...
Article Link
In the early morning of October 31, 2020, a fire tragically destroyed the Open Class Beef Complex; a 96,000 square foot building that held nearly 50 years of memories for many in the Huron community and across the entire state of South Dakota. Out of the ashes opportunity arose for the South Dakota State Fairgrounds to rebuild a multipurpose complex hosting livestock and equestrian shows, concerts, and events for all kinds. This new facility will draw audiences statewide together to celebrate youth, community, and the agricultural industry. Through that vision, The Dakota Events CompleX (DEX) was born. Butler Machinery Company...
Article Link
By James Mintert and Michael Langemeier, Purdue Center for Commercial Agriculture The Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer plummeted in May 2022 to a reading of just 99, the weakest farmer sentiment reading since April 2020. The May 2022 barometer reading marked just the 9th time since data collection began in fall 2015 that the overall measure of farmer sentiment fell below 100. The sentiment index is calculated each month from 400 U.S. agricultural producers’ responses to a telephone survey. This month’s survey was conducted from May 16-20, 2022. Agricultural producers’ perceptions regarding current conditions on their farms, as well...
Article Link
By Codi Vallery-Mills In late May, as cattle producers in western South Dakota finished branding and turned cattle out to summer pasture, news came that a major beef packing plant was being planned for the Rapid City, S.D. area. Megan Kingsbury a fifth generation South Dakota rancher made the announcement. She is the President and Managing Partner of Kingsbury & Associates and Sirius Realty of Rapid City, S.D., and Greenville, S.C. who is constructing the plant. In an interview with The Cattle Business Weekly Kingsbury says the plant, which is going by the name Western Legacy Development Corporation, is a...
Article Link
The Iowa Cattlemen’s Association (ICA) recently announced the results of its 2022 Carcass Challenge. Founded in 2010, ICA’s Carcass Challenge was created to showcase beef cattle genetics, feedyard management, and modern technology. Furthermore, Iowa’s only statewide fed-beef competition seeks to highlight continuous improvements within the cattle industry and provide cattlemen with a measurement of maximum cattle efficiency, carcass value, and net revenue of each steer. In November, 73 steers averaging 770 pounds were delivered to Sieren Beef, located near Harper, Iowa. Mitch Sieren, of Sieren Beef, fed out the group. At time of harvest, the group averaged 1,344 pounds...
Article Link
It is the first week of June and I am finishing up my final Spring bull sales with, Wilken Angus on Monday at Faith Livestock followed by the Joseph Angus Dispersal near Winner, SD on Friday. All in all, the bull sales in 2022 have been very good, despite the early drought conditions, followed by blizzard conditions across much of the region in the last half of April. While the weather was less than ideal, demand for bulls was quite strong. I also anticipate the cow sales this Summer and Fall will see good demand considering our low cow numbers along with the fact that most of the region will raise adequate feed this Summer. I am glad that my travel schedule is much less over the next few months as compared to February, March, and April. I am sure that all of you are wondering just like I am how long our gas and diesel can keep going, up, up, and up even more! It is quite concerning that filling up my pickup costs over 0 and filling up our F-350 with diesel runs around 0. Beyond that, the cost of filling an 18-wheeler pulling a cattle trailer or freight trailer is around [post_excerpt],000! We are all spending more money on everything from food to feed to posts to parts. We also hear that inflation is on the rise and so is the interest rates charged by banks. I am generally an optimist but, the average American household living on one or two salaries is no doubt going to feel an economic pinch. As the crops begin to grow and the cows are on Summer pasture, let’s hope Mother Nature is kind to all involved in agriculture, expenses trend lower and the price we receive next Fall keeps us in a profitable business.
Article Link
The Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) presented Dr. B. Lynn Gordon the BIF Ambassador Award June 2 during the group’s annual symposium in Las Cruces, New Mexico. This award is presented annually by BIF to a team or member of the media for his or her efforts in spreading the BIF message and its principles to a larger audience. Gordon has an enthusiastic passion for the beef industry and has dedicated her career to fostering beef improvement through her roles working with breed and state associations, the Extension service, as a freelance writer, and most recently as an agricultural leadership and...
Article Link
By Lura Roti for Millborn Seeds Recent changes to restrictions on prevent plant acres provide farmers with more options. This is good news for crop and cattle farmer Josh Larson. It’s May 31 and the part owner in a family farm and feeding operation near Columbia, South Dakota, has yet to finish planting. A late frost and excess moisture prevented the family from planting about 30 percent of their tillable acres. “What is so weird about this year, coming into spring we were pretty dry with very little snowfall. And then up north of us they received over 5-inches of rain....
Article Link
Dr. Jessie Juarez has been named the new director of South Dakota State University’s Professional Program in Veterinary Medicine (PPVM). “I am excited for the opportunity to provide leadership to the Professional Program in Veterinary Medicine as we educate the next generation of veterinarians to serve South Dakota, the region and beyond,” said Juarez. Juarez is the second person to serve as director of the new program, following in the footsteps of the former, recently retired director Dr. Gary Gackstetter. In her previous role, she served as the PPVM assistant director where she was heavily involved in managing the admissions...
Article Link
Colorado State researchers partner with American Hereford Association Colorado State University researchers are partnering with the American Hereford Association to support cattle producers and the beef industry in finding sustainable solutions to environmental and economic challenges. The new research aims to enhance understanding of genetic differences in seedstock relative to enteric methane production and nitrogen excretion while identifying selection tools that can help reduce beef’s carbon and environmental footprint. “We’re excited to begin this cooperative research agreement with Colorado State University,” says Jack Ward, executive vice president of the American Hereford Association, one of the largest beef breed associations in...
Article Link
I have had the privilege of serving on the South Dakota Cattlemen's Foundation for several years. We are just a couple of weeks away from the big event - the 2022 Prime Time Gala! It is always a good time with good friends for a GREAT cause! While the 1,700 Gala tickets are sold out, you can still attend the Hank Williams Jr. concert. It will no doubt be a concert to remember, and I am looking forward to the opening act, Riley Green! Go to www.ticketmaster.com and purchase your tickets for the concert today. Doors of the Denny Sanford Premier Center will...
Article Link
Announced on May 27 was the news that Kingsbury & Associates and Sirius Realty of Rapid City, SD. and Greenville, SC, have announced plans to construct an 8,000 head per day processing facility just south of Rapid City. The 1-million square foot facility will process beef and include a specialty bison line. The companies are currently in the research and development phase of the project. “Our aim is to restore competition in American meat processing,” said Megan Kingsbury, President and Managing Partner, who is spearheading the project. “I am a 5th generation producer from Western South Dakota, and I know how...
Article Link
From CBW News Desk It was a busy time for beef industry-related bills in Washington, D.C. last week. Here’s a look back at what happened. Butcher Block Act Passes unanimously In the U.S. House Agriculture Committee, legislation introduced by U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) passed unanimously out of the committee. The Butcher Block Act is a bipartisan bill which would establish a loan program at United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development for new and expanding meat processors and finance producer investment to drive competition within the meat packing industry. Additionally, it would allocate grants to entities to increase...
Article Link
From playing small-town bars to cutting her own music record singer Jessica Loobey tells us how her album came to be. By Codi Vallery-Mills On the verge of saying goodbye to her 20s, Jessica Loobey boarded a plane for Nashville, Tenn. not sure about the days ahead. On a whim she had called up a family friend who lived and worked in the Country Music Capital and asked if she could spend her 29th birthday being a fly on the wall with him at his music studio. Feeling like she was about to hit a major milestone in life she...
Article Link
By David P. Anderson, Professor and Extension Economist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service USDA released the May Cattle on Feed report on Friday, May 20th and it showed continued large numbers of cattle on feed. The headline numbers were: placements, 99.1, marketings, 97.8, and cattle on feed, 101.7, all reported as a percent of last year’s numbers. Placements and the number on feed were larger than the average pre-report estimates and so the report was regarded as being a negative one for the market. Digging into the report a little deeper indicates some news that is more positive than at...
Article Link
From News Reports Recent research suggests that American consumers are not familiar with the concept of regenerative agriculture compared to other food production methods, and thus, are not willing to pay premium prices for brands making these claims. The research survey was conducted by the International Food Information Council (IFIC) and included 1,000 adults representing the U.S. population. Over half of survey participants indicated they had heard of organic farming, crop rotation and sustainable farming. However, fewer were familiar with terms like soil health (13%), and regenerative agriculture (19%). The survey did find that survey participants who were college graduates...
Article Link
By Codi Vallery-Mills As the war in Ukraine enters into May – it’s the war's third month and National Beef Month here in the United States – Greater Omaha Packing Company sent its second shipment of beef to the war-racked country. Greater Omaha Packing Co. came about after World War I when Herman Cohen returned home from war with 0 in his pocket. The story goes he took that money straight to the Omaha stockyards where he invested it in cattle. Cohen and his son-in-law Henry Davis would grow the beef business into what it is today, processing 2,400 head...
Article Link
By Donnie Leddy, publisher We had a busy, but exciting weekend on May 14-15. On Saturday evening our daughter Kiera received her Juris Doctor with honors from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. Over the past three years, Kiera has been very busy attending law school, working for the Iowa Farm Bureau, and taking part in the Iowa legislative session. At last, she has fulfilled her goal of graduating from law school and relocating back to South Dakota to practice! Krecia and I are proud beyond words of her accomplishments. Then on Sunday afternoon, our son, Korbin graduated from Milbank High School. Korbin’s high school career was much different because of the pandemic. From finishing his in-person classes during his sophomore year in March to wearing masks much of his Junior year, I feel sorry for the students, the teachers, and the school administration. Nonetheless, he compiled a long list of accomplishments and is following in our footsteps by attending South Dakota State University this Fall. Our hearts go out to all who suffered severe devastation from our recent weather system. Many of our readers lost...
Article Link
By Elliott Dennis, Assistant Professor & Extension Livestock Economist Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Nebraska - Lincoln This past week the U.S. Federal Reserve voted to raise a key interest rate by a half point. This has received a noticeable amount of attention because it is already the second rate hike this year and the largest one-time increase since 2000. Similarly, meeting notes suggested that additional rate hikes will be discussed at future meetings this year. The vote was unanimous. The growing sentiment seems to be that the current rates of inflation need to be more controlled, and that...
Article Link
By M.P.Cremer Last week, I got the opportunity to speak with members of the Gallatin County 4-H club who have beef projects for their county fair. My speech focused on transparency and finding your place in agriculture, and like most public speakers, I opened the floor up for questions following my half-hour lecture. One of the questions I received was from someone who’d done their homework on me, as they asked to talk about the time I went vegan. For those of you who are new to this column: two years ago I went vegan for the season of...
Article Link
By Karla H. Wilke, UNL Cow/Calf Systems and Stocker Management & Mary Drewnoski, Nebraska Extension Beef Systems Specialist As the drought that has plagued the western Great Plains for over a year spreads across the Midwest, producers are making hard decisions about cowherd management. Drought is no stranger to most cow-calf producers so most have a plan for culling decisions related to about 20% of the cow herd. When drought threatens the grazing resources for the other 80%, difficult decisions have to be made. The first question that must be answered is should I feed them or sell them. This...
Article Link
The North Dakota Stockmen’s Association (NDSA)will be hosting its 2022 Spring Roundups, “Together Toward Tomorrow,” May 31, June 1, 2, 3, 6 and 7 in Montpelier, Towner, Bismarck, Maddock, Amidon and Carson, N.D. The Spring Roundups serve as the organization’s district meetings and will include socials, suppers, informational programs, NDSA Nominating Committee meetings and local brand inspector meetings. In each location, the brand inspectors meeting begins at 5 p.m., with the social and cornhole tournament at 5:30 p.m., the supper at 6:30 p.m. and the program and Nominating Committee meeting following. All times are local. “The Spring Roundups are designed...
Article Link
Walt Bones of Chancellor, S.D. has been named the 2022 Governor’s Ag Ambassador Award recipient. He will be recognized on Wednesday, June 22, as part of the annual Governor’s Agricultural Summit (Ag Summit) in Brookings. Bones is a fourth-generation producer and long-time advocate for the industry. He and his family operate a diversified crop, livestock, and commercial agribusiness on the family farm near Parker. Bones actively advocates for agriculture on the national, regional, and local levels and regularly hosts tours featuring his diverse operation, conservation efforts, and promotion of the agriculture lifestyle. In addition, Bones has served on multiple...
Article Link
The Flying Elbow is tucked in among other businesses on North 13th Street in Marshalltown, Iowa. Local business owners support one another by encouraging their customers to stop by a neighboring boutique, restaurant, and/or shop. And it’s clear - Iowa’s Best Burger Contest has not only increased foot traffic at The Flying Elbow, but the adjacent, small businesses. The Flying Elbow, an alternative sports bar, was six years in the making. It did not happen by chance; it is the result of pitfalls and perseverance. Now it’s been named Iowa’s Best Burger. Garrett Goodman, a Marshalltown native, considers himself...
Article Link
Wow! What a race Rich Strike ran....what a race. With odds of 80-1, he was a long shot to become the 148th Kentucky Derby Champion and outrun this year’s favorites Epicenter and Zandon. In addition, Rich Strike was entered just 30 seconds before the deadline when Ethereal Road scratched on Friday morning. Rich Strike's jockey, Sonny Leon had never been to the Kentucky Derby, his trainer, Eric Reed had never raced a horse at the Kentucky Derby and his owner, Richard Dawson, bought his first racehorse in 2019 and has won only a couple handful of races. Call it a miracle or beginner’s luck, Rich Strike was purchased for ,000 but won a whopping [post_excerpt].86 million. Touted as the most exciting two minutes in horse racing, a bet on Rich Strike paid back 0! The horse, Rich Strike, his jockey, Sonny Leon, his trainer, Eric Reed, and his owner Richard Dawson have all become a worldwide phenomenon by overcoming 80-1 odds on a last-second entry into the 148th running of the Kentucky Derby. It goes to show that in the mixed-up world we live in from high fuel prices to unpredictable weather patterns to political actions that make you scratch your head to an all-out war on the other side of the ocean, anything and I mean anything can happen and dreams can come true! Although I have never been to the Kentucky Derby, I have toured Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky a couple of times. The nostalgia of the racetrack is amazing dating back to its beginning in 1875. I may not be the biggest horse racing fan, but in the past, I have spent time in Ft. Pierre and Aberdeen watching our local breeders, owners and trainers run horses on weekends during the Spring years ago. And the replays to this race were like no other. Call it luck or skill, Rich Strike proved that being in the right place at the right time and giving it your all, anything can happen in the game of life! I hope he goes on and wins the Triple Crown. Go Rich Strike GO!
Article Link
Brookings, S.D. - South Dakota State University researchers from the Departments of Animal Science and Natural Resource Management have been awarded [post_excerpt] million by the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture Inter-Disciplinary Engagement in Animal Systems (IDEAS) program to fund a precision ranching research project. The IDEAS program addresses the complexity of social, cultural, environmental, economic and technological challenges facing the food and agriculture system in the United States today by funding applied science that occurs at the intersection of multiple disciplines. For 2022, NIFA awarded .3 million in grants to eight universities, one of...
Article Link
I would like to wish each and every mother a Happy Mother's Day! A special heavenly Mother's Day wish goes to my mother. Moreover, I hope my wife Krecia has a special day! I would also like to wish Krecia's mother, Sharon a special Mother's Day wish. For most of us involved in agriculture, Mom is the person who puts in long hours without the recognition they deserve. From preparing meals and doing laundry to helping with daily chores and all the record-keeping, the list of daily duties is endless. We have had quite the start to 2022! From bull sales to...
Article Link
by Lura Roti In a nod to the upcoming Mother’s Day holiday we offer thoughts from two farm and ranch moms – Camp Crook, S.D. ranch mom and grandma, Kay Latham and Conde, S.D. farm mom, Stephanie Sombke. Rough and tumble. This is how Kay Latham describes her now grown sons, John, 35, and Jason, 33. “They weren’t the “color a picture with mom type.” Although they are totally different from each other, they were 100 percent boys – rough and tumble,” Latham said. Giving their sons plenty of space to play and outdoor work to do were among the...
Article Link
From Center for Food Integrity The Coalition for Responsible in Agriculture, which includes representatives from food companies, academia, civil society, technology developers, farmers and related associations, released a Framework for Responsible Use of Gene Editing in Agriculture in late February. The Framework outlines a set of principles and best practices that demonstrate an organization’s commitment to using gene editing to advance the interests of agriculture, the food system and society in general. Companies, businesses and academic or government organizations that use gene editing or its outputs in food or agriculture are invited to join the Coalition and adopt the...
Article Link
By Codi Vallery-Mills Overnight the grass has turned green from sopping up the almost two inches of moisture we received over the weekend. Thank the good Lord. We are at the end of our calving season and capping off the end of it with a much-needed snow/rainstorm was wonderful. It takes a little pressure off the number of cattle we are contemplating selling off. For the most part our calving this year was pretty normal. Sure, we had some of the regular things go awry; we had a few first-calf heifers that we had to assist. There were a...
Article Link
By Codi Vallery-Mills Two hearings on the Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act were held last week on April 26-27. First, in the Senate Ag Committee and then the next day in a hearing with the House of Representative’s Ag Committee. During her opening remarks and line of questioning, Sen. Deb Fischer of Nebraska a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and a sponsor of Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act highlighted how her legislation would ensure the success of every segment of the beef supply chain. She also noted that “while there is near-universal concern over the lack of price discovery and market transparency, voluntary efforts to address...
Article Link
Big Sky Processing plans May opening By Jamie Henneman After more than a year of planning and construction, Lewistown, Mont. is set to have a new USDA approved butcher shop starting in May. The new plant, Big Sky Processing LLC, is owned by cattle buyer and entrepreneur Nicole Wines. Wines said she was inspired to get the project going after watching the profitability disconnect in her work as a cattle buyer. “There is a desperate need for a local processing facility and retail space as a lot of the smaller slaughter plants have been shut down due to regulation changes...
Article Link
The North Dakota Stockmen’s Association (NDSA) and North Dakota Stockmen’s Foundation (NDSF) have teamed up to support the state’s cattle ranchers who suffered significant impacts in back-to-back storms this month. First, the record-breaking statewide Blizzard Haley dumped more than 40 inches of snow in some areas and coupled it with consistent 50-mile-an-hour winds. Then, Mother Nature delivered a second, serious blow last weekend, pounding livestock operations with a combination of perils, including severe winds, several feet of snow, rain and/or ice. Livestock industry impacts range from widespread livestock death and illness to damaged buildings and fences. Feed resources are also...
Article Link
Wine Glass Ranch of Imperial, Neb. has been selected as the recipient of the 2022 Nebraska Leopold Conservation Award®. Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the prestigious award recognizes farmers, ranchers and forestland owners who inspire others with their dedication to land, water and wildlife habitat resources in their care. Sand County Foundation and national sponsor American Farmland Trust present the Leopold Conservation Award to private landowners in 24 states for extraordinary achievement in voluntary conservation. In Nebraska, the ,000 award is presented with Alliance for the Future of Agriculture in Nebraska (AFAN), Cargill and the Nebraska Environmental...
Article Link
The Bien Ranch of Veblen, S.D. has been selected as the recipient of the 2022 South Dakota Leopold Conservation Award®. Given in honor of renowned conservationist, Aldo Leopold, the award recognizes farmers, ranchers and forestland owners who inspire others with their dedication to the land, water and wildlife habitat management on private, working land. In South Dakota, the award is presented annually by Sand County Foundation, American Farmland Trust, South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association, and the South Dakota Grassland Coalition. Bien Ranch is operated by Neil and Muriel Bien, along with Neil’s brothers Boyd and Lyle and their families....
Article Link
Equine experiences go corporate By Jamie Henneman To find out what makes good leaders and better teams, companies in America are turning to a new expert: the horse. In a unique method that is gaining popularity, facilitators like Merill Morse of Big Fork, MT are using experiences with horses to help people hone their leadership skills both in and out of the office. Morse acts as a coach and facilitator in Equine Experiential Learning, a method that allows people to interact with horses in a way that increases awareness of their personal leadership style. She specializes in working with...
Article Link
By Codi Vallery-Mills The 25th anniversary of the infamous April 1997 blizzard was last week. It was devastating to agricultural operations in North Dakota and surrounding states that year. Estimates were that 123,000 cattle, approximately 10 percent of North Dakota’s herd valued at million, perished in the multi-day blizzard. Like a repeat of a bad history lesson, last week North Dakota cattle producers once again faced a historical April blizzard. The National Weather Service has proclaimed the blizzard (now named Haley) as a historical one indeed – dumping up to 40 inches of snow in places, with sustained winds of...
Article Link
April blizzards may bring May flowers, but blizzards can also cause newborn calves and other livestock to become smothered, trampled and die due to the conditions created by adverse weather. These death losses can create an emotional and financial burden for livestock producers. North Dakota State University (NDSU) Extension specialists encourage ranchers to inquire about the Livestock Indemnity Program provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA). “The Livestock Indemnity Program provides benefits to agricultural producers for livestock deaths in excess of normal mortality caused by adverse weather, disease or by attacks by animals reintroduced into...
Article Link
Two South Dakota ranchers talk about the busiest time of year By Codi Vallery-Mills South Dakota cattlemen and women took precautions last week as forecasts varied on how the spring blizzard that ultimately hit Montana and North Dakota would play out. Cattle producers, Laura Hicks and Tom Schnabel took time out of blizzard prep and calving duties to give The Cattle Business Weekly reports on how their calving seasons were going thus far. Laura Hicks, Martin, South Dakota In south central South Dakota, Laura Hicks ranches with her husband Mike and their adult sons Dustin and Brady, along with his...
Article Link
Read about the A-PLUS Act and other beef industry happenings in this ag news roundup below. From CBW News Desk This Ag News Roundup first kicks off with the recent introduction of the Amplifying Processing of Livestock in the United States Act, or the A-PLUS Act by Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-MO) and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA). The bill is said to clarify regulations under the Packers and Stockyards Act to allow livestock auction markets to hold an ownership interest in, finance, or participate in the management or operation of a packing facility that has a slaughter capacity of less than...
Article Link
Prices pull ag economic outlook downward By James Mintert and Michael Langemeier, Purdue Center for Commercial Agriculture The Ag Economy Barometer dipped in March to the weakest farmer sentiment reading since May 2020 which was in the early days of the pandemic. The March 2022 reading of 113 was 12 points lower than a month earlier and 36% lower than one year ago. The decline in the barometer was driven both by weaker perceptions of current conditions and expectations for the future. The Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer sentiment index is calculated each month from 400 U.S. agricultural producers’...
Article Link
The Biden Administration recently appointed Steve Dick as the new State Executive Director (SED) for the USDA South Dakota Farm Service Agency (FSA). Dick joined the South Dakota FSA team on April 11, 2022. Dick has served as the Executive Director of Ag United for South Dakota since January 2005. In this capacity he worked with the South Dakota Farm Bureau, South Dakota Cattlemen, South Dakota Pork Producers, South Dakota Soybeans, South Dakota Corn Growers, South Dakota Dairy Producers, and the South Dakota Poultry Industries Association to organize events and activities connecting consumers with South Dakota farm and ranch families....
Article Link
Guillermo Scaglia has been named the new head of North Dakota State University’s (NDSU) Department of Animal Sciences. He assumed his role on March 31. As department head, Scaglia is responsible for providing statewide and national leadership to foster high-quality and effective research, teaching and extension activities in Animal Sciences. Scaglia comes to NDSU from the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, where he was a professor at the Iberia Research Station. “We are excited to welcome Dr. Scaglia to North Dakota and NDSU,” says Greg Lardy, vice president for Agricultural Affairs at NDSU. “His leadership skills and his background in...
Article Link
By Elizabeth Backes-Belew, Ph.D., Nutritionist, Beef Technical Solutions, Purina Mills Mineral in a feeder isn’t doing anyone any good if cattle aren’t eating it. Feeder placement and management are key to optimizing intake and your return on investment. Here are my top three tips for managing cattle mineral feeders: 1. Move mineral sites to enhance grazing When first putting mineral out, especially during hot temperatures, place mineral tubs or feeders near loafing areas, water sources and shade. Once cattle start consuming mineral consistently, you can spread mineral locations out further into the pasture. If you have undergrazed pasture areas, you...
Article Link
The South Dakota Animal Industry Board has named Dr. Beth Thompson as State Veterinarian and Executive Secretary of the South Dakota Animal Industry Board. “I'm very excited to join the SD Animal Industry Board and its talented staff” said Thompson “South Dakota is my home state, and I am committed to working with the Board and South Dakota producers to protect and preserve our livestock industry.” Dr. Thompson, originally from Groton, South Dakota, obtained her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) and Swine Certificate from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine in 2007. She practiced in a Minnesota based...
Article Link
By Lura Roti for SDFU From the day they knew they would spend their lives together, three criteria have guided most life decisions made by Layne and LeAnn Lux. “We wanted to live in the country, own our own business and raise our own kids in a safe place,” shared Layne, 53. So, in 1996 when they had the opportunity to purchase an old dairy farm halfway between Leola and Eureka, they took it. “I never set out to be a dairy farmer,” explained Layne, whose family farmed in McPherson County. “Back to the criteria. In order for us...
Article Link
By Brent Gloy & David Widmar For the last two years, Agricultural Economic Insights has carved out time each spring to summarize a few key macroeconomic factors to watch. In 2020, we wondered about the massive economic contraction as the COVID virus shut down the economy. Last year, we were optimistic about the vaccine rollout and the hopes for an economic recovery. For this year’s list, the U.S. economy is facing higher prices and global conflict. This year’s macroeconomic watchlist highlights five key issues and discusses some of the implications for agriculture. Inflation You don’t have to search very far...
Article Link
By Kindra Gordon Feed for livestock always tops the list as the largest expense – and for feed growers it is also one of the most stressful given the unpredictable challenges of weather and precipitation, as well as costs for equipment and transportation. So what if those variables could be eliminated and nutritious feedstuffs could be grown on-the farm every day of the year? That’s the idea behind indoor growing systems like HydroGreen, which utilizes hydroponics to grow crops such as barley and wheat in a year-round controlled environment with minimal use of water, labor or land. HydroGreen is a...
Article Link
Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 12.2 million head on March 1, 2022. The inventory was 1 percent above March 1, 2021. This is the highest March 1 inventory since the series began in 1996. Placements in feedlots during February totaled 1.85 million head, 9 percent above 2021. Net placements were1.79 million head. During February, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 360,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 325,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 505,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 468,000 head,...
Article Link
By Codi Vallery-Mills In stories of coyotes in Nebraska and South Dakota, the antagonist character is always the same – a wily coyote bent on filling its belly. It’s the protagonist or hero character where things vary. Playing the role of the hero in South Dakota is the landowner, Game Fish & Park’s Wildlife Damage Management program, and USDA APHIS Wildlife Service. In Nebraska’s story, the role is filled by local ranchers and USDA’s APHIS Wildlife Service. The Wildlife Damage Specialist (commonly referred to as state trappers) element found in South Dakota is missing and if you ask livestock...
Article Link
“If we can’t grow grass, we can’t make money. That’s the bottom line right there,” said Pat Guptill, a rancher from Quinn in western South Dakota. When he and his wife Mary Lou sold two-thirds of their cow herd last year, it was a measured, economic decision rather than one made in panic. A board member of the South Dakota Grassland Coalition, Guptill said many ranchers are likely to be short on grass this year again, even with normal precipitation this spring. He and the SDGC board are urging ranchers to think seriously now about how they’re going to protect...
Article Link
UNL will build a multi-disciplinary center to assist state, region’s small processors By Cara Pesek The University of Nebraska-Lincoln announced plans to develop the Small Meat Processing Plant of the Future during a roundtable discussion at the Nebraska Association of Meat Processors annual convention in Grand Island. “The Small Plant of the Future will be a multi-disciplinary center to strengthen the meat industry in the region,” said Clint Krehbiel, head of UNL’s Animal Science department during the roundtable. The plant, which will be located alongside existing UNL Animal Science facilities, will serve as a regional processing hub for local...
Article Link
By Harlen Persinger Much of the nation’s beef herds are raised in the Western and Plains states. But persistent drought, skyrocketing transportation costs and high feed prices may start pushing the U.S. beef herds east to states where there is more feed and pasture. However, it’s tough to make predictions on where the production and density of beef herds might stack up in the next six months based on weather trends because weather is always changing. USDA is projecting a 3% decline in beef production for this year, including a 5% decline the second half of 2022. The time frame...
Article Link
From CBW News Desk Cattle country sees wins in Omnibus bill The Senate passed the Fiscal Year 2022 Omnibus Appropriations package. In addition to providing funding for a number of programs of importance to U.S. beef cattle producers, the bill also maintained key provisions the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and other ag groups have long advocated for, such as the Electronic Logging Device exemption for livestock haulers, important EPA regulatory relief, and an extension of the Livestock Mandatory Reporting program. Also included in the package is a Cattle Contract Library pilot program. The pilot program marks a win for the...
Article Link
By Sydney Meyer Viewers from around the world get an inside look at calving season on a beef operation in Spencer, S.D., through the KELOLAND Cow Cam. The cow cam is live 24/7 in the calving barn at Lehrman Family Simmentals for the duration of their calving season, which runs from January to April. For the past eight years the cow cam has been live streamed on the KELOLAND website from the Lehrman’s beef operation. The Lehrman family enjoys providing consumers with the opportunity to learn about the birthing process and all that goes in to taking care...
Article Link
FDA makes low-risk determination for marketing of products from genome-edited beef cattle after safety review The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced it has made a low-risk determination for the marketing of products, including food, from two genome-edited beef cattle and their offspring after determining that the intentional genomic alteration (IGA) does not raise any safety concerns (low-risk determination). The IGA results in the equivalent genotype (genetic make-up) and short-hair coat trait seen in some conventionally bred cattle, known as a “slick” coat. This is the FDA’s first low-risk determination for enforcement discretion for an IGA in an animal for...
Article Link
“Pray for rain. Plan for drought.” That’s the advice rangeland experts, conservation officials, and ranchers with experience in developing drought plans have for South Dakota ranchers as they head into a year that could have worse impacts from drought than last year. The March 10 U.S. Drought Monitor Map shows all of western South Dakota in either moderate or severe drought, and the rest of the state either in moderate drought or abnormally dry, with the exception of northeastern South Dakota and counties along the eastern border. “I’d be concerned about the possibility of drought this year, with the exception...
Article Link
Products covered under Guidance #263 are to be removed from over-the-counter availability by June 11, 2023. By Becky Funk, DVM & Jesse Fulton, Director of Nebraska Beef Quality Assurance In 2017 the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began implementing the Guidance for the Industry #213 otherwise known as the Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD). Implementation of the VFD focused on veterinary oversight of medically important antibiotics delivered to livestock via feed and/or water, leaving a loophole for those products that were available over-the-counter (OTC) by other dosage forms. Because of this, on June 11, 2021, the Food and Drug Administration quietly...
Article Link
By Codi Vallery-Mills No one was more surprised that Patti Wilson was named 1975’s Nebraska Angus Queen than Patti Wilson herself. She states it was an honor that “caused me great discomfort because I am not a queenly person at all.” But the selection committee likely saw something in Patti that day that she was yet to discover in herself – unexpected talent. Decades later Wilson now reflects back on those hidden talents and how she has used them to gain success in the agricultural industry. In 1976 she would be on the UNL Livestock Judging team that won the...
Article Link
Practices in Canada, across country sharpen knowledge of cattle By Connie Sieh Groop The white cattle from White Rose Charolais outside of Clearwater, Minn., draw attention at cattle shows. Roger Hinrichs, 62, handpicks genetics for his herd that concentrates on providing quality, using an extensive embryo transfer program. These performance-oriented cattle often get tapped as winners. A case where a steer wasn’t a steer started the Hinrichs Charolais herd. “My dad bought a potload of cattle to feed in 1963,” Roger said. “In there were 13 Charolais heifers and what was supposed to be one steer. Only that steer was...
Article Link
By Donnie Leddy, Publisher This time of the year, I find myself filling up my pickup once a day or more. And boy, has it changed from a year or two ago. In fact, gas is currently costing a dollar a gallon more than it did just a year ago and yes in my F150 Ford that's about . It is absurd that prices have risen nearly 10 percent in the last week! My travels often take me through Mitchell, SD with a stop at Graham's Sinclair located off interstate 90 at exit 332. Tyler Graham the owner/operator watches the price of crude oil, diesel, and gasoline on a daily basis. " I have never seen prices rise so quickly in a week, we will no...
Article Link
By Codi Vallery-Mills, Editor The wind is blowing from the east today and the weather stations have made notice of an impending winter storm. Those who need snow are hoping to catch some while others are praying for a miss. The subzero temperatures are not fun, but it is something the farmers and ranchers in this region are accustomed to and can prepare for. In church today we prayed for those who will be tending to livestock in the bitter cold. We know it doesn’t come with ease or without danger – tractors that won’t start and exposure to freezing...
Article Link
701x is thrilled to announce the launch of the 701x Tag, an electronic ear tag for cattle that allows ranchers to better understand where their cattle are, where they have been, and what they are doing. 701x develops and manufactures highly innovative precision agriculture technologies for livestock. The company has a goal of empowering ranchers to do more with less. The 701x team is invested in building the future of ranching and wants to improve the lives of ranchers with their technology. Following the release of their cattle management software in January of 2022, the startup company rolls out a...
Article Link
Silage cutting business adds to bottom line By Connie Sieh Groop Diversity and cooperation are key to the success of the Randall Farm and Feedlot south of Chamberlain, S.D. “I have a farm, a feedlot, a cow-calf operation and a silage-cutting business,” Bart Randall said, describing the multi-faceted operation. “MaKaela and I expanded our feedlot in 2007; my dad Roger expanded his feedlot operation as well. We raise about half of our calves and purchase the rest. My brother Ryan purchased a feedlot in 2013. Calves are fed to finish in all three locations.” Bart said that as a family...
Article Link
Moving from La Nina to neutral for summer Compiled by Kindra Gordon The National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center has released their spring and summer forecast for 2022 and predicts that La Nina conditions will continue in the Northern Hemisphere from March through May, but are weakening. Moving into May through July, there’s about a 60% likelihood that the weather pattern will moderate to a neutral position. This is currently the second consecutive year of La Nina – and forecasters say it is rare for La Nina to stick around for a third fall and winter season moving into the...
Article Link
By Codi Vallery-Mills When it became evident on the evening of Wednesday, Feb. 23 that Russia was going to invade all of Ukraine and not just the Russian separatist areas of the country, Ryan Wagner of Roslyn, S.D. readied himself to watch the grain markets. Wagner farms with his family in northeastern South Dakota and is an avid follower of the commodity markets. It didn’t necessarily surprise him that corn, wheat, and soybeans all took wild swings in prices – from limit up to limit down – last Thursday and Friday. “You saw in the overnight trading in...
Article Link
By Donnie Leddy, Publisher I am certain we would all agree that the news from Ukraine is very unsettling. At first, it was almost unthinkable that the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, a position he has held since 2012, would attack the neighboring country of Ukraine. You probably recall that when the "Cold War" ended and the dissolution of the Soviet Union was completed by December 1991 the threat of war would be no more. But now, Putin has decided to have his military invade the neighboring country of Ukraine. Ukraine is the second-largest country in Europe next to Russia,...
Article Link
By Codi Vallery-Mills Americans are eating more meat than ever — an estimated record-high 225 pounds of red meat and poultry per capita in 2020, 0.2 percent more than in 2019. While U.S. consumers might be eating more meat, they are also seeking out protein alternatives. Let’s look at what has been happening in the protein sector the last year. According to a recent Nielsen Homescan survey, 39 percent of Americans are actively trying to eat more plant-based foods. This consumerism shift is bolstering the global meat substitute market, potentially pushing profits of textured vegetable protein, tofu, seitan, and other...
Article Link
Austin Hill was first to the checkered flag, and the beef, as he won the 41st season-opening race for the NASCAR Xfinity Series – the Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner.® 300. For the second year the Federation of State Beef Councils, on behalf of the Beef Checkoff, partnered with the Daytona International Speedway to sponsor the race one day ahead of the legendary DAYTONA 500. “From the shared emphasis on family values and legacies in both racing and cattle farming and ranching, to the love of beef on the grill, beef and NASCAR just make sense,” said Brad Hastings, 2022...
Article Link
By Kindra Gordon With over 4,700 Walmart stores across the U.S., Walmart knows the American consumer better than anyone. Did you know that 90% of the U.S. population lives within 10 miles of a Walmart store? And interestingly, while 50% of Walmart shoppers are in the income bracket that relies on every day low prices, 28% of Walmart shoppers rank in the top 20% of income in the U.S. These were a few of the demographic details Lamar Steiger shared during a presentation highlighting Walmart’s efforts to improve their retail beef offering to customers for the future. Steiger, who is...
Article Link
By Kindra Gordon As the largest grocer in America, Walmart sees and hears firsthand what consumers want when it comes to food. With regard to beef, the message consumers are giving Walmart is this: “More than ever they want a good beef eating experience every time,” says Lamar Steiger, a rancher and private consultant to Walmart on beef procurement. Steiger was in Rapid City, SD, Feb. 1, 2022, in conjunction with the Black Hills Stock Show and shared remarks with area beef producers at a cattle forum hosted by animal health company Boehringer Ingelheim. For Steiger, it was a return...
Article Link
By Kierra Leddy “Beef is not beef,” was the takeaway message from Don Close, Rabo AgriFinance economist, who spoke during Cattlemen’s College at NCBA’s Cattle Industry Convention. His presentation identified potential market disruptors, what our competitors are doing, our customer outlook, and why the U.S. imports beef. So where in the world are the big cattle herds? Close says the top four countries with the largest cattle herds are India, Brazil, China, and the U.S. Ironically, even though India has the largest cattle herd, Close labeled them as a market disruptor. A domestic market for meat consumption exists but it...
Article Link
The 78th Annual Watertown Winter Farm Show was held Feb. 9-12 in Watertown, S.D. Put on annually by the Watertown Chamber of Commerce’s Ag Committee, the event is designed for farmers and livestock producers in the southeast region of South Dakota. The event though brings cattle to its livestock shows and sale from an even larger region than that. The Watertown Winter Farm Show boasts events for six different breeds of cattle – Angus, Hereford, Charolais, Shorthorn, Maine Anjou and Simmental. Entries this year came from South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and Wisconsin. Winning Supreme Row honors for...
Article Link
Three producer groups sit down together to discuss hot topics By Codi Vallery-Mills It is fair to say more ink has been dedicated to covering the U.S. cattle markets this past year than in years prior. Calls for market reform, transparency, and anti-competitive measures to create better prices for cattle producers have all taken center stage. And they have taken the spotlight in part due to a lack of unified voice in the cattle sector. On Feb. 1 in Rapid City during the Black Hills Stock Show a panel discussion entitled “Need for Unity in the Cattle Industry”...
Article Link
The popular CattleFax Outlook Seminar, held as part of the 2022 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show in Houston, shared expert market and weather analysis. Cattle price and profitability trends for producers are pointed in the right direction, even as challenges and uncertainty persist with continued disruptions from the pandemic. While issues around labor and packing capacity have lingered, both are expected to improve in the year ahead. These expansions in capacity combined with strong global and domestic consumer beef demand suggests increased profitability across segments, signaling a market that is healthier and more stable in the year ahead,...
Article Link
By Codi Vallery-Mills She has meetings with her banker about the Red Angus herd she is building; is deeply interested in all things animal science as it pertains to cattle, and she is a loyal nursemaid to her family’s cowherd during calving season – after all, it is her favorite time of year. This all describes the 2021 South Dakota Women in Ag Young Gun in Agriculture honoree Brylee Grill of Hot Springs, S.D. Brylee is the 15-year-old daughter of Brad and Trixie Grill and sister to Braden who ranch and raise registered Red Angus cattle. A freshman at Hot...
Article Link
Beef demand still a priority among consumers By Kindra Gordon Oklahoma State University Extension livestock marketing specialist Derrell Peel makes his living observing and analyzing the beef industry – and the past two years have given him plenty of material to work with. From labor issues, infrastructure needs to animal disease threats, a packing plant fire, weather events, and an unprecedented global pandemic, Peel says, “It’d sure be nice if we could have 12-24 months without all these things for a while.” But, he knows the unexpected “black swan” events that typically seemed to only occur once or twice...
Article Link
Top honors go to the Hereford and Angus breeds Purebred cattle breeders vied for the coveted ,000 Supreme Row purse, sponsored by Tri-State Neighbor, The First National Bank in Sioux Falls and Runnings, during the week of the Sioux Empire Livestock Show Jan. 25-30 in Sioux Falls. The Hereford, VSC Getting Gritty With It 001J, was named Supreme Row Bull. Consigned by Voegele Show Cattle, Lennox, S.D., he was sired by PHHPCC 812 True Grit 002 and out of Miss Princess Beck 49C. He sold for ,250 to Greg Kroupa, White Lake, S.D. The Angus, BPC Danaka 51J, was...
Article Link
By Twila Schmitt Dennis Schmig of rural Stockholm, S.D. humbly describes himself as an “old cow man.” Others see so much more as Schmig will be honored during the 77th Annual Watertown Winter Farm Show. The Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce Ag Committee, which organizes the Watertown Winter Farm Show, annually honors an individual or family who has spent years contributing to its success by dedicating the Farm Show to their name. In 2022, two individuals will share the honor – Dennis Schmig and Al Raeder of Watertown. Schmig was instrumental in establishing the first Simmental Show & Sale at...
Article Link
By Twila Schmitt Not many farm families live nine miles away from their land and livestock. Even fewer farmers teach ag and finance classes full time. But this unique combination has worked exceptionally well for Al Raeder. “I have always been involved in our farming operation,” said Raeder, a long-time Ag Committee member and former chairman who will be honored during the 77th annual Watertown Winter Farm Show. “Part of our farm has been in our family for 130 years.” The Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce Ag Committee, which organizes the Watertown Winter Farm Show, annually honors an individual or...
Article Link
Here’s what you need to know as you arrive in Rapid City for the Black Hills Stock Show and Rodeo Rapid City. By Codi Vallery-Mills With the renovation and new construction on the Summit Arena now complete The Monument (formerly the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center) is ready for Rodeo Rapid City and the Black Hills Stock Show as it arrives in Rapid City, S.D. Jan. 28-Feb. 5. With the addition of the Summit Arena, the Sutton family and stock show staff have added events and increased vendor space. Kim Sutton says the Sutton rodeo family is “incredibly excited to host...
Article Link
By Rita Brhel The big news during this week of the 97th South Dakota Legislature was testimony heard for and against a proposal promising grasslands tax relief particularly for West River ranchers. HB1039, introduced by Rep. Trish Ladner (Dist. 30) of Hot Springs and Rep. Jessica Castleberry (Dist. 35) of Pennington, would allow agricultural land to be categorized as noncropland regardless of soil type if the elevation is greater than 1,950 feet above sea level and is either native grassland or has been seeded to perennial vegetation for at least 20 years. The property in question can be used for...
Article Link
By Codi Vallery-Mills When you talk to Linda Gilbert you quickly realize the pride the woman holds for her family, industry, and region of the world. She ranches in rancher country, otherwise known as Harding County, in northwestern South Dakota, with her husband Ray and son, Lloyd, and daughter-in-law, Patty. It’s a sixth-generation ranch that began when Ray’s grandmother came from Iowa and staked a claim. Through the years the Gilbert family name has been associated with pertinent South Dakota Stockgrower Association activities, the Cattlemen’s Beef Board, and most recently a national championship title when granddaughter Sawyer Gilbert won the...
Article Link
The South Dakota Beef Industry Council (SDBIC) will place beef center stage at multiple events at the 2022 Black Hills Stock Show and Rodeo Rapid City. This year’s stock show will take place January 28 - February 5, 2022 in Rapid City, South Dakota. SDBIC employees, SDBIC Board of Directors and Junior Beef Ambassadors will showcase BEEF to thousands of people throughout the region. The new Beef and Bronc Experience, located in the Rodeo Zone, will provide attendees the opportunity to learn the beef story from pasture to plate including the chance to attend the Beef, Broncs and Beer event...
Article Link
Ben Lodoen, Westhope, North Dakota, was selected as the 2022 Red Angus Herdsman of the Year at the National Red Angus Open Show during Cattlemen’s Congress in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Lodoen was presented with the award, which was not revealed until the presentation, prior to the selection of the grand champion open female on Jan. 4, 2022. Lodoen was very involved in his family’s ranch early on in life. As a teenager, he took his younger siblings to livestock shows around the country and invested many hours studying cattle and herd sires that would improve his family’s operation....
Article Link
By Codi Vallery-Mills If anyone is questioning how the Black Hills Stock Show happens every year, Haven Stuck has the answer. Volunteers. He himself has volunteered with the Black Hills Stock Show and the Central States Fair many times through the years helping to put the two events on. Stuck says its people donating their time and talents has helped the annual events become successful. Stuck is this year’s Black Hills Stock Show & Rodeo Silver Spur Hall of Fame honoree. He will be recognized on Feb. 2 during the Buckles & Bling Heritage Awards during...
Article Link
By Codi Vallery-Mills Routinely ranking in the top 10 for high-selling horses at the Truck Defender Horse Sale at the Black Hills Stock Show is not an item Paul and Jana Griemsman sweep aside. The couple has been fortunate to have their horses or client horses bring top dollar at the annual winter event in South Dakota, but it’s been hard work to get them there. And that’s why the couple has been chosen as this year’s Horse People of the Year honorees by the Black Hills Stock Show. When Cattle Business Weekly caught up with Paul...
Article Link
The virtuous cycle of beef production was the focus of the American Gelbvieh Association National Convention keynote speaker, Clay Mathis, Ph.D., director of the King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management. Mathis opened the annual convention with a presentation that offered attendees a new perspective on the incorporation of consumer demand on long-term ranch management strategy, and the hard trends producers can use to build a resilient operation. “You can think of these hard trends as ideas or things that we know exist,” Mathis said. “We may not know the magnitude, but we know that the trend exists.” Mathis noted a...
Article Link
By Brent Gloy and David Widmar, Agricultural Economic Insights The new year is a great time for reflection and planning. Each year we challenge ourselves by reviewing the previous year’s top stories and pondering the biggest uncertainties, unknowns, and questions that the new year might have in store. There are many benefits of doing this, but we find it helps us think more clearly about the unknowns, but it’s also a humbling reminder that it’s impossible to anticipate the biggest unknowns for even a year. With that, we present what we think are currently the biggest issues and questions...
Article Link
By Rita Brhel Another attempt at grassland tax relief has been introduced in the South Dakota Legislature. HB1039, introduced by Rep. Trish Ladner (Dist. 30) of Hot Springs and Sen. Jessica Castleberry (Dist. 35) of Pennington, made its debut in the House on Jan. 11. The bill proposes that agricultural land be categorized as noncropland regardless of soil type as long as the elevation is greater than 1,950 feet above sea level, is either native grassland or has been seeded to perennial vegetation for at least 20 years, and is grazed by livestock or left unharvested. HB1039 was referred to...
Article Link
By Wendy Sweeter, for the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce Dana J. Dykhouse has been selected as the 2022 Agribusiness Citizen of the Year by the Agribusiness Division of the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce. Banking was not always the career goal for Dykhouse, the long-serving president of First PREMIER Bank. Growing up on a small family farm near Rock Rapids, Iowa, Dykhouse’s parents were CPAs. His dad would say he needed something to do after sitting at a desk for eight hours, so they ran a small crop operation with cattle, a few hogs and Quarter Horses. ...
Article Link
By Wendy Sweeter, for the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce The Poppens family of Lennox, South Dakota, continues the farming tradition of generations before them. The Poppens family has been selected as the 2022 Farm Family of the Year by the Agribusiness Division of the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce. Dave Poppens’ grandpa built the house his nephew, Eric, now lives in northeast of Lennox in 1928. Dave’s dad, Robert, and his siblings grew up on that operation and his brother, Gary, lived in that same house from the mid-1970s to 2006 when Eric moved into the...
Article Link
By Rita Brhel As is undoubtedly happening in states across the nation, Nebraska lawmakers have the pressure this legislative session to pass what is perceived as the best proposals for how to spend the state’s 1.7 billion in federal funds under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA). Adding to the pressure in Nebraska is that this year’s session is only 60 days from start to finish, and as the second session of the 107th Legislature, senators are debating not only new legislation but carryover proposals. “There’s a lot of revenue available that could be spent,” said Sen. Dave...
Article Link
The Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce has named the Poppens family as the 2022 Farm Family of the Year and Dana Dykhouse as the 2022 Agribusiness Citizen of the Year. The Poppenses raise livestock and grow corn and soybeans on their farm northeast of Lennox, South Dakota. The family operation runs under the name OK Corral. Family members include Dave and Charis Poppens, Cheryl Poppens, Eric and Ginger Poppens, and Brian and Desiree Poppens. Dana Dykhouse is the CEO of First PREMIER Bank. He grew up on a small family farm near Rock Rapids, Iowa and earned a degree...
Article Link
Remember, little things make a big difference By Troy Smith When building cattle handling facilities, the construction material options are numerous, ranging from brand-new wood posts and lumber to custom-built all-steel systems. Corrals and processing areas can also be fashioned from repurposed materials such as oil field pipe, sucker rod or highway guardrails. Used railroad ties and power line poles often serve as posts. Prefabricated fence panels, made of pipe or wire mesh, are available through farm and ranch suppliers. Producer preferences for durability and appearance typically influence choice of building materials, but final decisions are often based on budget...
Article Link
News in the beef sector this week includes a gold-leafed steak, reduced slaughter rates, higher exports and ground beef recalls BY CBW STAFF Gold-leafed steaks A Vietnamese hotel is offering diners the chance to try gold leaf-coated steaks, seeking to tap a wave of publicity after a government minister was caught on camera being fed the dish at a London restaurant, where steaks can cost over 1,000 pounds ([post_excerpt],356 U.S. dollars. The Dolce Hanoi Golden Lake Hotel had a makeover last year using a ton of the metal to gold-plate everything from bath tubs to toilets, all housed behind a...
Article Link
Rod and Laura Gray and family of Harrison, Nebraska, are the recipients of the 2021 Nebraska Angus Producer of the Year honor. Raising registered Angus has been a family tradition for the Grays. Rod’s great-great grandfather Starr Fuller had American Aberdeen Angus registries from Toledo, Iowa, dating back to 1898. Harry Gray, Rod’s grandpa purchased Angus cows from his wife’s father, Art Fuller and held public auctions of “Richly Bred Angus Cattle” in the 1940s. Wayne Gray, Rod’s dad, built the Angus cow herd to 400 registered females and sold bulls private treaty. At the age of 15, Rod purchased...
Article Link
Helena, Mont. – On Wednesday, January 5, 2022, the Montana Department of Livestock received notice that an animal from a Madison County herd located within Montana’s brucellosis Designated Surveillance Area (DSA) has been confirmed positive for brucellosis. The positive animal tested as a ‘suspect’ on a whole herd test conducted in December 2021. Pathologists at the Montana Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory collected tissues and forwarded the samples to the National Veterinary Services Laboratories in Ames, Iowa where infection was subsequently confirmed. The ranch has been placed under quarantine and an epidemiological investigation has begun. The positive animal tested negative...
Article Link
Seeks to understand how management impacts soil health, farmer well-being From News Reports An international coalition announced a million research project aimed at understanding how a farmer or ranchers’ grazing management decisions impacts soil health on pasture and rangeland and – in turn – how soil health can positively impact a producer’s land and well-being. The project, which is being called “Metrics, Management, and Monitoring: An Investigation of Pasture and Rangeland Soil Health and its Drivers,” was announced at a National Grazing Conference in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina in mid-December. The conference is a biannual program hosted by the...
Article Link
A persistent pattern over the North Pacific and western North America maintained a continuation of frequent storms affecting the West Coast through late December. 7-day precipitation from December 21-27 exceeded 2 inches, liquid equivalent, across much of California along with western portions of Oregon and Washington. During the past two weeks, precipitation has averaged 150 to 300 percent of normal, or more, throughout nearly all of California. This wet pattern during mid to late December has also been accompanied by below normal temperatures (-2 to -6 degrees F) across California and the Pacific Northwest. Periods of heavy snow continue to...
Article Link
By Sydney Meyer Pete and Laura Atkins have successfully shown and sold their Hereford cattle at the National Western Stock Show for many years. However, when National Western was cancelled last year, the Atkins, with their partners Delaney Herefords, brought their cattle to Oklahoma City for the inaugural Cattlemen’s Congress instead. This January the families are headed back to Cattlemen’s Congress again with several of their top bulls and females. Last year, Atkins Herefords and Delaney Herefords won reserve national champion pen of heifers and pen of five bulls at the show. They also won champion intermediate bull with...
Article Link
By Codi Vallery-Mills In this week’s newspaper, you will find the obituary for my grandma Gwenn. We lost her a few days before Christmas. She was the last remaining grandparent I had living. My cousins and I were blessed to have had her for so many years. Grandma was a teacher and delighted in telling anyone who would listen stories of her rural school teaching days. She would also give you tips on what to teach at home to help little ones as they entered their elementary days in hopes of giving them a jumpstart. I had my grandmother as...
Article Link
As this week’s issue hits the mailboxes, I will be attending the 2022 Cattlemen's Congress held in Oklahoma City, Okla. This show deems itself as a "New Tradition… The Cattlemen's Congress is a stock show for cattlemen and women managed by cattlemen and women. The Cattlemen's Congress is an opportunity for breeders across North America to showcase their top genetics and connect with fellow beef producers in a central location, in the heart of cattle country." The Congress is governed by a Board of Directors including, Jarold Callahan, Chairman; Tyler Norvell, President/Secretary; Bob Funk, Sr.; Jimmy Harrel; Shane Bedwell; Blake Nelson; Jaclyn Upperman; and Bray Haven, EVP. This year’s event runs from January 1 through the 16 and is held at the OKC Fairgrounds. Twenty-three breeds of cattle will be represented with open shows, junior shows, and consignment sales during the event as well as a prospect and market junior steer show.The entire city of OKC gets behind this event with additional evening sales hosted at various venues around the city. I must admit that when I attended a year ago, I was very impressed with the facilities along with the hospitality from the businesses around OKC. I look forward to attending my second Cattlemen's Congress and believe it will live up to its mission statement-to host a quality event for you to exhibit and market cattle to purebred and commercial producers across North America. The Cattlemen's Congress was founded on a commitment to serve the cattle industry.
Article Link
Advice for a fresh perspective in New Year (Editor’s Note: As one of the premier photojournalists in the world, Dewitt Jones believes in a four-step approach to finding the best out of life. Jones worked as a freelance photographer for National Geographic for 20 years, and his photography has also been featured in global advertising campaigns for powerhouse clients like Canon and United Airlines. This past summer as a keynote speaker during the 2021 Alltech ONE Ideas conference he shared his insights, which seem appropriate as the calendar turns to a New Year.) DeWitt Jones believes that the key to...
Article Link
President Biden introduces new plan to create fairer markets From CBW News Desk President Joe Biden met virtually with ag industry representatives on Monday, January 3 to discuss anticompetitive actions in the meatpacking sector. With the top four meatpacking companies controlling 85% of the beef market, The White House is targeting meat processing plants and legislation that will increase transparency in the cattle market. Biden is the first president to do so since the time of Theodore Roosevelt’s presidency in the early 1900s. Biden announced an Action Plan for a Fairer, More Competitive, and More Resilient Meat and Poultry Supply...
Article Link
For cattle producers looking for a little good news in the future, look no further than the first part of 2022. Although challenges will exist – drought, cost of gain, labor shortages – enough changes are happening to help, especially those in the stocker sector. Derrell Peel, Endowed Professor of Agricultural Economics at Oklahoma State University, recently offered his perspective on the big picture of the beef industry as a whole before addressing more specific topics on the stocker and feedlot side. Cow herd size is shrinking after a cyclical expansion that peaked in 2019, with the height of the...
Article Link
For cattle producers looking for a little good news in the future, look no further than the first part of 2022. Although challenges will exist – drought, cost of gain, labor shortages – enough changes are happening to help, especially those in the stocker sector. Derrell Peel, Endowed Professor of Agricultural Economics at Oklahoma State University, recently offered his perspective on the big picture of the beef industry as a whole before addressing more specific topics on the stocker and feedlot side. Cow herd size is shrinking after a cyclical expansion that peaked in 2019, with the height of the...
Article Link
Advice for a fresh perspective in New Year (Editor’s Note: As one of the premier photojournalists in the world, Dewitt Jones believes in a four-step approach to finding the best out of life. Jones worked as a freelance photographer for National Geographic for 20 years, and his photography has also been featured in global advertising campaigns for powerhouse clients like Canon and United Airlines. This past summer as a keynote speaker during the 2021 Alltech ONE Ideas conference he shared his insights, which seem appropriate as the calendar turns to a New Year.) DeWitt Jones believes that the key to...
Article Link
Here are the headlines you might have missed during the holiday weekend. From CBW News Desk Wolf kills cattle in Colorado Colorado’s first known wolf depredation incident in 70 years has occurred on a domestic calf in Jackson County, near Walden, the home of one of Colorado’s wolf packs, according to Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW) and Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. Jackson County is in the north-central portion of the state. “An approximately 500 lbs. purebred replacement heifer was found dead after being attacked and eaten by this pack of wolves,” said Colorado Cattlemen’s Association in a news release. “In early...
Article Link
From CBW News Desk Severe thunderstorms spawned a derecho and several reported tornadoes from the Central Plains to the Upper Midwest on Wednesday, Dec. 15. The storm also produced high winds over a broader area of the central states not associated with thunderstorms, from the Front Range of the Rockies to the Great Lakes. Early Wednesday, wind gusts of 100 mph or more were clocked near Colorado Springs, at Taos Ski Area in northern New Mexico and at Russell, Kansas. A peak gust of 107 mph was measured near Lamar, Colorado, Wednesday. Compounding that, a line of severe thunderstorms also...
Article Link
The North Platte, Nebraska City Council voted Dec. 7 to approve the redevelopment plan for Sustainable Beef, LLC – a new proposed beef packing plant. The North Platte City Council held a public hearing and heard from dozens of people during the meeting. The majority of those speaking during the public hearing portion spoke in favor of the plan with a few raising concerns about bringing the beef processing plant to North Platte. The city council then discussed the Planning Commission’s recommendation to approve the redevelopment plan for Sustainable Beef, LLC. Following some discussion on wording in the plan, the...
Article Link
By Kindra Gordon “There’s not just one way to select a bull for your ranch,” stated David Schuler as he addressed attendees at the Range Beef Cow Symposium held Nov. 16-17, 2021 in Rapid City, SD. Schuler, a 2018 University of Nebraska-Lincoln grad, is the fourth generation operating Schuler Red Angus near Bridgeport, NE, with his parents Butch and Susan and sister Stephanie. Schuler explained that his family’s approach to genetic selection involves a system for evaluating three steps – the cow, the calf, and the bull. He notes that with the abundant genomic and EPD data now available within...
Article Link
K-State beef cattle experts offer up the most important records to keep on the herd Deciding what to keep or get rid of can be a challenge when sorting out clothes in a closet or clearing out relics from childhood because often there is an emotional factor influencing the decision. Emotional decision-making can also influence the beef cattle herd where oftentimes there is that one favorite cow that a producer may find hard to sell. In such cases, the experts at the Kansas State University Beef Cattle Institute agree that analyzing farm records can help inform herd...
Article Link
By Elizabeth K. Gardner Sous-vide cooking (vacuum-sealing food in a bag, then cooking it to a very precise temperature in a water) inspired an idea that took promising technology out of the lab and into the barn. Researchers at Purdue University successfully developed an on-site bovine respiratory disease test that provides results within an hour. The team of researchers has been steadily advancing the point-of-care technology to address the disease, which is the most common and costly disease affecting cattle in the world. “We wanted to see if the technology is tough enough for the farm and how messy we...
Article Link
The storm path that stretched from Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Tennessee, and Kentucky is one of the worst our country has seen. The cost of the destruction and death numbers continue to increase as I write this column. As many as thirty tornados were confirmed in the path. Amazingly, one was recorded on the ground for over 200 miles crushing a nursing home in Arkansas, an Amazon warehouse in Illinois, and demolishing a candle factory in Kentucky. To put that in perspective, that distance is similar to Rapid City to Pierre or Pierre to Sioux Falls. At the time of writing this, Kentucky has confirmed 74 deaths with over 100 people still unaccounted for. Mayfield, Ky, the home of the demolished candle factory may have suffered the worst destruction and the entire community is in shambles from the police station to the water tower to the homes of the residents. What makes this disaster even more severe is the fact that we are in December, temperatures are dropping well below 32 degrees at night and families will be celebrating Christmas...
Article Link
By Codi Vallery-Mills The auction barn was crowded at St. Onge, S.D. this past Friday, Dec. 10 as ranchers settled in to hear Corbitt Wall speak. Wall, of DV Auction and Feeder Flash, was there speaking as part of the convention lineup for the United State Cattlemen’s Association, which was holding its annual meeting in nearby Spearfish. Before Wall spoke USCA took time to recognize members. Kenny Graner of North Dakota was recognized for his service to the board from 2016-2019. He was honored with a USCA belt buckle. Brooke Miller of Washington, Va. is serving as the current president...
Article Link
CattleFax is mourning the loss of Topper Thorpe of Gila, N.M., who passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. Thorpe moved to Denver in 1968 to work for CattleFax as one of the first two employees of the startup company. He worked as CattleFax’s General Manager/CEO for more than 30 years, during which time CattleFax grew to become the nation’s premier market information, analysis, research, and education service owned by cattle producers and feeders. “Topper was an incredible friend and mentor and his visionary leadership helped shape the beef and cattle industry,” said Randy Blach, CattleFax CEO. Thorpe helped pioneer...
Article Link
The North Dakota Angus Association held its Annual Meeting and Banquet in November. The membership elected a new President, Casey Maher of Morristown, SD, as well as a new Vice President, Kathy Tokach of St. Anthony. In addition, elected to the board for their second term were Bob Carlson, Regent and Evan Farnsworth, McHenry, and newly elected Justin Brown, Center and Justin Green, Maddock, will begin their first term on the board. Ryan Ressler, Cooperstown, and Dusty Frey, Granville, completed their two terms of service to the board. Joel Opp completed his two-year term as President as well. “It’s...
Article Link
By Morgan Boecker, Certified Angus Beef Years of progress in efficiency and genetics may not be enough to satisfy the demands put on cattle producers moving forward. That was the message from speakers at the 2021 Feeding Quality Forum, hosted by Certified Angus Beef (CAB) in Fort Collins, CO, this past August. They say there’s more demand for beef than ever, new challenges, too. Sustainability Sustainable beef production was at the forefront of conversations, with a caveat: emotion and science are on equal footing, noted Kim Stackhouse-Lawson, director of AgNext at Colorado State University (CSU). Data concludes beef...
Article Link
The South Dakota Stockgrowers Board of Directors, with a vote of 15–10, recently decided to sign on in support of S.3229, The Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act of 2021. The Stockgrowers who prides itself as the oldest cattle organization in the United States, has a long history and proven track record of fighting for meaningful market reforms. “Being able to ensure profitability and making sure producers receive a fair deal has been a top priority for the Stockgrowers. Our board has taken a look at S.3229 and has decided there is enough in this bill that warrants our...
Article Link
From News Reports The value of livestock killed by predators such as grizzly bears and wolves is expected to exceed the budget for compensating ranchers for such losses this year, the Montana Livestock Loss Board said. George Edwards, the board’s executive director, said so far this year 331 head of livestock have been killed by wolves, grizzlies and mountain lions. With more than 2,000 in payouts having been made through Nov. 23, Edwards told The Billings Gazette he doesn’t think the state’s 0,000 annual budget will be enough to cover all the losses. Claims for animals killed by grizzly bears...
Article Link
La Niña conditions have been officially declared this season by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), but what does that mean for South Dakota’s winter climate, and this year’s outlook in particular? According to Laura Edwards, South Dakota State University (SDSU) Extension State Climatologist, warm and wet conditions this fall have led a lot of people to wonder what South Dakota’s winter might look like. “The holiday season is here, and people are making their wish lists,” Edwards says. “Some dream of a winter wonderland with kids hoping for snow days. Others wish for cold temperatures that can freeze...
Article Link
What do all profitable cow-calf operations have in common? A healthy calf crop on the ground, ready to develop for market. To help Iowa cattlemen and women prepare for a successful calving season and subsequent breeding period, Iowa Beef Center is offering four Beef Cow Clinics over two days in early December. Each clinic is in a different Iowa location, according to Iowa State University extension beef specialist Erika Lundy-Woolfolk. “Whether you’ve calved out 10 cows or 10,000 cows, there’s always a new tip or technique to learn to help you get one more calf born alive,” she said. “These...
Article Link
It’s Oct. 26, 2021. Zach Townsend his wife, Stephanie, and their young son, Henry, are in a corn field southwest of Andover combining. Zach’s mom, Jolene, just delivered lunch. “This is a blast, especially considering what we went through this year. With no rain, then too much rain, I’d pretty much written this crop off,” says Zach, eyes on the yield monitor. “There should be nothing out here. And sure, in some spots yields are zeros, but in other spots the yields are average. And in spots, it floors me! I am completely shocked.” It’s not just the yields...
Article Link
But strong demand, tight supplies should bolster cattle prices By Kindra Gordon The U.S. beef industry has a bright outlook, but there are also continuing obstacles to manage. That’s the industry summation CattleFax analyst Patrick Linnell shared with over 450 attendees at the Range Beef Cow Symposium (RBCS) held Nov. 16-17, 2021 in Rapid City, S.D. Linnell began his remarks noting a concern over inflation, stating, “We are transitioning into a time of higher inflation.” He reported that currently inflation is at 6.2% – the highest it has been since 1990. Linnell added, “It will come back down, but probably...
Article Link
By Codi Vallery-Mills The waters are beginning to feel a bit murky in Washington, D.C. as multiple legislators have waded into the pool toting different cattle market reform bills. The internet connection, the computer, the copy paper, and the printer ink a cattle producer needs to have available to fully track the developments in cattle market legislation this year is not to be scoffed at. The Cattle Business Weekly – armed with wifi, a MacBook, and a fully stocked printer – sat down to review what is currently out there for legislation. Picking which is “best” for the cattle industry...
Article Link
By Julie Tomascik, Texas Farm Bureau Illegal immigrants could put livestock in Texas and the U.S. at risk for diseases. But that threat is currently low, according to Texas’ state veterinarian. In September, more than 10,000 illegal immigrants overwhelmed officials and residents in Del Rio. That surge opened the border to a potential for disease exposure. “We watched that situation carefully as it unfolded, and it has a potential to reoccur again,” Dr. Andy Schwartz, Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) state veterinarian and executive director, said. “It had some modest impacts on agriculture, but fortunately, we’ve not detected any major...
Article Link
By Troy Smith For a long time the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture (NCTA), at Curtis, has attracted students with rural route roots. Most come from family farms and ranches, seeking educations that will advance plans for careers in production or agribusiness. Increasingly, however, NCTA’s enrollment also includes students that grew up in town. “More than ever we have students that are one or more generations away from farming or ranching. Some of those have had a little exposure because Grandpa or some other relative is still involved. Others have no experience at all, but they still want to get...
Article Link
Dec. 2-11 are the dates for this year’s Wrangler National Finals Rodeo which is back in Las Vegas after a year spent in Texas in 2020. The ‘City that Never Sleeps’ is excited to have the cowboy event back on Nevada soil. For those attending in person there will be lots to see and do. In addition to the nightly rodeo performances there are multiple shopping venues and entertainment options. Let the shopping commence! You will first want to check out the Las Vegas Convention Center for Cowboy Christmas before venturing to other shopping at various Vegas hotels. PRCA barrelman...
Article Link
By Codi Vallery-Mills In need of a change of attitude. Your parents might have said that to you and your teenage friends back in your youth. This time it is stockmanship clinician Curt Pate calling for it. The South Dakota Grassland Coalition hosted a stockmanship clinic featuring Pate on Nov. 12 at the Blair Brothers Angus Ranch northeast of Sturgis, S.D. Over 75 men, women, and kids took part in the day which hosted a presentation and discussion in the morning along with live cattle handling demos in the afternoon. Pate gave basic tenants of stockmanship – feel, timing...
Article Link