News Update
August 5, 2010

DNA Workshop 

You are invited to learn more about how the Igenity® profile for Angus can be incorporated into your Angus toolbox. Topics covered will include benefits of genomic-enhanced EPDs to you and your customers, sample collection and interpretation of DNA results.

The workshops will be:

Thursday, Aug. 19, Yates Center, KS 
4-H Community Building, Woodson County Fairgrounds
(One mile South of the junction of Hwy. 75 and 54)
Free dinner at 6 p.m.; workshop to follow

Monday, Aug. 30, Oakley, KS
N.W. Kansas Educational Center, 703 W. 2nd St.
Free dinner at 6 p.m.; workshop to follow

Tuesday, Aug. 31, Russell, KS
Russell County Fairgrounds 4-H Building
N.E. corner of Russell
Free lunch at 12 p.m.; workshop to follow

Tuesday, Aug. 31, Pratt, KS
Pratt County Fairgrounds 4-H Building
South of Pratt on Hwy. 281
Free dinner at 6 p.m.; workshop to follow

Wednesday, Sept. 1, Maple Hill, KS
Puffy’s Steakhouse, Downtown Maple Hill
Free dinner at 6 p.m.; workshop to follow

If you palan to attend, please RSVP to one of the following by Thursday, Aug. 23.

Matt Caldwell — American Angus Association, mcaldwell@angus.org, 913-755-1105 or
Rick Pfortmiller — Igenity, Rick.pfortmiller@merial.com  785-230-9507

— Release by Kansas Angus Association.

Agricultural Land Values and Cash Rents Annual Summary

The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) has released its estimates of land values. These reports are based primarily on the June Area Survey, conducted during the first two weeks of June. This annual survey uses a complete, probability-based land-area sampling frame. In 2010, the survey included a stratified sample of 11,167 land areas (segments), averaging approximately one square mile in size.  

All reports are available electronically, at no cost, on the NASS website: www.nass.usda.gov.

Both national and state specific reports are available via a free e-mail subscription. To set-up this free subscription, visit www.nass.usda.gov and in the “Receive NASS Updates” box under “Receive reports by e-mail,” click on “National” or “State” to select the reports you would like to receive.

Printed reports may be purchased from the National Technical Information Service (NTIS) by calling toll-free 1-800-999-6779, or 703-605-6220 if calling from outside the United States or Canada.

For more information on NASS surveys and reports, call the NASS Agricultural Statistics Hotline at 1-800-727-9540, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. (ET), or e-mail: nass@nass.usda.gov.

— Adapted from NASS release.

New Partnership Honors the Service and Sacrifice of Today’s Soldiers

Cydectin,® the leading pour-on cattle dewormer, announced today it has become the industry’s first sponsor of Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP), a nonprofit whose mission is to honor and empower wounded warriors.

Founded in 2003, WWP’s purpose is to raise awareness and enlist the public’s aid for the needs of injured service members, to help injured service members aid and assist each other, and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs. The vision of WWP is to foster the most successful, well-adjusted generation of wounded warriors in our nation’s history.

The industry’s first collaborative effort with Wounded Warrior Project, Cydectin’s “Honor Our Troops” program, demonstrates support and gratitude for wounded veterans of today’s wars on behalf of beef and dairy producers.

Read more about this program in the August edition of the Angus Beef Bulletin Extra . Not a subscriber? Click the link for more information.

— Adapted from a Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Inc. release.

Optimism Abounds Among Cattle Producers at 2010 Beef Cattle Short Course

Both experts and producers spoke positively about the future of the cattle business while attending the 56th annual Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course in College Station this week.

“We’ve got a lot of optimism in our business with fewer numbers of cattle across the United States, increasing demand and rainfall,” said Jason Cleere, Texas AgriLife Extension Service beef cattle specialist and short course coordinator. “Cattle prices should be good in the coming year.”

After a historic drought in 2009 that decimated Texas agriculture, beef cattle producers and experts were optimistic about the opportunities for the beef industry. More than 1,350 are attending the beef short course, the largest beef educational event in the U.S. that concludes Wednesday. Attendees have come to the Texas A&M campus in College Station from Texas, U.S. and internationally, Cleere said.

Jim Schwertner, CEO of Capitol Land & Livestock and Texas A&M System Regent, was upbeat addressing attendees during the general session Monday.

“I think we are at a turning point in our industry,” he said.

When looking at McDonald’s or other beef eateries, he said “go to any of these restaurants and if they’re full, we’re doing good.”

“I think we’re on the cusp of having one of the best cattle markets ever,” he said.

The economic data indicate just that, according to one economist. Randy Blach, CEO of Cattle-Fax, said “I’ve got a pretty positive message for you today. It’s a pretty optimistic picture.”

U.S. cattle inventory is one of the smallest since 1959, he said.

“The key of it is: Are we going to respond to it in the next four to five years?” he said. “You have to ask yourself, ‘Am I running as many cattle that I can carry? Am I carrying enough cows with enough grazing capability that I have?’”

In his cattle market outlook, Blach sees several years of potential profitability. Production costs are expected to “remain in check,” but he said demand growth for beef will be slow as the overall economy will continue to recover.

“But we’re starting to see some stability (with the economy) and that’s the first thing we need to see,” he said.

The opening of more global markets, such as China and Japan, will help fuel cattle prices further, he said.

Blach forecasts $3 per hundredweight (cwt) to $5 per cwt. more for fed calf prices going forward in the coming months, about $50 more per head on average.

While rainfall this year has been welcomed by Texas cattle producers, experts were quick to warn ranchers not to get carried away with overstocking pastures with cattle that have been through long periods of dry weather. Allowing ample time for recovery and managing new growth of forage can help protect further damage to a pasture.

“You’ve got to take some and leave some,” said Joe Paschal, AgriLife Extension beef cattle specialist from Corpus Christi, during the basic ranch management session.

To monitor a pasture that has either improved grasses or native forage, he advised producers to use a yardstick to measure the best spots with grass and see how much has been clipped by cattle. When a pasture drops from 12 inches (in.) of growth to 6 in. of growth, Paschal said it’s time to move those cattle out and into another pasture, allowing enough time for that pasture to recover.

“Timing of grazing is very important,” he said. “Knowing the different stages of growth, such as dormant, early, middle and late growth helps in developing a grazing strategy.”

Meanwhile, the 2010 Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course was dedicated to Stephen Hammack, professor emeritus and AgriLife Extension beef cattle specialist at Stephenville. Hammack retired in 2003, but came back to work on a part-time basis, said Larry Boleman, associate vice chancellor for outreach and strategic initiatives with Texas A&M AgriLife.

“He’s probably written more papers from an Extension standpoint in the animal science group than anybody,” Boleman said, presenting the award to Hammack. “When you talk about genetics, breeding, he’s done an outstanding job in that respect. But he’s also a ‘Johnny on the spot’ to help out with all of the educational events through the years.”

To follow blog posts from the event, visit http://agrilifeweb.tamu.edu/beefshortcourse/.

— Release by Texas AgriLife Extension Service.

— Compiled by Mathew Elliott, assistant editor, Angus Productions Inc.