News Update
February 6, 2014
Straightbred Makes a Move
The makeup of the nation’s cow herd continues to move toward high-percentage or straightbred British genetics — that’s according to a new producer survey, out this month in the pages of BEEF Magazine.
The survey, which includes 839 responses, showed the percentage of producers classifying their herds as high-percentage or straightbred British increased from 47.4% in 2010 to 51.3% in 2014.
Angus continues to enjoy a sizeable market share among America’s ranchers.
Nearly 67% of respondents reported the last bull they purchased was Angus, and nearly 87% said they do not plan to shift the genetic makeup of their cow herd in the next five years.
Of those who do plan to change genetics, 51% say they plan to increase the percentage of British genetics.
“One of the take-home conclusions of this survey is that the commitment of its respondents to the genetic makeup of their cow herd is rising, with a smaller percentage willing to change than in 2010,” says Bryce Schumann, CEO for the American Angus Association. “This points to the increasing strength of a quality-driven market and the marketing advantage that Angus genetics provide in a value-based marketplace. In other words, producers are saying if they’re going to make a change, then the majority of them are going to add more Angus.”
Much of the shift toward straightbred genetics is being driven by market premiums for cattle that earn the Certified Angus Beef® (CAB®) brand trademark.
For more information, please view the full release here.
Passage of the Agricultural Act of 2014
Secretary Vilsack made the following statement on passage of the Agricultural Act of 2014 on Feb. 4:
“Today’s action will allow the proud men and women who feed millions around the world to invest confidently in the future. Our communities will have additional support to attract new economic opportunity and create jobs. During difficult times, children, working families, seniors and people with disabilities will have access to nutritious food. The potential of new products, treatments and discoveries will be strengthened through new agricultural research. Renewed conservation efforts will protect our fields, forests and waters creating new tourism options. This legislation is important to the entire nation.
“Building on the historic economic gains in rural America over the past five years, this bill will accomplish those goals while achieving meaningful reform and billions of dollars in savings for the taxpayer. While no legislation is perfect, this bill is a strong investment in American agriculture and supports the continued global leadership of our farmers and ranchers.”
Planting Wheat Earlier in the Fall
This past fall 2013, many growers found it difficult to plant wheat as early as they would like. In most cases, it was due to a prolonged dry-down period for the preceding crop. It resurrects the question of adjusting cropping strategies that may improve the odds of attaining timely wheat planting.
As growers know, one of the keys to achieving high-yielding wheat is to plant approximately between one to three weeks following the Hessian fly-free-date. So, for example, for much of central Michigan, this translates into planting the crop during the latter half of September or at least by the end of the first week of October. Planting beyond this window often leads to a loss of one or more bushels per acre of yield for every day planting is delayed. If winter injury occurs, the later plantings usually have even a greater disadvantage.
The 2014 crop may well serve as a case in point. Growers able to harvest the preceding crop and plant wheat by the first few days of October saw seedlings emerge evenly within 10 days of planting. Wheat planted after that time met with overly cool conditions that resulted in seedlings having to take two or three weeks to emerge which, in turn, meant they were unable to achieve optimal growth before winter dormancy. For the two-thirds of Michigan’s acreage that falls into this late category, the yields may be off five to 20 bushels compared to that of an early planted field.
As growers strategize, some thought might be given to ways that at least some of their wheat acres could be established earlier. There are steps that some growers have adopted to improve their timeliness.
For more information, please view the full release here.
East Texas Pasture Management Program
Set Feb. 21 at Overton
Each year, the program planners for the East Texas Pasture Management Program try to cover new topics and expand on older ones, according to Vanessa Corriher-Olson, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service forage specialist, Overton, Texas.
The 2014 program will take place Feb. 21 at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Overton. This year’s program will offer the latest in management strategies and a newly updated herbicide price-comparison CD, which is included with registration.
Advance registration is $25 and $30 at the door. To register in advance, go to https://agriliferegister.tamu.edu and enter the keyword “pasture” or call Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Conference Services at 979-845-2604. Registration at the door will begin at 12:30 p.m., with the program adjourning at 6 p.m.
The CD contains a herbicide list containing the latest information on cost, active ingredients and rates of 25 herbicides and 15 insecticides widely used on pastures and hay fields, said Jason Banta, AgriLife Extension beef cattle specialist, and one of the program presenters.
“The CD will help you make more economical choices when selecting an herbicide,” Corriher-Olson said.
Also on the program will be presentations including hands-on weed identification, grasshopper and fall armyworm control, spray adjuvants and additives, and “Chemicals and hormones: They are everywhere!”
The later presentation will be given by Banta.
“Among other things, I am going to talk about how all things have hormones, and how they are required for life; there’s no such thing as hormone-free,” Banta said.
For more information, please view the Angus Journal’s Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events here.
Editor’s Note: The articles used within this site represent a mixture of copyrights. If you would like to reprint or repost an article, you must first request permission of Angus Productions Inc. (API) by contacting the editor at 816-383-5200; 3201 Frederick Ave., Saint Joseph, MO 64506. API claims copyright to this web site as presented. We welcome educational venues and cattlemen to link to this site as a service to their audience.