News Update

October 9, 2015

West Virginia Family Honored for Historic Angus Herd

In 1961, James A. Kinsey, Flemington, W.Va., with his parents, purchased five registered-Angus heifers and one bull from their family doctor — “the doctor who brought me into this world,” according to James. That was the official beginning of the family’s registered-Angus herd, which is still in operation 54 years later.

To recognize his dedication to the Angus breed, the American Angus Association is proud to name Kinsey’s Oak Front Farm a Historic Angus Herd. The award is presented to Angus breeders or immediate families who have been in continuous production of registered-Angus cattle for 50 years or more.

James’ parents, C.R. and June Kinsey, ran a Holstein dairy from 1932 to 1960. In 1961, when the family decided to transition into a beef cattle operation, Angus or Hereford cattle were the only choices available in the area. Charles A. Haislip, their family doctor, owned a herd of registered Angus, and James liked that the breed was known for maternal traits and calving ease. The Kinseys’ bought the five yearling heifers for $200 per head. To sweeten the deal, Dr. Haislip also threw in a registered-Angus bull.

For more of the story, view the full Angus news release online.

— Adapted from a release by Melinda Cordell, Angus Media.

Retaining Ownership in the Midst of Declining Prices

Under normal market conditions, it can be profitable for cow-calf producers to wean and background their calves in the fall. Historically, feeder-cattle prices dip in early fall when many producers choose to market their calves before bouncing back to higher levels in the late fall and early winter months. Producers who wean and background their calves during this time frame are often able to ride out the seasonal price slump and take advantage of this cycle in normal years.

Is that still the best strategy if the market is in the midst of a price decline that is not expected to fully recover? Some larger producers may be able to use the futures markets to hedge and “lock in” a profitable price with only basis risk, but many smaller producers are not easily afforded this luxury.

So what happens upon closer examination of a few price scenarios? First of all, assume that a producer will want to wean now and will continue to grow the calves for 90 days. In other words, the calves will be weaned now and backgrounded until November.

— Adapted from a release by Brian Williams, Mississippi State University.

$17 Million to Support Beginning Farmers and Ranchers

The USDA has announced more than $17 million in grants for organizations that will develop training and provide other resources for beginning farmers and ranchers across the nation. The awards are made through the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program, which is administered by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).

“When new farmers and ranchers start their operations, the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program can help them implement tested strategies and new ideas that in turn benefit all of us by reducing food insecurity, growing economic opportunities and building communities,” said Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden.

The Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program was first established by the 2008 Farm Bill and was continued in the 2014 Farm Bill. The program provides support to those who have farmed or ranched for less than 10 years.

For more information, please view the full USDA release online.

— Adapted from a release by the USDA Office of Communications.

Water Wise

Access to water for the cow herd is one of the biggest challenges ranchers face. In western South Dakota, rancher Monte Reichert says, “We were always out of water, or cows were watering out of a little mud hole.”

Reichert manages commercial-Angus cow-calf pairs and yearlings, with the number of head varying depending on the year’s forage conditions.

He ranches in the rugged rangelands north of New Underwood, S.D., on land homesteaded by his great-grandfather in 1909. The rolling hills of prairie make it a scenic setting, but with drought more common than not in this region, through the generations there has always been one constant challenge — lack of water.

So in 2000, when an abandoned missile control center that bordered Reichert’s property came up for sale, he bought it for the 2,980-foot (ft.) well and the “reliable water source” that came with it. He calls it one of the best decisions he’s ever made to improve the grazing system on the ranch operated with wife Loni and 12-year-old son Radley.

For more information, please view the full Angus Journal article.

— Adapted from a release by Kindra Gordon, Angus Media.

Cattle Trails Cow-Calf Conference

After some tough drought-influenced years, cattlemen looking to return to efficient production should attend the Cattle Trails Cow-Calf Conference set Dec. 3 in Wichita Falls, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service specialist.

Becoming as efficient as possible is the focus for this year’s Cattle Trails Cow-Calf Conference, said Stan Bevers, AgriLife Extension economist in Vernon. Each speaker will address how ranchers can achieve efficient levels of production and financial success while minimizing risk.

The conference, which alternates between Texas and Oklahoma each year, will be hosted from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the MPEC Center, 1000 5th St. in Wichita Falls.

Registration is $25 per person and includes educational materials, a copy of the Cattle Trails Cow-Calf Conference materials, a noon meal and refreshments. Additional information can be found at http://agrisk.tamu.edu. Producers are asked to pre-register by contacting their local AgriLife Extension county agent, Oklahoma Cooperative Extension county educator or Allison Ha at 940-552-9941, extension 225 or by email at allison.ha@ag.tamu.edu.

For more information, please view the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events here.

— Adapted from a release by Kay Ledbetter, AgriLife Communications-Texas.

— Compiled by Paige Nelson, field editor, Angus Journal.

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.