News Update
March 31, 2016
Spring Reports
The latest Cattle on Feed report pegs March 1 feedlot inventories at 10.77 million head, 101% of year-ago levels. February marketings and placements were both up year over year, partly because of an extra business day in February due to leap year.
Marketings were 105% of last year, with daily average feedlot marketings equal to year-ago levels. Placements were 110% of year-ago levels, within a wide range of prereport expectations.
The placement number is not as bearish as viewed by some. First, the extra day in February allows more placements during the month. Secondly, it was compared to a small 2015 value that was nearly 5% under the five-year average. Nevertheless, it was up and was the first significant year-over-year increase in placements in two years.
Larger feeder-cattle supplies mean that more cattle will be coming to feedlots and increased year-over-year placements will likely be the expectation for many months to come.
Read more in the Angus Media news article online.
Voting Eligibility Deadline: April 8
The American Angus Association’s voting eligibility requirements have changed. These changes will influence the 2016 electoral process, and key requirements must be met by Friday, April 8.
“Eligible voting members,” are those who are able to nominate, be nominated, vote or be elected in the annual election of delegates. Members can log in to AAA Login through www.angus.org to check their voting eligibility status through the My Account — Your American Angus Association Information option. To be considered an eligible voting member, American Angus Association members must meet all of the following requirements:
- Active regular or life membership;
- 18 years of age or older; and
- Registered at least one animal or completed a minimum level of business with the Association or Angus Genetics Inc. (the dollar amount specified by the Board of Directors is $250, exclusive of membership fees, merchandise or other exclusions).
Read more about the changes online.
Outside the Box: Ranch staffing
Ask cattle producers about their biggest challenges and invariably the issue of finding and retaining excellent employees will enter the discussion. Developing effective employment strategies is the responsibility of management, but attaining business goals and desired outcomes is a shared mission of both employers and employees.
If both management and staff do not commit to the business goals, then the business shrinks and the opportunities for employment diminish. It is the intersection of shared accountability where great teams are built.
Teams are at the heart of successful organizations and especially those who are able to sustain high levels of performance. Underpinning the most effective teams is a spirit of deep commitment to personal excellence by each and every member. What defines the ultimate impact of a commitment to personal excellence is whether or not the individuals comprising a team use the energy created by the pursuit of exceptional performance selfishly or in service to others.
To continue reading, please view the Angus Media news article online.
Watch for Farm Equipment
Drivers should pay special attention as they travel rural roads and highways during spring planting time, says University of Missouri (MU) Extension health and safety specialist Karen Funkenbusch.
It’s the time of the year when the rural roads are filled with tractors pulling farm equipment. Slow-moving farm equipment presents special dangers for motorists, Funkenbusch says.
The most common accident occurs when a slow-moving farm vehicle turns left. Large farm equipment needs to make wide turns to line up with a gate or driveway.
Slow down on rural roads, she says. A car traveling 55 mph requires 224 feet to stop on dry payment, assuming average reaction time for braking. At 55 mph, it takes a car just five seconds to close the length of a football field and overtake a tractor moving 15 mph.
For more information, please view the complete news release.
Agricultural Prices
The February Prices Received Index (Agricultural Production), at 92.7, increased 3.9% from January 2016. At 84.2, the Crop Production Index increased 4.3%. At 99.6, the Livestock Production Index decreased 0.3%.
Producers received higher prices for hogs, cattle, oranges and calves but lower prices for broilers, lettuce, dry beans and corn. In addition to prices, the indexes are influenced by the monthly mix of commodities producers market. Increased monthly movement of cattle, milk, broilers and hogs offset the decreased marketing of soybeans, corn, dry beans and wheat.
The Prices Received Index is down 6.4% from the previous year. The Food Commodities Index, at 97.6, increased 1.9% from the previous month but decreased 8.6% from February 2015.
For more information, please view the full NASS release online.
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