News Update

April 1, 2016

USDA Prospective
Plantings Report Bearish

The USDA’s Prospective Plantings Report released March 31 suggests low prices for corn and rice will continue, extending the current, two-year farm downturn through the end of 2016, if not beyond.

“The report really highlights how challenging the market is right now for major crops,” said John Anderson, deputy chief economist of the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF). “We currently have adequate supplies both in the U.S. and globally in these commodities. It doesn’t look as though that will change. If we have normal yields, that supply side pressure will not ease up much.”

The 93.6 million acre prospective plantings figure for corn is up from 88.6 million acres planted last year, or close to three times the expected increase of 2 million acres. The December corn contract on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange dropped by about 15¢ to approximately $3.70 per bushel within a few minutes of the report’s release.

The soybean prospective plantings figure came in at 82.236 million acres — on the low side of expectations, but still above some forecasts that had predicted just under 82 million acres.

For more information, view the full Farm Bureau news release online.

— Adapted from a release by the American Farm Bureau Federation.

Trading Places

Chad Ellingson mounts his horse just before daybreak. He settles into his saddle and looks out across his own North Dakota hills, clearly right at home.

“Oh, there are other ways to make a living, but it sure wouldn’t be as interesting,” says the fourth-generation Angus rancher.

Ellingson’s not alone. To his left and right are sons Stetson and Jameson and daughters Sierra, Medora and Sheridan. His wife, Julie, stands nearby taking it all in. Cattle run in her blood, too, and when two join together with a love for agriculture and even more for one another, what’s there to do but carry on the legacy?

It’s a refreshing sight. For as much as they take advantage of the technologies of artificial insemination (AI) and embryo transfer (ET) for their registered herd of 550, they do just as much the old-fashioned way — on horseback, around the dinner table, with family.

To continue reading, access the Angus Media news article online.

— Adapted from an article by Laura Conaway, Certified Angus Beef LLC.

Reputation Feeder Cattle Genetic Merit Scorecard

Beef producers participating in Verified Beef’s Reputation Feeder Cattle® (RFC) program can now use GeneMax® Advantage™, PredicGEN™ and i50K genomic test results from Zoetis to help predict performance potential. These test results have been added to the RFC Genetic Merit Scorecard® to help verify genetic merit of feeder cattle enrolled in the program.

The RFC program is a marketing program for ranchers and cattle feeders that helps with feeder cattle value discovery by verifying genetic merit and management practices. The program offers three value-added services to participants:

Evaluation of calf-crop genetic performance for feedlot and carcass merit
Documentation of calf-crop management history with regard to health, nutrition and handling
Promotion of calves available for sale to hundreds of feedlots to attract more informed bidders.

For more information, please visit www.reputationfeedercattle.com.

— Adapted from a release by Zoetis.

‘The Path of Least Resistance’ Antibiotic Webinar

Join Richard Murphy, research director at Alltech’s European Headquarters and Bioscience Center in Dunboyne, Ireland, Tuesday, April 12, as he examines the impact antibiotics have had and will continue to have on the agricultural industry during his presentation “The Path of Least Resistance.”

Five key questions Murphy will address during the webinar include: Why worry about antibiotic resistance? Where are we now with restrictions on antibiotics? What is the long-term outlook for antibiotic use in agriculture? What alternatives are there for antibiotics? What opportunities are there for my operation?

— Adapted from a release by Ann Hess, Alltech.

New Select Sires Employees Participate in Orientation

Nearly 20 A.I. technicians, sales representatives, Select Mating Service™ (SMS™) genetic consultants, marketing staff and interns took part in Select Sires’ employee orientation hosted March 15 and 16 at the Select Sires headquarters in Plain City, Ohio. Employees from eight member cooperatives and Select Sires Inc. were present for the two-day event where they received education to better serve Select Sires’ customers. Following orientation, a majority of the attendees participated in an additional two days of extensive sales training.

“Each orientation gives our employees the opportunity to visit our facilities, view sires and connect with other employees across the country,” said Lyle Kruse, vice president of U.S. market development for Select Sires. “This was another outstanding group and it is evident that our company is growing by adding enthusiastic and professional individuals that have the ability to provide our customers with outstanding service.”

For more information, please view the full Select Sires news release online.

— Adapted from a release by Danielle Brown, Select Sires Inc.

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