News Update

February 7, 2017

Commodity Price Stabilization
Expected in 2017

After a volatile year, stability is returning to global commodity markets — at least for the time being, said CattleFax CEO Randy Blach Feb. 2 during the popular CattleFax Outlook Session at the 2017 Cattle Industry Convention and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Trade Show.

“After the ag market shocks of the past year and an approximate correction of 50% in all commodity markets, prices are beginning to stabilize,” said Blach. “That doesn’t mean that we’re past this, or that prices have bottomed, but on a global basis, we’re not likely to see as much volatility during the year ahead.”

He said the industry is continuing to become more current in its marketings and cattle feeders are seeing a return to profitability, the first step in helping to stabilize prices for cow-calf and stocker operations.

— Adapted from an article by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

Cattlemen’s College Opens Cattle Industry Convention

Education was the focus for the first days of the 2017 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show, with more than 1,250 cattlemen and women on hand for the 24th edition of Cattlemen’s College^®, sponsored by Zoetis Animal Health. More than 15 educational sessions focused on providing opportunities for participants to improve the profitability, productivity and sustainability of their farms and ranches.

“The focus of Cattlemen’s College is to provide real-world solutions and ideas that participants can take home and apply to their operations. The information that panelists are providing at this year’s event will provide ideas that can be applied right away,” said Josh White, NCBA executive director of producer education. “We have an impressive array of speakers representing every segment of the beef community. With five different educational tracks, participants can focus on their specific areas of interest.”

— Adapted from a release by National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

2017 National Ag Day Photo Contest

The Agriculture Council of America (ACA) and Meredith Agrimedia encouraged college students to celebrate modern agriculture through the 1st annual National Ag Day Photo Contest. A winning photograph has been chosen as the Official National Ag Day Poster for 2017.

Congratulations to Tana Elliott, Ivy Tech Community College, Etna Green, Ind., who was selected as the winner of the contest. Elliott was selected among many young photographers in the competition. The contest theme was “Agriculture: Food for Life.”

National Ag Day is organized by the ACA and will take place March 21, 2017, in Washington, DC. ACA is a nonprofit organization composed of leaders in the agricultural, food and fiber community, dedicating its efforts to increasing the public’s awareness of agriculture’s role in modern society.

For more information, view the Ag Council news release online.

— Adapted from a release by the Agriculture Council of America.

DNA Profile Adds Accuracy to Prediction

With the availability of more dependable genetic information for a broader range of traits, cow-calf producers have the tools to make more informed selection decisions that influence cattle productivity and profit. That was the message Kent Andersen emphasized as he addressed Cattlemen’s College attendees during the kick-off session Jan. 31, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. The event was hosted as a precursor to the 2017 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show Feb. 1-3.

To illustrate how genetic test data can enhance selection decision-making and profit margins, Andersen, who is genetics associate director of global technical services for Zoetis, talked attendees through a series of interactive selection scenarios. Through photo and video clips, participants were asked to view eight heifers and decide which four to keep and which four to cull.

Initial selections were done with visual appraisal only — then Andersen shared genomics data to enhance the decision-making process.

Continue reading in the Angus Media news article online.

— Adapted from an article by Kindra Gordon for Angus Media.

Tips for Calving Facilities

In some climates calving barns are a necessity if calving occurs early — as some western ranchers do if they want cows calved and bred before going to summer range.

Many seedstock breeders calve early in order to have bull calves old enough to sell as yearlings in their next sales. In some climates you may only need a shed with room for two or three cows — just the ones that might be brought in for assistance. In other climates, you may need room for as many cows as might be calving during any 24-hour period.

Shannon Williams with Lemhi County Extension in Salmon, Idaho, says that whatever you build, it must be easy to clean thoroughly. “If you plan on cleaning it with a four-wheeler with a blade, or with a tractor and blade, are all your gates wide enough?”

— Adapted from an article by Heather Smith Thomas, Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA.

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