News Update
March 22, 2017
Bigger, Better Beef Herds
A bigger beef cattle herd. A younger cow herd. In the face of declining cattle prices, these two facts can bring hope.
Had it not been for the drought early in this decade, Oklahoma State University ag economist Darrell Peel says the expansion would have come sooner.
“We continued to place heifers on feed” — no grass for them to join the herds — “but because of the drought, we were forced to liquidate cows off of the old end of the herd,” he explains. When expansion finally began in 2015, it was with a large influx of heifers. “As a result, we made the herd very young.”
That gives way to higher quality because of genetic progress.
“The 2015 cow culling rate was very low for as far back as I have data; 2016 is still below average,” says Peel, who suggests 2017 will continue below average. “Eventually, as you add more cows, you get back to normal culling for physical reasons, but I would imagine we are still a year away from that at this point.”
Continue reading this Angus Media news article online.
USDA Announces $6 Million to Aid Fire-Affected Ranchers
The USDA is announcing the availability of more than $6 million in funding to implement practices that will help private farmers, ranchers and forest landowners affected by the wildfires blazing in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas.
“We have seen the devastating effects of these wildfires on agricultural operations and the funding announced today (March 21) can help communities of farmers and ranchers start the process of recovery,” said Acting Deputy Agriculture Secretary Michael Young.
The funding, made available by the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), will assist local producers as they begin to restore scorched grazing land, rebuild fencing, protect damaged watersheds,and implement various conservation measures to mitigate losses.
For more information, view the USDA news release online.
National Agriculture Day
Acting Agriculture Deputy Secretary Michael L. Young March 21 released the following statement:
“Today is National Agriculture Day, set aside to pay tribute to the farmers and ranchers of our nation. The work of American producers and growers ensures consumers in our country have plenty of safe food and a wide variety at a cost lower than much of the world.
“Through their efficiency, they are able to produce more food and fiber than is demanded in our country, generating a trade surplus in agricultural products for the United States. As President Trump noted in the Presidential Proclamation declaring today (March 21) National Agriculture Day, ‘American agriculture is the largest positive contributor to our Nation’s net trade balance, providing 10% of our exports and millions of jobs.’
“Farmers and ranchers also play a role in helping sustain rural communities in the face of shifting populations and economic challenges. In these and many other ways, agriculture is a key part of the American economy.”
To learn more, view the USDA news release online.
AgriLife Extension Sets Third Sandhills Cattlemen’s Conference
The third annual Sandhills Cattlemen’s Conference has been set for 10 a.m.-3 p.m. April 11 at the Crane County Exhibition Building, 900 W. 6th St. in Crane, Texas.
The multi-county event conducted by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will include Crane, Ward, Ector, Winkler and Loving counties.
“This year’s conference is going to emphasize mesquite control,” said Dena Floyd, AgriLife Extension agent for Winkler and Loving counties. “Since implementing a mesquite control plan can be very costly and time consuming, we’ve asked Katie to share some options on products to provide producers with the latest and most accurate information available so their time and dollars are invested efficiently.”
For more information, visit the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events.
American Angus Association Member Notice
Preparations for the 2017 Annual Convention of Delegates have begun. The American Angus Association will mail delegate nomination forms only to active regular and life members who qualify as eligible voting members prior to the deadline of 4:30 p.m. Central Daylight Time (CDT) on April 7, 2017.
To be active and eligible, you must be at least 18 years of age, as well as a life or regular member, when the nomination period begins (April 10, 2017). Dues must be current and paid in full. In addition, you must have registered at least one animal or have conducted a minimum $250 worth of business with the American Angus Association or Angus Genetics Inc. within the 12 months preceding the nomination period (April 10, 2016-April 7, 2017). Please make sure you meet all the eligibility requirements by the close of business (4:30 p.m. CDT) April 7. Members can determine their eligibility status through AAA Login at My Account > Your American Angus Association Information.
The Association’s annual meeting will be convened Monday, Nov. 6, during the Angus Convention in Fort Worth, Texas.
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.