News Update

April 10, 2017

Identifying Quality Cattle

Demand for high-quality cattle that deliver value up and down the supply chain is growing in today’s market environment. Investing in premium cattle that can lead to even greater grid premiums is a major selling point for cattle feeders, according to Billy Hall, who works for Chappell Feedlot in Nebraska.

He explains what they’re looking for when selecting the next pen of calves.

“One of the primary goals of working with retained ownership customers, and then feeding cattle myself, and then company cattle, is trying to identify the genetics that actually deliver the value in a very hard, volatile market,” Hall said.

He identifies health, performance and feed conversion as the traits he relies on to do just that.

“So, trying to find cattle that can gain and grade, and stay healthy, and yield, and just do everything they have to, because in today’s environment you just can’t leave any loops not closed,” Hall said.

Tune into this week’s The Angus Report to hear more. You can also catch the show at 1:30 p.m. CDT Saturday and every Monday morning at 7:30 a.m. CDT on RFD-TV.

— Adapted from The Angus Report.

Renewed Beef Access to China

R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard issued the following statement following the Financial Times report that President Donald Trump and China President Xi Jinping reached an agreement over the weekend to allow U.S. beef into China.

“While we welcome the news that China intends to reopen its market to U.S. beef, steps must be taken to ensure the benefits from this expanded market flow all the way back to the farmers and ranchers who comprise the U.S. live cattle supply chain, and are not captured by the multinational meatpackers who will actually export the beef.

“Because the dangerous foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is endemic in China, we need assurances from the Secretary of Agriculture that we are not entering a quid pro quo with China as we did with Brazil, with which we agreed to relax our FMD restrictions in return for renewed access to the Brazilian market. Doing this also with China would expose our domestic cattle herd to an unacceptable risk.”

For more information, view the R-CALF news release online.

— Adapted from a release by R-CALF USA.

Restoring Local Control of Federal Lands

The following may be attributed to Zippy Duvall, president, American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF):

“Land management decisions governing federal lands are best left to state and local officials and other stakeholders. We are pleased that Congress passed and President Trump signed a law to overturn the flawed ‘Planning 2.0’ rule issued by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The new law places management decisions back in local hands, where they belong.

“The rule was a clear overreach by the BLM. It would have jeopardized the lawful requirement for multiple uses of federal land and dismantled the ideal of cooperative federalism. By reducing the opportunity for public comment, minimizing federal requirements to coordinate with state and local governments and imposing new mitigation requirements, the rule would have caused significant problems in federal land use planning processes.”

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

Rep. Brady Honored with Farm Bureau Golden Plow Award

AFBF President Zippy Duvall presented Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas) with AFBF’s Golden Plow award. The Golden Plow is the highest honor the organization gives to members of Congress.

The Texas Farm Bureau endorsed Brady for the award because of his commitment in Congress to issues important to farmers and ranchers. Texas Farm Bureau appreciates that the representative’s priorities align with those of the organization’s members.

Brady is chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, where he has been a champion of expanded trade opportunities for farmers and ranchers. He was instrumental in passage of the Bipartisan Congressional Trade Priorities and Accountability Act — better known as Trade Promotion Authority — to further the ability of U.S. trade negotiators to reach agreements with other nations. He also led the way for approval of free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama and Korea.

Learn more in the Farm Bureau news release online.

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

Beef Cattle and Forage Crops Field Day
Planned for Mound Valley

The Kansas State University (K-State) Southeast Agricultural Research Center will host its Beef Cattle and Forage Crops Field Day Thursday, May 4, at the Mound Valley Community Center, 505 Hickory St. in Mound Valley, Kan. The day starts with registration at 8:30 a.m., and the program beginning at 9 a.m.

In addition to presentations by K-State Research and Extension and Oklahoma State University specialists, 20 commercial vendors will be available with displays and to answer questions about their products. Lunch, compliments of the vendors, will be served following the program.

Presentations include:

Beef Cattle Market Outlook — Glynn Tonsor, K-State agricultural economist;
Bermudagrass Production and Management — Brian Pugh, Oklahoma State agronomist;
Mineral Supplementation of Grazing Cattle — Jaymelynn Farney, K-State beef specialist;
Chemical Seed Suppression of Tall Fescue — Doug Shoup, K-State crops and soils specialist; and
Grazing Systems for Southeastern Kansas — Lyle Lomas, K-State animal science specialist and head of the Southeast Agricultural Research Center.

For more information, visit the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events.

— Adapted from a release by Mary Lou Peter, K-State Research and Extension.

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