News Update
September 6, 2017
2017 Angus Convention Giving Away More Than $100,000 in Grand Prizes
Two lucky attendees of the 2017 Angus Convention in Fort Worth, Texas, will walk away with more than $100,000 in grand prizes.
“We are so fortunate to have such terrific 2017 Angus Convention sponsors like Priefert, Tru-Test and Caterpillar,” says Becky Weishaar, Angus Convention trade show manager. “These generous grand prizes are going to be a game changer for two very lucky Angus breeders.”
Priefert and Tru-Test have donated a complete cattle-handling system designed for approximately 35 head. The corral features a solid sweep with a straight working alley that is adjustable to one of four widths and leads to a Priefert Model S04 Squeeze Chute. The Tru-Test XR5000 Indicator, HD1010 load bars, scale mounting brackets and XRS2 electronic identification (eID) stick reader complete the system and allow the user to capture the wide range of animal information you need to make the best decisions. An added bonus is the new Tru-Test WaterWell automatic waterer. The energy-free ball waterer can accommodate up to 100 head.
Caterpillar has donated a one-of-a-kind, custom-made Cat 289D Compact Track Loader tailored with black paint and Angus finishing touches.
Continue reading this Angus news release online.
Louisiana Farm Bureau Activates Hay & Pasture Clearinghouse
Hurricane Harvey flooded pastures and ruined hay supplies in its trek across Louisiana, forcing ranchers to relocate their cattle to higher ground and search for hay to feed them until the water recedes and the grass regrows.
The Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation activated its Hay and Pasture Clearinghouse Friday, Sept. 1, in response to Harvey’s devastation.
“This is a great way for Farm Bureau, a true agricultural organization with a great network all over the state, to help find hay and pasture, and get our fellow cattlemen through a tough time,” said Caddo Parish cattleman Marty Wooldridge, chairman of Farm Bureau’s livestock advisory committee.
Because of an extremely wet spring and summer, many cattlemen have not been able to cut and bale enough hay to get them through the upcoming winter.
“With all of the rain and wetness, our hay crop is practically non-existent,” said Cameron Parish cattleman James “Bozo” Cox. “Normally at this time of year, I have seven or eight hundred bales in the barn. I’ve got 57 right now.”
Read the full news release online.
For Now, Fed Steer Prices Stay Level;
Consumers and Exports Help Demand
Steep price swings were seen for fed steers in the past year, especially in recent months.
Look for more of that in beef in coming months with lower prices ahead. However, annual average fed-steer price for 2017 can end near that received last year. Declines will resume in 2018, say University of Missouri (MU) Extension economists.
Domestic demand and exports help prices in the face of growing supplies, say Scott Brown and Daniel Madison.
The economists updated their outlooks in the 2017 MU Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI) update.
Prices swung from below $1 per pound in mid-October 2016 to near $1.45 per pound in May of this year. Prices softened on two counts. Summer grilling ends, cutting demand. Also, large cattle-on-feed supplies helped push prices down.
A bright spot in beef supplies comes as feedyards send cattle to market at lighter weights. This cuts meat tonnage. With recent higher prices, they pushed cattle forward faster.
Slaughter weights now trail year-ago levels for the 15th month running. Expect weights to regain in 2018. “That’ll add only modest tonnage as more cattle go to market,” Brown says.
For more information, view the MU news release online.
September Meetings Provide Opportunities
to Beef Cattle Ranchers
Kansas producers looking to add value to their beef cattle herds are finding success in the Sunflower Supreme program. A trio of meetings on Sept. 12 will provide ranchers with all the information they need to meet the Oct. 1 enrollment deadline for fall-calving heifers.
Sunflower Supreme is a joint effort between Kansas State University (K-State) Research and Extension, and the Kansas Department of Agriculture. The program aims to provide research-based management protocols to beef cattle producers with the goal of increasing the value of those animals. Whether Sunflower Supreme animals are sold or kept in the herd, producers should realize a number of benefits, said Jaymelynn Farney, director of the program.
“Just one area where we’ve documented a positive impact is in calving problems,” said Farney. “The national average for heifers encountering calving problems is 14% — but for Sunflower Supreme heifers, that rate is down to around 10%.”
Producers enrolled in the program will join forces with their local county extension agent, their veterinarian and others in implementing specific protocols that address factors such as vaccination and health, reproductive management, and sire selection.
The enrollment deadline for fall-calving heifers is Oct. 1; the enrollment deadline for spring-calving heifers is Feb. 1.
For more information, visit the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events.
K-State Research and Extension to host field day
at Columbus, Kansas
Every year is full of challenges for farmers, but this year has presented a few situations that were atypical. Dry weather during March allowed for much of the corn to be planted early but then the weather turned wet through the rest of the spring, making the rest of corn planting a struggle. Recent years have shown that glyphosate has lost some of its effectiveness on certain weeds, so the release of dicamba-tolerant soybeans seemed a welcome relief. However, drift from spraying dicamba has been a major issue.
Because of these issues and more, K-State Research and Extension invites farmers and everyone interested in topics linked to growing the world’s food supply to the K-State Southeast Research and Extension Center Field Day in Columbus, Kan., on Thursday, Sept. 14. The event will be at the Cherokee County 4-H Building at 114 W. Country Rd. in Columbus.
Registration will begin at 8 a.m. with the program beginning at 8:30 a.m. Coffee and donuts will be served, sponsored by the Columbus Chamber of Commerce.
For more information, visit the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events.
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