News Update
September 11, 2017
Money that Matters
Quality cattle are so commonplace they’re no longer worth a reward, right? Wrong.
The market still pays more for the best, even as supplies grow. USDA data for the first half of 2017 puts the average Certified Angus Beef® (CAB®) brand grid premium at $4.73 per hundredweight (cwt.), on track to exceed $50 million for the year.
CAB acceptance rates of nearly 30%, compared to typical historic rates of 17%-18% may drive perceptions that market premiums have dried up. Numbers show that’s not the case.
“Our tonnage keeps setting records this year with 10% or more greater supply, but the average reported premium to producers is almost a dime above last year’s first half,” says Paul Dykstra, beef cattle specialist for the brand.
In fact, June 19 brought an all-time high for CAB premiums as USDA’s Mandatory Price Reporting showed one packer paid a record $14 per cwt. It would be remiss not to acknowledge that a big-box retailer entered the premium-Choice beef market this spring. While details of that product and specifications are unclear, there is little doubt the added demand contributed to higher premiums across the category.
For more information, please view the full Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA article here.
MDA Expanding Hay Lottery, Taking Donations
The Montana Department of Agriculture (MDA) has announced the expansion of the Montana Hay Lottery. MDA is partnering with Miles Community College (MCC) to house the donated hay and help with logistics and the Montana Stockgrowers Foundation to help coordinate cash donations to be used for transportation costs. The lottery will be administered by MDA, with drawings taking place in early October. Producers who have already applied for the lottery, but were not chosen in the first drawing, will still be eligible for subsequent drawings.
“The outpouring of support for Montana’s ag community has been nothing short of amazing. We saw a need to help coordinate donations, so we decided to expand the lottery,” said MDA Director Ben Thomas. “We are grateful to MCC and the Stockgrowers for partnering with us to get these resources to those affected by fires and drought.”
Those interested in making donations of hay/feed or transportation should call MDA’s Fire & Drought Assistance Hotline at 1-844-515-1571. Those interested in making a cash donation should call the Montana Stockgrowers Foundation at 406-442-3420.
Learn more in the MDA news release online.
Support from the Sky Operation Hay
Drop Feeds Livestock During Disaster
Animal emergency response efforts continue to be a team effort in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. With many areas still inaccessible due to high water, support is coming from a variety of sources and locations.
“Due to water too deep to access livestock by truck and water too shallow to reach animals by boat, we must be resourceful,” said Andy Schwartz, Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) executive director. “We are grateful for the support and capabilities of our partners, which enhances the state’s ability to help stranded livestock.”
TAHC partnered with USDA, Animal Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS), Wildlife Services (WS) to conduct livestock needs assessments via helicopters and fixed winged aircraft. To date, responders have flown 10 counties and more than 4,000 square miles assessing livestock needs.
“These assessments are critical,” said Schwartz. “Using an aerial perspective, APHIS-WS identifies livestock needs and dispatches information to animal responders on the ground.”
When needs cannot be met by boat or vehicle, the Texas Army National Guard has flown in and air dropped more than 210,000 pounds of hay, generously donated by individuals across the state and nation, to livestock marooned by floodwaters.
For more information, read the TAHC news release online.
SD Stockgrowers Announce Plans for 126th Convention
The South Dakota (S.D.) Stockgrowers Association will celebrate their 126th Annual Convention and Tradeshow Thursday, Sept. 21, and Friday, Sept. 22, in Rapid City, S.D. Everyone is welcome to attend and participate in the numerous tradeshow, meetings and listening to speakers. The tradeshow has expanded from previous years and will feature more than 30 vendors.
“Our two day convention is always a great opportunity for folks to learn more about what’s going on in our industry and to be a part of our association,” said Bill Kluck, S.D. Stockgrowers president from Mud Butte, S.D. “We want to invite all our members and encourage you to bring a neighbor or friend along.”
The meetings will feature a number of speakers and committee meetings to consider policy proposals. Workshops will include IMI Global’s programs to certify calves for international and niche marketing programs, and South Dakota State University’s (SDSU’s) Matthew Dierson presenting information about risk management tools available to producers including rainfall insurance and livestock price insurance options.
Policy discussions will include a presentation from Matthew Elliot regarding his research on property tax valuation systems currently in state law and his recommendations to the Legislative committee.
For more information, visit the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events.
Stockmen’s Association to host 88th Annual
Convention & Trade Sept. 21-23
“The North Dakota Stockmen’s Association’s (NDSA) strength as an organization lies within its members — the people who are the ‘boots on the ground,’ producing the world’s best beef, caring for the land and the livestock and embodying what makes this nation great,” said NDSA President Warren Zenker, a rancher from Gackle, N.D.
The NDSA will be celebrating its grassroots members who make it happen for the association and the industry at its 88th Annual Convention & Trade Show, “Boots on the Ground,” Sept. 21-23 at the Ramada Hotel & Conference Center in Fargo, N.D. The event will feature a mix of educational workshops, inspirational speakers, policy-development sessions, business, networking and fun.
The convention begins Thursday morning at 9 a.m. with a Golf Scramble and Hole-in-One Contest at the Village Green Golf Course in Moorhead, Minn., and a board of directors meeting at the hotel at 10 a.m.
Buses will load from the latter at 1 p.m. for the Cattlemen’s College program on the North Dakota State University (NDSU) campus. Convention-goers will rotate amongst four stations at the NDSU equine center, greenhouse, Advanced Imaging & Microscopy Laboratory and new Veterinary Diagnostics Laboratory.
For more information, visit the Angus Journal Virtual Library calendar of upcoming events.
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