Rural renewal topic of upcoming virtual symposium

By Trisha Gedon STILLWATER, Okla. – Those interested in learning more about rural renewal should make plans to attend the virtual 2020 Rural Renewal Symposium. Slated Oct. 13, the virtual symposium will feature research presentations on the latest work in rural renewal and roundtable sessions for community leaders to discuss strategies that have worked in their own communities. This symposium will engage leaders and researchers in rural renewal from Oklahoma, the United States…

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Cattle Exports to Mexico Surge

David P. Anderson, Professor and Extension Economist, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Imports of feeder cattle from Mexico usually are reported with interest because ranchers and feeders in the U.S. import more than 1 million head per year, on average. The U.S. also exports cattle to Mexico, but in much smaller numbers. In recent weeks cattle exports have surged to the highest levels in several years. Weekly cattle exports to Mexico are reported…

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Thinking About Weaning and Preconditioning Calves to Add Value? Know the “Lingo”

Dr. Michelle Arnold, UK Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory Traditionally, many KY beef producers with winter/spring born feeder calves market through Special Graded Feeder Calf Sales held in the fall. At these sales, feeder cattle are graded according to the USDA Feeder Cattle Grading Standards, are weighed and sorted into groups (load lots of 48,000-50,000 lbs) and are then sold. Buyers take advantage of these sales to buy larger groups of feeder cattle with similar…

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Demand for Local Beef Remains Strong

Garth Ruff, Field Specialist, Beef Cattle, OSU Extension (originally published in the Ohio Farmer) Growing Demand While 2020 has certainly been a challenging year for agriculture and especially those in the livestock business. However, direct to consumer meat sales have been a bright spot as a result of increased demand. Although a small percentage in the grand scheme of things, direct marketing of farm products has become a more popular route of merchandising livestock.…

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Weighing the alternatives

Beef cattle experts suggest factors for consideration when feeding co-products MANHATTAN, Kan. — Feed cost is often one of the most expensive inputs when trying to balance the beef cattle budget. To help reduce that expense, midwestern producers will sometimes look to alternative feed products such as wet corn gluten, corn dried distillers’ grain with solubles (DDGS) or soy hulls, to name a few.  “Often alternative feeds are a by-product of some other…

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‘State Fair’ livestock show draws nearly 200 4-Hers

Organizers laud Kansans’ resilience in hosting annual event HUTCHINSON, Kan. – There were no amusement rides filling the background noise, no smells of food filling the air, nor a steady buzz of people passing by. But for about 200 youth, the show – that is, the Kansas State Fair – did go on. In what was dubbed as the 2020 Kansas State Fair Special Edition, a couple hundred 4-H members got together this…

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Proper Cow Culling is Important to Your Business

 Glenn Selk, Oklahoma State University Cull cows represent approximately 20% of the gross income of any commercial cow operation. Cull beef cows represent 10% of the beef that is consumed in the United States. Therefore, ranchers need to make certain that cow culling is done properly and profitably. Selling cull cows when they will return the most income to the rancher requires knowledge about cull cow health and body condition. Proper cow culling…

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Second Tranche of Pandemic Aid Must Be Distributed Fairly and Equitably, Farmers Union Says

WASHINGTON – During a campaign rally tonight in Mosinee, Wisconsin, President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) would provide a second tranche of pandemic aid through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). He indicated that an additional $13 billion will be earmarked to offset farmers’ and ranchers’ pandemic-related losses; more information about how that funding will be allocated is expected to be provided by USDA at a later date. In…

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