USDA and USTR Announce Progress on Implementation of U.S.-China Phase One Agreement

WASHINGTON, February 25, 2020 – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer announced today that China has taken numerous actions to begin implementing its agriculture-related commitments under the landmark U.S.-China Phase One Economic and Trade Agreement on schedule. The agreement entered into force on February 14, 2020.   These actions include:   Signing a protocol that allows the importation of U.S. fresh chipping potatoes (U.S. Chipping Potatoes…

Continue ReadingUSDA and USTR Announce Progress on Implementation of U.S.-China Phase One Agreement

Check Cattle for Lice in Late Winter/Early Spring

Rory Lewandowski, Extension Educator Wayne County Chewing and sucking lice (Pest and Diseases Library Bugwood.org) Check beef and dairy cattle for lice infestations during the late winter and early spring months.  Although lice can be present throughout the entire year, high numbers of lice are most likely during winter months when cattle have longer, thicker hair coats, which make self-grooming less effective in reducing lice numbers.  Hot summer temperatures, and for pasture-based production…

Continue ReadingCheck Cattle for Lice in Late Winter/Early Spring

Emergency Calf Management after Dystocia (Difficult Birth)

Dr. Michelle Arnold, UK Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory Figure 1: Meconium staining (yellow color) is an indicator of calf stress during delivery. Placing the calf on the sternum (as pictured) maximizes ventilation of the lungs. “Dystocia” is defined as a difficult or prolonged calving, whether or not human assistance was necessary for delivery of the calf. Factors known to cause dystocia include a mismatch between small pelvic size of the dam and large calf…

Continue ReadingEmergency Calf Management after Dystocia (Difficult Birth)

Diving into the Data Webinar Announced

“Genomics: How Much Influence are They Having?” Are genomics having too much influence on EPDs? What is the difference between genomic testing and progeny-based results? We are excited to present the first webinar brought to you by Angus University, “Genomics: How Much Influence are They Having?” Dr. Stephen Miller, Director of Genetic Research for Angus Genetics Inc. will explain the differences in tools and the data they return to participants in the event.…

Continue ReadingDiving into the Data Webinar Announced

Consumers get rewarded for eating beef

by Nicole Lane Erceg “Hi, are you a rewards member? If not, would you like to join to save 15% today?” It’s a common interaction between customer and checker. As more companies work to deepen the understanding of their shoppers and keep them coming back, reward programs have popped up in grocery stores and coffee shops, from online companies to bricks-and-mortar retail. Americans love them: 80% of adults in the U.S. belong to…

Continue ReadingConsumers get rewarded for eating beef

NCBA Releases Consumer Research Showing Widespread Confusion About Contents of Plant-Based Fake Meat

SAN ANTONIO (Feb. 7, 2020) - The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) today released survey results that show widespread consumer confusion regarding the ingredient composition and purported benefits of plant-based fake meat products. In an online survey of more than 1,800 consumers, less than half of the respondents understood the labeling term “plant-based beef” was intended to describe an entirely vegetarian or vegan food product. One major source of confusion uncovered by NCBA’s…

Continue ReadingNCBA Releases Consumer Research Showing Widespread Confusion About Contents of Plant-Based Fake Meat

Wet Bales Can Tip the Scales

Ben Beckman, Nebraska Extension Educator Knowing the moisture content of our feedstuffs and how to adjust our feeding plans accordingly is important. Photo credit Troy Walz. The past few months, we’ve been focusing quite a bit on the issues that can arise when hay gets a bit too wet: combustion, mold, and Maillard reactions.  One often overlooked issue that can arise from wet hay is just the moisture itself.  Whenever we provide part…

Continue ReadingWet Bales Can Tip the Scales

Winter Nutrition: Are You Staying Ahead or Getting Behind?

As winter progresses, winter nutrition and increased environmental stress on cows may concern many cow-calf producers. Winter nutritional management affects not only the profitability of a beef cowherd, but also the future performance of the cow and her offspring. With that in mind, building a nutritional program for a cow-calf system requires understanding nutritional requirements, knowing the “stress periods” that can happen, and knowing the quality and quantity of your forage resources.  One…

Continue ReadingWinter Nutrition: Are You Staying Ahead or Getting Behind?

K-State’s Tarpoff: Plan now to assure successful calving season

Stocking supplies, cleaning equipment are among management strategies MANHATTAN, Kan. – Cattle producers who have not yet started the spring calving season still have time to plan ahead, and a Kansas State University veterinarian notes that could make a big difference in having a successful year. “This is the time for a pre-emptive strike,” said A.J. Tarpoff, a beef veterinarian with K-State Research and Extension. “If you haven’t started calving yet on your…

Continue ReadingK-State’s Tarpoff: Plan now to assure successful calving season