As World Celebrates New Year, American Cattlemen Celebrate New Trade Deals

(NCBA) — National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President Jennifer Houston issued the following statement regarding the new trade deals with Japan and the European Union (EU), which go into effect on New Years Day: “As the clock struck midnight and revelers around the world popped champagne and toasted the new year, American cattle producers had two big reasons to celebrate. That’s because the New Year brings new opportunities and better access to two of…

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A Strong Finish to the Year

Stephen R. Koontz, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics – Colorado State University Without a doubt, the cattle markets are closing the year far stronger than I expected.  Live cattle futures have pushed into new highs and cash fed cattle prices are back to tracking the price levels and seasonal patterns of last year.  There were some unique market drivers that I discussed last month.  Most are still present, are not typical, and…

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Ag conference offers cutting-edge, practical applications for technology

The Kansas Agricultural Technologies Conference takes place Jan. 16-17 in Junction City JUNCTION CITY, Kan. – Technology changes rapidly in every aspect of life. For farmers, keeping up with all changes in equipment, analysis methods and best practices can make a major difference in their productivity and, ultimately, their bottom line. From aerial crop-monitoring drones to driverless tractors, the present and future of Kansas agriculture takes center stage at the Kansas Agricultural Technologies…

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Trade and Animal Health Practices: Are they paying?

Dr. Elliott Dennis, Assistant Professor, Livestock Marketing Economist, Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Nebraska – Lincoln This past year has seen several important trade agreements agreed to which will directly benefit the beef complex. The Japanese-U.S. trade deal will effectively lower tariffs for 90% of beef commodities from 38.5% to 9% between 2019 and 2033. The European Union-U.S. trade deal will increase the quota limit of hormone free beef for the U.S.…

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Was this the year you expected or hoped for?

Chris Penrose, Extension Educator, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Morgan Co. (originally published in The Ohio Cattleman) I now have been writing articles in this column for around 25 years and I am always trying to come up with something different and beneficial for beef producers around the state. As I thought about a topic, with age and experience, we also gain perspective. For those of us that have been in the beef business…

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Castration Timing, Technique Options and Pain Management

Animal welfare is ever present in the beef producer's mind when considering the optimal management strategies to maximize the productivity of the calf. One of the most stressful times in a male calf's life is when he experiences castration. Optimum Castration Timing In regard to the optimum time for the procedure, Kansas State veterinarians Dr. Bob Larson and Dr. Hans Coetzee recommend castrating bull calves in the first few days of life after…

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Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. Wraps Up 2019 by Reaching Consumers more than 1 Billion times

DENVER, Dec. 23, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Two years after it was relaunched, the Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. brand has had a reach of more than 1 billion consumers with drool worthy and informative digital marketing and social media content. Funded by the Beef Checkoff and developed by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), the Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. brand aims to inspire families to explore their culinary talents with nutritious…

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Broadband Map Fix Will Reveal Needs

The House of Representatives passed Farm Bureau-backed legislation that will improve the accuracy of broadband coverage maps to better identify needs. The Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability (DATA) Act (H.R. 4229) requires broadband providers to report more specific data to create a significantly more accurate and granular National Broadband Map. With more precise data, federal agencies can target funding to areas that need it most. “Broadband is a necessity and many rural…

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Moser, Kuckelman Elected To KLA Leadership Positions

(WICHITA) – Members of the Kansas Livestock Association (KLA) elected Wheaton cow-calf producer Harry Moser as president during the group’s annual business meeting December 6 in Wichita. The membership chose Jerry Kuckelman, a cattle feeder from Manhattan, as KLA president-elect. Moser and Kuckelman will lead the 5,600-member organization during the next year.     Moser and his family own a seedstock and commercial cow-calf enterprise in Marshall and Pottawatomie counties. Seedstock is merchandized by…

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Explore and assess your seeds this winter

URBANA, Ill. – While there may still be snow on the ground outside, it is never too early to start planning your garden for the spring. Begin by digging through your old seed packet stashes to find those still viable to plant. Seeds are considered viable when they are capable of germination under suitable conditions. If stored properly, some seeds may remain viable for several years, while others are only viable for a…

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