Baxter Black, DVM: THE CORN ATTACK!

Baxter Black, DVM:  THE CORN ATTACK!

In the last few years we have watched an increasing attack on corn. The skewed reasoning is: corn syrup is available, reasonably priced, and good for the average person, therefore; it must be bad!

Full Story

Breeding heifers on wheat pasture

Breeding heifers on wheat pasture

Glenn Selk, Oklahoma State University

Drovers

To say that wheat pasture is “short” is an understatement for many areas of Oklahoma this year.  However, some producers may still have questions about the utilization of wheat pasture for growing replacement heifers before, during, and after their first breeding season.

Full Story

Industry let down by GIPSA, Fifth Third Bank

Industry let down by GIPSA, Fifth Third Bank

Katie Micik

DTN

The livestock marketing committee of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association is forming a task force to investigate solutions to the financial risks highlighted by Eastern Livestock Company’s bankruptcy.

Full Story

Long Calving Seasons: Problems and Solutions

Long Calving Seasons: Problems and Solutions

Tom Troxel, University of Arkansas

In a USDA, APHIS and Veterinary Services survey, 53 percent of the beef cattle producers did not have a set calving season. With the profitability of a cow-calf operation getting more and more difficult to obtain, reducing the breeding and calving season can be the first step toward improved production efficiency.

Full Story

Agriculture lobbyists optimistic about Congress

Agriculture lobbyists optimistic about Congress

Rebecca Martinez

Staunton News Leader

Agriculture lobbyists are optimistic about the new U.S. Congress, especially the Republican majority in the House of Representatives.

They told the Virginia Beef Industry and State Dairymen’s Convention that farmers will see more support on Capitol Hill, just in time for the new Farm Bill, expected in 2012.

Full Story

Frigid temperatures increases hay use

Frigid temperatures increases hay use

Mary Hightower

Delta Farm Press

The week of Feb. 7, Arkansas cattle producers were wading through up to 2 feet of snow to keep their cows fed and watered, and protect any calves that might be born with the departure of low atmospheric pressure.

Full Story

MI Dept of Agriculture Proposes 57 Counties in Lower Peninsula to be bovine TB Free

MI Dept of Agriculture Proposes 57 Counties in Lower Peninsula to be bovine TB Free

State of Michigan

The Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) has proposed changes to Michigan’s zoning rules for bovine Tuberculosis (TB). The new rules will be discussed in three public meetings across Michigan and will become effective this summer, after the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) publishes an update on Michigan’s Status in the Code of Federal Regulations.

Full Story

Cows Need Good-Quality Forages After Calving

Cows Need Good-Quality Forages After Calving

Hay and Forage Grower

A beef cow’s energy requirement increases about 30% after calving and her protein needs nearly double, points out Bruce Anderson, University of Nebraska Extension forage specialist.

Full Story

Invasion of the Alien Cattle

Invasion of the Alien Cattle

Charles Kenny

Foreign Policy

Immigrants to the United States, rights advocates say, are treated like cattle. Little do they know how wrong they are. Cattle are treated much better. In fact, as I write, alien cows are swarming America’s borders, and the U.S. government is welcoming this mass of bovinity with open arms.

Full Story

Waiting For The No-Brainer

Waiting For The No-Brainer

John Harrington

DTN

Livestock producers sick of smoking feed bills wonder where it will all end. While I’m fully sympathetic with their confusion and anxiety, meat producers need to realize that they’re a big part of the problem. In short, corn prices will continue to plow higher and higher until enough end-users cry "uncle."

Full Story