US cattle industry is struggling as herd shrinks

US cattle industry is struggling as herd shrinks

Theopolis Waters

 Reuters

The abrupt closure of Cargill Inc’s beef processing plant in Plainview, Texas, this month could signal consolidation in the beef packing industry due to the cattle herd shrinking to the smallest in over 60 years, an industry leader said on Thursday.

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The Mexican Feeder Cattle Blues

The Mexican Feeder Cattle Blues

Katie Micik

DTN

I’ve got a soft spot for Mexican feeder cattle. I know that sounds strange. It goes back to how I’ve gone about learning agriculture during my three and half years here at DTN: upfront and in person.

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Cattlemen Make Progress Toward Beef Sustainability

Cattlemen Make Progress Toward Beef Sustainability

Gary Truitt

Hoosier AG Today

Participants at the 2013 Cattle Industry Convention gathered today to hear the results of the first-ever Beef Industry Sustainability Assessment. The assessment, which was funded by the Beef Checkoff Program, marks the first time any industry has ever measured the sustainability of its entire supply chain.

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Stockmanship matters

Stockmanship matters

Geni Wren

Bovine Veterinarian Magazine

Cattlemen’s College attendees received some hands-on education Tuesday night on stockmanship at the Florida fairgrounds from livestock handling experts Curt Pate and his daughter Mesa Pate.

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BeefTalk: Now is the Season of Bull Buyers and Sellers

BeefTalk: Now is the Season of Bull Buyers and Sellers

Kris Ringwall, Beef Specialist, NDSU Extension Service

The bull-buying season certainly is here, and I hope those who need some good replacement bulls are busy shopping. Like a good ice pond with way too many ice houses loaded with fishermen, who gets the fish (in this case, the bull) takes luck and good planning.

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BLM and Forest Service announce 2013 grazing fee

BLM and Forest Service announce 2013 grazing fee

Deanna Masterson

Pagosa Sun

The federal grazing fee for 2013 will be $1.35 per animal unit month (AUM) for public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management and $1.35 per head month (HM) for lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service.  The 2013 fee is the same as last year’s.

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DDGS Classified Non-Hazardous

DDGS Classified Non-Hazardous

Journal of Commerce

Classification of distiller’s dried grains with solubles as non-hazardous cargo has become final and mandatory under the International Maritime Organization’s code.

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Meeting to address corn silage issues

Meeting to address corn silage issues

Digitalburg.com

The drought of 2012 forced many corn fields to be salvaged as corn silage and fed to beef cattle.

If handled appropriately, corn silage is an excellent ingredient in beef cattle diets. Current prices for grass hay make silage a more attractive option for beef cattle operations than in past years.

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Some Thoughts On The Cargill Plant Closure

Some Thoughts On The Cargill Plant Closure

Nevil Speer   

BEEF

The major news of the past month surrounds Cargill’s decision to cease operations at its Plainview, TX, plant. The move effectively eliminates weekly harvest capacity by 15,000-20,000 head.

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U.S. Meat Exporters Call Russia Ban ‘Significant’ Sales Loss

U.S. Meat Exporters Call Russia Ban ‘Significant’ Sales Loss

Elizabeth Campbell

Reuters

Russia’s proposed ban on U.S. meat exports next week will mean a “significant” loss of business in a market that was the sixth largest for beef sales, an industry group said.

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