Are There Limits to Government Speech?

Are There Limits to Government Speech?

Garrett Epps

The Atlantic

Editor’s note: Stories of this ilk are included in the blog to inform those in our industry how agriculture is being presented to and perceived by the public.

The Supreme Court considers whether putting a Confederate battle flag on a license plate should be different than urging Americans to eat more beef. We the people love beef. Don’t believe me? Listen to the late Robert Mitchum, or whiskey-voiced cowboy star Sam Elliott: “Beef. It’s what’s for dinner.”

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Seedstock producer provides education about quality-improving technology.

Seedstock producer provides education about quality-improving technology.

Kasey Brown

Angus Journal

Calculating proper nutrition, managing solid vaccination and health protocols, watching markets fluctuate, and maintaining fences and equipment — these are a few of the things that rattle around in a cattleman’s brain like the tools in the bed of a ranch pickup. There is plenty to think about in raising healthy market-age cattle.

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Does beef price at retail matter anymore?

Does beef price at retail matter anymore?

Steve Kay

BEEF

Retail beef prices hit a new milestone in their yearlong, record-breaking march. USDA’s All Fresh beef price averaged $6 per pound in January for the first time. That’s up 95¢, or nearly 19%, from January 2014. It begs the question: Is such an increase positive or negative for the industry?

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OSU Extension offers herd bull purchase tips for livestock producers

OSU Extension offers herd bull purchase tips for livestock producers

Tracy Turner

AG Answers

Beef cattle producers who want to boost their profit potential need to consider several factors when purchasing a herd sire, says a beef cattle expert in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences at The Ohio State University.

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Cattlemen Testify in COOL Hearing

Cattlemen Testify in COOL Hearing

BeefUSA.org

Wednesday, Mike Smith of Harris Ranch in California testified before the House Ag Livestock Subcommittee on the effects of COOL on the cattle industry. While proponents of the COOL rule tout consumer favorability, Smith pointed out that Harris Ranch’s experience has mirrored the findings of the Kansas State University Study; that COOL is a mandatory marketing program that consumers pay little attention to and that has had no impact on demand for or the price of beef.

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Crossbreeding Systems for Small Beef Herds

Crossbreeding Systems for Small Beef Herds

Tom R. Troxel

University of Arkansas

For most livestock species, crossbreeding is an important aspect of production. Intelligent crossbreeding generates hybrid vigor and breed complementarity, which are very important to production efficiency. Cattle breeders can obtain hybrid vigor and complementarity simply by crossing appropriate breeds.

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BQA Transportation Symposium Registration Open

BQA Transportation Symposium Registration Open

Diane Henderson

The Beef Board

Attention all cattle transporters, dairymen, cattle farmers and ranchers:  The Cattle Transportation Symposium, funded in part by the beef checkoff, is set for May 14-15 in Fort Collins, Colo. The symposium provides a venue for industry experts and stakeholders to gather and discuss issues, research, and solutions that directly relate to cattle transportation.

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Orientation Held for New Select Sires Employees

Orientation Held for New Select Sires Employees

More than 20 A.I. technicians, sales representatives and marketing personnel took part in Select Sires’ employee orientation held March 10 and 11 at the Select Sires headquarters in Plain City, Ohio.

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University of Georgia opens new veterinary hospital

University of Georgia opens new veterinary hospital

Bovine Veterinarian

The University of Georgia Veterinary Teaching Hospital saw its first appointments today at its new location, 2200 College Station Road.

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Pigeon Peas Could Be Forage for the Herds, Not the Birds

Pigeon Peas Could Be Forage for the Herds, Not the Birds

Rachel Gilker

Onpasture.com

Pigeon peas have been cultivated for more than 3500 years, and they are pretty popular in much of the world. They are a common food grain in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, and rank as the 6th most popular pulse (legume) in the world. But, pigeon peas haven’t gotten much traction in North America. Why the heck not? We think it might be time.

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