Mark Parker: The Top 10 signs you’re a cheap farmer

Mark Parker:  The Top 10 signs you’re a cheap farmer

FarmTalk

10. A skeleton cow of undetermined heritage gimps into the sale ring and the ring man immediately looks at you.

Full Story

Nine Minerals that Make a Big Difference

Nine Minerals that Make a Big Difference

Victoria G. Myers

Progressive Farmer

It’s often what you can’t see that makes the biggest difference. Minerals, for example, affect a lot of what’s going on inside a cow. While the cost of a good program can be pennies a day, it’s only money well spent if it meets the needs of the herd.

Full Story

New tools available to answer questions about beef production

New tools available to answer questions about beef production

Feedstuffs

New tools are now available to help consumers answer questions about today’s beef production, including information explaining the difference between grass-fed and organic beef and what the terms "antibiotic-free" and "raised without antibiotics" mean.

Full Story

Last Year’s Drought May Affect This Year’s Hay

Last Year’s Drought May Affect This Year’s Hay

Nathan Gregory

Cattle Today

Last year’s drought will likely affect this year’s hay acreage in Mississippi. Rocky Lemus, forage specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said he anticipates about 690,000 hay acres. The state had about 750,000 acres devoted to hay production in 2016.

Full Story

Baling the road ditch

Baling the road ditch

Mike Rankin

Hay and Forage Grower

Harvesting hay from the road right-of-way is a common practice in many parts of the United States. While the phrase “It’s better than feeding snowballs” is often associated with road ditch hay, a logical follow-up question might be “Is it?”

Full Story

Iowa Beef Center revises BRaNDS software

Iowa Beef Center revises BRaNDS software

Wallaces Farmer

The upcoming BeefMeets events being held by the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association are an opportunity for not only cattle producers to learn and interact, but also Iowa’s youth who are interested in the cattle industry. Youth are invited and encouraged to attend BeefMeets to participate in the Youth Beef Team training that will occur at each of these regional meetings. Registration and training is free.

Full Story

‘Cow funding’ becoming a trendy way to buy grass-fed beef

‘Cow funding’ becoming a trendy way to buy grass-fed beef

Lori Corbin

ABC News

Scott Thomas said he was concerned about the physical effects from eating factory-farmed beef, but like most consumers, he needs to watch his wallet. "I have a problem with antibiotics in the beef," said Thomas. Thomas found ‘Crowd Cow,’ an online "cow funding" site that offers the opportunity to choose cuts of meat you want from animals that are grass fed and raised in a humane environment. Once all the cuts are claimed, your selection is sent overnight in proper packaging.

Full Story

Impacts of U.S. Beef Exports to China

Impacts of U.S. Beef Exports to China

John Nalivka

Drovers

With China set to begin importing U.S. beef no later than July 16th, America’s robust beef export market will sparkle even more. For the first quarter of 2017, U.S. beef export tonnage was up 22% from a year ago and the value of those exports was up 23%.

Full Story

OCA president delivered 480 petitions to the ODAFF calling for a vote to create a state-based beef checkoff

OCA president delivered 480 petitions to the ODAFF calling for a vote to create a state-based beef checkoff

High Plains Journal

Charlie Swanson, the president of the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association, delivered 480 petitions May 15 to the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture to begin the process of planning a state referendum vote for a Oklahoma state beef checkoff.

Full Story

KSU economist: With more meat on the market, trade matters

KSU economist: With more meat on the market, trade matters

Raney Rapp

FarmTalk

The current climate of United States cattle markets can be summed up in one word — expansion. More calves are hitting the ground, more meat is in the market, and factors surrounding expansion come with their own set of unique challenges.

Full Story