What a blue Congress could mean for ag

What a blue Congress could mean for ag

Carrie Veselka

Progressive Cattle

Speculation abounds as to what lies ahead with a Democratic majority in both chambers of Congress, along with a Democrat as president. Changes in ag committee leadership in both the Senate and the House officially take effect following the inauguration of former Vice President Joe Biden. The House Democratic Caucus approved Rep. David Scott (D-Georgia) to serve as chairman of the House Agriculture Committee in December 2020. Current Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow (D-Michigan) will replace retiring Senate committee chair Pat Roberts (R-Kansas).

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Beef Producers Could Have More Precise Way to Manage and Select Herds in the Future

Beef Producers Could Have More Precise Way to Manage and Select Herds in the Future

Janese Heavin

A Steak in Genomics™

Beef producers in the future could have a more precise way to determine the productivity of their cattle, thanks to a collaboration between Mizzou Engineering and the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR). “The goal is to maximize intake versus the output such as meat production,” said Guilherme DeSouza. “From an engineering point of view, we want to optimize the process.”

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U.S. beef demand stands up during pandemic

U.S. beef demand stands up during pandemic

Barb Glen

The Western Producer

Increased grocery store sales that resulted as consumers began cooking more at home offset decline in restaurant trade
 The wild rodeo of beef demand in 2020 appears to be over, at least in the United States. While many table-service restaurants have closed or offer limited service due to pandemic restrictions, the total impact on beef demand has been minor because supermarkets increased their sales based on consumers’ need to buy food and cook more at home.

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Where’s the beef? Cattle, money missing

Where’s the beef? Cattle, money missing

Patti Dozier

Thomasville Times Enterprise

Cattle valued at hundreds of thousands of dollars are missing — and so is the money.   In late 2020, the Thomas County Sheriff’s Office received a complaint from a local stock yard about bad checks the business received. “A gentleman from Hartford, Alabama, doing business as Bennett Cattle Company, purchased cattle with a check,” said Capt. Tim Watkins, sheriff’s office chief investigator.

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Bill Gates says ditch cows for synthetic beef

Bill Gates says ditch cows for synthetic beef

Brittany A. Roston

Slashgear

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.

It’s no secret that cattle — the kind raised for beef and milk products — are bad for the environment. Various efforts have been introduced to address this problem, including encouraging the public to eat less beef, potential feed changes to reduce emissions, and more. In a recent interview, Bill Gates took things one step farther by calling on wealthy countries to switch entirely to synthetic beef.

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Cattle needs rise as temperatures drop

Cattle needs rise as temperatures drop

Donald Stotts

Claremore Daily Progress

Cattle producers need to follow recommended livestock-care checklists to mitigate significant dangers that arctic blasts bring to animal health and production, said Oklahoma State University experts. Ranchers might not typically think about frozen water sources during a mild winter, for example.

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Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame Announces the 2021 Inductees and Award Winners

Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame Announces the 2021 Inductees and Award Winners

Drovers

The Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame has announced its 2021 inductees and award winners who will be recognized at its 12th annual banquet to be held Aug. 9, 2021, in Nashville, Tennessee.

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A Different Kind of Land Management: Let the Cows Stomp

A Different Kind of Land Management: Let the Cows Stomp

Henry Fountain

New York Times

Adam Isaacs stood surrounded by cattle in an old pasture that had been overgrazed for years. Now it was a jumble of weeds. “Most people would want to get out here and start spraying it” with herbicides, he said. “My family used to do that.

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Cattle needs rise as temperatures drop

Cattle needs rise as temperatures drop

Shawnee News Star

Cattle producers need to follow recommended livestock-care checklists to mitigate significant dangers that arctic blasts bring to animal health and production, said Oklahoma State University experts. Ranchers might not typically think about frozen water sources during a mild winter, for example.

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Natural Gas Shortage Forces Feedyards to Reformulate Feed

Natural Gas Shortage Forces Feedyards to Reformulate Feed

Tyne Morgan

Agweb

The energy crisis in Texas is now a battle residents have faced for consecutive days. With several days of record cold temperatures, the strain on natural gas supplies are amplified right now. And as residential and electrical needs are prioritized for natural gas supplies available, the shortage is cutting into production for major food suppliers like the feedyards.

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