What to Do with Profitability
OSU ag economist urges producers to use current profitability to improve genetics, infrastructure.
High market prices are providing an incentive for producers to grow their herds and increase their profitability, said John Michael Riley, Oklahoma State University (OSU). During the 2015 Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) Annual Convention, Riley addressed factors in the current market that will increase future herd profitability. Read more.
Casey Jentz
Association Perspective
Continuing education for young producers.
The Beef Leaders Institute (BLI) has been an extremely valuable experience for cattlemen across the country. Each year, a small group of producers between the ages of 25 and 45 is selected from a pool of applicants to be part of that year’s BLI “class.” They take a weeklong tour of some of the industry’s leading organizations and farms. The tours cover many aspects of the business, which this year stretched from commercial feedlots to genetics companies to the very foundations of the Angus breed. Read more.
Good Neighbors
Cattlemen share what it means to be a good neighbor.
It’s part of “The Code of the West” … or the East, North or South, for that matter. Like hospitality, fair play, loyalty and respect for the land, most cattle folk rank neighborliness among their unwritten rules of personal conduct. While they tend to be of the independent and self-reliant sort, cattle producers usually see value in being on friendly terms with their neighbors.
For an Angus Journal article featured in the August issue, we asked representatives of different kinds of cattle operations located in different parts of the country to explain what they think it takes to be a good neighbor. They graciously agreed to tell about their efforts to maintain neighborly relations with other area farmers and ranchers, as well as the nonagricultural people residing in their respective communities. Read more.
BIF Wraps Up in Biloxi
Angus Media provides news from the BIF Annual Convention in Biloxi, Miss.; Angus producers take top producer-of-the-year honors.
Mississippi State University and the Mississippi Extension Service hosted the 47th Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) Annual Convention June 9-12 at the Beau Rivage Casino and Hotel in Biloxi, Miss. The event draws a wide audience each year, ranging from breed association professionals and cattle producers to researchers and industry representatives.
Industry-leading education and discussions on the latest scientific advancements in the beef industry were at the forefront of the three-day event. Read more.
More Land Designated to National Monuments
Move shifts more than 1 million acres to federal jurisdiction.
President Obama designated three more national monuments under the Antiquities Act. The Berryessa Snow Mountain in California, Waco Mammoth in Texas, and Basin and Range in Nevada together add more than 1 million acres to federal jurisdiction. With these designations, Obama will have used the Antiquities Act to establish or expand 19 national monuments, putting more than 260 million total acres of land and water under restrictive management during his presidency. Read more.
What’s Inside …
In this July edition of the Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA, you'll find valuable articles devoted to the management, marketing, and health and nutrition of your beef enterprise. Select from the tabs at the top of the page to access this month’s entire offering by category. A few select features include:
- Time Prescribed Burning to Target Seedlings
- Drought Endurance
- Assessing Transportation Stress
- Factors That Influence Heat Stress
- Tips for Cleaning Syringes
- The Source: Continuing Education is a Must
- Inherited Problems
News Briefs …
The American Angus Association and its subsidiaries generate a wealth of information to keep members and affiliates informed of what's happening within the industry, as well as with the programs and services they offer. Click here for easy access to the newsrooms of the American Angus Association and Certified Angus Beef LLC and the Angus Journal Daily archive available in the API Virtual Library.
AGree Raises Red Flags
in Food and Ag K-12 Education
Five ideas to better prepare the next generation.
A paper released July 16 by AGree describes a disjointed and ineffective system of K-12 food and ag education in the United States and identifies needed reform.
The paper, Food and Agricultural Education in the United States, authored by Stephanie Mercier, former chief economist of the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee and currently with the Farm Journal Foundation, is the most comprehensive summary to date of the current state of play in K-12 food and agriculture education, its evolution and ideas that could help to focus and modernize instruction.
“Americans are increasingly interested in where their food comes from, yet are also more disconnected from agriculture than ever before. Agriculture literacy is critical; agriculture, food and nutrition topics should be embedded in how we teach science and technology,” said Deborah Atwood, executive director of AGree. “Our current system is struggling to prepare the next generation for success.” Read more.
Watch Your Vitamin D Levels
Low vitamin D linked to osteoarthritis in the knee.
As you get older, you may notice your knees are less forgiving when it comes to jaunting up and down the stairs. A study supported in part by USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) suggests that if you’re not getting adequate vitamin D in your diet, you may be at increased risk of developing the painful condition known as “osteoarthritis” in your knees.
Osteoarthritis occurs when the natural cushioning between joints in the body wears away — allowing bones to rub together. With an estimated 27 million people succumbing to osteoarthritis, there is significant interest in finding ways to prevent or treat the condition. Read more.