Keep It In the Family
Angus University panel discusses ranch transition.
Three Angus families shared their stories of working through generational succession on their operations during a panel discussion hosted as part of the Angus University Workshops on Nov. 6. Kansas Angus breeders Mark Gardiner of Gardiner Angus Ranch, Ashland, and Paige Pratt of Johnson Farms LLC, Dwight, were joined by Donnell Brown of R.A. Brown Ranch based in Texas. The discussion was moderated by Barbara Dartt with The Family Business Consulting Group.
All three individuals stressed the need for communication among family members — starting early and continuing. Read more.
Casey Jentz
Association Perspective
Customer service can help sell bulls.
As we begin to enter Angus bull sale season, there are many choices for the commercial cattleman to buy Angus bulls. Many places have the genetics they are looking for, along with the expected progeny differences (EPDs) and performance records that help them make decisions.
Another aspect of getting commercial producers to purchase a bull from your program is to provide outstanding customer service. There are many things that can go into providing great customer service. Read more.
On Target: Resolutions
As calves arrive, begin thinking about how their genetics will best reach the market.
The calendar turned to 2017 with many resolutions made. What do you resolve for your operation this year? What plan have you and your team made to improve profits, expand or cut costs in 2017?
In most cases, each team member has ideas for the plan, but rarely does anyone put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard to capture these ideas. Insert any number of quotable quotes regarding failure to plan and managing what you measure. My goal is not to focus on the importance of a plan but to help stimulate ideas for it. In view of the challenging market ahead, let’s look at marketing ideas to consider for 2017. Read more.
Tips for Talking to Your Banker
Have a plan and financial records when you request credit for your operation.
What are your business plans for 2017? How will you present them to your lender?
Those were questions asked of cattle producers attending an Angus University Workshop conducted during the 2016 Angus Convention hosted Nov. 5-7 in Indianapolis, Ind. Louis McIntire, credit officer with Farm Credit Mid-America, offered information about preparing to talk with a banker. Read more.
What’s Inside …
In this January 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:
- Options for Managing Winter Manure Nutrients on Beef Farms
- Setting Posts in Frozen Ground
- Tips for Calving Facilities
- Feed Value Calculator
- Steps to Developing a Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship
- In the Cattle Markets: Hay acres revision causes outlook prices to edge upward.
- Checkoff Study: Beef Maintains Favorable Tenderness Ratings
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.
Research IDs Food Influencers Setting Trends
New CFI approach provides insights for food and ag to earn trust.
A new research approach from The Center for Food Integrity (CFI) identifies influential consumer groups and the motivations that dictate food trends and drive conversations that impact the decisions of others. These decisions include making choices at the grocery store or forming opinions about the products, processes, people and brands that define today’s food system.
For the past 10 years, CFI has conducted annual consumer trust research to better understand public opinion and how to engage with consumers to earn trust. In the first-of-its-kind consumer research, the 2016 survey used an innovative research methodology called digital ethnography. It can help those in food and agriculture more effectively engage and balance the conversation as it provides much deeper insights into influencers, including unspoken motivations, values, top-of-mind issues, emotional triggers, preferred social channels and sources, behaviors, and trusted brands. Read more.
How to Spot and Prevent Deep Vein Thrombosis
Take some simple steps to decrease your chance of blood clots.
Lots of things can cause pain and swelling in your leg, but if your symptoms stem from a blood clot deep in your leg, it can be dangerous. Blood clots can happen to anyone, anytime. However, some people are at increased risk. Taking steps to reduce your chances of a blood clot forming in your veins can help you avoid potentially serious problems.
Blood clots can arise anywhere in your body. They develop when blood thickens and clumps together. When a clot forms in a vein deep in the body, it’s called deep vein thrombosis, or DVT. Deep vein blood clots typically occur in the lower leg or thigh. Read more.