Encouraging the Next Generation
Passing on a ranch means passing on a land ethic.
Craig and Conni French understand the importance of passing on a land ethic to the next generation, and they want to make sure their ranch will stay productive into the future. The Frenches of C Lazy J Livestock near Malta, Mont., were the 2020 recipients of the Montana Leopold Conservation Award. They have been ranching together since 1991, starting on a ranch that was homesteaded by Craig’s great-grandfather in 1910.
Association Perspective
Scholarship opportunities are available to young commercial cattle producers using Angus genetics.
As producers of Angus cattle, we know the value of our youth and the importance of education. We want the next generation to be better than the previous generation. We know that college is difficult to pay for and can be unattainable for some without a little assistance.
News & Notes
Get a quick read on industry tidbits from around the country.
This month’s “News & Notes” includes how to learn more about candidates vying for the American Angus Association Board of Directors, the National Pork Producers Council’s oral arguments presented to the U.S. Supreme Court on Proposition 12, the Biden-Harris administration’s investment in school lunches, an opportunity to put the CAB brand on your barn, and Google’s adding of a sustainability feature to its search function.
October 4, 2022 | Vol. 15 : No. 10
Four Decades Devoted to Cattlemen
Randy Blach recognized as 2022 Industry Achievement Award winner at Feeding Quality Forum.
In 1980, Randy Blach put his Colorado State University animal science degree to work at CattleFax as a market analyst. It was a way to help bring value back to the family ranch near Yuma, Colo., where he would soon return.
La Niña Departure Delayed, but It’s Coming
Late winter and early spring 2023 are shaping up to be wintry and wet.
Weatherman Don Day says the long-term forecast includes a mixture of good news and bad. Actually, it’s mostly good news for agriculture in the central and western United States. Day predicts the persistent period of drought will wind down in coming months, thanks to fading La Niña weather patterns. The bad news is that cattle producers must be patient a little bit longer. The lingering effects of La Niña could torment a big chunk of cow country for the remainder of 2022.
Off-Farm Income Increasingly Important for Ag, Rural Economy
The majority of America’s farm households now rely on jobs and income outside of agriculture.
U.S. farmers’ and ranchers’ increasing dependence on off-farm employment and income reveals the growing economic interconnection of rural communities and surrounding cities. According to a study by researchers at the University of Missouri, 82% of U.S. farm household income now comes from off-farm sources. The study was commissioned by CoBank and completed in partnership with CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange.
