Safety and preparedness tips for the solar eclipse
| Uncategorized
With six years since the last solar eclipse, state officials are warning Texans to prepare for the Oct. 14 event as it is expected to draw thousands to the Lone Star State. The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service’s Disaster Assessment Recovery, DAR, unit, along with state emergency preparedness officials, urge individuals to ...
Drought and fewer water sources not adversely affecting Texas wildlife
| Uncategorized
Texas wildlife received the right amount of rain at the perfect time for the crucial growing stages of 2023. In spite of worsening drought conditions, wildlife populations have prevailed, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert. White-tailed deer and other wildlife were not adversely affected by the drought as the ...
Will you capitalize on increasing cow value?
| Cover Story
What a difference a year makes when it comes to cow prices! Whether it is weigh up cows at $1.10 per pound or young bred heifers and cows pushing $2,500 - $3,000 per head, the recent rise in prices has been dramatic. Many cow-calf producers will sell calves this fall ...
Beef exports face continuing challenges; export forecast lowered
| Industry News, Marketing
U.S. beef exports continue to face a multitude of economic headwinds and have fallen significantly from last year’s record levels. On top of fewer exportable supplies due to lower domestic production, U.S. beef is more expensive on the global market due to the combination of higher domestic beef prices and ...
Webinar on white-tailed deer management set for Oct. 5
| Uncategorized
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will present the webinar “White-tailed Deer Management” on Oct. 5 from noon to 1 p.m. White-tailed deer will be the focus of an Oct. 5 webinar talking about population, habitat and diet. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Michael Miller) The webinar is part of the ongoing Texas ...
Private pesticide applicator training course set Sept. 26 in Waco
| Industry News
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in McLennan County will be holding a private pesticide applicator training course on Sept. 26 in Waco. The course is from 8 a.m.-noon at the AgriLife Extension office in McLennan County, 4224 Cobbs Drive. Cost is $70 and is payable by check or cash only. To ...
USDA grant supports study of melatonin use in pregnant cows grazing toxic fescue on calf growth
| Reproduction
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — With support from a $300,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture grant, the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station is continuing research on the use of a common sleep aid for humans to improve weight gains of calves whose mothers grazed toxic fescue while pregnant. Tall fescue is the most common ...
Drought across Texas worsens
| Crop and Weather
High temperatures and drought conditions have persisted throughout the summer months in Texas, with little rain to provide relief. While tropical storm Harold brought some relief along the coast of Texas, according to the Texas state climatologist, much of the state has witnessed above average temperatures — 4 to 8 ...
Seasonal price weakness likely muted
| Uncategorized
Cattle price increases slowed or stalled last month, pressured by extreme heat limiting cattle movement and packers reducing production in an effort to boost wholesale beef values. Heading into fall, prices typically come under seasonal pressure, although dwindling cattle numbers will likely lessen the impact. “Cattle prices are trending higher ...
Weighing the Market
| Columnists
Seasonal price weakness likely muted Cattle price increases slowed or stalled last month, pressured by extreme heat limiting cattle movement and packers reducing production in an effort to boost wholesale beef values. Heading into fall, prices typically come under seasonal pressure, although dwindling cattle numbers will likely lessen the impact. ...
The sleep tight policy
| Cover Story
Being a seedstock producer often requires making a big investment in new genetics – a new herd bull or top-notch donor cow can run into the tens of thousands, easily. And because your investment is a living, breathing animal that will be walking around on four legs out in the ...
Texas Trails
| Columnists
Indianola: Gone with the wind Indianola already had a great future behind it when a hurricane blew it away in 1886, 40 years after its founding as Indian Point on Matagorda Bay. The U.S. Army established a base there because it was the nearest port to San Antonio, where the ...
Saddle & Sirloin honors Jarold Callahan
| Breed News
What do purple banners, board room gavels and steno pads have in common? They’re all items that epitomize Jarold Callahan’s significant influence on the beef industry. Aptly, the Edmond Oklahoma cattleman has been chosen as 2023 inductee into the Saddle & Sirloin Portrait Gallery. Largely considered one of the highest ...
DC News
| Columnists
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The highly anticipated new waters of the United States, or WOTUS, rule released by the Environmental Protection Agency will remove scores of water bodies from regulation under the Clean Water Act. Absent from the new rule is the “significant nexus” test which had been part of WOTUS since the ...
Texas Side of Things
| Columnists
Hopefully, it looks like we have finally made it through the summer of 2023. This past week, a cool front, not acold front, made it into Texas and dropped the temperatures down from 108 into the high 90’s which is a welcome relief for most of us. In fact, we received anywhere from a half inch to over an inch of rainin the Hill Country but it’s still not the measurable rainfall we desperately need before our first killing freeze, which hopefully won’t occur until the end of November. I’m 65-years-old and I can honestly say, I’ve never seen a year likethis! In Llano and Mason counties, we were green and lush at the beginning of July and in 60 days without anyrainfall, no cloudy days whatsoever and over 100 degrees every day…it dried out faster than I’ve ever seen it. The Llano ...
Fall pasture management program Sept. 19 in San Antonio
| Pastures & Forages
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Bexar County will present the Fall Pasture Management program Sept. 19 in San Antonio. The program will be held from 9 a.m.-noon in Suite 208 of the AgriLife Extension office in Bexar County, 3355 Cherry Ridge. Registration is $20 both at the door or in ...
2023 update on Texas pecan production, prices and pests
| Uncategorized
Although prices remain steady, consumers should pay extra attention to early pecan harvest production, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert. Drought may affect pecan production this year, but prices should remain steady. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Laura McKenzie) Larry Stein, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension horticulturist, Uvalde, said pecan production ...
CAB launching new direct marketing program
| Breed News
Could your freezer beef carry the Certified Angus Beef ® (CAB) brand logo? Perhaps. With the launch of a new program, Angus farmers and ranchers have the option to market their beef directly to consumers as CAB product. Ranch to Table, a direct partnership program between CAB and cattle operations using Angus genetics, ...
East Texas Wildlife Expo set for Oct. 6 in Jasper
| Uncategorized
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will host the East Texas Wildlife Expo on Oct. 6 in Jasper. White-tailed deer will be one of the topics discussed at the Oct. 6 East Texas Wildlife Expo in Jasper. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Michael Miller) The expo will begin with registration at 8 ...
Spring 2024 Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association internships now open
| Uncategorized
FORT WORTH, Texas (Sept. 5, 2023) – Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association today opened the application window for 2024 spring internship programs. These exceptional internship programs offer students the chance to broaden their network and collaborate with Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association personnel and leading industry figures. Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association ...
| Industry News
Nuisance wildlife management program set Sept. 19 in Georgetown Topics: Removal techniques, safety concerns, laws and regulations SEPTEMBER 5, 2023 The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will hold a Nuisance Wildlife Management Program on Sept. 19 from 4-6 p.m. in Georgetown. Bee swarming behavior and wasp issues are an increasing nuisance in ...
CenTex Cattle Symposium set for Sept. 22nd in Riesel, Tx
| Industry News
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service office in McLennan County will host the 2023 CenTex Beef Cattle Symposium in Riesel on Sept. 22. The event will be held from 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at the Moreno Ranches, 948 Farm-to-Market Road 2037. The fee is $25 and payable at the door by either check ...
Texas citrus continues to bounce back from freeze
| Crop and Weather
Texas citrus growers appear to be back on track after Winter Storm Uri caused significant setbacks to many growers two seasons ago, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert. Before Winter Storm Uri delivered week-long ice and sub-freezing temperatures to much of the state in February 2021, Texas citrus growers ...
Not your standard bull
| Columnists
On Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023, the temperature reached 100 degrees or hotter in San Antonio for the 60th time in 2023. This surpasses all the previous years recorded in history. AND IT’S JUST AUG. 27! This is not the kind of record you want to break. A popular record people seem ...
Pinkeye in cattle: Combating an expanded list of viruses and bacteria
| Herd Health
Pinkeye is a well-known bacterial infection that cattle producers watch for each year. The number of cases often increase during the summer and into the fall. The bacterium Moraxella bovis is most associated with pinkeye infections. However, an Alabama Cooperative Extension System veterinarian said there are other viruses and bacteria that labs ...
Texas Trails
| Columnists
J.O. Langford’s Hot Springs J.O. Langford was sickly and despairing when he made his way from Midland to Alpine in 1909. He had forsaken his native Mississippi for Texas because he suffered frequent bouts of malaria in his home state and he thought the arid West Texas air might be ...
A No. 2 pencil is a beef producer’s best tool
| Uncategorized
COLUMBIA, Missouri – One of the most important tools for livestock producers is a sharp No. 2 pencil. The pencil and some basic arithmetic can help take the emotion out of desperate measures to find feed. When you do the math, buying grain or other alternative feeds may be the ...
Fewer Cattle on Feed and lower placements
| Marketing
The latest Cattle on Feed Report was released on Aug. 17 and delivered a bit of surprise in the number of cattle placed on feedlots during July. The broader takeaway from the report is tighter feedlot supplies and plenty of support for cattle prices. However, there were some interesting details under the ...
Biden administration announces funding for high-speed internet in rural areas
| DC News
WASHINGTON, Aug. 21, 2023 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced nearly $700 million in grants and loans to connect thousands of rural residents, farmers and business owners in 22 states and the Marshall Islands to reliable, affordable high-speed internet through the ReConnect Program, funded by President Biden’s Bipartisan ...
Consumer demand and high prices prompt cattle producer optimism
| Cover Story, Industry News
Optimism greeted beef cattle producers from around the country attending the Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course recently for two primary reasons — high cattle prices and continued consumer demand, despite the higher beef prices. Unlike in previous decades, Americans today eat higher-grade beef and pay a premium for it. Beef cattle ...
A&M Board of Regents approve Animal Reproductive Biotechnology Center construction
| Reproduction
The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents approved construction of the new $13 million Animal Reproductive Biotechnology Center at their meeting on Aug. 16. Construction is expected to begin in September with substantial completion scheduled for January 2025. This initiative is a joint effort among the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life ...
Long range model update
| Weather Forecast
Last month, I showed you what was up with the developing El Niño. This month, we’ll look at the various long range models and what they are projecting for the next few months. First, let’s look at the EURO Seasonal Model… September - November Precipitation Forecast While the three month ...
Corn basis following Mississippi River levels downward
| Crop and Weather
LITTLE ROCK — Corn basis is sinking along with the levels of the Mississippi River as drought grips the upper reaches of the river and many of its tributaries. At Memphis, Tennessee, on Wednesday, the river was at minus 4.1 feet and was expected to drop to minus 5 feet by Sept. ...
Landowners’ conference set for Sept. 12 in Bastrop
| Industry News
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service office in Bastrop County will host a Managing Your Piece of Texas landowners’ conference on Sept. 12 in Bastrop. The event will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the American Legion Post 533, 3003 Loop 150. Registration is $10 before the Sept. 5 deadline and $20 ...
Texas A&M Forest Service opens emergency grant applications for wildfire disaster declaration
| Uncategorized
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Emergency grant applications are now open for volunteer fire departments included in Governor Abbott's wildfire disaster declaration. “Volunteer firefighters are our first line of defense against wildfires in Texas,” said Wes Moorehead, Texas A&M Forest Service Fire Chief. “During this active summer season, these firefighters are ...
More than just mortgages: Interest rate hikes affect farming too
| Industry News
LITTLE ROCK — Expect one more interest rate hike before the end of the year, says Ryan Loy, extension economist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. In his newly released fact sheet “How are Interest Rates Influenced?” Loy discusses the rationale behind this year’s interest rate increases, ...
Northeast Texas Panhandle Beef Conference set for Sept. 7 in Lipscomb
| Industry News, Production
The Northeast Texas Panhandle Beef Conference will be hosted by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service on Sept. 7 at the Wolf Creek Heritage Museum in Lipscomb. The program will begin at 1:30 p.m. Registration is $10 and payable at the door. “After several years of drought and selling off some or ...
Women In Ag Conference set for Sept. 12-13 in Fort Worth
| Cover Story, Industry News
The inaugural Women in Agriculture Conference will be held on Sept. 12th and 13th in the historic Fort Worth Stockyards, Fort Worth, Texas. The two-day event is designed to assist farm and ranch women with problem solving, record keeping and decision-making skills. The conference will cover topics designed to help them with ...
QuickBooks Online Training for farmers and ranchers goes live
| Industry News, Production
Producers needing to learn better record-keeping practices no longer have to wait for a training in their area, as the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service is now offering a Beginning QuickBooks Online Training for Farmers and Ranchers. The primary goal of the online version of this training course is to help farmers and ranchers ...
Texas Side of Things
| Columnists
Last week I attended my favorite annual cattle event, the Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course (BCSC). It’s always good to go back to College Station and see all the new facilities under construction and to see and learn about the most up-to-date information concerning the cattle industry. Once again, my ...
Texas timber finding added value in new markets
| Crop and Weather
The Texas timber sector has experienced ebbs and flows of supply and demand and other market forces, but new products and opportunities are adding value to trees, said a Texas A&M Forest Service expert. Fiber grown, managed, harvested, processed and manufactured around the state continues to play a big role in Texas’ ...
What will you do with profits?
| Industry News
Cow-calf producers are looking at the potential for significant profits for 2023 due to high calf prices. This income may give cow-calf producers the rare opportunity to invest capital back into the ranch. The following are options, in no particular order, to consider when thinking about and planning for investments ...
Drugstore cowboys
| Columnists
A lot of what we can say about Clark Stanley or Charlie Bigelow would come off today as a left-handed compliment or even a downright insult. Where’s the glory in being history’s best-known snake oil salesman, or even the original Drug Store Cowboy? Stanley and Bigelow have been called both ...
NCBA slams presidential overreach in latest Antiquities Act Designation
| DC News
WASHINGTON (Aug. 8, 2023) – Today, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) slammed President Biden’s use of the Antiquities Act to put sweeping federal designations on over a million additional acres of land in Arizona, amounting to yet another presidential land grab. “This kind of use of the Antiquities Act is one ...
Cattle plus extreme heat equals a bad combination
| Herd Health
This summer’s extreme heat has been and continues to be brutal on cattle. When the temperature at night remains above 80 degrees, it’s really hard for cattle to cool down. During an average year, August is the worst month for heat stress in cattle. But this year, high temperatures arrived ...
Mathis selected to lead Texas A&M Department of Animal Science
| Cover Story
Clay Mathis, Ph.D., has been named the new head of the Department of Animal Science, making a return to the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, beginning Oct. 1. Mathis, a native of New Braunfels, Texas, is no stranger to the department as he earned both his bachelor’s in animal ...
OSU researchers awarded NSF funds to study rural resilience
| Industry News
In so-called flyover states across the U.S., rural communities face issues that most people never see. One major issue is water. The water resources on which these rural communities depend are often threatened by changing land management and climate. While these ongoing changes may disproportionally impact rural communities, the majority ...
Herd expansion on hold
| Columnists, Marketing
Notwithstanding the weekly push and pull of grain market wonderments and beef packers reining in production to boost boxed beef prices, cattle prices continued beyond the expectations of many last month. The already bullish outlook grew even brighter. USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) increased projected feeder steer prices (750-800 lbs. ...
McLennan County Small Landowner Educational Series starts Aug. 21 in Waco
| Industry News
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service office in McLennan County is kicking off its McLennan County Extension Small Landowner Educational Series on Aug. 21 in Waco. The series will be held from Aug. 21-Sept. 25 from 6-8 p.m. at the AgriLife Extension office in McLennan County, 4224 Cobbs Drive. Registration cost is ...
Texas Hunting, Fishing Licenses on sale Aug. 15
| Industry News
AUSTIN— It’s August, which means kids are back in school and the fall hunting and fishing seasons are quickly approaching. Before packing your favorite tackle and camo for trips, be sure to purchase an annual fishing and hunting license for 2023-24. Current-year Texas hunting and fishing licenses (except the Year-from-Purchase ...
Big Country Beef Cattle Conference set Aug. 24 in Abilene
| Industry News
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will host the Big Country Beef Conference on Aug. 24 at the Taylor County Expo Center in the Big Country Hall, 1700 Texas Highway 36, Abilene. The event will run from 8:15 a.m.-4:15 p.m., with registration and coffee starting at 7:45 a.m. Call the AgriLife Extension office of Taylor ...
New Hereford magazines champions heterosis
| Breed News
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The American Hereford Association (AHA) launched a new publication in August — Baldy Advantage — highlighting the experiences and insights of commercial cow-calf producers using Hereford-sired baldy cattle to their benefit. “Heterosis is tough to beat and harder to ignore in commercial cow-calf production,” says Bill Goehring, AHA president. ...
Fire danger high across parts of state this week
| Cover Story, Industry News
The Texas A&M Forest Service has raised the State Wildfire Preparedness Level to Level 4 due to the recent increase in wildfire activity statewide and growing potential for wildfires to become more severe and harder to control.“The decision to move to a Preparedness Level 4 indicates that the complexity of wildfires across ...
Generation Next: Our Turn to Ranch online course now registering
| Industry News
The Generation Next: Our Turn to Ranch 12-week online course is open for registration. The program, offered by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, takes place Aug. 21-Nov. 12. The course fee is $300, and online registration is required at https://tx.ag/GenerationNext2023. Because enrollment is limited to 100 registrants, those interested in participating ...
Just Your Standard Bull
| Columnists
The last time I wrote to you was during our family trip to Maine. For those of you who didn’t read it, I will remind you that we have a motor coach and drove there and back. Google Maps says that from our storage facility near Boerne, to Freeport Maine ...
War in Ukraine continues to cause havoc in wheat market
| Crop and Weather
Recent aggression in the war between Ukraine and Russia propelled roller-coaster wheat prices last week. Mark Welch, Ph.D., Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service grain economist, Bryan-College Station, said continued conflict and/or escalation is likely to further contribute to volatile global wheat prices and influence U.S. production in 2024. Russian and Ukrainian farmers ...
CDP Brangus announces a new fall production sale date and location for Nov. 15–16, 2023
| Breed News
El Dorado, Arkansas – CDP Brangus is excited to announce the move of their fall cattle production sale to El Dorado, Arkansas. The new sale location marks a significant milestone for the livestock industry in the region, providing ranchers, cattlemen, cattlewomen, buyers and sellers with a cutting-edge marketplace to conduct ...
Reduce loss when storing bales outside
| Feed & Nutrition
How we store hay makes a difference in the potential for winter forage losses. It is estimated that unprotected round bales of hay stored outside can experience four to eight inches or more of spoilage loss on the outside of the bale over the course of the winter. A weathered ...
Cattle producers praise congressional resolution supporting Beef Checkoff
| DC News
WASHINGTON (July 13, 2023) - Cattle industry leaders praised the introduction of a bipartisan congressional resolution recognizing the importance of commodity checkoff programs, including the Beef Checkoff. "As a cattle producer who invests in the Beef Checkoff, I know how important this program is to the continued success of America’s cattlemen ...
Cattle inventory updates from July’s Cattle, and Cattle on Feed Reports
| Industry News
Two key reports were released on July 21st that give the latest insights on cattle herd dynamics. USDA-NASS released the mid-year Cattle report and the monthly Cattle on Feed report. While there is plenty to digest in each report, we note a few key points in this article. For the 2014-present cattle cycle, July cattle ...
Animal Agriculture Alliance and National Institute for Animal Agriculture announce working partnership
| Uncategorized
July 26, 2023 – The Animal Agriculture Alliance (Alliance) and National Institute for Animal Agriculture (NIAA) announced a working partnership between the two organizations to maximize areas of expertise to ensure sound scientific information about animal agriculture is being communicated effectively to key audiences. As part of the working relationship, ...
A fiddler’s redemption
| Uncategorized
Very few guitar players came to Texas in the early days of Anglo settlement. Guitars were too big to carry. Pianos were out of the question. Fiddles, however, didn’t take up much space, nor did banjos, and those were the instruments – along with harmonicas, of course – that early ...
Eating tendencies of Brahman steers can affect meat tenderness
| Cover Story, Industry News
The dependence of residual feed intake on growth and tenderness of Brahman cattle, a common breed chosen for crossbreeding cattle along the southern U.S., including Texas, was the focus of a cattle feeding study published in Applied Animal Science journal. The study, “Relationships of residual feed intake and residual average daily gain ...
El Niño update
| Weather Forecast
Time to check in on our old friend, and see what he is up to… The graphic below shows current sea surface temperature anomalies. A couple of things to note, before I show you what it looked like earlier this year: 1) The warmest water in the ENSO region is ...
Women In Ag Conference set for Sept. 12-13 in Fort Worth
| Industry News
The inaugural Women in Agriculture Conference will be held on Sept. 12th and 13th in the historic Fort Worth Stockyards, Fort Worth, Texas. The two-day event is designed to assist farm and ranch women with problem solving, record keeping and decision-making skills. The conference will cover topics designed to help them with ...
Texas rice crop conditions mixed amid volatile global market
| Crop and Weather
Weather conditions delivered a mixed bag of yield and quality results for Texas rice producers, but volatility in the global rice market could help growers, according to Texas A&M AgriLife experts. Texas rice acres were down compared to last year, and yield numbers and quality have not lived up to the spring-time ...
2023 Honorary Angus Foundation inductees announced
| Breed News
Whether it is the glaring passion of the Jenkinses or the subtle smile of the Pollards, there is an indisputable dedication to supporting the future of Angus in this year’s inductees of the Honorary Angus Foundation. Milford and Peggy Jenkins of Stillwater, Oklahoma, and Dr. Barry and Roxanne Pollard of Waukomis, Oklahoma, were ...
Cattle producers direct NCBA action on cell-cultured products
| Industry News
WASHINGTON (July 26, 2023) - Today, the members of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) passed a directive at the NCBA Summer Business Meeting to continue the association’s advocacy efforts on transparent labeling and inspection of cell-cultured protein products. “Cattle producers are not afraid of a little competition, and I know ...
How to manage drought-stressed ponds
| Crop and Weather
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Drought combined with high temperatures can have devastating effects on fish ponds, but pond owners can take steps to alleviate these effects. During a drought, pond waters can drop to dangerous levels, increasing aquatic plant growth, decreasing water quality and stressing fish, making them more vulnerable to ...
Opportunities and challenges ahead in the cattle business
| Cover Story, Industry News
Looking back at 40 years of advances in the beef industry and toward the next 40 years of opportunities and challenges will be the highlight of the general session during the 69th annual Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course in Bryan-College Station set for Aug. 7-9. The largest event of its kind, ...
Native rangelands recovering, but drought remains
| Crop and Weather
Early summer and subsequent rains helped Texas’ native rangelands bounce back from drought. However, Texas A&M AgriLife experts warn ranchers that the more than 100 million acres of statewide grazing land they rely on may still be recovering. Bill Fox, Ph.D., director of the Texas A&M AgriLife Center for Natural Resource Information Technology and Texas ...
Producer-minded research, outreach drives new face of Texas A&M McGregor Research Center
| Cover Story
The Texas A&M McGregor Research Center, one of the largest cow-calf facilities tied to a land-grant university, is on its way to becoming the go-to research facility for area livestock producers to look for answers under the direction of Ryon Walker, Ph.D. Walker was hired in late 2021 as the first onsite ...
Pork exports highest in two years; beef exports below record large, year-ago totals
| Industry News
Led by another outstanding month in Mexico and robust demand for variety meat, exports of U.S. pork continued to gain momentum in May, according to data released by USDA and compiled by USMEF. While well below the record-large volume and value posted in May 2022, beef exports improved from April ...
Texas Trails
| Columnists
A timeless tune A.P. Carter, patriarch of the first family of country music, the Carter family, spent much of his adult life combing the hills and hollers of the Blue Ridge Mountains and beyond for songs. Many of the songs he found are among the classics that took the music ...
The Texas Side of Things
| Columnists
I don’t know about you, but I don’t like to fly commercially as much as I used to. Back in the 80’s and 90’s, I flew often on my way to cattle sales in the southeastern states. But then things changed and eventually I had enough auctions in Texas that I ...
Finding the cause for abortions and stillbirths in cattle- Why is it still so difficult?
| Herd Health
Determining the cause of abortions and stillbirths in cattle remains a significant challenge for veterinary diagnostic laboratories, despite vast improvements in the tests used to detect infectious organisms. Most studies find that only 20-50% of abortion cases submitted are “solved”, meaning the first initiating event resulting in the death of ...
Drought in the Corn Belt is concerning
| Crop and Weather, Feed & Nutrition
The June Acreage report released the end of June by USDA-NASS brought some good news for livestock producers. The report places the total U.S. planted corn acreage at 94.1 million acres. USDAs latest estimate for 2023 corn acreage is 2.3% higher than their previous estimate and 6.2% percent higher than the last year’s ...
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension expands statewide disaster network
| Industry News
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Disaster Assessment and Recovery (DAR), unit is expanding its statewide disaster preparedness, response and recovery efforts following the appropriations to support the “Keeping Texas Prepared” initiative in the 88th legislative session. “The expansion of AgriLife Extension Service’s Disaster Assessment and Recovery unit will benefit the entire state,” ...
EPA to issue new WOTUS rule by September
| DC News
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers plan to issue a revised definition of waters of the United States, or WOTUS, by Sept. 1, the EPA said in a court filing on Monday. The action follows the May 25 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court ...
Cattle prices continue record pace
| Marketing, Weighing the Market
Although higher cattle prices were expected by many to increase as supplies contract, the pace through mid-July continued hotter than many originally anticipated. Feeder steer prices (600-700 lbs.) at the start of July were $61-$71/cwt. higher year over year on a regional basis — up 30-40% — according to USDA’s ...
United States cattle inventory down 3%
| Industry News
WASHINGTON, July 21, 2023 – There were 95.9 million head of cattle and calves on U.S. farms as of July 1, 2023, according to the Cattle report published today by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).Other key findings in the report were:Of the 95.9 million head inventory, ...
Ranch technology to be spotlighted at Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course Aug. 7-9
| Industry News
The 69th annual Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course in Bryan-College Station will offer some cutting-edge ranch technology, along with basic beef cattle production information. The annual event is set for Aug. 7-9, with more than 1,900 cattle producers expected to come to the Texas A&M University campus, making it the largest event of ...
Beef 706 set for Aug. 14-15 on Texas A&M campus
| Cover Story
Beef producers considering marketing directly to consumers or just wanting to know where the value is in their beef can attend Beef 706 on Aug. 14-15 at the Rosenthal Meat Science and Technology Center, 488 Olsen Blvd., College Station. The goal of Beef 706, hosted by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension ...
Cutouts jump higher
| Cover Story, Genetics & Performance, Production
Not to be outdone by record fed cattle prices, cutout values have jumped higher. While the cutout out is dramatically higher, it is not at record highs. The Choice cutout hit $337.43 per cwt on June 12th, up $23 over the last week and up $30.99 since June 1st. It ...
House committee votes to restrict foreign land purchases
| DC News, Industry News
Recently, the U.S. House Appropriations Committee voted to adopt an amendment restricting the purchasing of U.S. agricultural land by the Chinese Communist Party, Russia, North Korea, or Iran. The vote tallied 34-26. The amendment to the Agriculture and Rural Development Appropriations bill was introduced by Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) and comes ...
Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course set for Aug. 7-9
| Industry News
The Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course Aug. 7-9 is expected to bring almost 2,000 cattle producers to the Texas A&M University campus. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Laura McKenzie) The 69th annual Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course, the largest event of its kind in the nation, dates are set ...
Beefenomics: Cattle market update, resilient beef demand
| Genetics & Performance, Herd Health, Industry News, Production
Grilling season has begun in earnest. Beef price data suggests beef demand is strong during this important sales period. Retail prices for the month of May jumped by three percent compared to last month, are five percent above last year, and well above the previous 5-year average. Recent weekly beef ...
A new era for Cavender Ranches
| Industry News
Joe Cavender, Cavender Ranches, Tyler, Texas recently announced the decision to become an independent Brangus and Charolais cattle producer. “I have made a lot of close friends and have enjoyed working with and respect our partners in both Genetrust and Cavender-Draggin’ M and Partners. However, I feel like the time ...
Acclaimed Oklahoma rancher Terry Stuart Forst headlines September Women in Agriculture Symposium
| Industry News
Terry Stuart Forst will be a featured speaker at Women in Agriculture in Fort Worth, Sept. 12-13. Photo by Clay Forst. Waurika, Oklahoma rancher and National Cowgirl Hall of Fame Honoree Terry Stuart Forst will be a featured speaker for Women in Agriculture, an educational symposium hosted by Tarrant County ...
The Branch Ranch Purchases Williams Brangus Herd
| Industry News
Tommie Rogers, owner of The Branch Ranch, with locations in Mansfield and Natchitoches, Louisiana has announced the purchase of the Williams Brangus Cowherd in its entirety. The herd has been moved to Giddings, Texas where Branch Ranch will maintain a Texas division. “We have been purchasing Williams’ genetics since the ...
The rubbing doctors of West Texas
| Industry News
The Milling Brothers—Roscoe and George— billed themselves as rubbing doctors and utilized elements of massage therapy, magnetic healing and hypnosis in their respective practices. They eventually added mineral water to their list of treatments at a number of popular West Texas sanitariums in the early 1900s. Both brothers were profoundly ...
Sympathies extended to Hodde and Verstuyft families
| Industry News
Betty Linda Hammond Verstuyft of Von Ormy, Texas, passed away peacefully on June 6, 2023 in her home surrounded by loved ones at the age of 77. Verstuyft faced a sudden and brief battle with pancreatic cancer. She was born Nov. 20, 1945, in Kansas City, Kansas, to Richard Hammond ...
Texas cotton crop outlook uncertain
| Crop and Weather, Feed & Nutrition
Texas cotton production has taken a hit from the weather and losses could impact U.S. cotton production. The uncertainty surrounding Texas cotton could influence cotton prices throughout the season. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Sam Craft) Texas Crop and Weather Report – June 27, 2023 Texas cotton growers whose crops ...
Rainfall… How are we doing?
| Crop and Weather, Weather Forecast
Time to take a little stock in regard to how much rain we’ve had over the past 60 days. The map below shows totals since late April… Here is that represented in terms of above or below average… You can see that most of Texas is doing ok. There are ...
Rocket mail
| Industry News
One sweltering summer afternoon in July of 1936, patrons of the U.S. Bar in Reynosa, Mexico were nursing their beers and tequila, hiding from the afternoon heat, when a rocket fired from the American side of the Rio Grande River plowed into the bar under a sign that read: “The ...
Pasture conditions and market update
| Feed & Nutrition, Industry News, Pastures & Forages
USDA-NASS begins releasing pasture and range conditions in May each year and the charts below show conditions in the Southeast and Southern Plains regions as compared to a year ago and the five-year average from 2017-2021. These charts show the percentage of range and pasture that is classified as “poor” ...
The Texas Side of Things
| Columnists, Industry News
Isn’t it a great time to be in the cattle business? The grass is green, wildflowers are brilliant and pretty, the cows are all fat and lazy and the calf market is going crazy. Speaking of wildflowers, in the Hill Country when it rains like it has been doing ...
UTIA investigates beef price spread relationship with processing capacity utilization
| Industry News, Production
USDA grant funds a closer look at price spread concerns Source: University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Researchers from the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture and Mississippi State University teamed up to investigate the interaction of national slaughter and price spread — the difference between the ...
Meat prices up, down as grilling season kicks off
| Weighing the Market
Consumers are likely to see a mixed bag when it comes prices on beef, port and poultry cuts this grilling season. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Laura McKenzie) Texas Crop and Weather Report – May 31, 2023 Grilling season has begun, and consumers should expect a mixed bag when it ...
Do heifers have more potential value than steers?
| Genetics & Performance, Industry News
When going out to tag calves, most cow-calf producers would prefer to find a new bull calf rather than a heifer. This is logical given that the bull calf, which in most cases will become a steer, will weigh more, and bring more money per pound when selling at weaning ...
Women In Ag Conference set for September in Fort Worth
| Industry News
The inaugural Women in Agriculture Conference will be held on Sept. 12 th and 13 th in the historic Fort Worth Stockyards, Fort Worth, Texas.The two-day event is designed to assist farm and ranch women with problem solving, record keeping and decision-making skills. The conference will cover topics designed to ...
Nancy Pruitt passes
| Industry News
Nancy Pruitt, nationally recognized cattle photographer, passed away on May 13, 2023, in Fort Worth, Texas, following emergency brain aneurysm surgery. Pruitt lived in Springtown, Texas at the time of her death.She was a 1976 graduate of Texas A&M University with a degree in agricultural journalism. In 1977, she joined ...
Anthrax quick facts: Bacterial infection, bovine anthrax or just anthrax: A concern for herbivores
| Feed & Nutrition, Industry News
As we enter summer months, livestock producers and outdoor enthusiasts across the state, especially those in South Texas, have more to think about than rising temperatures. Anthrax, sometimes incorrectly referred to as bovine anthrax, is a bacterial disease caused by Bacillus anthracis, which occurs naturally in soil. The Texas A&M Veterinary ...
Supreme Court WOTUS ruling narrows definition of wetlands, but what about levees?
| DC News
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on May 25th narrowed the definition of what is considered “waters of the United States” in the Clean Water Act. But there remains room for discussion on wetlands separated by levees for flood control and dry creek beds, said the National Agricultural Law Center’s ...
Does beef supply impact consumer demand?
| Industry News, Weighing the Market
A question was asked recently concerning beef supply and demand. From an economics perspective, supply and demand are calculated based on quantity and price. The general public uses these terms a little more loosely and sometimes confuses demand with quantity demanded and the same on the supply side. However, the ...
Fed cattle prices surge higher
| Breed News, Weighing the Market
Supply and demand fundamentals, and good old-fashioned leverage, were on glaring display the last week of May as negotiated cash fed cattle prices jumped $3-$9/cwt. week to week on a live basis, from $175-$180/cwt. in the Southern Plains to $183-$188 in the North. For broader perspective, the weekly weighted average ...
Genetics can improve livestock grazing in South Texas
| Genetics & Performance, Industry News
Milt Thomas, Ph.D., Texas A&M AgriLife Research beef cattle systems leader at Beeville, looks over the herd with a student, Ambree Sandell. (Texas A&M AgriLife photo by Carlos Serna) Improving beef cattle systems is priority at Texas A&M AgriLife Research Center at Beeville Using new fitness traits like heat tolerance ...
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