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COW COUNTRY • AUGUST 2020

• A P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E K E N T U C K Y C AT T L E M E N ’ S A S S O C I AT I O N

facebook.com/cpccommodities | 98 Celsor Road , Fountain Run, KY | 270-618-6455

COW COUNTRY • AUGUST 2020

• A P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E K E N T U C K Y C AT T L E M E N ’ S A S S O C I AT I O N

TABLE OF CONTENTS COLUMNISTS 7

Steve Dunning: President’s Thoughts

Ryan Quarles: COVID-19 Presents New Challenges and

Opportunuties 11

Dave Maples: From Dave’s Desk

Baxter Black: The Herd Sire

Nathan Lawson: Kentucky’s Beef Council Committee:

Working Together for Success 16

Chris Teutsch: The Hardest Part Is Just Getting Started!!!

Candice Smith: Are Your Business Secrets Safe?

Dr. Michelle Arnold: Let’s Talk About Lepto!

Darrh Bullock: What Is a Selection Index and How Can I Use It?

FEATURE STORIES 20

UK to Host Western Kentucky Summer Forage Tour at Palmer Farms

Nutrient Synchrony: Protein and Energy Working Together

Livestock Traceability, What It Means and Is It Necessary?

Production Challenges, Economic Headwinds Slow Red Meat

Exports in May

Corn Planted Acreage up 3% From 2019

Leased Agricultural Land Brings Challenges and Opportunities

Late Freezes Hurt Kentucky Wheat Yields

CARES Act

Burger King’s “Breathe the Farts of Change” Not Passing the Sniff Test

Partial Settlement Reached in Dispute on Future of Burley Tobacco

Growers Cooperative Association

2020 Kentucky Beef Industry Survey

Eby Aluminum Trailers

Gooseneck steel and aluminum trailers

HAYES TRAILER SALES INC Russellville, Kentucky 800-766-7034 hayestrailersales.com GREEN RIVER LIVESTOCK CA M P B E L L S V I L L E , K E N T U C K Y

PolyDome Bulk Bins

Drought Risk Management Practices for Beef Cattle Farms 18-19 Legislative Update 24-25 Economic & Policy Update 50-51 Membership 52-53 Kentucky Beef Council 54-56 Kentucky Beef Network 63 Kentucky Angus Association News 68 Calendar of Events 68 Advertisers Index 69 Market Report 69 Classifieds

• • • • • • • •

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Cover photo by: TODD BROWN Graphic Designer, Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association

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COW COUNTRY • AUGUST 2020

• A P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E K E N T U C K Y C AT T L E M E N ’ S A S S O C I AT I O N

OAK HOLLOW PERFORMANCE TESTED PUREBRED ANGUS CATTLE

As we grow up and evolve, our beliefs begin to take shape. They are often influenced by the environment around us as we grow up and pull heavily from family and community. These are often reflected in our values, politics, religion and even choice of college basketball team. After you’re grown, very rarely do you see these beliefs changed. If anything, those beliefs become more ingrained in who we are. Of all the things I have seen people get worked up about over the years, there is one thing that people seem the most sensitive about. It is the breed of cattle their family continues to raise. You will never see someone make assumptions about someone else so fast as when they mention what bull they use or what the composition of their cow herd is. It doesn’t matter whether you use a Hereford bull, manage straight Charolais cattle, or have a love of Simmental. You judged us instantly for having registered Angus cattle without ever stepping foot on the farm or seeing a set of calves. The person you are talking to has immediately assumed everything they think they need to know about you as a cattleman. We all do it.

branded beef programs, but the reality of it is a black hided calf is the difference in a profit and a loss in today’s marketplace. Our genetics are the difference in winning and losing in beef production. You can continue to make decisions based on antiquated assumptions about breeds or you can begin drawing from a specific population of cattle that have shown through the data and reality of the marketplace what they can do for your bottom line. Our heifers will still be out there raising big calves long after other options have fallen out of the herd. Regardless of the composition of your cow herd, our bulls will sire you black hided calves that will produce desirable steers and more productive females. If you don’t believe what I continue to write about the merits of our cow herd, we would be more than happy to have you visit. We pregnancy check in August and wean in September. You can come hear our vets call out days bred and see the size of the calves running across the scales.

I am the 8th generation in my family to raise cattle as their only source of income. Name a breed, and we have had it on the farm. We have calved out sets of Hereford and Gelbvieh heifers. We have bred sets of cows AI to Simmental bulls. My father’s first ever animal was a registered Polled Hereford. My father graduated college and came home to 400 cows with heavy Brahaman influence from Mississippi. My family finished cattle for over 100 years up until 1984 and fed out every breed imaginable. We have the belief system that we do when it comes to breeding cattle today because we have done it all and experienced it all. While some breeds of cattle can make productive mothers, produce calves that grow and that also grade, they cannot do all three with as much consistency as the population of cattle we have standing on our farm. The straight Angus females grazing in our pastures will do that better than any other cattle we have evaluated, including other Angus cattle. Crossbreeding our females to a Hereford bull will not increase fertility on a cow herd already getting 97% conception rates on the cows and 94% on the heifers in a 60-day season grazing toxic fescue. Using a big birthweight Charolais or Simmental bull will not necessarily give you more pounds of calf. Hybrid vigor is real, but it won’t wean you more pounds of total calf each year when you end up with a big dead calf and your cows don’t breed back first cycle because of a stressed reproductive tract. I have heard countless criticisms of

COW COUNTRY • AUGUST 2020

BRED HEIFERS FOR SALE EARLY AUGUST FALL BULL SALE - OCTOBER 26TH 400 OAK HOLLOW DR. - SMITHS GROVE, KY KENNETH D. LOWE (270) 202-7186 JOE K. LOWE II (270) 202-4399 WWW.OAKHOLLOWANGUS.COM

• A P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E K E N T U C K Y C AT T L E M E N ’ S A S S O C I AT I O N

KENTUCKY CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION 2019 LEADERSHIP KCA REGIONAL DIRECTORS: REGION 1

Daniel Hayden, Vice President*(270) 570-2815 Bobby Bell................................(270) 547-8547 Gary Woodall...........................(270) 725-0819 Ricky Haynes............................(270) 945-9057 Don Pemberton........................(270) 889-3885 Wayne Johnson.......................(270) 303-6354 John Walpole..........................(270) 542-7534 Martin Hayden........................(270) 281-4076 John (JJ) Tucker....................(270) 617-0301 Dennis Wilson.........................(270) 952-1714 Caleb Jenkin...........................(270) 952-0767

REGION 2

KCA 2019 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OFFICERS: PRESIDENT

TREASURER

Tim White 3664 Military Pike Lexington, KY 40513 (859) 509-5401

Ken Adams 90 E Horseshoe Ave. Upton, KY 42784 (270) 734-1443

PRESIDENT ELECT

PAST PRESIDENT

Steve Dunning 8200 Antioch Road Hopkinsville, KY 42240 (270) 498-8180

Bobby Foree 2440 Eminence Road Eminence, KY 40019 (502) 939-4607

VICE PRESIDENT Chris Cooper 2140 Tates Creek Road Richmond, KY 40475 (859) 200-7711

KCA PROGRAM CHAIRMAN Jeff Pettit 5745 US Highway 41 S Seebree, KY 42455

(270) 836-2963

KBC CHAIRMAN

Andy Bishop 6135 High Grove Road Cox’s Creek, KY 40013 (502) 350-7609

KBN CHAIRMAN

Cary King 250 Bright Leaf Drive Harrodsburg, KY 40330 (859) 734-2173

KCA’S PAST PRESIDENTS: 1972-73

Jere Caldwell† - Boyle

2001

Larry Clay - Perry

1974-77

Smith T. Powell† - Lincoln

2002

Jack Kimbrough† - Shelby

1978-79

Larry Lovell - Union

2003

Mark Williams - Crittenden

1980-82

John Masters† - Mason

2004

Paul Napier - Lincoln

1983-85

Seldon Hail† - Laurel

2005

Eddie Young - Washington

1986-87

Bob Vickery† - Wayne

2006

Greg Ritter† - Barren

1988

Glenn Mackie - Bourbon

2007

Don Pemberton - Christian

1989

Dale Lovell - Muhlenberg

2008

Billy Glenn Turpin - Madison

1990

Steve Henshaw† - Union

2009

Scotty Parsons - Christian

1991

Jerry Fraim - Grayson

2010

Corinne Kephart - Shelby

1992

Glen Massengale† - Wayne

2011

Greg Robey - Mercer

1993

Dell King - Christian

2012

Mike Bach - Bath

1994

Kenneth Lowe - Warren

2013

Don Reynolds - Hart

1995

Dr. J.L.Cole - Monroe

2014

Steve Downs - Marion

1996

Harvey Mitchell - Mercer

2015

Gary Woodall - Logan

1997

Jim Naive† - Spencer

2016

David Lemaster - Clark

1998

Shelby Hughes - Logan

2017

Chuck Crutcher - Hardin

1999

Hoppy Lovell - Barren

2018

Bobby Foree - Henry

2000

Charles Miller - Jessamine

†(Deceased)

Joe Lowe, Vice President*......(270) 202-4399 Craig Thompson......................(270) 590-5174 Trent Jones.............................(270) 590-5266 Chuck Crutcher.......................(270) 272-6269 Alison Brockman....................(270) 403-3205 Steven Green..........................(270) 528-1720 Reva Richardson.....................(270) 735-2959 Mike Bullock..........................(270) 563-5012 Dr. Kenneth Green...............(270) 589-7175 Adam Maulden.......................(270) 590-1005 Kirk Cecil.................................(270) 692-7698 Hunter Galloway....................(731) 332-0098 Rayetta Boone........................(270) 230-5488 Gerry Bowman........................(270) 427-6922 Adam Estes..............................(270) 537-3761 Phyllis Gentry..........................(502) 331-1146

REGION 3

Nathan Lawson, Vice President*(502) 836-3879 Danny Cooper..........................(606) 782-4809 Wanda Hawkins......................(502) 321-5602 Irvin Kupper.............................(502) 807-5617

Allan Bryant..............................(502) 548-1379 Kevin Perkins............................(502) 269-7189 Larry Bryant.............................(502) 706-1777 Maynard Stetten......................(502) 609-4986 Jerry Oak.................................(502) 525-7248 John Allison.............................(502) 220-3170 Lincoln Clifford........................(859) 954-0102

REGION 4

Jeremy Jones*.........................(859) 749-2233 Lisa Baesler.............................(859) 509-5020 David Lemaster.......................(859) 749-0258 Ron Ray...................................(859) 825-8516 Bo Tate....................................(859) 661-2325 Donovan Pigg..........................(859) 749-9675 Randy Werner........................(859) 771-5280 Danielle Harmon.....................(606) 748-8059 Ronnie Lowe...........................(606) 782-5058 Clay Wills.................................(859) 749-8248 Jason Crowe............................(859) 582-0761

REGION 5

Phillip Reese, Vice President*(859) 339-0450 Herman Benge.........................(606) 862-6451 Steve Downs...........................(859) 805-1278 Brent Woodrum......................(859) 397-1078 Ian Thomas..............................(859) 613-2453 Anne Bays................................(615) 478-8450 Danny Ray Spalding................(859) 336-0444 Greg Robey...............................(859) 734-0067 Eddie Young.............................(859) 262-5682 Adam Chunglo.........................(859) 613-2985 C. Mike Spalding....................(270) 669-6587 Tommy Glasscock....................(270) 692-4336 * Denotes member of Executive committee

VOLUME 33 • ISSUE 8 176 PASADENA DRIVE • LEXINGTON, KY 40503 • PHONE: (859) 278-0899 FAX: (859) 260-2060 • WWW.KYCATTLE.ORG • INFO@KYCATTLE.ORG Executive Vice President Dave Maples

KBC Director of Consumer Affairs Anna Hawkins

Director of Kentucky Beef Council Nathan Lawson

Membership Coordinator Nikki Whitaker

Staff Accountant Kelly Tucker

Publication Coordinator Carey Brown

Director of Kentucky Beef Network Becky Thompson

Graphic Designer Todd Brown

KBN Industry Coordinator Dan Miller

Office Manager Mackenzie Miller

KBC Director of Education Niki Ellis

National Advertising Sales, Livestock Advertising Network, Debby Nichols (859) 321-8770, Cathy Campbell (609) 581-7644

KBC Director of Product Development Katelyn Hawkins

COW COUNTRY NEWS is published monthly by THE KENTUCKY CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION. The publisher reserves the right to refuse any material which he feels is unsuitable for the publication. Although the highest journalistic ethics will be maintained, the KENTUCKY CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION limits its responsibilities for any errors, inaccuracies, or misprints in advertising or editorial copy. Advertisers and advertising agencies assume liability for all content of advertisements made against the publisher.

COW COUNTRY • AUGUST 2020

• A P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E K E N T U C K Y C AT T L E M E N ’ S A S S O C I AT I O N

PRESIDENT’S THOUGHTS STEVE DUNNING Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association President Fellow cattlemen, First, I want to thank the Board of Directors who participated in the June 26 first of its kind webinar meeting. It seems everything went well for this quarterly business meeting. The webinar is a new tool for KCA which looks to be part of the “new normal” that everyone is experiencing, and will probably be used more in future meetings. Personally, I was looking forward to the in-person meet and greet with fellow cattlemen from across the state. This meeting was originally scheduled to be held at Hardin County’s new UK Extension office but had to be cancelled due to the current meeting requirements. Thanks to all of the KCA staff for making this new technology work for us, and a special thanks to Becky for being the moderator! We are now in our fourth month of lockdown and with new cases of Covid19 spiking in different parts of the country, it doesn’t look like we are out of the woods yet. Schools and colleges will be starting various curricular schedules soon, so hopefully we can get the kids back in the classrooms (of whatever kind) this fall. July and August usher in heat and humidity. This makes outdoor work for cattlemen uncomfortable and sometimes unbearable. It also has the same affect on our livestock.

Shade is very important this time of season for cattle to have a “refuge” from the sun and heat. My cattle “shade” all day until the setting sun goes down behind the hills enough to allow them to get back to foraging. Early morning presun-up always finds them grazing. Also remember to keep free access to good, clean water and a good mineral accessible at all times. This month’s special edition of Cow Country News is going out to over 20,000 recipients. Thank you for taking the time to read the articles in this special edition. I would like to invite and encourage everyone that is not a current member to join the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association today. It is vitally important for anyone to be a member of your industry’s association, regardless of what it may be and to show your support for Kentucky cattlemen even if you don’t have cattle. Remember....”Beef, it’s what’s for dinner”. The American cattlemen embody the timeless values of America. Cattlemen believe in hard work and self reliance. We follow the laws with respect and stand for our great American flag. We support our communities, raise and nurture loving familes and teach our children right from wrong and to always be loyal to our nation. Cowboy Up.

COW COUNTRY • AUGUST 2020

• A P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E K E N T U C K Y C AT T L E M E N ’ S A S S O C I AT I O N

COMMISSIONER’S CORNER

COVID-19 PRESENTS NEW CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES RYAN QUARLES Commissioner of Agriculture We are more than halfway through 2020 and it’s been a challenging year. I’m hard-pressed to think of any aspect of our agricultural sector that has been unaffected by this once-in-a-generation global pandemic. From commodity prices to agricultural traditions, our life looks a lot different than it did this time last year. There have been a couple of bright spots, though, and I hope that we don’t lose sight of those during this challenging time. For our part at the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, we’ve adapted our operations to embrace telework so that we can continue doing the important work you sent me and my team here

to do in Frankfort and across the Commonwealth. In talking to some of my counterparts in other states, the KDA was more prepared than others to work remotely; some other states did not even have laptops for their employees! We did, and that has allowed our staff to maintain critical missions in the fields of animal health and consumer and environmental protection. If you happen to see a KDA inspector or animal health professional, please be sure to express your gratitude. Telework is just a small example of how we’ve adapted. As many of you know, the Kentucky State Fair Board fought hard to put a plan together to hold a modified fair

true to our agricultural traditions. I want to be clear: this fair isn’t going to be like anything we’ve had in the past. We expect lower numbers, masks to be worn, and social distance maintained. But I believe it is so important that we be are able to keep our youth livestock show traditions alive. These shows represent the culmination of months and sometimes years of hard work and teach our young people the importance of animal health and well-being, thoughtfulness, positive judgement, of setting a goal, and seeing it to completion. Our shows and fairs division has been running shows across the state in anticipation of this month’s fair. They are owed a “thank you” as well. Lastly, one of the positives of the pandemic is that it has finally revealed to all Kentuckians the need for major investments into rural broadband. I spoke with many parents during this time about the difficulties of balancing work

’20

and remote instruction for students in their households. While nontraditional instruction days gave parents a newfound appreciation for our hardworking teachers, it also gave them a new sense of frustration with their Internet providers as they balanced student work on the web and work meetings via web camera. Now, more than ever, we need to expand rural broadband. I’m proud of the work we’ve done so far to support efforts by Kentucky Farm Bureau to expand this critical resource and I look forward to building more on that effort in the years to come. As we begin to head into the end of summer and look toward the fall, I want to wish you and yours the best for a successful fall. As always, if there is anything we can do for you at the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, please let me know.

FOUNDATIONS FUTURE

8242

Monday, September 7, 2020 At Walker Hereford Farm n Morrison, Tennessee 11 AM (Central Time)

9167

Selling 90 Lots Including donor cows, herd bull prospects, cow-calf pairs and bred heifers! Videos of entire sale offering available at CattleInMotion.com August 25.

006

172C Watch the sale and bid live online.

Powerful • Productive • Promising

Walker Herefords

Walker 9.5x4.625 4c-Cow Country News.indd 2

P.O. Box 146 n Morrison, TN 37357 Eric, Rhonda and Casey n Cody, Trisha and Hayden Eric’s Cell (931) 607-6356 n Cody’s Cell (931) 607-0337 wphf@blomand.net n WalkerHerefordFarm.com 7/13/20 3:21 PM

COW COUNTRY • AUGUST 2020

• A P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E K E N T U C K Y C AT T L E M E N ’ S A S S O C I AT I O N

Di rec t or of He rd Improv em ent. With more Angus influenced cattle qualifying for the Certified Angus Beef ® brand than ever before, it’s clear that the Angus bull has become America’s bull. He sires calving ease, growth and superior marbling. He works well in any environment, and on any cow, regardless of breed. Make sure that America’s bull serves as your director of herd improvement. Angus. America’s breed. Go to www.Angus.org/businessbreed or call 816.383.5100 to learn more.

Alex Tolbert Regional Manager 706.338.8733 jmafi@angus.org

COW COUNTRY • AUGUST 2020

• A P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E K E N T U C K Y C AT T L E M E N ’ S A S S O C I AT I O N

Watch for Blue Grass Heifer Sales coming October—December! UK Dair y Dispersal—Phase I Tuesday, July 28, 2020 at 2:00 PM 35 milk cows, 7 bred back 7 shor t bred heifers All Registered Holsteins

STOCKYARDS Est. 1946

Albany—Campbellsville—East-Mt. Sterling—Maysville—Lexington—Richmond—South-Stanford

KY Simmental Sale Saturday September 12, 2020 1:00 PM

Sullivan Charolais

Spirit of the Bluegrass Sale Saturday October 17, 2020 1:00 PM

KY Certified Hereford Influence Sale

Blue Grass South-Stanford Thursday, December 3, 2020 10:30 AM

For more information, call the barn at 606-365-0665.

CPH Sale Richmond To Be Announced For more information or to schedule your cattle, call the barn at 859-623-1280. Lexington To Be Announced For more information or to schedule your cattle, call the barn at 859-255-7701.

bgstockyards.com 10

COW COUNTRY • AUGUST 2020

• A P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E K E N T U C K Y C AT T L E M E N ’ S A S S O C I AT I O N

FROM DAVE’S DESK DAVE MAPLES Executive Vice President First, welcome to Cow Country News if you are a first-time reader. This is a bonus issue that is being mailed to 20,000 Kentucky Beef Farm Families. I hope that you enjoy this edition and find information that would be interesting to you and your business. Also, we would like to extend an invitation to join the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association and receive Cow Country News each and every month. I, like most of you have a strong passion for the cattle industry. That is all that I have really ever known. My Dad is a cattleman my granddad was a cattleman, and, my brother is a cattleman. My entire family is involved in the cattle business in some form or fashion. Working for a trade association like the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association keeps you on your toes when it comes to the many different issues. Most of the issues we deal with have two sides and many veering options. The organization works hard to try to build consensus on the varying topics. But consensus does not please everyone all the time. Our industry is in an important time on several issues that could have long term effects on the way that we conduct our business as cattlemen. The two issues that are top of the list today are the way our industry markets fat cattle. Do you sell to the packers on a grid marketing arrangement or on a cash or negotiated trade basis? This topic has been the only action item on the NCBA live cattle marketing committee for several months now. I wish that those of you that have a grief with NCBA could witness the stress

that the committee members are under because everyone does not agree. This process will go through committee, then the board, and then the organization will follow with policy. With a very close vote one would expect the issue to stay top of mind until-- well, a very long time. The other issue is the Beef Checkoff. It is amazing how much animosity one dollar per head has caused our industry for 35 years. It is the weapon that organizations and individuals use to get back at each other. It has been challenged in the Supreme Court, District courts and just about any court that would hear a case. Most often the issue is not about the work that the checkoff is doing, but someone with a grievance with another beef organization. Now you have the anti-beef organizations like HSUS and PETA joining in and funding the legal battles. So, whose fault is it. Like you, I know that cattle prices have been less than the prior year for six years in a row. But when you look at the date since 2014 our industry has added 6 million head of cattle to the inventory and have added only nominally to the harvest capacity. Including pork and poultry the protein supply is at record levels. What is nice about the beef complex is that beef demand is strong and the consumer has demonstrated that they like beef. Price is cyclical and a reflection of supply and demand. We are in a tough business with lots of twists and turns that require risk protection in several forms. To survive you have to be flexible and make some changes in your business model.

East Tennessee Polled Hereford Association Selling 49 Lots!

Bulls | Cow-Calf Pairs |Bred Heifers| Open Heifers | Commercial

www.easttnpolledhereford.org | 423.337.1383 COW COUNTRY • AUGUST 2020

• A P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E K E N T U C K Y C AT T L E M E N ’ S A S S O C I AT I O N

ON THE EDGE OF COMMON SENSE

THE HERD SIRE BAXTER BLACK, DVM W WW. BA X T ERBL ACK.COM

This is one of those stories that sound so unbelievable that you’ll know I didn’t make it up! Mike studied the bloodlines. He checked performance records. He knew his herd like the top two layers of his tool box! He was a good young cattleman. When he decided on the course of action to improve his herd’s genetics he called the breed association rep. They discussed his needs. Plans were made for the fieldman to attend a bull sale in Texas with the express instructions to buy exactly the right bull. The call from Texas delighted Mike. The fieldman had bought in the perfect yearlin’ bull that would carry Mike’s

cows into the 21st century. $10,000... for half interest. He agreed that the co-owner, a purebred breeder from Oklahoma, could use the bull that fall. Then he would ship him to Pine Ridge country of northwestern Nebraska in time for Mike’s spring breeding. In February arrangements were made to put the bull on the back of a load going as far as Sterling, Colorado. The trucker would call Mike on arrival. Mike waited anxiously. Several days passed and nobody called. He called his partner only to find they’d left Oklahoma territory a week before! Feeling uneasy, Mike called the Sterling sale barn. “No?” “No,” they didn’t remember any bull. “Let us check.” They suggested possibly the bull Mike was lookin’ for had been bought by a trader! “What’d he pay?” asked Mike. “Fifty-six cents a pound.” In a panic he tracked down the trader. He’d run the bull through the Brush sale. The trader said he broke even. Packerland had bought him as a baloney bull! Mike drove all night to Packerland in a desperate effort to save his bull! “No,” they said, “he was too thin to kill” so they’d sent him to a feedlot in Rocky Ford! Mike smelled like burnin’ rubber and was chewin’ the upholstery when he boiled into the feedlot in a cloud of dust! The foreman was surprised but led him over to the receiving pens. There stood Mike’s future; road weary, coughin’ and covered with sale barn tags! Mike’s knees were shakin’! “Nice bull,” said the foreman, “But ya cut’er close, sonny. Tomorrow evenin’ he’da looked a lot different without his horns and cajones!”

COW COUNTRY • AUGUST 2020

• A P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E K E N T U C K Y C AT T L E M E N ’ S A S S O C I AT I O N

The $450,000 ST Genetics AI Sire whose

GRABER’S ANGUS FARM

full sister and service sell!

2nd Annual Production Sale

Saturday • September 5, 2020 • 3:00 pm EDT Held at the Gasthof Amish Village - Montgomery, Indiana

selling 90 head!

grabers mr angus 9080

cow calf pairs ✴ bred heifers ✴ heifer calves heifer pregnancies ✴ donors

She Sells!

GAF Lady no doubt 6010-921 | reg. 19651575

GAF Isabel 292-9192 | reg. 19658855 Sire: R B Active Duty 010 | Dam: Baldridge Isabel E292

CED +11

BW WW YW MILK CW MARB REA +.4 +77 +125 +26 +50 +.30 +.58

Sire: Hoover No Doubt | Dam: Powell Lady Prideva 6010

$M $B $C +75 +120 +231

CED BW WW YW MILK CW MARB REA $M $B $C -1 +4.5 +96 +169 +28 +90 +.94 +1.14 +63 +200 +322

*9192 - #1 Active Duty daughter for CED, BW, YW

She Sells!

Reg. 19426221 Sire: Spring Cove Reno 4021 Dam: Baldridge Isabel E080

She Sells!

*921 - #1 No Doubt daughter for BW, WW, and YW

He Sells!

GRABER’S ANGUS FARM David Graber Family

wf-gaf lady prideva 9010

gaf isabel 292-9401

CED BW WW YW MILK CW +7 +2.9 +83 +150 +39 +77

CED BW WW YW MILK CW +2 +2.0 +81 +143 +27 +69

MARB REA $M $B $C +.71 +1.02 +67 +188 +311

MARB REA $M $B $C +.68 +.63 +82 +164 +295

Reg. 19455784 Sire: KB-Full Measure C40 Dam: Powell Lady Prideva 6010

*9010 - #1 Full Measure daughter for WW, YW, and HP.

Reg. 19651848 Sire: Hoover No Doubt Dam: Baldridge Isabel E292

9258 East 500 North Montgomery, IN 47558 David Graber: 812/ 444-9293 Dillon Rhoads: 812/ 787-0134

GAF No doubt 292-938

GAF Now doubt 7397-934

CED BW WW YW MILK CW +2 +2.6 +82 +143 +20 +58

CED BW WW YW MILK CW +7 +1.4 +62 +117 +24 +49

Reg. 19651847 Sire: Hoover No Doubt Dam: Baldridge Isabel E292

MARB REA +.66 +.68

*9401 - #1 heifer in the breed for SC and HP.

$M +73

$B $C +147 +264

Reg. 19670769 Sire: Hoover No Doubt Dam: WMS Blackcap May 7397

MARB REA $M $B $C +.35 +.91 +64 +132 +235

*Buyer only pays 25% at sale for the bulls and the rest in the spring before picking them up. We will keep the bulls at no extra charge.

For your free reference sale booklet, contact anyone in the office of the Sale Managers, TOM BURKE, KURT SCHAFF, JEREMY HAAG, AMERICAN ANGUS HALL OF FAME at the WORLD ANGUS HEADQUARTERS, Box 660, Smithville, MO 64089. Phone 816/532-0811. Fax 816/532-0851. Email: angushall@angushall.com * www.angushall.com

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CHECKING ON THE CHECK-OFF

K E N T UCK Y ’S BEEF C O UN CI L C O M M IT T EE:

WO RKING TO G ET H ER F O R S U C C E S S NATHAN LAWSON Director of Kentucky Beef Council Henry Ford once said, “Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success.” Ford’s words, still relevant today, are a great reminder. At a time in history, when team work and group cohesion is being re-shaped by circumstances beyond our control, a commitment to connectedness and communication has never been more important. Since its inception in 2015 the Kentucky Beef Council Committee has served as a valuable resource of forward-thinking industry leaders from across the state: a team committed to working together. Committee members represent every segment of the beef life-cycle and supply chain in Kentucky. The committee is charged with the task of identifying potential threats and opportunities for Kentucky’s beef industry and assisting in the development of priorities, shaping the direction of the Kentucky Beef Council and Beef Checkoff funded efforts. The KBC Committee consists of twentynine regular members and one ex officio member (KCA’s Past President). There are twelve producer seats and two young producer seats. Agriculture Industry or organizational seats include representatives from: Kentucky Department of Ag (1), Kentucky Farm Bureau (1), Kentucky Livestock Marketing Association (2), Kentucky Dairy Development Council (1), Cooperative Extension (2), Cattlemen’s Beef Board (2), US Meat Export Federation (1), Health Professional (1), as well as the current KCA President, KCA Association Chairman. The committee is currently led by Chairman, Andy Bishop of Nelson County and Vice Chairman, Chris Cooper of Madison County. Producer seats rotate on a three-

2020 KENTUCKY BEEF COUNCIL COMMITTEE KBC Chairman.......................................................................Andy Bishop KBC Vice Chairman..............................................................Chris Cooper Kentucky Livestock Marketing Association...............................Jim Akers Kentucky Livestock Marketing Association.....................Kent Robertson Kentucky Farm Bureau.............................................................Larry Clark Kentucky Dairy Development Council.........................................H Barlow Kentucky Department of Agriculture......................................Tim Hughes Extension Agent................................................................Michelle Simon Extension Beef Specialist.........................................Dr. James Matthews Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association President.....................Steve Dunning Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association Chairman.............................Jeff Pettit Young Producer...............................................................Savannah Robin Young Producer....................................................................Amanda Hall Cattlemen’s Beef Board............................................................Ryan Miller Cattlemen’s Beef Board...................................................Shane Wiseman Health Professional......................................Janine Faber MEd, RDN, LD United States Meat Export Federation.................................Jon Bednarski Past President (Ex Officio)..........................................................Tim White Kentucky Beef Producer.............................................................Jim Gilles Kentucky Beef Producer..........................................................Trent Jones Kentucky Beef Producer...........................................................Eric Davis Kentucky Beef Producer.................................................Danielle Harmon Kentucky Beef Producer......................................................Ricky Haynes Kentucky Beef Producer.......................................................James Coffey Kentucky Beef Producer........................................................David Burge Kentucky Beef Producer........................................................Larry Bryant Kentucky Beef Producer........................................................Starr Girdley Kentucky Beef Producer.....................................................Donovan Pigg Kentucky Beef Producer..........................................................Endre Fink Kentucky Beef Producer..........................................................Anne Bays COW COUNTRY • AUGUST 2020

year term and are nominated at the county level in collaboration with local extension offices. Industry seats are filled by the organizations they represent, whose term is also determined by their respective organization. Leadership positions, such as Chairman and Vice Chairman originate from KCA’s Nominating Committee and are recommended for approval to the KCA Board of Directors, who ultimately vote on a full slate of leadership for the upcoming year. The KBC committee typically meets three times per year to assist staff in identifying potential opportunities and threats facing our beef industry in the coming year. In addition, staff give programing updates to the committee on current year progress and future plans. This collaborative, team approach is so valuable, providing good counsel and positive feedback. The 2020 KBC Committee is an outstanding group who have proven to be committed to the process. Industry leaders, cow/calf producers, backgrounders, direct marketers, seedstock producers, all consumers, women and men who are team players. Kentucky’s 38,000 beef producers have been well represented by this committee. As we approach the end of the 2020 fiscal year KBC staff will finalize the 2021 Marketing Plan following the direction provided by this committee, along with guidance from the KCA and CBB Long Range Plans. This strategy allows us to capture priorities specific to Kentucky, while maintaining a relevant approach in the national and global market for beef. We’re working together for success, keeping an eye on the horizon, and moving forward to find innovative ways to promote, educate and advocate for our industry to move the needle on beef demand.

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FORAGES

T H E H A R D E S T PA R T I S J U S T G E T T I N G S TA R T E D ! ! ! CHRIS D. TEUTSCH UK Grain and Forage Center of Excellence, Princeton, Kentucky

Sometimes we make things too complicated! Rotational grazing is a perfect example. When we start talking about building fence, installing waterers, and moving animals two or three times a week, most livestock producers put the brakes on rotational stocking. I think that it is important to realize that it is perfectly okay to ease into rotational grazing. You don’t have to make a big investment or move animals every other day. The most important thing is that you just get started! Fine tuning your grazing system will come with time. In the remainder of this article I would like to share with you the birth of a rotational grazing system on a farm in far western Kentucky and a few tips that may help you take that first step. Benefits of Rotational Stocking The first thing that I would like to do is remind you of the benefits of rotational stocking. Although rotational stocking does have many tangible benefits, it is not a “silver bullet” that is going to solve all of your problems. If your stocking rate is too high, it is going to be very difficult to maintain healthy pastures without designating and utilizing a sacrifice area to feed hay in. It is also important to remember that long-term change in pastures is a slow process and once you improve grazing management it can still take 3 or 4 years to make substantial change. Improved pasture growth. A review of the scientific literature shows that rotationally stocked systems are on average 30% more productive than continuously stocked systems. This is a result of being able to rest pastures between grazing events and to control how closely plants are grazed. Leaving some residual leaf area allows the plant to capture sunlight through photosynthesis. The energy captures in the form of sugars and carbohydrates can then be used to fuel regrowth of the plant. Pastures that are rested and not grazed too closely simply regrow faster. Improved nutrient distribution. In large continuously grazed pastures, animals tend to concentrate nutrients near shade and water sources. As we subdivide larger pastures into smaller ones, we will 16

improve nutrient distribution. Animals are encouraged to defecate and urinate in the same areas that are being grazed. The smaller the paddocks, the more uniform the nutrient distribution is. Improved drought tolerance. One of the first things that producers notice when switching from a continuous to rotational grazing system is that their pastures grow longer into a drought and recover faster after the drought is over. This is a directly related to the health and size of the plant’s root system. Continuously stocked pastures tend to have smaller root systems that explore a smaller soil volume for water Fewer weeds in pastures. Maintaining a healthy stand of desirable forage species is the best way to prevent weeds in pastures. In a continuously stocked system, we tend to graze pastures closely and frequently, causing the sod to weaken and open up, leaving a space for weeds to flourish. Better animal handling. One of the benefits of rotational stocking that we fail to talk about is the positive impact that it has on animal handling. In a continuously stocked system, we often have limited contact with our livestock and the only time they see us is when something bad happens. In a rotationally stocked system, we have much more frequent contact with our animals. And when we have this contact something good happens, they get fresh grass.

Figure 1. The proportional advantage of rotational stocking compared to continuous stocking (Adapted from Conservation Outcomes from Pastureland and Hayland Practices-Assessment, Recommendations, and Knowledge Gaps, USDANRCS). is NOT perfect because it allows back grazing of Paddock number 4 where the water is located, and animals must travel several thousand feet to get to water from the furthest paddock. However, it is better than continuously stocking the entire 50 acres. The system was set up in less than 3

hours using 100 step-in fence posts and 3000 ft of polywire on three geared reels (Figure 3). The cows and Jana (Figure 4) were trained to the polywire quickly. And so, a rotational grazing system was born in Graves County, KY! Many of you have had bad experiences with temporary electric fencing. In most

The Birth of a Rotational Grazing System This spring, Larry and Jana Clark bought a 50-acre farm in Graves County. They installed a perimeter fence and tackled a well-established weed problem. Jana who had attended several pasture management programs in Western Kentucky, had the long-term goal of setting up a rotational grazing system. This would require installing a watering system and subdividing pastures and was not feasible to accomplish in the near future. After visiting with Larry and Jana about their weed issues, we came up with a simple design that could be implemented with temporary fencing (Figure 2). It

Figure 2. A 50-acre pasture located near Mayfield, KY was subdivided using a solar fence charger and temporary electric fencing into four pastures. Note that an alley was installed to allow livestock access to paddock 4 where water was located.

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cases this is due to improper installation and not training the animals to the fence. For a single stand of polywire to control livestock, it needs to be hot, with a minimum of 5,000 volts, but preferably 6,000 volts. This means selecting the correct energizer and making sure that it is properly grounded. For tips on electric fencing, see this month’s fencing tip at the end of this article.

Figure 3. Setting up rotational grazing on Larry and Jana Clark’s farm in Graves County using temporary fencing. Larry and Jana Clark, Maryann Ellison, Jessica Buckman, Alex Teutsch, and Carrie Tarr-Janes (left to right).

Livestock must be trained to respect electric fencing. When training livestock, install a single hotwire 30 inches above the ground or nose height in an area that livestock will be able to cautiously approach it. Make sure that the engerizer and grounding system are optimized to deliver a knee buckling and eye watering shock. You want an animal’s first experience with an electric fence to be a bad one. Normally animals are trained to electric fencing in 2-3 days. Animals that cannot be trained to electric fencing should be culled. One of the big benefits of using polywire to make initial pasture subdivisions is that it is temporary. If you don’t like where it is, just move it. This becomes much more difficult when you install permanent fencing. I would highly recommend that you make your initial subdivisions with temporary fencing until you are 100% certain that is where you want your permanent fence. Currently, Larry and Jana will be rotating pastures every 1 to 2 weeks. Although the ideal interval for rotating pastures is 2-3 days, the most important thing is to just get started. Any rotation is better than none. Dry conditions during the summer months can often be a challenge for livestock producers. So what happens when you rotate through your pastures and get back to the first one and it has not regrown due to high temperatures and drought? Although it is tempting to open all the gates and let the animals roam, the best thing to do is to confine the animals to a sacrifice area and feed hay (Pasture 4). This keeps you from damaging pastures by overgrazing them during a drought. When the rain comes, your rested pastures will recover much more quickly than your neighbors. The hardest part about change is taking that first step. If need help getting started, give your local extension agent or conservation specialist a call! More information on grazing management can be found on the UK Forages website and the KYForages YouTube Channel.

Figure 4. Electrified polywire provides an effective and economical means for subdividing pastures. In this photo Jana Clark is learning how to utilize a geared reel (without getting shocked). COW COUNTRY • AUGUST 2020

We would like to thank the Kentucky Beef Network and the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund for their support of the Master Grazer Program and this demonstration.

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This month’s featured video is Using Grazing Strategies to Improve Soil Health on My Farm. This presentation was given as part of the 2014 Virginia Forage and Grassland Councils Winter Meeting Series. https://youtu.be/-OD3FnCd2dA This month’s featured publication is: “Electric Fencing for Serious Graziers,” USDA-NRCS. It can be accessed at the link below or you can find it at your local extension office. http://bit.ly/2Hw7vvy Fencing Tip: Use high quality temporary fencing. Temporary fencing comes in a number of styles including polywire, electric tape, electric braid, and polyrope. Electric tape should be used where high visibility is needed. Polywire is most commonly used by graziers since longer runs can be held on reels. When selecting polywire products, chose products that contain more strands of wire and for loner runs, choose products that contain wire made of mixed metals. Polywire containing mixed metals are about 40 times more conductive. Forage Management Tips •

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Don’t graze cool-season pastures closer than 3 to 4 inches. This will help to lower crown temperature and reduce moisture loss from the soil. Graze summer annual and perennial pastures to allow cool-season pastures to rest and to avoid toxic tall fescue. Plant winter annuals after the first good rain in August. Plant alfalfa and other perennial cool-season grasses after the first good rain in August. Exclude livestock and apply 60 lb N/A in mid to late August for stockpiling. Use UKY variety testing results to select varieties that will be planted in the fall. If drought occurs, confine animals to one pasture and feed hay.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE CATTLEMEN WELCOME LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE MEAT PROCESSING CAPACITY Today, a bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced the Requiring Assistance to Meat Processors for Upgrading Plants (RAMP UP) Act, which provides federal incentives to improve beef processing capacity.

producers, processors and small meat markets without compromising federal food safety standards or market access under existing trade agreements.

Introduced by U.S. Representatives Dusty Johnson (R - At-Large, SD) and Henry Cuellar (D - 28th Dist., TX), the Direct Interstate Retail Exemption for Certain Transactions (DIRECT) Act of 2020 would amend retail exemptions under current Introduced by House Agriculture law to allow meat processed under stateCommittee Chairman Colin Peterson inspected establishments to be sold across (D-MN), Reps. Frank Lucas (R-OK), Jeff state lines through e-commerce, providing Fortenberry (R-NE), Chellie Pingree (Dbeef producers and local processors alike ME), Glenn Thompson (R-PA), Sanford with more options to market direct-toBishop (D-GA), David Rouzer (R-NC), Jim consumers. Costa (D-CA), Robert Aderholt (R-AL), and Angie Craig (D-MN), the RAMP UP “Over the past few months, more Act will bolster market access for cattle Americans looked to e-commerce to producers and keep store shelves across purchase essential goods like beef and the country stocked with wholesome and an already booming online marketplace further evolved to facilitate purchases and nutritious beef products. meet consumer demands,” said NCBA “The COVID-19 pandemic caused President Marty Smith, a family cowunprecedented disruptions to beef calf operator from Wacahoota, Fla. “The processing which were devastating to cattle American beef supply chain must evolve to producers,” said NCBA Vice President and keep up with the speed of commerce and Minnesota Cattlemen’s Association past the demands of modern-day consumers. president Don Schiefelbein. “The RAMP UP The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Act addresses these supply chain issues by supports the DIRECT Act because it helps ensuring cattle ranchers and farmers have make it easier for the American cattle robust access to new markets regardless of producer to meet the growing demand of where their livestock is processed. We are the American consumer to purchase safe grateful to Chairman Peterson and Rep. and delicious U.S. beef.” Lucas for their leadership and attention to Background this critical issue.” The RAMP UP Act authorizes federal grants up to $100,000 for existing meat processors to become federally inspected. Currently, state inspected and custom exempt processors cannot sell meat in interstate commerce and the process to become compliant with, and inspected by, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is expensive and daunting. If enacted, the RAMP UP Act would ease this burden on processors and benefit cattle producers by opening new markets for the beef they produce.

NCBA APPLAUDS INTRODUCTION OF DIRECT ACT The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) today applauded the introduction of the bipartisan legislation to create new direct-to-consumer options for beef

e-commerce, sales are traceable and could easily be recalled. The proposal also includes clear prohibitions on export, keeping our equivalency agreements with trading partners intact. The DIRECT Act will allow states operating under the CIS system to ship and label as they are currently.

NCBA CELEBRATES IMPLEMENTATION OF USMCA TRADE DEAL “We are the Envy of Many Countries,” Cattle Groups Say WASHINGTON (July 1, 2020) — The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) today celebrated the successful implementation of the U.S.-MexicoCanada Agreement (USMCA) by sending a joint letter of thanks to the leaders of all three nations. The letter was sent to President Trump, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. It was signed by NCBA President Marty Smith, Canadian Cattlemen’s Association President Bob Lowe, and CNOG President Oswaldo Chazaro Montalvo.

“Together, our organizations worked in unified support of USMCA because it protects market-based principles while making improvements in other sectors to reflect the needs of a modern North Currently, many states such as South American economy,” the leaders of the Dakota and Texas have State Meat and three cattlemen’s organizations wrote. “We Poultry Inspection (MPI) programs are the envy of many countries because approved by the U.S. Department of of the marketplace freedom USMCA will Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection continue to provide both producers and Service (USDA FSIS) as “at least equal consumers. to” standards set under the Federal “International trade is fundamental to Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) and Poultry the success of North American farmers Products Inspection Act (PPIA). Under and ranchers and the full value of the the existing framework however, state- products we sell can only be achieved inspected products can only be sold when we have access to the markets that interstate if approved to do so under the most value them,” the letter continued. Cooperative Interstate Shipping Program “In the face of the economic hardships of (CIS). COVID-19, it is timely and welcome that The DIRECT Act would amend the retail USMCA enters into force, providing a exemption under the FMIA and PPIA foundation of economic stability for our to allow processors, butchers or other rural communities and food systems.” retailers to sell normal retail quantities (300 lbs. of beef, 100 lbs. of pork, 27.5 lbs. of lamb) of MPI State Inspected Meat online to consumers across state lines. Because DIRECT Act sales are in

Congress last winter overwhelmingly approved the new USMCA deal, with the Senate voting 89-10 in support of it a few weeks after the U.S. House of

Representatives passed it with a strong bipartisan vote of 385-41. NCBA worked hard to build support for USMCA on Capitol Hill, and then-NCBA-President Jennifer Houston led a delegation of more than a dozen members to the White House to attend the official signing ceremony on Jan. 29. “We believe that our economies and our countries will be stronger together through USMCA,” the letter concluded.

NCBA HELPS LEAD COALITION TO CLOSE $630 MILLION SHORTFALL FOR INSPECTIONS OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) today helped lead a coalition of more than 150 agricultural organizations in urging Congressional appropriators to close an estimated $630 million funding shortfall for the Customs and Border Protection’s (CPB’s) Agriculture Quarantine Inspection (AQI) at U.S. ports of entry. The coalition stated its case in a letter to members of the U.S. House and Senate Appropriations Committees. CPB Agriculture Specialists, Technicians, and Canine Teams inspect ag imports to prevent the entry of foreign plant and animal pests and diseases such as Food and Mouth Disease. The inspections are ordinarily funded by AQI user fees that are collected by USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), but those user fees have dropped dramatically as international travel and cargo imports have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. The shortfall in funding for AQI at ports of entry through the end of fiscal year 2021 is estimated to be $630 million. “We urge Congress to ensure that the essential work of CBP agriculture inspectors continues uninterrupted throughout the COVID-19 pandemic,” the coalition’s letter said. “We depend on AQI to ensure that America’s agriculture sector remains safe from foreign animal and plant pests and diseases. It is inconceivable that Congress would risk widespread damage to U.S. agriculture and the overall economy by not funding these inspections.” “The pandemic has already had a devastating impact on our nation’s

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) has represented America’s cattle producers since 1898, preserving the heritage and strength of the industry through education and public policy. As the largest association of cattle producers, NCBA works to create new markets and increase demand for beef. Efforts are made possible through membership contributions. To join, contact NCBA at 1-866-BEEF-USA or membership@beef.org.

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LEGISLATIVE UPDATE citizens and on our economy,” said NCBA Executive Director, Government Affairs, Allison Rivera. “We need to continue to fund our CBP Ag Inspectors and give them the resources they need so that they may continue to be vigilant at our ports of entry in order to keep out foreign animal diseases and pests. The group’s full letter and a list of signing organizations can be found here.

GOVERNMENT DIETARY GUIDELINES REAFFIRM BEEF’S ROLE IN A HEALTHY DIET The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) today thanked the members of the 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) for recognizing beef’s role in a healthy lifestyle, including the essential role of beef’s nutrients at every life stage. The DGAC released recommendations to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for the 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs), the cornerstone of all federal nutrition policy. The beef community has made it a priority to protect the scientific credibility of Dietary Guidelines and promote accurate information about the nutritional advantages of beef as part of a balanced diet. NCBA, in its roles as both a contractor to the Beef Checkoff and as a member-driven policy association, submitted 21 sets of written comments, provided oral comments, and attended public meetings to ensure beef’s role in a healthy diet is recognized. “Cattle and beef producers appreciate the evidence-based recommendations of the DGAC. We believe beef is a wholesome, nutritious food that plays an important role in a healthy diet and we are supportive of many of the committee’s findings,” said NCBA CEO Colin Woodall. “NCBA and its members have made this work a priority for more than two years, and we’re pleased that the report reinforces the strong science which supports beef’s nutritional value in a healthy diet.” Woodall noted that the recommendations shared in the report mirror many of the recommendations related to red meat which were included in the 20152020 DGAs. In fact, the amount of meat recommended for healthy diets in the current report is the same as the

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2015 DGAs. He also pointed to current DGAC report findings that suggest many Americans would benefit from getting more nutrients like protein, iron and choline, which are readily available in beef. “This report also demonstrates that women of child-bearing age, adolescent boys and girls and older Americans are especially vulnerable to not getting enough of the nutrients found in beef, which further demonstrates beef’s valuable role in the diet,” said Woodall. While the DGAC report is influential in the development of the 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, Secretaries Perdue and Azar are now tasked with reviewing the DGAC recommendations before finalizing the 2020 Guidelines. The public comment period for the report is open now until Aug. 13, 2020. NCBA will be calling on its producer members to provide comments and looks forward to continued engagement as the Secretaries of USDA and HHS work to finalize the guidelines.

NCBA LEADS FIGHT ON CAPITOL HILL TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL PANDEMIC RELIEF FOR CATTLE PRODUCERS The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) today sent a letter to leaders on Capitol Hill thanking them for their efforts in supporting our Nation’s cattle producers through the Coronavirus Aid, Response, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and urging them to continue their work by improving the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). NCBA Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane issued the following statement: “The assistance provided to rural America through the CARES Act represented a critical step toward ensuring U.S. cattle producers remain operationally viable in the short-term during the height of COVID-19. However, as our nation collectively works to rebound from this pandemic, we have a clearer understanding of the challenges that remain for our industry, as well as the long-term solutions needed to facilitate a robust recovery. While CFAP was a good start, these cattle assistance payments can be improved upon and tailored to provide additional support to those in our industry who have been especially affected

by market disruption from the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, further measures such as emergency haying and grazing under the Conservation Reserve Program, a fed-cattle set aside pilot program, and the waiving of overtime fees for Federal Meat Inspectors can be utilized by Congress to ensure the beef supply chain is stronger moving forward.”

NCBA RESPONDS TO CONGRESSIONAL CLIMATE REPORT “EVERY CATTLE PRODUCER PLAYS ROLE IN CATTLE’S POSITIVE CLIMATE IMPACT” National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Vice President, Government Affairs, Ethan Lane today released the following statement in response to a new Congressional report on climate change: “The report released today by the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis is unfortunately the product of partisan discussions that failed to encompass important constituent communities across the country. NCBA is committed to working with Congress to find real solutions that set us on a path toward long-term environmental and economic sustainability. “All segments of the beef supply chain – ranchers, feeders, haulers, processors, and retailers – play a necessary role in ensuring that beef consumption is a climate solution. Every cattle producer plays a role in cattle’s positive climate impact. Pasture-based operations cultivate healthy soil to improve carbon storage, grazing reduces fine fuels that contribute to catastrophic wildfire that causes significant air pollution and longterm damage to soil and water health, and advancements in feed efficiency directly reduce methane emissions. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, methane from beef cattle accounts for only 2% of the United States’ greenhouse gas emissions while providing a host of opportunities for improved carbon storage in landscapes across the country. “NCBA will continue working to ensure that all segments of the beef supply chain are recognized for their beneficial contributions and do not face punitive measures that unfairly or inaccurately target domestic food and fiber production.

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Voluntary, inventive-based conservation is the most fruitful path to conserving America’s agricultural land through increased adoption of sustainable management practices. Consistent, achievable conservation goals ensure that all farmers and ranchers, regardless of size or segment, have the necessary resources to continue producing the world’s safest beef.”

NCBA WELCOMES FORWARD PROGRESS ON FMD VACCINE BANK The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s (NCBA) today released the following statement in response to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) securing contracts worth $27.1 million to provide foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccines for the National Animal Vaccine and Veterinary Countermeasures Bank (NAVVCB) that was created in the 2018 Farm Bill at the request of NCBA: “We are pleased to see USDA is moving forward with creating a supply of FMD vaccines in the NAVVCB to ensure ranchers and farmers have timely access to a critical tool in the fight against foreign animal diseases, such as FMD. This is a promising first step forward to begin the work authorized in the 2018 Farm Bill; but, more action is needed to strengthen this newly created vaccine bank,” said NCBA Executive Director of Government Affairs, Allison Rivera. “NCBA will continue to work with USDA, Congress, and other stakeholders to secure future funding, making certain that the entire cattle industry is better prepared for a possible outbreak of FMD.” NAVVCB is one component of a three-part program established by the 2018 Farm Bill to comprehensively support animal disease prevention and management. This new program adds to the nation’s level of protection against this devastating disease. In the event of an outbreak, animal health officials would decide when, where, and how to use the available vaccine based on the circumstances of the outbreak. NCBA and other members of the animal agriculture community strongly lobbied Congress to include the formation of the NAVVCB in the Farm Bill to provide additional vaccine for use in livestock disease outbreaks, such as FMD.

FEATURE

UK TO HOST WESTERN KENTUCKY SUMMER FORAGE TOUR

AT PALMER FARMS Katie Pratt, University of Kentucky who cannot walk the tour route.

The Kentucky Forage and Grassland Council and the University of Kentucky are bringing their Western Kentucky Summer Forage Tour to Palmer Farms in Calloway County’s Almo community. The event will be Aug. 6.

During the tour, attendees will hear the history and overview of the farm. They will also learn about summer annuals for high-quality grazing, improved crabgrass for summer grazing, temporary electric fencing, fencing for perimeters, grassfinished animal genetics, and producing and marketing high quality grass-fed beef. The tour will finish with a meal featuring grass-fed beef and entertainment by a bluegrass band.

Owned by Michael and Stacie Palmer, Palmer Farms started producing grassfed beef in 2011. Today, the operation produces and retails about 40 beef cattle each year. They also partner with other area farmers to offer grass-fed pork and chicken to their customers. Their forage operation includes cool- and warm-season annuals and perennials, including a rotation of annual ryegrass and crabgrass.

Registration is limited. Preregistration is available online at https:// wkyforagefieldday2020.eventbrite.com/. Palmer Farms is located at 2629 Hickory Grove Road, Almo, KY 42020. For more information on the tour, including directions to the farm, visit the UK forage extension website at http://forages. ca.uky.edu or contact Carrie Tarr-Janes, UK master grazer coordinator, at carrie. tarr-janes@uky.edu/.

“We take great pride in providing healthy, delicious meat to people in our community, state and across the country,” Stacie Palmer said. “From genetics to marketing, we are constantly thinking outside the box to make our business unique and profitable.” The farm truly is a family-run operation, with the Palmers’ children each having an active role. Their sons Will, 17, and Teshome, 16, assist with day-to-day cattle management. Their daughter, Jessie, 19, works to grow the family’s business through social media and product development.

Registration for the tour will begin at 3 p.m. CDT with the tour starting at 4 p.m. Cost is $10 per person and free for students. Attendees must wear

masks and observe social distancing. To promote social distancing, the event will be a 1.5-mile walking tour. Limited transportation will be available for those

VISIT US TODAY!

In addition to the UK College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, tour sponsors include the Kentucky and Forage Grassland Council, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Kentucky Beef Network, Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund and the Kentucky Master Grazer Educational Program.

ALL AGES WELCOME • SCHEDULE A GROUP VISIT AND CHOOSE YOUR LESSON PLAN • CATERING IS AVAILABLE

THE YARDS is an education center focusing on the science and practices of the beef industry. Educational opportunities provide a unique learning experience based on its location in the Blue Grass Regional Stockyards Marketplace. This environment fosters complex thinking, experiential learning, and life skill application. NELLIS@KYCATTLE.ORG • (859) 382-4303 20

COW COUNTRY • AUGUST 2020

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Matt Jones • (270) 670-2588 COW COUNTRY • AUGUST 2020

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FEATURE

NUTRIENT SYNCHRONY:

PROTEIN AND ENERGY WORKING TOGETHER Caitlin Hebbert, Livestock Consultant, Noble Foundation As a ruminant nutritionist and livestock consultant, I spend the vast majority of my time discussing the nutrient requirements of beef cattle. More specifically, discussing the “king” and “queen” of the beef nutrition world: protein and energy. Whether a producer is backgrounding calves, developing heifers or getting through the winter, these are the two nutrients that dominate conversation, concern and price tag. However, these nutrients are far too often considered separate entities. You usually know if you’re deficient in one or the other, or maybe both, but it’s rarely considered that these two work in synchrony as complements.

calving and at their lowest nutrient requirements for the entire year. The same can be said for cattle on low quality hay at any time of year. They are not only consuming a less-nutrient-dense diet; they’re consuming less volume of said diet as well. Why the decrease in intake, if more pounds of a less-nutrient-dense diet is needed to meet nutrient requirements? The answer lies within the microbes. When CP falls below the 8% threshold, the rumen microbes responsible for digesting forage feedstuffs cannot maintain adequate growth and functionality. The primary benefit to protein supplementation of grazing cattle on dormant pasture is that of greater digestibility rates due to increased rumen microbe efficiency, and therefore greater intake. When cattle are on poor quality forage and lacking the nutrients to keep the rumen healthy and active, digestibility slows and the rumen stays fuller longer, meaning less nutrients are consumed and absorbed.

Nutrient synchrony is the concept that pairing the availability and fates of different nutrient substrates can increase digestibility, utilization and/ or absorption of those nutrients. Synchronizing nutrients goes beyond meeting the textbook requirements of animals and considers nutrient compatibility.

Just as protein is needed to adequately digest and utilize carbohydrates in feedstuff, carbohydrate content and source can increase digestibility and microbial efficiency, even those with relatively high protein content.

No nutrient acts alone; many are catalysts with enzymatic actions or antagonists for other nutrients. The thing to keep in mind is that source is key. Not all proteins are alike, nor are all carbohydrates or even mineral chelates alike. The protein in cottonseed meal is not the same protein that is in dried distillers grains, and they may interact differently with the carbohydrates in your forage source to yield different performance results. The secret is all in keeping the rumen microbes happy.

Research Example: Steam-Flaked vs. Ground Corn to Supplement Wheat Pasture In a study conducted at New Mexico State University, the effect of supplementing cattle on wheat pasture with either steam-flaked corn or ground corn was evaluated. Wheat pasture is known to be extremely digestible and high in protein — a rapidly digested protein.

How Protein Affects Rumen Function Generally speaking, dry matter intake of forage as a percent of body weight increases up until crude protein (CP) content reaches 8% of dry matter. Thus, if you are grazing cattle and the pasture forage CP falls below 8% dry matter, cattle will consume less forage, which is why cattle can lose condition so quickly during the winter even if they are spring22

The hypothesis was that supplementing such a rapidly fermentable protein with an equally available source of energy would increase the efficiency of rumen fermentation and, therefore, increase nutrient utilization and efficiency of forage. Steam-flaked corn is about 17% more energy-available than ground corn, COW COUNTRY • AUGUST 2020

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FEATURE

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making it more rapidly fermentable and a more appropriate pairing for the protein in wheat forage. Cattle supplemented with the steam-flake versus ground corn consumed 19% more forage and were 15% more efficient in digesting the wheat pasture itself — an already highly digestible forage (Hebbert et al, 2016). Having both nutrients degraded and available simultaneously creates a more efficient microbial environment, meaning your cattle get more out of your feedstuff and you get more out of your investment. Feed Microbes First This is not to say you should delve into your feed program so deeply that you know the exact fermentation time of the nutrients in each feedstuff you consider — this is obviously not practical and, at this time, probably not completely achievable. What is important is to understand that when you’re feeding cattle, you’re feeding the microbes first and the animal secondly. Just like your vehicle needs both the correct and clean fuel and oil to run properly, the rumen microbes need the proper protein and carbohydrates (along with minerals and vitamins) in order to digest and utilize forage efficiently.

The primary benefit of supplementation is often to increase microbial efficiency. Subsequent increased animal performance (whether that’s lactation, reproduction or growth) is a byproduct of that investment in the rumen health. When you feed protein to a deficient animal, they are not only making use of that protein, the protein is helping them to make better use of the other feedstuff available to them. Keep the Rumen Factory Running There are times to supplement protein to your cattle and times to supplement energy, all depending on the time of year, forage base and phase of production or class of animal. Just keep in mind that you’re always handling a multi-faceted system. There’s so much more going on behind the scenes than what meets the eye and changes to diet often have a cascade of biological effects. It may be helpful to have a different perspective when you read feed tags and consider supplementation types and sources. The purpose of supplementation is not just to meet one nutrient deficiency, it is to keep the whole rumen factory working and using every nutrient, and every penny you invest into those nutrients, as efficiently as possible.

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COW COUNTRY • AUGUST 2020

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ECONOMIC & POLICY UPDATE

COVID-19 AND FOOD PRICE INFLATION Will Snell, Extension Professor The media has provided a lot of news stories of late on the impact of COVID-19 on the prices we are paying for food. A major disruption in our food supply chain coupled with an initial surge of panic buying by consumers would suggest that food prices would increase. But how much extra are we paying to feed our families? One consumer interviewed on the national news recently estimated that the “price of food had probably increased 20 to 30% during this pandemic.” Another report claimed that recent events have led to “the biggest food price increase is more than 50 years.” Official data does indicate that food prices have increased, but likely well below what most people would predict. Earlier today (June 26, 2020), USDA

released their monthly Food Price Outlook which revealed food prices for U.S. consumers increased 0.6% in May, following a 1.5% increase in April. These are relatively high individual monthly price changes, but food prices for 2020 remain comparable to food price changes over the past two decades. Meat prices have fueled most of the food price inflation this year, up nearly 10% for the year led by higher egg (+8.0%) and beef prices (+ 6.7%). However, prices for other food items such as fruits and vegetables have remained fairly stable. A major reason for the spike in meat prices over the past couple of months can be attributed to processing plant disruptions evolving from the Coronavirus. However,

most of these plants are back running at near full capacity. Assuming future plant closures do not occur, look for food prices to moderate in the coming months as the supply system continues to adjust to protections put in place to minimize COVID-19 impacts. For the year, food prices are up 2.3%, which is actually the average annual price increase over the past twenty years and much lower than what consumers experienced prior to the 1990s as consumers have benefitted from competition and efficiency gains within the retail food price space. For the year, USDA is projecting annual food price inflation to be in the 2 to 3% range. The degree of food price inflation varies

depending if the food was purchased for consumption at home (primarily grocery stores) or for consumption away from home (primarily restaurants). Price for food purchased for home preparation increased 0.8% from April to May 2020 and was 4.8% higher than May 2019. Prices for food purchased away-fromhome increased 0.4% in May and was 2.9% higher than May 2019. One final point has to deal with the weighting of the food price index which currently has food away from home accounting for 45% of the index --- way too high for the current dining out environment and thus tends to underestimate the price surge felt by today’s consumers eating most of their meals at home.

LOCALLY PRODUCED BEEF AND THE IMPACTS OF CORONAVIRUS Greg Halich, Associate Extension Professor The Coronavirus has had major impacts to the beef supply, as well as other meats in this country since mid-March. Shortterm demand for beef has increased, but major bottlenecks in processing have limited supply and have generally had negative impacts on the conventional beef industry. Unlike the conventional beef segment, Kentucky beef producers who process and market their own meats locally have seen mostly positive changes. The rest of this article describes these changes, helps cattle farmers determine if selling locally finished beef might work for them, and looks at possible long-term changes related to locally supplied beef. Current Situation for Local Beef Suppliers: The coronavirus and the fear of potential food shortages created opportunities for locally finished beef. The main driving force has been increased demand. Part of this increase is due to the short-term 24

supply disruption in the conventional beef industry due to processing bottlenecks, and short-term hoarding by customers: less conventional-produced beef was available and consumers looked to alternative sources. However, a large part of this is also likely due to people wanting to have a more intimate connection to their food: knowing where their beef comes from and knowing that a supply disruption at the national-level will not affect them. Debbie Apple at River Cottage Farm in Rockfield Kentucky (northwest of Bowling Green) began to see demand increase in the second week of March when their sales doubled. Sales doubled again by the third week in March and stayed near that level until the fourth week of May. Sales slowly decreased over the next two weeks but have settled at double their normal sales. Debbie believes most of her new customers are people who have always wanted to

purchase locally and organic-ish type meat but for different reasons never quite made the commitment. She believes most were previously purchasing their meats from places like Whole Foods and Trader Joes. List of Beef Cuts and Prices Debbie and her son Braiden sell mostly by the piece and in bundles, so generally have a large meat supply on hand to sell year-round. Suppliers like River Cottage Farm rely on a large capacity of freezer space to be able to supply yearround. Many other producers however, sell mostly in bulk by the quarters or halves of the animals they process. This is typically referred to as “freezer beef”. They market most, if not all, of their beef when the animals are processed. Unless these producers were lucky enough to have animals ready to take to the processor in early spring, they probably have not been able to take

COW COUNTRY • AUGUST 2020

advantage of the increase in consumer demand. As an example, I (along with

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ECONOMIC & POLICY UPDATE my colleague Kenny Burdine) finish around 20 steers per year on pasture in southern Woodford County, but all these steers are either marketed as freezer beef (sold in quarters, halves, and wholes), or sold wholesale to a partner who markets under his brand. Our first set of steers for this year went to the processor on June 24th, well after the surge in increased demand occurred. Josh and Melissa Ballard at Bluegrass Beef in Shelbyville Kentucky (east of Louisville) also saw a significant increase in demand. They had approximately three steers worth of beef in the freezer that they were originally holding for the beginning of the farmers market in the spring but due to increased demand, sold all of it one week in March. They quickly sold everything else they had in stock and had to wait until April when they had additional steers scheduled for processing. Their year to date sales have increased over $20,000. On the other hand, direct marketers who sell mostly to restaurants have been hurt by the Coronavirus. Joe Weber, also known as “Farmer Joe” of Salvisa Kentucky (southwest of Lexington) supplies a number of restaurants in the Lexington and Louisville markets and sales at these establishments dried up overnight in March. He also supplies a small local University with beef and when in-person classes were cancelled, so were his beef orders for the rest of the semester. On the flip side, he also supplies local grocery stores and direct markets to individuals. Luckily these sales have increased dramatically, similar to River Cottage Farm and Bluegrass Beef. Thus the impacts of the Coronavirus vary quite a bit by marketing method. Processing Bottleneck:While in general, demand has increased significantly in the last few months for locally produced beef, a processing bottleneck has prevented many Kentucky farmers from taking advantage of this increased demand.

were cancelled or pushed back by their processors, in some cases because processors were trying to fill increased demand in their retail shops. In addition, some processors are offering fewer processing options so that they can process animals quicker. When will processing get back to normal? There are many different thoughts on this but I would say best-case scenario will be the summer of 2021. I hope I am wrong on this, but producers need to have contingency plans in place for continued problems in scheduling processing. Considerations Before Selling Finished Beef: Finishing Steers in Southern Woodford County, KY

There are two main reasons for this processing bottleneck: 1) More farmers wanting to process animals due to the increased demand, and 2) Operational slow-downs at the processing facilities due to social distancing and workerrelated problems. Current local beef suppliers are trying to schedule earlier harvests than they originally planned to take advantage of the consumer surge in demand. In addition, many conventional beef producers who would typically not process animals are trying to get into the locally finished beef segment to also take advantage of the increase in demand. Many from this group are using cullcows to do this. More producers trying to schedule beef processing would by itself lead to longer lead-times to get animals processed. However, that combined with the operational slow-downs has led to a dramatic increase in processing leadtimes. Most of the reports in Kentucky for USDA inspected establishments are a minimum of 6-10 months to schedule a processing appointment. I have heard of farmers who had appointments that

Many conventional producers are trying to enter the locally finished beef market. However, there are quite a few of these producers that probably haven’t thought through two important issues: 1) Will I actually make a profit? 2) Will my current farm insurance policy cover this? Most people I have talked to are being overly optimistic that this will work for them, even with cull-cows that they will not have an additional finishing period. Many of these folks have no idea how much extra time it will take dealing with processing and dealing with customers. They do not consider all the potential problems that might occur such as packages that are not sealed correctly, customers who back out at the last minute, and customers who do not pay. Selling calves at the stockyards is a one-and-done transaction. Not so with selling finished beef. My best advice is to start small to find out what you are actually getting yourself into. Those that are going to finish-out growing stock need to consider the extra time and expenses of doing this, as well as the significant change in management that will be necessary to do this well. The following publication will help producers getting started on the production side of producing finished beef: http://www2.

ca.uky.edu/agcomm/pubs/ID/ID224/ ID224.pdf The following worksheet will help people think through all their costs and help estimate their potential profit: http://agecon.ca.uky.edu/files/ beefpasturefinishing.xlsx One of the biggest mistakes I see wouldbe producers make is to assume their current farm insurance policy will cover them if they sell finished beef. Most farm insurance policies do not cover what is considered a “processed product”, packaged beef being one of those. If you are processing the animal and selling it afterwards, you will likely not be covered by your base insurance policy. To get around this, many producers sell a “portion” of an animal before processing. There is a fair amount of grey area surrounding these distinctions, and you should contact your insurance agent to make sure you will be covered if you are considering this. Long-Term Changes: Most of the local-beef producers I have spoken to believe that much of the increase in consumer demand will be short-term phenomena. However, most also believe that there will be a fair amount of long-term increased demand. River Cottage Farm, Bluegrass Beef, and Farmer Joe all believe some of their new customers will become permanent longterm customers. The virus has likely spooked some people into wanting to have freezer full of meat rather than living hand-to-mouth with the grocery store. My guess is most of the new producers who are taking up processing capacity will only be in this for the shortrun. Finishing cattle is a long-term commitment. Pasture finishing typically requires around 1.5 years after weening, and the short-term impacts from the Coronavirus will hopefully be over far before that time-period is up.

The Agricultural Economics Department publishes the Economic and Policy Update towards the end of each month.  Each issue features articles written by extension personnel within the department and other experts across the country.  Topics will vary greatly but regularly include marketing, management, policy, natural resources, and rural development issues. If you would like to recieve this newsletter by email, please contact Kenny Burdine at kburdine@uky.edu. You can also view current and past issues online at https://bit.ly/2PoHsZj Co-editors: Kenny Burdine, Alison Davis, and Greg Halich

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LEGAL NEWS

A R E YO U R B U S I N E S S S E C R E T S S A F E ? CANDACE SMITH Steptoe & Johnson, PLLC

Many companies in the agriculture industry have developed techniques, processes, formulas, or products that are “secret” and give their company an edge over the competition. The real value of these developments, sometimes called “trade secrets,” is that other companies do not know about them and cannot easily replicate them. In the recent case Caudill Seed & Warehouse Co., Inc. v. Jarrow Formulas, Inc., a Kentucky federal court explained what can happen when a company employee takes those secrets and gives them to the competition. No. 3:13-CV-082-CRS, 2020 WL 3065626 (W.D. Ky. June 9, 2020). In this case, Caudill Seed & Warehouse Co., Inc. (“Caudill Seed”) was a 65year old family-owned business which produced and supplied agricultural products, such as seeds and sprouts, to commercial producers and distributors. It also sold some of its own nutritional supplements. Caudill Seed’s former Director of Research (the “Former Director”) worked for years to help Caudill Seed develop new compounds and processes related to broccoli seed. The Former Director had access to all of Caudill Seed’s proprietary and confidential information related to this

research. Indeed, Caudill Seed entrusted most of its scientific information on this subject to the Former Director. One of Caudill Seed’s former customers was Jarrow Formulas, Inc. (“Jarrow Formulas”). Both Caudill Seed and Jarrow Formulas produced and marketed their own broccoli extract nutritional supplements and were competitors in this regard. In 2011, Jarrow Formulas decided to “cut out the middleman” and manufacture its own broccoli extract instead of buying it from Caudill Seed. Up to that point, Jarrow Formulas had not done any research and development or manufacturing of broccoli extract, and it had no employees who were capable of doing so. In order start manufacturing broccoli extract, it hired Caudill Seed’s Former Director. When the Former Director left Caudill Seed, he took the documents and hard drive containing Caudill Seed’s research. Without these documents, Caudill Seed had to “reverse engineer” its own processes, and the progress that it had previously made was set back nine months. Meanwhile, the Former Director gave Caudill Seed’s confidential information to Jarrow Formulas, and, despite having no prior experience, Jarrow Formulas was able

to create, patent, and market a broccoli extract formula within four months. As a result, Caudill Seed sued Jarrow Formulas claiming that Jarrow Formulas had misappropriated Caudill Seed’s trade secrets. Kentucky’s Uniform Trade Secrets Act allows businesses to protect their “trade secrets,” which includes things like techniques, processes, formulas, methods, and other information that have independent economic value from not being generally know or available to others and are treated as secret. Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 365.880 (West 2020). A company, such as Caudill Seed, can bring legal action if its trade secrets are misappropriated, which may occur when another company, such as Jarrow Formulas, acquires the trade secret by improper means. In this case, the jury found in favor of Caudill Seed, determined that Jarrow Formulas had misappropriated Caudill Seed’s trade secrets, and awarded Caudill Seed damages for its losses. The federal court agreed that the jury had sufficient evidence to reach this conclusion. The federal court explained that, although it is not wrong, and can actually be good

business, for a company like Jarrow Formulas to try to cut out the middle man to reduce costs, a company cannot do so by misappropriating another’s trade secrets. This case demonstrates why it is important for a business to take steps to protect its confidential information from its competitors. In this case, Caudill Seed entrusted essentially all of its scientific information to one individual, who later turned Caudill Seed’s secrets over to the competition. Although Caudill Seed was unable to prevent its Former Director from taking the information, Caudill Seed did recover much of its damages by bringing a legal action. An attorney can help you determine if your business has techniques, data, processes, or other information that is worthy of “trade secret” protection, and how to best protect that information to prevent what happened to Caudill Seed from happening to your business. If you believe another person or company has improperly taken and used your company’s trade secrets, an attorney can also help you decide if you should file a lawsuit to try to recover damages.

These materials are public information and have been prepared solely for educational purposes. These materials reflect only the personal views of the authors and are not individualized legal advice. It is understood that each case is fact-specific, and that the appropriate solution in any case will vary. Therefore, these materials may or may not be relevant to any particular situation. Thus, the authors and Steptoe & Johnson PLLC cannot be bound either philosophically or as representatives of their various present and future clients to the comments expressed in these materials. The presentation of these materials does not establish any form of attorney-client relationship with the authors or Steptoe & Johnson PLLC. While every attempt was made to ensure that these materials are accurate, errors or omissions may be contained therein, for which any liability is disclaimed.

DON’T FALL BEHIND THE HERD! 26

COW COUNTRY • AUGUST 2020

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FEATURE

LET’S TALK ABOUT LEPTO! MICHELLE ARNOLD DVM-Ruminant Extension Veterinarian, University of Kentucky

What is Leptospirosis or “Lepto”? Leptospirosis is a complicated bacterial disease commonly associated with abortions, stillbirths and drop in milk production in cattle. However, this bacterium also causes sickness and death in cattle, dogs, sheep and horses worldwide and is an important zoonotic disease affecting an estimated 1 million humans annually. Farmers and those working in meat processing facilities are at highest risk. What causes leptospirosis? The disease is caused by a unique, highly coiled, Gram negative bacterium known as a “spirochete” belonging to the genus Leptospira. These “leptospires” are highly motile due to their spiral shape and, once inside a host animal, they enter the bloodstream and replicate in many different organs including the liver, kidney, spleen, reproductive tract, eyes and central nervous system. The immune system will produce antibodies that clear the organism from the blood and tissues except from the kidney. Cattle can become carriers of leptospirosis when the organism takes up residence in the kidney and the leptospires are excreted in the urine for months to even years after infection. Less frequently, leptospires persist in the male and female genital tract and mammary gland of females and may be excreted in semen, uterine discharges and milk. How do cattle become infected with leptospires? Transmission of the organism is most often through direct contact with infected urine, placental fluids, semen or milk. However, transmission may also occur by coming in contact with areas contaminated with infected urine, such as stagnant ponds or swampy areas with standing water. The leptospires survive in the environment for long periods of time (approximately 6 months in the right conditions) in stagnant water as well as in warm and moist soils but die quickly when dry or in cold temperatures. Entry into the animal may be through penetration 28

of intact mucous membranes such as through the mouth and the conjunctiva of the eye, or through damaged or watersoftened skin. The organism may also be transferred during breeding and also during pregnancy from dam to fetus. Which animals carry (“host”) this organism and are responsible for spread of disease? This is where the complicated life cycle of this organism must be explained in order to understand the wide range of disease symptoms that may be observed in cattle. To begin, it is important to distinguish two different types of “hosts”; 1) maintenance or reservoir hosts and 2) incidental or accidental hosts. A “maintenance host” is an animal that can carry the leptospirosis organism but does not experience any obvious sickness from it. These are also known as “carriers” or “reservoir hosts” because this animal’s immune system allows the leptospires to happily live and duplicate themselves then be excreted and spread to other animals, thus serving as a “reservoir” of infection. Maintenance hosts for leptospires are often wildlife species including skunks, rats, raccoons and opossums but can be domestic animals (dogs, cats) or livestock (pigs, cattle), depending on which type of leptospire (known as a “serovar”) is involved (Table 1). For example, cattle serve as the maintenance host for the Leptospira serovar called “Hardjo type hardjo-bovis”. Transmission of L. hardjobovis from one infected cow to another healthy cow is very easy, efficient and the infection rate can be very high in an unvaccinated cattle herd. When a cow is initially infected with L. hardjo, she may exhibit a few mild signs such as low fever but there will be very little antibody production by the immune system and the leptospires will remain primarily in the kidney and be shed in her urine for a prolonged period of time. In addition, the organism can also localize in male and female reproductive tracts and be shed in semen and uterine discharges. An “incidental host” or “accidental host”

Figure 1: Electronic image of Leptospira interrogans. Obtained from the CDC Public Health Image Library. Image credit: CDC/NCID/HIP/Janice Carr (PHIL #1220). / Public domain is an animal that gets infected with a Leptospira serovar not normally found in that animal (infected “by accident”) which results in clinical disease that may be severe. Incidental hosts are not reservoirs of infection and transmission of the organism is uncommon within a herd. Infection of an incidental host usually occurs in areas contaminated with urine from maintenance hosts. For example, cattle are incidental hosts for the Leptospira serovar “Pomona” which is carried normally by feral swine, raccoons, skunks and opossums (the maintenance hosts). The leptospires are transmitted to cattle from water contaminated with infected swine/raccoon/skunk/ opossum urine. Once infected, cattle (especially calves) often show significant signs of disease, the immune system rapidly produces antibodies and there is a short or no prolonged carrier state in the kidney. What are the symptoms of leptospirosis? Clinical signs or symptoms of disease in cattle depend on which Leptospira

COW COUNTRY • AUGUST 2020

serovar is involved and if cattle serve as a maintenance host or incidental host for this specific type. There are over 250 serovars of Leptospira but the two most important serovars affecting cattle in North America are Hardjo and Pomona, with Grippotyphosa, Canicola and Icterohaemorrhagiae much less frequently diagnosed. Most bovine cases of leptospirosis are caused by the L. Hardjo serovar for which cattle serve as the maintenance host. Most commonly, infection in pregnant cows results in abortion (usually late term), stillbirth, or birth of premature and weak infected calves. Retention of fetal membranes may follow abortion. Infertility may occur if leptospires continue to live within the genital tract of L. hardjo-infected cattle, especially in younger females. Lactating cows may exhibit “milk drop syndrome”, characterized as a drop in milk production for 2-10 days where the milk has the consistency of colostrum, thick clots,

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TABLE 1: COMMON LEPTOSPIRA ISOLATES IN RUMINANTS SEROVAR

MAINTENANCE HOST

INCIDENTAL HOSTS

Hardjo (type hardjo-bovis)

Cattle

Sheep, Goats

Grippotyphosa

Raccoons, Muskrats, Squirrels

Cattle, Sheep, Horses, Dogs

L. interrogans

Pomona

Swine, Opossums, Skunks, Raccoons

Horses, Cattle, Sheep, Goats, Dogs

L. interrogans

Canicola

Dogs

Cattle

L. interrogans

Icterohaemorrhagiae

Rats

Dogs, Cattle, Swine

JANUARY 14 & 15, 2021

L. interrogans

Bratislava

Pigs, Mice, Horses

Dogs, Cattle, Horses

L. interrogans

Hardjo (type hardjoprajitno)

Cattle

Sheep, Goats

Owensboro Convention Center 501 West 2nd Street Owensboro, KY 42301

SPECIES L. borgpetersenii L. kirschneri

yellowish color, and high somatic cell count, but the udder remains soft. Severe, rapidly progressing disease may occur in calves infected with incidental serovars, especially Pomona. These infections result in hemolytic disease, meaning the red blood cells break apart. Symptoms of high fever, rapid breathing, extreme weakness, red urine, and jaundice due to anemia and death are all possible. Cows may experience a loss of milk production with very prolonged recovery. How is leptospirosis diagnosed and treated? Diagnosis of this disease is not necessarily a simple task. Traditionally, a blood sample (red top blood tube) is taken from a cow that recently aborted and submitted to measure antibodies against the most common serovars. Incidental infections (for example, Pomona) will have highly elevated antibody numbers (called “titers”) that confirm the diagnosis. Unfortunately, since cattle are the maintenance host of L. hardjo, the antibody titers are unpredictable; they may go up, down or stay the same in the face of infection. Vaccination further confuses the interpretation of results because tests do not differentiate antibodies due to infection or antibodies due to vaccine. Therefore, multiple types of tests may be required to rule this disease in or out. Currently, the best test is a realtime PCR assay performed on a urine sample to help identify the organism. Animals diagnosed with leptospirosis COW COUNTRY • AUGUST 2020

can be treated with injectable long-acting oxytetracycline to remove the organism from the kidney. Research is ongoing if additional treatment is needed to clear infections within the genital tract. Consult your veterinarian for detailed advice regarding diagnosis and treatment options. What methods are used to control and prevent leptospirosis in cattle? New infections are best prevented through vaccination with products containing the most common serovars affecting cattle. The leptospirosis fraction of the vaccine is often denoted as “L 5” in the vaccine name, representing Hardjo, Pomona, Grippotyphosa, Canicola and Icterohaemorrhagiae. In addition, several vaccine manufacturers have added extra protection against L. Hardjo type hardjobovis and this is denoted with “HB” in the vaccine name. It is worth mentioning that cattle already infected with leptospirosis must be treated first with an effective antibiotic to remove the organism before vaccination is protective. Control is accomplished by prevention of exposure, annual vaccination and antibiotic treatment as needed. Reduction of cattle exposure to infected urine, especially by fencing off stagnant ponds and swampy areas, will significantly reduce transmission of the organism. Personal protective equipment should be used when working with cattle, especially an aborted fetus, suspected to be infected to prevent human disease.

2021

Room Blocks Hampton Inn & Suites Downtown Owensboro/Waterfront 401 W 2nd Street Owensboro KY 42301 270-685-2005 Holiday Inn & Suites 701 West First Street Owensboro KY 42301 270-683-1111

KENTUCKY CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION COVID-19 STATEMENT Many of our members and exhibitors have questions in regard to the potential cancellation of 2021 Kentucky Cattlemen’s Convention and Trade Show due to ongoing concerns surrounding COVID-19. The Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association (KCA) has been navigating the ever-changing COVID-19 pandemic with a focus on the well-being and safety of the convention participants. KCA is still planning to hold Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association Convention and Trade Show January 14 & 15, 2021 in person. We are closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation and will follow the advice and recommendations of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Governor Andy Beshear. We are hopeful that business operations will have been re-established by the opening of the convention. We will continue to gather information and observe the current landscape and provide updates as necessary. Should you have any questions or concerns please reach out to Becky Thompson by email at bthompson@kycattle.org or by phone at 859-278-0899.

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FEATURE

LIVESTOCK TRACEABILITY, WHAT IT MEANS AND IS IT NECESSARY? Jessica K Fuller, Colorado State University Livestock disease transmission has crippled the livestock industry and market on more than one occasion. How would a disease traceability system benefit the industry and protect this valuable asset? What does the new APHIS livestock traceability regulations mean to the producer? The idea of a system that tracks livestock from birth to slaughter has been entertained for many years. It becomes the forefront of conversation with every new disease outbreak. Looking at the pros and cons of a universal identification system and what that implementation would mean for producers and consumers is worth exploring. Making informed decisions will help keep our farms and food safe in the future. Are the new disease traceability guidelines necessary for the livestock industry? “Traceability, as defined by the USDA, is the act of knowing where diseased and at-risk animals are, where they’ve been and when they were there, so as to ensure a rapid response when animal disease events take place.” (Let’s Talk about traceability,2019) Historical outbreaks are good examples of how excessive culling and animal infection can cripple the industry. First is the footand-mouth disease outbreak in California. This epidemic in 1924 resulted in the culling of over 100,000 cattle, sheep, swine and goats collectively. Canada suspended meat imports from the western half of the country and the Sierra Nevada Mountains remained in quarantine for a whole year after the disease was found in a deer population. The second is the more recent BSE case in 2003. After a single dairy cow was found positive for the disease, the tracking of her calves and the other members of the herd that were transported from Canada to the US became a difficult task. Due to the unavailable identification of one of her bull calves, an entire herd was eradicated. One can’t help but wonder how more accurate identification could have saved the rest of the herd and/or that producers business. 30

Government officials have recognized the benefit of an animal traceability system for decades. After each outbreak such as the two mentioned above, the need to quickly trace the disease back to its origin is one of the most essential and effective treatments or methods to reduce the spread of disease. Since 2002, industry-government consultations have concentrated on a system of traceability. Although a universal method for tracking origin and specific groups of animals is debatable, the need for traceability has remained the same. In April of 2005, the USDA released a draft document of the National Animal Identification System (NAIS). The introduction to the document provides a compelling argument for the essential nature of an animal traceability program. According to the NAIS Draft Program Standards, the system would “facilitate rapid tracing in the event of a disease concern”. The NAIS was followed by the Animal Disease Traceability (ADT) framework in 2010. In January 2013, the final rule “Traceability for Livestock Moving Interstate” was published. This rule enacted the first official requirement for specific identification criteria and scenarios. The goal of the rule was to establish positive identification of livestock and animals capable of transmitting disease in transit across state lines. The identification and traceability would aid in pinpointing outbreak origins and decrease unnecessary culling. It was the first attempt at establishing a policy for traceability. The rule would prove difficult to establish and enforce and many revisions were made after stakeholders were surveyed and other assessments were made. Along with the 2013 traceability rule, the USDA and APHIS released the ADT official ear tags-Criteria and Options report. This document explained the various requirements for each group of animals and their respective identification needs. They included the commonly used brucellosis vaccination tags, scrapie tags, and a national uniform tagging system.

Depending on your animal, there were countless options for identification, however, not all of them were entered into a nation database allowing for prompt effective tracking. These methods of identification relied on individual tracking from one place to another and the tracking was potentially very labor intensive. Since the introduction of the ADT Final Rule, The National Uniform Eartagging System (NUES) and the Official Animal Identification Number (AIN) Devices haven been released. These documents can be found on the USDA website (www.aphis. usda.gov/traceability). After the plethora of information was released, there were many concerns expressed from stakeholders, enforcing agencies and producers. One thing they all agree on is the definite need for an effective identification system, but a cohesive tagging system and method of data collection met with opposition. Traceability Systems in other Countries Rather than trying to re-invent the wheel, comparing the identification and tracking systems in other countries can lead to better understanding of what features work and those that don’t. Over the last two years, Brazil has become the largest beef exporting country in the world. Second is India with Australia and the United States being a close third and fourth. Brazil’s increase in the world export market is believed to be a result of their disease traceability system and increase in cattle numbers. In 2002, Brazil implemented a traceability system to track cattle and buffalo within the country and those imported from the implementation date on. The system uses a series of “certifiers” defined by the system to track and police the livestock. Producers are tasked with the venture of hiring a certifier/auditor to certify their herd and report all events related to each animal. Why the Brazilian government decided to adopt this system is unknown and there are many concerns about private certifying agents and veterinarians and their ability

COW COUNTRY • AUGUST 2020

to truthfully audit a farm in the area in which they perform a service. The second largest beef exporter, India and the United States, do not have a complete beef traceability system. To find a country that has an organized and effective system in most perspectives, we can look at Japan. Japan is not listed as one of the 10 largest exporters of beef; however, their tracking system is so complete and accessible to the consumer, that you can enter the tracking number found on the packaged beef and trace it back to its birth farm. Information including age, breed, and mother’s unique identification number can be explored. A detailed description of the traceability process can be found on the Food and Fertilizer Technology Center for the Asian and Pacific Region’s (FFTC) website (http://ap.fftc.agnet.org/). According to the FFTC, the cattle are identified with a 10-digit ID tag at birth. This number and all information are reported to a single agency that is responsible for compiling the data into a national system and app. The beef farmer reports any change in the circumstances with the cow. From selling to slaughter to death. Once the cow is sold to slaughter, the packing plants, slaughter houses, retailers, and wholesalers take over the reporting and tracking respectively from slaughter to the consumer. The agency also has a working quality control and penalty system for those who do not comply with ruling. Each country has taken a different approach to the issue. One depends on multiple certifiers and data compilation, the other has developed a central data processing system. The system that is most successful can be judged based on the completeness of information and the ability to truly track the beef from birth to consumer. The Japanese system seems to have covered all aspects of true livestock traceability. One may argue that too much accessible information may become an issue with irrational consumer expectations. What Does Disease Traceability

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mean to the Producer?

FEMALES

Although the ADT rule was a good starting point, the law created many more challenges than it fixed. By 2017, APHIS conducted a discussion forum to assess the program and the concerns of producers, stakeholders, and government agency officials. The forum brought to light the concerns from producers about costeffective identification systems, the burden of recording and retrieving data and ease of access to the system. Staffing shortages with enforcement agencies and the lack of trained personnel devoted to livestock identification enforcement were expressed as well. According to Beef Magazine, only 67% of producers are aware of identification requirements within their state. The panel for the discussion board proposed education options for producers across the country. It seems to be in the producers’ best interest to educate themselves on the current regulations and begin addressing the identification of their livestock. As previously discussed, positive identification could save your entire herd. The traceability systems in Brazil and Japan depend on the producer to initiate the identification and tracking information. While this does generate upfront costs for the producers, benefits from meeting consumer demands need to be explored.

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Friend or Foe. Another set of concerns from the assessment meetings were those of conspiracy theories and lack of trust for the government. Producers feared unsolicited government control and market interference. However, as explained by Mr. Joe Leathers, Texas Animal Health Commission, General Manager of the 6666 Ranch speaking during the “Strategy Forum on Livestock Traceability” in 2017; “Animal disease traceability is a system with considerable potential for the producer. The data generated on the animals and the overall herd and the insurance against industry shutdown are where significant producer value comes into the system.” He also went on to explain that the cattle industry should be directly involved in making the rules and regulations in conjunction with government officials.

Blue Grass Regional Marketplace, Lexington, KY Selling breds, opens, pairs, bulls and genetic lots to include embryos and pregnancies The Kentucky State Junior Simmental Show will be held in conjunction. Watch the KY Simmental Facebook for schedule and info or contact Lindsay Phillips or Chris Allen.

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Call, text or email to make sure you are on the mailing list.

As producers, we need to invest in the process and develop a system to protect our animals, business, and market. Mr. John Saunders of Where Food Comes From, Inc, also spoke at the forum concerning Global

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CONTINUED ON PAGE 32 COW COUNTRY • AUGUST 2020

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SUPERVISORS Roy Toney James R. Smith Marna Bollinger Randy Chrisman Don Sayre Mike Wilson Susan Burge

1067 Corporate Drive | Lawrenceburg, KY 40342 Phone: (502) 604-6101

Administrative Secretary Beverly McElwain

Join us for a

Farm Tour Tuesday, September 15 5:30 p.m. 1521 Ballard Road Lawrenceburg, KY

The Anderson County Conservation District, along with the Ky. Division of Water, has completed a 319(h) project in the Cheese Lick Watershed to improve water quality. The tour includes the farms of: Ricky Stratton Stanley Searcy Don Sayre Jody Hughes

Improvements include: Fencing Heavy Use Areas In-line Fence Feeders Watering Systems

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31

Market Trade Dynamics. He discussed how the United State is lacking in recognition from other countries due to the lack of mandatory animal disease tracking. According to Saunders, the world views verses the United States are increasingly different and when concerning Livestock trade, disease traceability is one of the first stepping stones to bridge the gap. These and many other speakers at the forum make a compelling case that disease traceability is a friend to the livestock industry. We have seen in many disease outbreaks how market shutdowns and herd eradication can devastate producers and the economy. Many aspects of the government rulings and information explain the potential to offset these issues and prevent long term effects in the event of a disease outbreak. Studies by Golan et al., and Brester et al., have discussed the increase in marketability and price available with increase tracking and data collection concerning feeding programs, vaccinations and antibiotic use. These higher prices are shown to offset the cost of implementing the traceability systems and data collection. The increase

COW COUNTRY • AUGUST 2020

in consumer demand for products considered safer and healthier creates a potentially new profit margin that may out way the funding concerns of producers and enforcement. Moving Forward The avenue that best addresses the needs of producers, the requirements of government agencies and can cross international boundaries for disease traceability are unclear at this time. New AIN tagging devices and the potential use of private data collection software are the current recommendations of the USDA and APHIS. These organizations have made many assessments of the ADT plan and are seeking contributions from all involved parties. With producer cooperation and government understanding, both sides need to continue to strive for a system that both protects the producer and the economy of our country. In our current world of global awareness and information, data and tracking of disease are very instrumental tools in providing protection of our markets, food safety, and animal population. Throughout all forums, articles, and discussions, the general consensus is that we need a disease traceability system.

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FEATURE

PRODUCTION CHALLENGES, ECONOMIC HEADWINDS SLOW RED MEAT EXPORTS IN MAY U.S. beef and pork exports trended lower in May, due in part to interruptions in slaughter and processing, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). Beef exports dropped well below year-ago levels and recorded the lowest monthly volume in 10 years. Pork exports remained higher than a year ago but were the lowest since October 2019. “As protective measures related to COVID-19 were being implemented, plant disruptions peaked in early May with a corresponding temporary slowdown in exports,” said USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom. “Unfortunately the impact was quite severe, especially on the beef side. Exports also faced some significant economic headwinds, especially in our

COW COUNTRY • AUGUST 2020

Western Hemisphere markets, as stayat-home orders were implemented in key destinations and several trading partners dealt with slumping currencies.” Halstrom noted that the recent rebound in beef and pork production will help exports regain momentum in the second half of 2020. The global economic outlook is challenging, but he looks for export volumes to recover quickly in most markets as U.S. red meat remains an important staple, not only in the United States but for many international consumers as well. “In what has been a remarkably turbulent year, consumer demand for U.S. red meat has proven very resilient,” he said. “Now that production has substantially recovered, the U.S. industry is better able to meet the needs of both domestic

and international customers. While the foodservice and hospitality sectors face enormous challenges, they are on the path to recovery in some markets while retail demand remains strong. Retail sales have also been bolstered by a surge in e-commerce and innovations in home meal replacement, as convenience remains paramount.” May beef exports were down 33% from a year ago to 79,280 metric tons (mt), with value falling 34% to $480.1 million, as shipments were higher than a year ago to Hong Kong and China but trended lower to most other markets. For January through May, beef exports fell 3% below last year’s pace in volume (512,596 mt) and 5% lower in value ($3.14 billion). May pork exports totaled 243,823 mt, 12% above a year ago but down 13% from

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the monthly average for the first quarter of 2020. Export value was $620.9 million, up 9% year-over-year but 16% below the first quarter monthly average. May exports increased year-over-year to China/Hong Kong, Taiwan and Vietnam, but trended lower to Mexico, Japan, Canada and South Korea. For January through May, exports were 30% ahead of last year’s pace in volume (1.35 million mt) and 37% higher in value ($3.53 billion). USMEF’s full January-May summary for U.S. pork, beef and lamb exports, including market-specific highlights, is available online. For questions, please contact Joe Schuele or call 303-547-0030.

3-Day Online Workshop Pasture-Finished Beef NO COST * REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED *

University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment

AUGth

- Cattle Selection and Winter Management - Marketing and Processing

AUGth

- Producer Panel - Putting it all Together

Cooperative Extension Service

Hard copies of materials will be mailed to participants in VA, WV, and KY, and if available to other states. Electronic versions of the materials will be made available to everyone.

This material is based upon work supported by USDA/NIFA under Award Number 2018-70027-28585. 34

For more information and to register, please visit

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AUGth

- Pasture-Finished Beef Production Overview - Forages and Grazing Management

presented by:

7:00 - 9:00 PM ET daily

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PRIVATE TREATY SALES CHECKOFF INVESTMENT FORM State and National Beef Promotion and Research Programs Information is required by 7 CRF 1260.201. Failure to report can result in a fine. Information is held confidential per 7 CRF 1260.203.

TODAY’S DATE

ID NUMBER (IF KNOWN)

SELLER’S NAME

BUYER’S NAME

ADDRESS

CITY

STATE

ZIP

CITY

SELLER’S SIGNATURE

STATE

ZIP

BUYER’S SIGNATURE

Both the seller and the buyer are responsible for making sure that the $1 per head assessment is collected and remitted to the Kentucky Beef Council. DATE OF SALE

STATE OF ORIGIN*

TOTAL NUMBER OF CATTLE SOLD

$1.OO per Head Federal Checkoff

$1.OO per Head State Checkoff

Total Checkoff Payment for Federal and State

PERSON REMITTING FORM

+ =

BUYER

SELLER

PHONE

*If the cattle purchased came from another state within the last 30 days, indicate from which state the cattle were purchased.

Send Report and Remittance to: Kentucky Beef Council 176 Pasadena Drive Lexington, KY 40503 For additional information: call 859-278-0899 or email beef@kycattle.org According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection is 0581-0093. The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

COW COUNTRY • AUGUST 2020

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FEATURE

CORN PLANTED ACREAGE UP 3% FROM 2019 SOYBEAN ACREAGE UP 10% FROM LAST YEAR The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) estimated 92.0 million acres of corn planted in the United States for 2020, up 3% from last year, according to the Acreage report released today. Soybean area planted is estimated at 83.8 million acres, up 10% from last year. Following up to the Prospective Plantings report released in late spring, NASS surveyed nearly 71,000 farm operators during the first two weeks of June to gather information on what farmers actually planted. Key findings released in the Acreage report include: Corn • Growers expect to harvest 84.0 million

acres of corn for grain, up 3% from last year. • 92% of all corn acres planted in the United States are biotech varieties, unchanged from last year. Soybeans • Soybean harvested area for 2020 is estimated at 83.0 million acres, up 11% from 2019. • Producers planted 94% of the soybean acreage using herbicide resistant seed varieties, unchanged from 2019. Cotton • All cotton planted area for 2020 is estimated at 12.2 million acres, 11% below last year.

• Upland cotton is estimated at 12.0 million acres, down 11% from 2019.

of on-farm and off-farm stocks as of June 1. Key findings in that report include:

• American Pima is estimated at 195,000 acres, down 15% from last year.

Grain Stocks

• 96% of Upland cotton planted acres are biotech varieties, down 2 percentage points from 2019. Wheat • All wheat planted area for 2020 is estimated at 44.3 million acres, down 2% from last year. This represents the lowest all wheat planted area on record since records began in 1919. • Winter wheat planted area is estimated at 30.6 million acres, down 2% from 2019. This represents the second lowest winter wheat planted area on record since records began in 1909. • Other spring wheat wheat planted area is estimated at 12.2 million acres, down 4% from 2019. • Durum wheat planted area is estimated at 1.50 million acres, up 12% from last year. This marks the first year of increasing acreage since 2016. NASS today also released the quarterly Grain Stocks report to provide estimates

COW COUNTRY • AUGUST 2020

• Corn stocks totaled 5.22 billion bushels, up less than 1% from the same time last year. On-farm corn stocks were up 3% from a year ago, but off-farm stocks were down 2%. • Soybeans stored totaled 1.39 billion bushels, down 22% from June 1, 2019. On-farm soybean stocks were down 13% from a year ago, while off-farm stocks were down 28%. • All wheat stored totaled 1.04 billion bushels, down 3% from a year ago. On-farm all wheat stocks were up 12% from last year, while off-farm stocks were down 7%. • Durum wheat stored totaled 42.8 million bushels, down 22% from June 1, 2019. On-farm stocks of Durum wheat were down 32% from June 1, 2019. Off-farm stocks of Durum wheat were down from the previous year by 13%. The Acreage and Grain Stocks reports and all other NASS reports are available online at www.nass.usda.gov

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Beef Solutions is LOOKING TO PURCHASE MORE CATTLE in the coming months due to overwhelming demand for local beef!

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COW COUNTRY • AUGUST 2020

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FEATURE

LEASED AGRICULTURAL LAND BRINGS CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES Amy Hays, Adult Education Manager, Caitlin Hebbert, Livestock Consultant The 2017 Census of Agriculture showed a significant rise in the number of leased grazing land acres. Approximately 30% of land used for ranching is leased. Of the rented acreage, most is owned by nonoperator landowners. This is in contrast to the past, when the land available for rent was often held by active operator landowners who were not using the land in their operations at the time. This shift has brought opportunities and challenges. As land prices have skyrocketed during the last 25 years, the cost of acquiring land has been a barrier to new and beginning farmers as well as a significant problem for tenured operators who want to expand their grazing lands. As the amount of rental land has increased, it is important to look ahead and begin to understand how rental lands play a role in production agriculture at a rate previously not seen, particularly for new and beginning operators who may have to rely mostly on rental lands until they have enough capital to afford the high cost of land ownership. This article will concentrate on some of the human dimension factors that are in play with leased lands. Challenges for New and Beginning Ranchers The United States is facing a significant challenge in recruiting and retaining replacement farmers and ranchers. The number of new farmers and ranchers and the generational transfer of land to younger family owners is not keeping up with the number of operators who are retiring from farming and ranching. For more information about this trend, see the article “Generational Flow: Replacing Farmers and Ranchers in the Family Farm” According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the number of replacement farmers has been shrinking since 1985 for various reasons, including loss of returning rural generations, lack of new beginning farmers and ranchers, and early financial failure of new operations. More information is available on the 38

USDA’s website. Building Strong Lessor-Lessee Relationships Rental lands are appealing for starting or expanding operations, but there are challenges that go along with building lessor-lessee relationships. One prominent challenge that may arise is the presence of conflicting goals. If you want to lease land, and continue to do so for years to come, you’ll have to learn to be flexible and to adapt. Be willing to

shape your operation on that property to first and foremost meet the goals of the landowner then prioritize some of your goals. Producers who lease land can often get this backwards. Putting yourself in the shoes of the landowner will go a long ways toward meeting both for both of you. This doesn’t mean sacrificing your goals entirely but rather considering the landowner’s goals first and being willing to shape your operation to benefit the lessee-lessor relationship in both the present and long term.

COW COUNTRY • AUGUST 2020

We have seen some cases where rental costs were lowered as a result of the lessee helping the lessor to meet management goals. For example, a lessee who has a planter handy could set food plots for a lessor with wildlife goals. This would offset what it would have cost for the lessor to hire someone, so they could lower rental costs. It’s also well-known that it’s hard to find a good lessee. If you make yourself a good lessee, it can incentivize lower lease prices just to keep you around.

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COW COUNTRY • AUGUST 2020

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67507_MF_8-37x10-87_KY_July.indd 1

2020-07-10 1:23 PM

FEATURE

LATE FREEZES HURT KENTUCKY WHEAT YIELDS Katie Pratt, University of Kentucky quality. However, the Central Kentucky wheat harvest was further delayed, as nearly daily rains leading up to July 4 kept a mature crop in the field. Lee said rain on a mature crop could hurt Central Kentucky test weights. The delayed wheat harvest also means producers are scrambling to plant double-crop soybeans. “We typically think that when we get into July, we are getting too late to plant double-crop soybeans. I imagine, though, many farmers are going to try to capture something out of this season, after they harvest what mostly looks like disappointing wheat yields in their fields,” Lee said. “Those farmers are hoping that we have a more favorable August and delayed freezes this fall and those soybeans produce a good yield.”

Across the state, yields varied greatly with producers reporting drastic differences in the same field. Photo by Matt Barton, UK agricultural communications Two very late spring freezes slowed harvest and reduced wheat yields across Kentucky, according to grain crop specialists with the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. Much of the state saw freezing temperatures the mornings of April 15 and 16 and again on May 8 and 9. Wheat in Western Kentucky suffered damage from the April event while the Central Kentucky crop was more impacted by the May freeze. Some locations in the state saw damage from both. While uncommon, an April freeze is not unheard of in Kentucky, but the May 8-9 freeze had less than a 10% chance of occurring. “The fact that we were harvesting in early July tells you that we were about seven to 10 days behind pretty much across the 40

entire state,” said Chad Lee, grain crops specialist and director of the UK Grain and Forage Center of Excellence. Carrie Knott, UK grain crops specialist, said Western Kentucky wheat yields averaged 25% below normal. Despite the wheat’s location in the state, yields varied greatly with farmers reporting drastic differences in the same field. On July 10, the National Agricultural Statistics Service reported a statewide average yield of 63 bushels per acre. “The freezes impacted yields more than we anticipated,” Knott said. “In Western Kentucky, yields are all over the place. Parts of fields are averaging 25 bushels per acre while other parts will be more than 100 bushels per acre. Overall yield averages are in the 80 bushel per acre range.”

Fields at the University of Kentucky Research and Education Center reflect the spotty freeze damage with one plot receiving damage while the other was unharmed. Knott’s freeze-damaged plot averaged 78 bushels per acre, while her other plot yielded 108 bushels per acre. Despite normal planting times and growing conditions throughout the winter, much of the state’s crop was about two weeks ahead of schedule when the freezes occurred. “Most of the Western Kentucky wheat that was damaged in April was at heading or beyond in development,” Knott said. “It was quite a shock that the crop was this far along in mid-April.” Despite the yields, test weights generally are good for harvested Kentucky wheat, which means the crop maintained its

COW COUNTRY • AUGUST 2020

Tim Dievert 478 Dry Fork Rd. • Danville, KY 40422 Office:859/236-4591 (C)859/238-3195 • tdievert@dievertsales.com www.dievertsales.com

Catalogs or more information available by contacting Tim Dievert. Ladies Day 2020: September 12, 2020 A high quality offering. Look for detailed ad in the September issue of Cow Country. 57th Annual Fall Sale: November 14, 2020 New for 2020: Selling registered Angus bulls & commercial females Call Tim for consignment information

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COW COUNTRY • AUGUST 2020

• A P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E K E N T U C K Y C AT T L E M E N ’ S A S S O C I AT I O N

CORONAVIRUS FOOD ASSISTANCE CA R E S AC T PROGRAM

FEATURE

Nikki Whitaker, Membership Coordinator

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic direct payments to farmers and ranchers that has roiled the U.S. economy, the to partially offset COVID-19-related Senate passed the Coronavirus Aid, losses for livestock, dairy, specialty crop Are you farmer or rancher whose operationand has non-specialty been Relief, andaEconomic Security (CARES) crop producers. directly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic? The Act.Coronavirus Within the CARES Act, USDA Food Assistance Program provides direct Since May 26, when FSA began taking relief to producers who faced price declines and created a $16 billion Coronavirus Food applications, CFAP payments has additional marketing costs to COVID-19. Assistance Program (CFAP) todue provide provided financial assistance to farmers

HOW TO APPLY

and ranchers nationwide. USDA data reveals that as of the end of June nearly one-third, or $4.85 billion, of the $16 billion in CFAP assistance has been paid to livestock, dairy, crop and specialty crop producers. Of that total, livestock producers have received $2.4 billion, or more than 50% of total payments. Payments to livestock producers are currently the highest in the Midwest and across portions of the Southwest,

where cattle feeding and hog operations are concentrated. Iowa currently leads the nation in livestock payments at $251 million, followed by Nebraska at $202 million, Texas at $185 million, Kansas at $181 million and South Dakota at $179 million.

CORONAVIRUS FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

In Kentucky, FSA offices have had 20,406 applications submitted with 18,604 applications approved. Of the approved applications, 17,769 were for livestock. Total approved CFAP payments in Are you a farmer or rancher operation has equaled been Kentucky for whose all commodities directly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic? The $108,190,000.

HOW TO APPLY

Coronavirus Food Assistance Program provides direct relief to producers who faced price declines and additional marketing costs due to COVID-19.

APPLY $0 -ONLINE $500,000

Producers with an eAuthentication account

now apply for CFAP via COUNTY USDA's CFAP TOTAL CFAPcanPAYMENTS BY Application Portal. Step-by-step instructions are available in the CFAP Application Portal User Guide. Applications are completed, electronically signed, and submitted directly to their local Service Center through this online system. Producers interested in creating an eAuthentication account should visit farmers.gov/sign-in to learn more.

$500,000 - $2,000,000

APPLY ONLINE

$0 - $500,000

>$2,000,000 $500,000 - $2,000,000 >$2,000,000 MANUALLY COMPLETE APPLICATIONS Producers who are interested in filling out the CFAP application manually can download the application form, AD3114, online at farmers.gov. Completed forms can be returned to the FSA office at their local USDA Service Center. Instructions for form AD-3114 and AD-3114 continuation are available for producers to reference when filling out both forms.

FILL APPLICATION WITH PAYMENT CALCULATOR USDA's CFAP Application Generator and Payment Calculator is an Excel workbook that allows producers to input information specific to their operation to determine estimated payments and populate the application form, which they can then print, sign, and submit to the FSA office at their local USDA Service Center.

CORONAVIRUS FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM While most USDA Service Centers are open for business by phone appointment only, FSA is working with producers by phone and using email and online tools to process CFAP applications. Please call the FSA office at your local USDA Service Center to schedule an appointment if you’d like assistance or have questions. Are you a farmer or rancher whose operation has been You can impacted find contact for your local USDA directly by information the coronavirus pandemic? The ServiceFood Center by visiting offices.usda.gov. Coronavirus Assistance Program provides direct relief to producers who faced price declines and additional marketing costs due to COVID-19.

HOW TO APPLY

Visit farmers.gov/CFAP APPLY ONLINE 42

Producers with an eAuthentication account can now apply for CFAP via USDA's CFAP Application Portal. Step-by-step instructions are available in the CFAP Application Portal User Guide. Applications are completed, electronically signed, and submitted directly to their local Service Center through this online system. Producers interested in creating an eAuthentication account should

CORONAVIRUS FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

HOW TO APPLY Are you a farmer or rancher whose operation has been directly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic? The Coronavirus Food Assistance Program provides direct relief to producers who faced price declines and additional marketing costs due to COVID-19.

APPLY ONLINE Producers with an eAuthentication account can now apply for CFAP via USDA's CFAP Application Portal. Step-by-step instructions are available in the CFAP Application Portal User Guide. Applications are completed, electronically signed, and submitted directly to their local Service Center through this online system. Producers interested in creating an eAuthentication account should visit farmers.gov/sign-in to learn more.

MANUALLY COMPLETE APPLICATIONS

MANUALLY COMPLETE APPLICATIONS Producers who are interested in filling out the CFAP application manually can download the application form, AD3114, online at farmers.gov. Completed forms can be returned to the FSA office at their local USDA Service Center. Instructions for form AD-3114 and AD-3114 continuation are available for producers to reference when filling out both forms.

While most USDA Service Centers are open for business by phone appointment only, FSA is working with producers by phone and using email and online tools to process CFAP applications. Please call the FSA office at your local USDA Service Center to schedule an appointment if you’d like assistance or have questions. You can find contact information for your local USDA Service Center by visiting offices.usda.gov.

Producers who are interested in filling out the CFAP application manually can download the application form, AD3114, online at farmers.gov. Completed forms can be returned to the FSA office at their local USDA Service Center. Instructions for form AD-3114 and AD-3114 continuation are available for producers to reference when filling out both forms.

COW COUNTRY • AUGUST 2020

Visit farmers.gov/CFAP

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FILL APPLICATION WITH PAYMENT CALCULATOR

USDA's CFAP Application Generator and

FEATURE

B U R G E R K I N G ’ S “ B R E AT H E T H E FA RT S O F C H A N G E ” N OT PAS S I N G T H E S N I F F T E ST FRANK MITLOEHNER , Ph.D. Professor and Cooperative Extension Specialist Hold the pickle, hold the lettuce, hold the methane? A new communication campaign from Burger King is promising beef that comes from cows that are 33 percent less gassy on average, allowing the international fast-food chain’s consumers to have it their way without guilt. Burger King, which is part of Restaurant Brands International, has been adding lemongrass to cows’ diets in an attempt to cut down on cattle’s methane emissions. Given the greenhouse gas’ role in global warming, it’s a big deal. If nothing else, decreasing methane would buy us time to try and get a handle on carbon dioxide emissions, the No. 1 elephant in the room – and in the atmosphere. According to Burger King, cattle that consume the modified diet produce up to one-third less methane than cows that eat a more traditional diet. “ … We found that by adding 100 grams of dried lemongrass leaves to the cows’ daily feed, we were able to see a reduction of up to 33% on average of methane emissions during the period the diet was fed (the last three-to-four months of the cow’s life in the case of our research),” the website states. It’s a noble pursuit, and such results would definitely be welcome, but has Burger King jumped the gun? For starters, the research hasn’t gone through the rigorous and important step of peer review. In simple terms, that’s when scientific research is written up, COW COUNTRY • AUGUST 2020

checked, and challenged or confirmed by experts in the field. Again, according to Burger King’s website, “Full scientific paper under review by peer reviewed scientific journal. Full research will be made available once published.” Burger King officials have been working partly with my colleague Dr. Ermias Kebreab from the University of California, Davis. He was chosen to head up the U.S. component of the study, announcing publicly on Twitter that his research was inconclusive and so far showed no methane reduction from lemongrass. Evidently the 33 percent result comes from the Mexican arm of the study. Incidentally, that doesn’t mean scientists there are or are not on to something. It simply means it’s too early to say. Burger King isn’t the first to hypothesize that diet could play a role in ruminant animals’ methane emissions. In fact, we’re working with essential oils in my lab, where we’re seeing a resulting methane reduction of 10 percent. Professor Kebreab’s work is likewise encouraging. His lab saw a large methane reduction with a seaweed additive (26 and 67 percent). It would be thrilling to see a 33 percent reduction from lemongrass, but we need to see the work before we jump on the bandwagon and claim victory. Premature results – if flawed – threaten to further confuse consumers and jeopardize other important work taking place in the field. And even if by some stroke of brilliance,

luck or both, lemongrass is our savior, Burger King’s campaign – including its catchy video – is misguided. Cow flatulence might be humorous to humans, but it’s not the problem. Nearly all enteric emissions come from the front end of a cow, in the form of burps. Overall, 60 percent come from belching and 40 percent manure. Not only is it factually inaccurate to suggest otherwise, it’s a bit juvenile. OK, a lot juvenile. That part Burger King seems to get. Its video features the famous yodeling kid

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in Western gear strumming a guitar and singing a scatological song while coming through the rear end of a cow. Others join in. The headline reads: “Breathe the farts of change.” Like so many in our field, I eagerly await more information. In the meantime, we’ll keep enduring poot puns from people who need to know that as funny as farts can be, climate change is no laughing matter. Reprinted from the CLEAR Center

PRESS RELEASE

At the Crazy K

Join us!

Fall Female Opportunity Sale

September 12th

Optum’s Blackbird 0035 19759145 CED +6; BW +2.5; WW +76; YW +139; MILK +24 CW +70; MARB +.91; RE +.60; $M +51; $W +70 $F +115; $G +62; $B +177; $C +281

Blackbird 0035 is a powerful and exciting female to lead-off the Optum Angus consignment to the Crazy K Ranch Fall Production Sale and blends the popular Spruce Mountain Ranch and Alta Genetics sire, No Doubt with the $400,000 valued, Blackbird 7204. The dam of Blackbird 0035 was the half interest selection of Optum Angus as the top-valued female of the 2018 Vintage Angus Sale and is a direct daughter of the $5 million herd sire producing Blackbird 8809 and a full sister to the $730,000 record-selling Rooney Angus Ranch and Vintage Angus sire, Power Play 7018.

Crazy K Rita 5133 18269505 CED +13; BW +.2; WW +63; YW +110; MILK +31 CW +47; MARB +.92; RE +1.16; $M +54; $W +73;$F +90; $G +74; $B +164; $C +267

• The Co-Op’s assets will be liquidated and net proceeds distributed equally among members (those active in any crop year from 2015 through 2019) after payment of administrative costs, and fees and expenses of attorneys. The first distribution should occur before the end of 2020. • The dissolution of the Co-Op will be managed by a six-member dissolution committee –Penny Greathouse, Mitch Haynes and Gregg Craddock who are members of the Co-Op involved in the litigation, and Al Pedigo, Eddie Warren and Donald Mitchell, Co-Op directors.

OPTUM ANGUS 15898 State Route 247 • Seaman, OH 45679 937-205-2996 optumangus@gmail.com

The parties involved in Haynes Properties, LLC, et al v. Burley Tobacco Growers Cooperative Association, Fayette Circuit Court; Case No. 20-CI00332, in which the Plaintiffs, among other claims, sought the dissolution of the Burley Tobacco Growers Cooperative Association, have agreed to a partial settlement of the dissolution claims, pending approval by Fayette Circuit Court, providing for the end and dissolution of the Co-Op. Terms of this partial settlement of the litigation include:

Rita 5133 is a low-birth and carcass female sired by the multi-trait leader, Rampage and produced by a dam in the High Roller Angus program who blends Ten X with a direct daughter of the $3 million producer and CED leader in the Deer Valley Farm program, Objective 2345 by the cornerstone female sire, Consensus 7229. Rita 5133 was selected as a featured bred heifer of the 2017 Crazy K Ranch Sale and has been a valuable member of the elite Optum Angus program and she sells due 1/23/21 to E&B Plus One.

www.optumangus.com

PA RT I A L SETTLEMENT R E AC H E D I N DISPUTE ON FUTURE OF BU R L E Y TO BAC C O G ROW E R S C O O P E RAT I V E AS S O C I AT I O N

Owners: Wes & Claudia Mitchell • Tim & Patty Sandker Andrew & Courtney Mitchell Operations Manager: Dan DeMeyer 937-779-1271 Office Manager: Courtney Mitchell Herdsman: Kyle Thompson

COW COUNTRY • AUGUST 2020

• $1.5 million of the Co-Op’s assets will be designated for the creation of a new agricultural-related non-profit entity whose mission will include: • Serving as liaison for tobacco growers with leaf dealers and tobacco purchasers;

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• Advocating for producers/growers and land-owners in production of tobacco;

Fall Female

• Providing services and support for education and research beneficial to growers of all types of tobacco.

Opportunity Sale September 12, 2020 in Michie, Tennessee

The special meeting of members to vote on dissolution that was postponed because of Coronavirus guidelines and concern for members’ safety will no longer be necessary.

Selling: Fall Bred Cows, Fall Bred Heifers, Fall Pairs, Fall Yearling Heifers, Spring Bred Cows, Spring ET Heifers

Founded in 1921, the Co-Op initially enabled tobacco growers to market their crop directly to manufacturers. The Co-Op also played a critical role in implementing the U.S. Federal Tobacco Price Support Program from 1941 until 2004, when the program was eliminated.

Crazy K Blackcap 6418 18657801

BW +2.8, WW +76, YW +136, Milk +19 CW +65, MARB +1.07, RE +.55, FAT -.019 $M +53, $W +64, $F +110, $G +73, $B +183, $C +290

Representatives of both sides in the litigation agreed the settlement is a win for tobacco and agriculture in general in these challenging times. In addition to members receiving their shares of the Co-Op’s assets, tobacco growers of all varieties, will have an opportunity to create a new, more relevant organization for the future – an entity that will advocate for growers and land-owners, and support education and research beneficial to growers. “There was no perfect solution to this issue, but this settlement was the right solution,” said Co-Op president Al Pedigo. “It’s a healthy compromise and now we need to move on. The Co-Op has a 99-year history of helping growers. But many of us agree it’s time to change directions.” Penny Greathouse, one of the Plaintiff class members, whose family has long history of tobacco production in Central Kentucky and as members of the Coop, stated “this partial settlement was a long and hard process whose time had finally come, and I am thankful for the hard work of our attorneys in seeing this through, as well to the work of the CoOp’s own attorneys; I too look forward to closing this chapter”. In a joint statement, Pedigo and Greathouse said: “Tobacco growers everywhere share many of the same concerns. With this behind us, growers can work on finding shared solutions for those shared concerns. In the long-term, that is the most important part of this settlement.”

COW COUNTRY • AUGUST 2020

Blackcap 6418 comes from the top of the Crazy K Ranch fall calving program and is a direct daughter of the $23,000 anchor of the herd sire producing Blackcap 6E2 family in the Hillhouse Angus and Express Ranches joint embryo programs, Blackcap 2G73 by the $110,000 female sire, Discovery. The dam of Blackcap 6418 is a direct daughter of the $150,000 Blackcap 6E2 and a full sister to the Thomas Angus Ranch and Quaker Hill Farm sire, Firestorm 3PT1 and a maternal sister to the multi-trait leader, Rampage. Black Cap 5K61, a maternal sister to this exciting lead-off female is featured in the Westwind Ranch program and produced the Angus Alliance International sire, Masterlink. Blackcap 6418 sells due 9/29/20 to Sydgen Enhance.

Crazy K Rita 9205 19545804

BW +1.1, WW +74, YW +128, Milk +42 CW +55, MARB +1.10, RE +.85, FAT +.011 $M +88, $W +100, $F +86, $G +76, $B +162, $C +298

Rita 9205 is a sensational multi-trait fall yearling donor prospect sired by the now-deceased Payweight Plus 6048 and was produced by the $137,500 lead-off female of the 2019 Crazy K Ranch Sale selected by Riverbend Ranch, Rita 5021. The dam of Rita 9205 is a direct daughter of the $3 million producer in the Crazy K and Vintage Angus Ranch programs, 1564 sired by the longtime headliner of the 44 Farms and Vintage Angus herd sire rosters, Discovery. Maternal sisters to Rita 9205 include: Rita 6466, the $100,000 top-selling open heifer of the 2018 Crazy K Sale selected by Ingram Angus; and Rita 7328 selling in that same offering to Edisto Pines Farm.

Sale Managed by:

517.546.6374 www.cotton-associates.com

CRAZY K RANCH

Sammy and Sherry Kiser, Owners • 833 North Prather Road • Michie, TN 38357 Charlie Adkins, Manager • Phone 731-439-7350 • crazykranch@hotmail.com

www.crazykranch.com

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MEMBERSHIP

2020 KENTUCKY BEEF I N D U ST RY S U RV E Y Nikki Whitaker Membership Coordinator If there was a common theme in this year’s Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association State of the Industry survey, it was “Covid-19”. Kentucky’s beef producers entered 2020 feeling optimistic that the cattle market was off to a good start and picking up right where 2019 left off. Especially after the extreme disruption of the Tyson beef processing plant fire in Holcomb, KS last fall. However, what we didn’t expect was how the Coronavirus would affect not only the market, but the entire food supply chain. Analyzing the Results The survey was completed in June by over 200 members across the state. Understandably, when asked what the current level of optimism was for producers, 55% said less optimistic. (Figure 1). When looking at why Kentucky’s beef producers would be less optimistic about the short-term future, input costs were substantially greater at 50% than the other choices given, followed by industry consolidation or concentration at 40% (Figure 2). Those who selected “Other” mainly listed Covid-19 as their determining factor. On the flip side, when looking at the factors that contribute to Kentucky’s beef producers feeling more optimistic about the short-term, domestic demand topped the list at nearly 50% (Figure 3). Two years ago, US beef exports soared to record highs and the 2018 KCA State of the Industry showed international demand at the top of the list for reasons to feel optimistic. It’s interesting to see how international demand and domestic demand have switched in the course of two years. 46

When asked about the long-term optimism, or where they thought the Kentucky beef industry would be in five years, producers responded fifteen percent higher when saying they were more optimistic regarding the long term-future than short-term (Figure 4). Like the short-term results, the factors contributing to producers feeling less optimistic about the long-term future followed a similar path with industry consolidation or concentration leading with 47% followed by input costs at 44% (Figure 5). The same goes for factors contributing to Kentucky producers feeling more optimistic about the long-term, with almost the exact same percentage of producers feeling more optimistic about long-term domestic demand (Figure 6). Continuing the international trade outlook, when asked, “How important do you believe international beef trade is to Kentucky cattle prices,” 40% said it was essential and 41% said it was important. Concluding that, if you combine these two answers, 81% of Kentucky beef producers think international trade is important to Kentucky’s beef industry (Figure 7). On a similar note, when asked how beef producers feel about free trade, almost 57% said they feel about the same as last year, while more than 25% are more in favor of free trade (Figure 8). Other Responses This year, KCA has explored risk management tools for cow-calf producers. In a study into the economic damages to the US beef cattle industry due to Covid 19, Dr. Darrell Peel with Oklahoma State University stated “that cow-calf operators have far fewer risk management tools at their disposal compared to other beef cattle sectors”. For this reason, this year we asked on the Kentucky Beef Industry Survey, “Which, if any, of these risk management tools did you use in your operation last year”. Not surprisingly, 81% of producers in KY answered that they use no risk management tools on their farm (Figure 9). When asked if any plan to incorporate risk management tools for next year, only a small amount who said they used no risk management tools in 2020 responded that they will include risk management tools into their business plan next year (Figure 10). Another topic that KCA has focus on is

FIG 1: Compared to last year, what is your current level of optimism regarding the “short-term future” - within the next two years of the Kentucky beef industry? MORE OPTIMISTIC

16.42% LESS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE SAME

10%

20%

55.22%

28.36% 30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

FIG 2: What factors are the main contributors to your being LESS optimistic concerning the short term? INPUT COSTS INDUSTRY CONSOLIDATION OR CONCENTRATION MARKET ACCESS GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS & OVERSIGHT

50.75%

40.80%

29.85%

25.37%

CONSUMER DEMAND

21.39%

OTHER

21.39%

8.46% CREDIT AVAILABILITY/EQUITY REQUIREMENTS 6.47% AVAILABILITY OF FEED AND FORAGE 10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

FIG 3: What factors are the main contributors to your being MORE optimistic concerning the short term? DOMESTIC DEMAND SUPPLY AND DEMAND FUNDAMENTALS INTERNATIONAL DEMAND

46.77%

38.31%

25.37%

25.37% AVAILABLE FEED AND FORAGE 11.94% OTHER

8.46% LESS VOLATILITY IN INPUT COSTS 6.97% CREDIT AVAILABILITY/EQUITY REQUIREMENTS 10%

COW COUNTRY • AUGUST 2020

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

• A P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E K E N T U C K Y C AT T L E M E N ’ S A S S O C I AT I O N

FIG 4: Compared to last year, what is your current level of optimism regarding the “long-term future” - five years and beyond - of the Kentucky beef industry? MORE OPTIMISTIC LESS OPTIMISTIC

FIG 6: What factors are the main contributors to your being MORE optimistic concerning the long term?

24.88%

20%

30%

DOMESTIC DEMAND

43.28%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

INDUSTRY CONSOLIDATION OR CONCENTRATION INPUT COSTS GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS AND OVERSIGHT

CONSUMER DEMAND OTHER

SUPPLY AND DEMAND FUNDAMENTALS

90%

FIG 5: What factors are the main contributors to your being LESS optimistic concerning the long term?

MARKET ACCESS

INTERNATIONAL DEMAND OTHER

46.77%

45.27%

38.31%

36.82%

12.94%

11.94% AVAILABLE FEED AND FORAGE

44.28%

5.47% LESS VOLATILITY IN INPUT COSTS

34.33%

4.98% CREDIT AVAILABILITY/EQUITY REQUIREMENTS

23.88%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

19.90%

FIG 7: How important do you believe international beef trade is to Kentucky cattle prices?

12.94%

10.95% CREDIT AVAILABILITY/EQUITY REQUIREMENTS 6.97% AVAILABILITY OF FEED AND FORAGE 10%

year’s survey. Let’s hope the short-term optimism is back and 2020 is in the history books.

31.84%

ABOUT THE SAME 10%

to incorporate new management practices that will advance the future of the industry. It will be very interesting to see how producers respond to next

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

animal traceability. The conversation surrounding a national animal identification system has circulated for years and KCA has been a part of several pilot projects to get it off the ground. However, there has been very little movement forward.

13). How and when a traceability system is launched is not in our crystal ball, but one producer summed it up by saying, “Traceability is a slippery slope. Good for biosecurity and animal health, bad for those that think government is already too involved.”

We asked Kentucky cattle producers if they were in favor of a national traceability system that could track the location of animals throughout their lives and why or why not. Two thirds of those responding say they are in favor of a national animal identification system listing disease containment and traceback as their number one reason for establishing it (Figure 11 & 12). On the flip side, the 33% of those who do not support nationwide animal traceability state uncertainty on who pays for the program as their main concern (Figure

To round out this year’s survey, we wanted to hear from producers on how Covid-19 has changed their plans for the future. We expected the largest percentage to stay the same, which was correct (Figure 14), but we were surprised to hear that almost 30% of respondents plan to expand by 1% - 10% in the next year. (Figure 14)

COW COUNTRY • AUGUST 2020

While Covid-19 and its effects has most definitely shook the cattle world, it’s nice to see with this survey that Kentucky’s cattle producers largely remain positive for the long-term outlook and willing

IMPORTANT

41.79%

ESSENTIAL

40.80%

12.94% SOMEWHAT IMPORTANT 4.48% NOT IMPORTANT AT ALL 10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

FIG 8: Has your viewpoint regarding free trade (global or international) changed in the past year? I AM MORE IN FAVOR OF FREE TRADE

25.37%

16.42% I AM LESS IN FAVOR OF FREE TRADE

ABOUT THE SAME 1.49% DO NOT CARE 10%

20%

• A P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E K E N T U C K Y C AT T L E M E N ’ S A S S O C I AT I O N

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

CONTINUED ON PAGE 49

At the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association, we are powered by people. Since 1973, the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association has served as a resource for information and education for producers, consumers, and the industry. Our membership is growing and we need you to help us stay strong.

Join or renew your KCA membership today!

(859) 278-0899 48

COW COUNTRY • AUGUST 2020

• A P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E K E N T U C K Y C AT T L E M E N ’ S A S S O C I AT I O N

FIG 12: Why do you support development of a lifetime national animal identification and traceability system?

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 47

FIG 9: Which, if any, of these risk management tools did you use in your operation last year?

25.37% DISEASE CONTAINMENT AND TRACEBACK

16.42% GIVES U.S. BEEF THE ABILITY TO ENTER MORE FOREIGN MARKETS

1.49% OTHER

13.93% CONSUMER TRANSPARENCY

3.98% LIVESTOCK RISK PROTECTION

11.94% ADDS VALUE TO MY CALVES

4.48% FORWARD-CONTRACTING OF CALVES

8.46% FORWARD-CONTRACTING OF CALVES

4.48% FORWARD-CONTRACTING OF INPUTS 4.48% OTHER

6.47% FUTURES 3.48% THWART CATTLE THEFT/SPEED RECOVERY OF STOLEN ANIMALS

6.97% OPTIONS 10%

NONE OF THESE

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

81.09%

FIG 13: Why don’t you support development of a lifetime national animal identification and traceability system? 10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90% 23.38% WHO PAYS FOR THIS?

FIG 10: Which, if any, of these risk management tools do you plan to use in 2020-2021? 2.99% OTHER

6.97% OTHER 5.47% LACK OF DATA CONFIDENTIALITY

6.97% FORWARD-CONTRACTING OF INPUTS

4.98% POTENTIAL LIABILITY FROM FUTURE BUYERS

7.46% OPTIONS

4.48% WHO I SELL MY CATTLE TO IS NOBODY’S BUSINESS

7.96% LIVESTOCK RISK PROTECTION

2.49% BRANDS AND TAGS ARE GOOD ENOUGH

8.46% FORWARD-CONTRACTING OF CALVES

2.49% TECHNOLOGY DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY

8.46% FUTURES

10%

NONE OF THESE

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

FIG 14: What are your plans for herd size management in 2020-2021?

69.15%

10.45% REDUCE BY MORE THAN 10%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90% 8.46% REDUCE BY 1%-10%

FIG 11: Are you in favor of a national animal identification and traceability system that could track the location of animals throughout their lives? YES

10%

20%

33.33%

30%

40%

COW COUNTRY • AUGUST 2020

66.67%

STAY THE SAME EXPAND BY 1%-10%

41.29%

9.95% EXPAND BY MORE THAN 10%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

10%

20%

• A P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E K E N T U C K Y C AT T L E M E N ’ S A S S O C I AT I O N

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

MEMBERSHIP DIVISION 3 (UP TO 75 MEMBERS)

MEMBERS CAN ENJOY DISCOUNTS WITH

DIVISION 2 (76-150 MEMBERS)

2019

2020

Difference

Metcalfe

142

136

361

-25

Franklin

134

128

410

-75

Daviess

133

136

-3

2019

2020

Difference

Barren

524

496

Shelby

336

Breckinridge

335

2018

Difference

Webster

Muhlenberg

7 26

Mountain

JOIN OR RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP TODAY!

DIVISION 1 (151+ MEMBERS)

2019

Twin Lakes

Grant

-4

Taylor

-7

Union

Pendleton

Nelson

Out of State

-7

Rockcastle

Woodford

Mason

Oldham

Robertson

Whitley

Lewis

Ohio

-10

Todd

-12

Hancock

-6

Montgomery

Adair

315

317

-2

Pulaski

132

101

Bath

302

277

Scott

114

105

Marion

295

302

-7

Trimble

114

108

Simpson

Grayson

279

250

Anderson

112

Wayne

Madison

270

265

Garrard

106

Knox

-22

Lincoln

238

249

-11

Fleming

122

-23

Carroll

Hart

228

263

-35

Caldwell/Lyon

117

-19

Estill

-9

Christian

224

178

Edmonson

-1

Highlands

-5

112

-20

McCreary

Nicholas

-4

Clark

221

251

-30

Jackson

Logan

213

248

-35

Louisville Area

Jessamine

202

215

-13

Boyle

-4

Butler

Washington

201

193

Trigg

104

-14

Clay

-2

Casey

194

187

Northeast Area

113

-25

Calloway

Hardin

187

195

-8

Fayette

Hopkins

-2

Livingston

Bullitt

-12

McLean

-6

Crittenden

-3

Menifee

Henderson

Bracken

179

193

-14

Bourbon

Meade

172

193

-21

Russell

-1

Warren

164

168

-4

Owen

-18

Larue

162

172

-10

Purchase Area

-3

Harrison

160

152

Campbell

-4

Northern Kentucky

159

153

Clinton-Cumberland

-10

Green

158

151

Bourbon

-10

Laurel

156

149

Mountain

-6

Mercer

154

165

-11

Henry

148

157

-9

Monroe

148

157

-9

Allen

144

132

2020

Totals as of: July 15, 2020

10,693

2019

10,775

Difference

-82

If you need anything for membership, please contact Nikki Whitaker at (859) 278-0899 or nwhitaker@kycattle.org 50

COW COUNTRY • AUGUST 2020

Gallatin

Magoffin

-2

Powell

River Hills

Eastern Foothills

Bell

Pike

-2

Harlan

• A P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E K E N T U C K Y C AT T L E M E N ’ S A S S O C I AT I O N

2020-21 MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION * MEMBERSHIP YEAR 10/1/20– 9/30/21

NAME

SPOUSE NAME

FARM NAME

ADDRESS

CITY

STATE

COUNTY

RECRUITED BY

PHONE

FAX

ZIP

*Payments of KCA membership dues are tax deductible for most members as an ordinary and necessary business expense. However, charitable contributions of gifts to KCA are not tax deductible for Federal Income Tax purposes. Due to new IRS regulations, $2.24 of your dues would not be deductible. Approximately $12 of your dues will go towards the monthly publication Cow Country News. PLEASE CHECK THE MEMBERSHIP(S) YOU WOULD LIKE TO JOIN: KCA MEMBERSHIP ($30/YR) Membership dues are $30 unless otherwise listed below

NEW

RENEWAL

NEW

RENEWAL

KCA COUPLE MEMBERSHIP To add your spouse, please add $15 to your KCA Membership KENTUCKY JUNIOR CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION ($10/YR)

I WOULD LIKE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THE YOUNG PRODUCER’S COUNCIL TOTAL MEMBERSHIP: KCA

KJCA

TOTAL CONTRIBUTIONS: CATTLEMEN’S FOUNDATION DONATION (voluntary)

TOTAL AMOUNT ENCLOSED: ALL DONATIONS TO KCF ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE

COW COUNTRY • AUGUST 2020

Allen ................................$40 Anderson ........................$25 Bourbon ..........................$20 Boyle ...............................$35 Bullitt ...............................$20 Butler ..............................$25 Franklin ...........................$25 Highlands .......................$20 (Boyd, Floyd, Johnson, Lawrence, & Martin)

Hopkins ...........................$35 Laurel ..............................$35 Lewis ..............................$35 Lincoln ............................$25 Louisville Area ................$20 (Jefferson, & Spencer) McCreary ........................$25 Magoffin ..........................$20 Menifee ...........................$25

Mountain........................$25 (Breathitt, Knott, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Morgan, Owsley, Perry & Wolfe) Oldham ...........................$35 Taylor ..............................$20 Twin Lakes ......................$20 Warren ............................$40 Wayne .............................$25 Whitley ............................$25 Woodford ........................$25

IF YOU WOULD ALSO LIKE TO JOIN THE NATIONAL CATTLEMEN’S BEEF ASSOCIATION The NCBA is now a State Marketing Partner with the KCA. You can pay your dues to both organizations with one check, at the same time. # HEAD 1-100

COUNTY DUES Dues are $30 except for the counties listed below.

DUES $150

# HEAD 1,001-1,250

DUES $1,150

101-250

$300

1,251-1,500

$1,400

251-500

$450

1,501-1,750

$1,650

501-750

$650

1,751-2,000

$1,900

751-1000

$650

> 2,000

$1,900 + .38/HD

Complete and return to: Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association 176 Pasadena Drive • Suite 4 • Lexington, KY 40503 For faster service, join online at www.kycattle.org

• A P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E K E N T U C K Y C AT T L E M E N ’ S A S S O C I AT I O N

KENTUCKY BEEF COUNCIL NIKI ELLIS KBC Director of Education

For the last 5 years, the second Wednesday in August has been me packing 2 weeks of luggage and moving to Louisville for the next 12 days for the KY State Fair. These 12 days are normally full of handshakes, squeezing into the one available seat at dining tables, sharing a deep fried treat with a friend, scoring livestock judging reasons and traveling all over the fairgrounds to the many events we participate in. I love those 10 days of the fair. This year I was so afraid it wasn’t going to happen at all. I watched so many of our out-of-state friends post to social media the news of their fair cancelations, then our own county fair postponed. I thought for sure that the KY State Fair would follow suit and I’ve never been so happy to be wrong. The KY State Fair Board and KY Venues staff created a plan that found a way to make the KY State Fair one of the very few that will happen this year. The KY State Fair is happening but with a number of modifications to ensure fairgoers have the healthiest experience possible. Below are the KY State Fair Covid-19 Plan Highlights (more can be found at www.kystatefair.org/covid-19-plan/ WIDER AISLE WAYS The inside of the facility will be closed to the general public and only accessible to livestock and horse show exhibitors, judges and related staff. Aisle ways inside the facility and at the concert series will be widened and some identified as one-way aisles. REDUCED OCCUPANCY Certain areas will be closed and maximum occupancy of indoor spaces will be reduced by up to 82% to offer sufficient space for social distancing practices. INCREASED HYGIENE ACCESSIBILITY Hand sanitizer and handwashing stations will be available throughout the property.

REDUCED HOURS OF OPERATION Hours of operation will be reduced to ensure staff and vendors time to thoroughly clean and sanitize in preparation for the next day. REQUIRED MASKS & GLOVES Masks will be required for all staff, vendors, judges and livestock participants. Gloves will be worn by staff accepting physical payment for goods. Visitors are suggested to wear masks. INCREASED OUTDOOR AREAS Outdoor areas will be reprogrammed to accommodate events that are normally inside the facility. The question is where will beef be during the fair? The beef education exhibit that is normally housed in South Wing A will now be located outside South Wing B in the parking lot along with the agricultural groups who are a part of AgLand. The footprint will be a bit smaller but still as interactive. There will be no Gourmet Garden stage this year and no Backyard Burger contest. The infamous KY Cattlemen’s Association food booths will still be available as well, though we aren’t sure the exact locations just yet. Beef cattle will still be exhibited however there will only be the youth show this year. The barn will also be closed to the public, only exhibitors and their designated chaperones will be permitted inside. If you want to watch the show it will be livestreamed. This year there will be no handshakes, more spread out dining tables, no livestock judging reasons to score and our location on the fairgrounds will be stationary. The important thing to remember is that we are one of the VERY few states that found a way to have a state fair. KY was able to give its families a piece of normalcy during a year of uncertainty. For more information on the 2020 Kentucky State Fair visit www.kystatefair.org

COW COUNTRY • AUGUST 2020

• A P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E K E N T U C K Y C AT T L E M E N ’ S A S S O C I AT I O N

KENTUCKY BEEF COUNCIL

M E E T W YAT T BANKS KBC INTERN I often hear that for my age, I act much older in terms of my mindset and how I view the world. But as I stepped into the position as summer intern for KCA and KBC, I turned what many sometimes see as my curse, into one of the greatest assets in this experience. From the start I have been chasing after my purpose in the office. From learning about new technology, to traveling across the state to places I have never been to before, KCA and KBC have forced me into situations where I had to adapt. I hosted a virtual show and created a grand drive video, splicing entries together with no prior technology experience (like I said not your average 20- year old here). I never thought I could design an ad that wouldn’t be juvenile and silly looking. Never thought I would have the chance to see what it looks like behind the scenes of a video shoot for beef promotion. But I did. I did with tenacity and willingness to be better, learn more, and develop into a stronger voice for the cattle industry. But that’s enough about me. To the Ladies and Gentlemen of the cattle industry, I want to really take this moment to thank YOU. From Riley Livestock in Western Kentucky and everyone who worked there, to the two gentlemen at the Richmond stockyards, to the little kitchen table in Paris where so many good discussions have taken place with my grandfather, who gave me a glimpse at an opportunity to serve something greater than myself, I thank COW COUNTRY • AUGUST 2020

you. Because of you my internship has been fruitful, allowing me to have a greater appreciation for each and every person in the beef supply chain. I witnessed a well-oiled machine tirelessly at work at Hampton Meats, as they punched through another 65 plus hour week. I saw the hunger in cattle producers, feeders, and breeder’s eyes to keep serving the consumer. From visiting the WKYT news station to film recipes on the first day, to preparing Derby Burgers, and sending out beef education materials full of awesome teaching tools to spread a positive and factual message about the beef industry and beef’s health benefits, my time at KCA and KBC has been enriched with opportunities to share OUR story. I witnessed eager youth jump at the opportunity to finally exhibit their cattle projects for the first time all summer, with the hope of more shows to come. But most of all, I saw the unity of a people that, while shook, had taken the notion to dig in deeper, put their heels in the dirt, and press on just like before. Because of you I have been able to prove to others even more that it’s the grit and sincerity in each of your hearts that carried on the legacy of a more than essential industry. So, thank you for your support, and whenever you start to ponder where your funds go, remember this article, then patiently wait for the day that I have the opportunity give back to you all…I promise I won’t disappoint.

OLD SOUTH BURGERS WITH PEACH COMPOTE Looking for a fresh new way to serve burgers? This burger recipe layers on a flavorful peach compote that’s sure to please. INGREDIENTS 1 pound Ground Beef (93% lean or leaner) • 1 cup diced peaches, fresh or frozen • 1 cup diced sweet onion • 1 cup Budweiser beer • 1/4 cup packed brown sugar • 2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary • 1/4 cup goat cheese • 4 pre-baked biscuits, split PREPARATION 1. To prepare peach compote, heat large skillet over medium heat until hot. Add peaches and onion; cook and stir until lightly browned about 5 minutes. Add beer, brown sugar and rosemary; bring to a boil. Cook until peaches and onion are soft and liquid is almost gone, 13 to 15 minutes; keep warm. 2. Lightly shape ground beef into four 1/2-inch patties. Place patties on grid over medium, ash-covered coals. Grill, covered, 8 to 10 minutes (over medium heat on preheated gas grill, covered, 7 to 9 minutes) until instant-read thermometer inserted horizontally into center registers 160°F, turning occasionally. Cook’s Tip: Cooking times are for fresh or thoroughly thawed ground beef. Color is not a reliable indicator of ground beef doneness. 3. Evenly spread goat cheese on bottom half of each biscuit; top with burgers. Evenly spoon peach compote over burgers. Close sandwiches.

• A P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E K E N T U C K Y C AT T L E M E N ’ S A S S O C I AT I O N

KENTUCKY BEEF NETWORK

E D EN SH A L E FA R M PRACT IC ES SPOT T E D I N P EN N SYLVAN I A MACKENZIE MILLER Office Manager

From time to time, producers will send in pictures of the practices they’ve implemented on their farm, that are used at Eden Shale. We always enjoy receiving these and seeing how the producers alter those practices to better fit their farm and operation. The most common pictures we receive are of fenceline feeders and tire waterers, but recently a producer out of Pennsylvania, Mr. Ryan Wells, sent us pictures of his structure, that is similar to our large bale feeder. The large bale feeder has been the most watched video on our Facebook page, with over 377,500 people reached and over 1,491 video shares. We released the designs and materials to the large bale feeder in August 2019 and since then, producers from over 30 states have downloaded the design files. After receiving Mr. Wells pictures, we thought it would be a good opportunity to ask a few questions on how he implemented his structure. Mr. Wells was gracious enough to answer questions about his feeding structure and on how he adapted it from the Eden Shale designs. Name: Ryan Wells Location: Fredonia, Pennsylvania Herd Size: 30 Class of Cattle: Cows Q: How did you first hear about Eden Shale Farm? A: YouTube Q: What project did you implement on your farm and why? A: The large bale feeder because Northwest Pennsylvania winters are snowy and muddy. The previous feeding method as driving a tractor into a field, making ruts or manually unrolling bales

and feeding them out of the back of the barn. Both methods wasted a lot of hay. Q: Is this the first project you have implemented from Eden Shale Farm? A: Yes Q: Is there anything you changed when implementing this practice? (i.e., layout, design, size, any additions, etc.) A: I made the building a bit longer and made symmetric trolley spacing for the wheels on both sides. The barn dimensions are 22’ x 56’. The barn cost $23,000, with $3,400 being spent on custom welding. Q: If you have used this practice, what do you like the most? What would you change? A: In the future, I would consider a layout where I load the hay from the middle and feed two separate groups of cattle from each end. I would possibly just use gravel for the base. Q: What would you recommend for other producers that wish to implement this practice? A: I have not actually fed cattle yet. I just built it and filled it with hay this summer, but it seems like a no brainer! Q: Would you recommend Eden Shale Farm resources to others? If so, why? Yes, because Eden Shale was very open about sharing resources and had quick responses to questions. Have you implemented an Eden Shale Farm practice on your farm? We’d love to see! Send pictures and information to kbn@kycattle.org. COW COUNTRY • AUGUST 2020

• A P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E K E N T U C K Y C AT T L E M E N ’ S A S S O C I AT I O N

KENTUCKY BEEF NETWORK

E DEN SHAL E FARM U P DATE DAN MILLER KBN Industry Coordinator

It has reached the time of year that I am tired of being hot. You walk out the door first thing and the muggy Kentucky mornings don’t even offer any relief. I routinely take an extra shirt with me to the farm so I at least have a dry one to drive home in. But it is Kentucky and it gets hot every summer, so we live with it and farm on. Right after the 4th of July we made our second cutting of alfalfa. After the first cutting we put some nitrogen down and with the continued moisture this summer it grew back good. It produced 49 more bales pushing our total in the hoop barn to 368 bales. Typically if we can get 400 bales in the barn we have enough to get through the winter given somewhat “normal” conditions.

At the end of first cutting we were able to put hay into the new Barn Alley Feeder that Dr. Higgins designed and installed this past year. This feeder is built in the center alley of an old tobacco barn. It borrows the same self feeding concept as the Large Bale Feeder but is done so utilizing existing infrastructure. The custom sized wood feeder is hung from barn door track on each side and slides back as the cattle eat the hay. This feeding structure also serves as a hay storage facility as we were able to bale the hay and put it directly from the field into the feeder. This barn alley feeder will hold 30 5x5 round rolls of hay, and will serve as a storage facility until the first of the year when the cows will be allowed access to

the hay. The 30 rolls of hay should be all we need in this location which means the tractor doesn’t have to come refill the structure until we bale more hay next season. Utilizing this structure we have gained additional storage capacity and increased our efficiency of time as we have eliminated the need to haul the hay to the hoop barn and then back to the cattle to feed it. The hay is stored in the same location as it is consumed. I am excited to feed with this new facility this winter. On July 8th we worked all of our spring calves for the first time. They got vaccinated for respiratory/pasteurella, blackleg/somnus, and pinkeye (cultured

from a local strain). They were also dewormed and fly tagged. We also castrated (knife cut) and implanted the bull calves. And lastly, all the calves got a high frequency EID tag. This is part of a retention study we are doing to see how well this visual/EID tag stays in their ear. Yes, it was hot that day to work cattle. But we started early and turned the pairs back out to shade and water before the heat of the day. And I guarantee you that I wore that extra dry shirt on the way home! Stay cool out there and don’t forget to follow along on our blog at www. edenshalefarm.com.

K E N T U CK Y B E E F N E T W O R K F ACI L I T AT O R S

Ben Lloyd

Whitesville, KY (270) 993-1074 strridge@aol.com COW COUNTRY • AUGUST 2020

Charles Embry

Cave City, KY (270) 646-5939 dale.embry@yahoo.com

Jacob Settles

Springfield, KY (859) 805-0724 jacob.settles4@yahoo.com

• A P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E K E N T U C K Y C AT T L E M E N ’ S A S S O C I AT I O N

Ron Shrout

Winchester, KY (606) 205-6143 ronshrout@bellsouth.net

Jeff Stephens

Ewing, KY (606) 782-7640 stephensbeef@gmail.com 55

aning Value Added Program KENTUCKY BEEF NETWORK

POST WEANING VALUE ADDED PROGRAM

ng Value Added Program (PVAP) encourages cow-calf

ownership and capture added value for their investment The Post Weaning Value Added Program (PVAP) encourages ics and BQCA certification through diversified marketing cow-calf producers to retain ownership and capture added value strategies. Two optionsinare for their investment beefoffered: cattle genetics and BQCA certification through diversified marketing strategies. Two options are offered:

N 1: ON - PVAP

and sold in Iowa

• Ownership retained post

• Ownership retained through

For home raised calves weaned on the farm feedlot phase and sold in Iowa weaning, preconditioned and d calves retained using CPH-45 protocol, then enrolled in the days prior tosold in Kentucky • For home raised calves weaned Tri-County Steer Carcass Futurity

on the farm using CPH-45 Cooperative in Lewis, IA then enrolled in the protocol, ve never weaned retained on the farm for 45-120 Only producers who have never Tri-County Steerretained Carcass Futurity daysare prior to marketing ves on the farm in Lewis, IA ownership throughCooperative a commercial feedlot • For home raised weaned calves

payment

• Only producers who have are never eligible

• Only producers who have never weaned and preconditioned retained ownership through a Up to $750 incentive payment calves on the farm are eligible commercial feedlot are eligible

• Up to $1,000 incentive payment

• Up to $750 incentive payment

am? Contact your local County Extension Agent or KBN Facilitator for more info!

Interested in the PVAP program? Contact your local County Extension Agent or KBN Facilitator for more info!

BECKY THOMPSON

OPTION 2: FEEDLOT - PVAP OPTION 2:

OPTION 1: Ownership retained through feedlot phase FEEDLOT - PVAP st weaning, PRECONDITION - PVAP

d in KY

WHAT’S HAPPENING AT KENTUCKY BEEF NETWORK THIS MONTH? KBN Director

Post Weaning Value Assessment Programs (PVAP): PVAP encourages cow-calf producers to retain ownership and capture added value for their investment in beef cattle genetics and BQCA certification through diversified marketing strategies. Beef Quality & Care Assurance Online The Kentucky Beef Network and University of Kentucky merged their Cattle Handling and Care Program with the National BQA program to create a new program, aptly named the Beef Quality and Care Assurance (BQCA) program. This program was implemented to raise awareness of practices that insure the proper handling and welfare of cattle while keeping farmers safe and continuing to supply healthy beef to consumers. In turn, this program enables beef and dairy producers to enhance their product, maximize marketability and strengthen consumer confidence. Starting June 1, 2020, the Kentucky Beef Quality and Care Assurance (BQCA) Certification is now available online. Producers can access the online BQCA program by visiting kybeefnetwork.com or http:// afs.ca.uky.edu/beef/irm and clicking on “Beef Quality & Care Assurance”. The Beef Quality & Care Assurance certifica-

COW COUNTRY • AUGUST 2020

tion costs $5 and can be paid online prior to the accessing the course. Eden Shale Videos When the Kentucky Beef Network assumed management responsibilities in 2013 for the University of Kentucky’s Eden Shale Farm in Owen County Kentucky, we transitioned it away from an intensive research farm into a Learning Center & Demonstration Farm for cattlemen. Make sure you check out our online blog for a page full of producer resources and our Youtube Channel for videos showing some of the practices we have put in place at Eden Shale. Make sure you look for our most recent videos on our Barn Alley Feeder and our great partner Genetics Plus! Get Social Are you engaging with us online? We offer several resources online for your use: Kentucky Beef Network www.kybeefnetwork.com Eden Shale Farm www.edenshalefarm. com Certified Preconditioned for Health www.cph45.com University of Kentucky Forages http:// forages.ca.uky.edu/ University of Kentucky Extension Publications http://www2.ca.uky.edu/agcomm/pubs.asp

• A P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E K E N T U C K Y C AT T L E M E N ’ S A S S O C I AT I O N

LIMOUSIN

Breeders of the Bluegrass

B.F. Evans Cattle Company Byron Evans

P.O. Box 1509 599 Ray Allen Lane Versailles, KY 40383 Byron 859-509-8046 Rose Ann 270-543-1960 bfevanscattlecompany@gmail.com byron.evans59@yahoo.com byron.evans59@yahoo.co m

Fullblood & Purebred Embryos & Semen Stephen: 270-799-8685 760 Emily Court Bowling Green, KY 42101

achhlimousin@twc.com Facebook: ACHH Limousin

CUMMINS POLLED LIMOUSIN David & Donald P. Cummins 4312 Willow-Lenoxburg Rd. Foster, KY 41043 David: 606-747-5886 (C) 606.782.7003 Email: cumminsd@windstream.net

IN ET T

GS LAND & C AT T Daniel Gettings

Elbow Bend & Center Point Rd. Tompkinsville, KY 42167

(270) 487-9454 or (270) 202-7755 “Registered Limousin - LimFlex - Angus Genetics”

LBB Buck’s Limousin Farm

“The Best Kept Secret in Eastern Kentucky” John Buck: (606) 474-7451 • (606) 922-8174 2494 South St. Hwy. 7, Grayson, KY. 41143 johnbuck474@windstream.net “cattle for sale - private treaty”

Tom & Chris Daniel 5171 Camargo-Levee Rd. • Mt. Sterling, KY 40353 859-498-0030 859-585-1785 859-585-8388 “Your source of purebred homopolled/homoblack.”

Greg Blaydes 859-338-9402 James Hicks 859-227-0490

1225 E. Leestown Rd. Midway, KY 40347

Ri c c i R o l a nD Ricci & Brenda Roland 423 Lebus Lane Cynthiana, KY 41031 859-234-3986 • 859-234-7344 rolandlimousin@earthlink.net

Allen & Jon Anderson 260 Henderson Rd. Eubank, KY 42567 Allen: 606-872-8072 Jon: 606-305-8859

“Quality Limousin + LimFlex Cattle!”

COW COUNTRY • AUGUST 2020

WHITE LIMOUSIN & WHITE ANGUS

Donald & Mary Ann Wenzel

994 Airport Road • Falmouth, KY 41040 TOMORROW’S REGISTERED WHITE ANGUS TODAY!

LL RO

(859) 654-3612 • (859) 322-0752 maryawenz@aol.com

ING OAKS FARM

Terry W. McPhetridge 606-843-6903 Cell: 606-524-9241

1645 Winding Blade Rd. East Bernstadt, KY 40729

• A P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E K E N T U C K Y C AT T L E M E N ’ S A S S O C I AT I O N

Bob Minerich, 859-582-6888 2003 Barnes Mill Rd. Richmond, KY 40475 minegwen@aol.com “Cattle for sale private treaty”

Triple K Limousin Paul & Brad Kidd

8254 HWY 711 West Liberty, KY 41472 606-743-7349 606-738-9493 606-495-6396

COW COUNTRY • AUGUST 2020

• A P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E K E N T U C K Y C AT T L E M E N ’ S A S S O C I AT I O N

FLEECE VEST (BLACK)

HOODIE (GREY)

A P PA R E L

MENS LADIES $27

$27

$29

$31

WINDBREAKER (NAVY BLUE)

1/4 ZIP PULLOVER (BLACK)

QTY $25

$25

$27

$28

TOTAL

$25

$27

$28

$27

$29

$31

ADULT $27

$27

$29

$31

IF PAYING BY CREDIT CARD

DELIVERY INFORMATION

APPAREL TOTAL

KJCA PULLOVER (NAVY BLUE)

QTY $25

S QTY

NAME

Visa

NAME ON CARD

MasterCard Discover American Express

+ SHIPPING & HANDLING

ADDRESS

CREDIT CARD NO.

CITY

EXPIRATION DATE

$7.00 = TOTAL ENCLOSED

Cash

STATE

ZIP

PHONE

CVC

SIGNATURE

Check Credit Card

Mail PAYMENT and COMPLETED FORM to: Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association • 176 Pasadena Drive • Lexington, Kentucky 40503 Or Fax: (859) 260-2060 Please allow 2 to 3 weeks for delivery. NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE! Visit http://bit.ly/KCAstore (case sensitive) to order and pay online!

COW COUNTRY • AUGUST 2020

• A P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E K E N T U C K Y C AT T L E M E N ’ S A S S O C I AT I O N

COW COUNTRY • AUGUST 2020

• A P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E K E N T U C K Y C AT T L E M E N ’ S A S S O C I AT I O N

Kentucky Hereford Association KHA Invites any Hereford Breeder to Become a Member! Dues are $25. Send to 2396 Union City Rd. Richmond, KY 40475 Join the Kentucky Hereford Association today! Call Earlene Thomas for more information. Wells Farm

KHA Officers

President: Tim Wolf Secretary/ Treasurer: Earlene Thomas 859-623-5734 thomasep@roadrunner.com

-HEREFORDS -

Codee Guffey • 1815 Grassy Springs Road Versailles, Kentucky 40383 Phone: 502-598-6355 Email: rockridgeherefords@gmail.com www.rockridgeherefords.com

www.dogwoodherefords.com

Thomas Farm

Eric & Ronnie Thomas 2396 Union City Rd. Richmond, KY 40475 (859) 623-5734 • Eric’s Cell (859) 314-8256 “Cattle for sale at all times”

WOLF FARM

Registered Polled Herefords Bulls & Females for sale Tim & Peggy Wolf 12939 Peach Grove Rd. Alexandria, KY 41001 Home: 859-635-0899 Cell: 859-991-3484

Peyton’s Well Polled Herefords The Lowell Atwood Family 133 Edgewood Drive Stanford, KY (606) 365-2520 home/fax (606) 669-1455 cell

L.W. Beckley D.V.M L. Wayne Beckley 284 Pyrse Lane 1420 Fitchburg Rd. Irvine, KY 40336 Ravenna, KY 40472 Cell: 859-779-1419 Home: 606-723-3021 Clinic: 606-726-0000 Cell: 859-779-0962 www.beckleyherefords.com

Jackson Farms

Pile Stock Farm

Hansell Pile, Jr. 12045 St. John Rd. Cecilia, KY 42724 270-735-5192•270-862-4462 12 miles West of Elizabethtown

859-588-4531

Registered Polled Herefords 8103 Bill Moss Road White House, TN 37188 Home/Fax: 615-672-4483 Cell: 615-478-4483 billymjackson@aol.com “Farming the Same Land Since 1834”

WCN Polled Herefords Since 1961

Registered Polled Herefords

Bill & Libby Norris 2220 Celina Road Burkesville, KY 42717 Phone (270) 433-7256 Cell (270) 433-1525 “Every calf needs a white face”

TS TS Tucker Stock Farms F F

“Registered Angus and Polled Herefords”

TUCKER STOCK FARMS TUCKER STOCK FARMS

TUCKER STOCK FARMS

“Breeding Polled Herefords for over 58 Years” John Tucker “Registered Angus and Polled “Registered AngusHerefords” andIIPolled Herefords” 1790 Hidden Valley Lane Breeding cattle for sale at all times. John A. Tucker II John A. Tucker II Hudson, KY 40145 HiddenHerefords” Valley Lane 1999 Walnut Hill Rd. • Lexington, KY “Registered 40515 1790 Hidden Valley Lane Angus and 1790 Polled 270-617-0301 Hudson, KY 40145 Hudson, KY 40145 (859) 271-9086 • cell (859)533-3790 (270) 257-8548 (270) 257-8548 Offi 257-8167 Office for (270) 257-8167 John A. Tucker IIce (270) “Bulls always Sale”

1790 Hidden18-month-old Valley 18-month-old AngusLane & Polled Hereford Bulls For Sale Angus & Polled Hereford Bulls For Sale

Old Fall Creek Farms AHA & KHA member • Proven bloodlines

Reed Bertram 606-348-7486 David Bertram 606-278-3630 www.ofcfarms.com

K3CATTLE@YAHOO.COM

198 HICKS PIKE CYNTHIANA, KY 41031

Chambliss Hereford Farms Brad, Carla, Clay and Clint Chambliss 916 Winchester Blvd. Elizabethtown, KY 42701 Home (270) 982-3905 • Cell (270) 668-7126 fax 270-735-9922 www.chamblissherefordfarms.com

BECKLEY HEREFORDS

1874 Old Fall Creek Road • Monticello, KY 42633

Victor- influenced cattle bred for performance on grass.

COW COUNTRY • AUGUST 2020

Jackie D. Perkins II 367 Mt. Pisgah Rd. • Bremen, KY 42325 270-543-3586 Breeding to produce good cows since 1981.

Private treaty sales • Visitors always welcome

“Black cows need a good Hereford Bull”

Paul L. Hancock 8559 KY 56 Owensboro, KY 42301 270-771-4194

Annual Bull Sale second Saturday in March Hereford and Angus Bulls

Windy Hills Farm

K3 CATTLE REGISTERED HEREFORDS KYLE BUSH

Registered Polled Herefords

6077 Helena Road • Mayslick, KY 41055 Charlie Boyd II · 606-584-5194

Tony & Kathy Staples 992 Knotts Road Brandenburg, KY 40108 270-422-4220 tstaples@bbtel.com

Contact Earlene Thomas for more information: 859-623-5734 www.kentuckyhereford.org

MPH Farms

Boyd Beef Cattle

TK4 Herefords Polled Hereford and Gelbvieh Cattle 3459 KY Hwy. 1284 E. Cythiana, KY 41031 (859) 234-6956 Ben, Jane, Shelby and Lincoln

Polled Herefords 439 Flatwoods Frozen Camp Road • Corbin, KY 40701 Kevin, Angela, Bobby & Brenda Wells Kenlea & Kyler Murray 606-523-0569 - Home 606-528-1691 - Home 606-344-0417 - Cell 606-682-8143 - Cell wells_farm@yahoo.com

Hudson, KY 40145 (270) 257-8548 Office (270) 257-8167

GET YOUR AD HERE! CONTACT EARLENE FOR MORE INFO

18-month-old Angus & Polled Hereford Bulls For Sale

LINEBRED VICTOR DOMINO CATTLE LINEBRED VICTOR DOMINO CATTLE

Multi-Trait Selection Multi-Trait Selection

Danny Miller 4850Rd. Caldwell Ridge Rd. jmspolledherefords.com 4850 Caldwell Ridge Knifley, KY 42753 Knifley, KY 42753 270-465-6984 270-465-6984 270-465-6984 • 270-566-2694 Fertility Disposition

Fertility Calving Ease Disposition Milking Ability

Calving Ease Milking Ability

• A P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E K E N T U C K Y C AT T L E M E N ’ S A S S O C I AT I O N

SS BREED KENTUCKY ANGUS SWEEPSTAKES SHOW & SALE • MARCH 6th & 7th, 2020

ANGUS THE BUSINESS BREED

) 375-3718

Ridgeview

BOYD BEEF CATTLE 6077 Helena Road HIGHVIEW FARMS Mayslick, KY 41055 Charlie Boyd II: (606) 584-5194 Blake Boyd: (606) 375-3718 827•West Main Street www.boydbeef.com • cboyd2@maysvilleky.net

Campbellsville, Kentucky 42718 Ben T. Cox DVM BRANCH VIEW ANGUS (270) KY 469-5517 927 Old Liberty Pike • Hustonville, 40437 Registered Angus Cattle (859) 238-0771 • www.branchviewangus.com James S. & LuAnn Coffey, Donald & Donna Coffey Annual Production Sale- 2nd Saturday in April

HILL VIEW FARMS Jimmy Gilles BURKS CATTLE CO. 5160 Lee Rudy Road 531 Rick Rd. Park City, KY 42160 Owensboro, KY 42301 Eddie Burks • (270) 991-6398 (270) 686-8876 www.burkscattle.com (270) 929-537

BURTON & SONS ANGUS Joe D. or Karen Burton • Bryan Carman, Partner, Ridgeview Angus 480 Hominy Hill Rd. Nancy, KY 42544 Joe: (606) 305-3081 • Bryan:JOHNSON (606) 875-3453 FARMS ANGUS Angus Located 15 miles West of Somerset Angus Bulls & Females klburton01@windstream.net

Slaughters, KY CARDINAL HILL FARMSKeith: (270) 635-0723 405 Cedar Grove Rd. • Glasgow, KY 42141 Reese: (270) 635-1137

Bulls & females sold private treaty. Inquiries Welcome. Sell only what we would buy.

Elmore: only what weMike would buy. (270) 404-6589

k.com

President: Jason Crowe

HERITAGE FARM RAGS ANGUS FARM Vice President: Henry B Smith Tom McGinnis Richard and Glenda Stallons Secretary/Treasurer: Anne DeMott 1024 Hinkle Lane • Shelbyville, KY 1240 Dogwood Kelly Road Hopkinsville, KY 42240 (502) 633-1634, home • (502) 633-5100, work Home: (270) 885-4352 Cell: (270) 839-2442 64TH KENTUCKY ANGUS SWEEPSTAKES SHOW & SALE • MARCH 6th & 7th, 2020 (502) 655-0164, cell rstallons@bellsouth.net

Bob Johnson: (270) 427-1410 cardinalhillfarms.com • mike@cardinalhillfarms.com

LEGACY FARMS

COFFEY ANGUS FARMS Daniel and Lindsey Reynolds 661 Hopewell Road 1709 South Jackson Highway Liberty, KY 42539 Matt Coffey: (270) 799-6288Hardyville, KY 42746 Dewey Coffey: (606) 787-2620 (270) 528-6275/(270) 528-6120 Genetics for Maximum Profitability since 1984

www.legacyfarmsangus.com

COOL SPRINGS CREEK FARM Guy & Aline Babin MILLERS RUN FARM 269 Paul Coomer Rd Gradyville, KY 42742 William N. Offutt IV (270) 205-1669 3790 Paris Road Georgetown, www.coolspringscreekfarm.com • gdbabin@outlook.com

HAINES ANGUS FARMS 5294 Park City- Glasgow Rd. Park City, KY 42160 Kenneth Haines, Jr.: (270) 749-8862 HAMILTON ANGUS FARMS Eddie Hamilton 2142 Stilesville Road Science Hill, KY 42553 edjohami@aol.com (606) 271-1286 Bulls and Females for Sale HERITAGE FARM Tom McGinnis 1024 Hinkle Lane • Shelbyville, KY (502) 633-1634, home • (502) 633-5100, work (502) 655-0164, cell HIGHVIEW FARMS 827 West Main Street Campbellsville, Kentucky 42718 Ben T. Cox DVM (270) 469-5517 Registered Angus Cattle HILL VIEW FARMS Jimmy Gilles 5160 Lee Rudy Road Owensboro, KY 42301 (270) 686-8876 (270) 929-537 JOHNSON FARMS ANGUS Angus Bulls & Females Slaughters, KY Keith: (270) 635-0723 Reese: (270) 635-1137 MT. MORIAH ANGUS FARMS Bob, Kathy, and Rob Clark (859) 748-5558 1446 Kennedy Bridge Rd. Harrodsburg, KY 40330 Bob: (859)339-2610 • Rob: (859)612-1594 40324mtmoriahfarms1@gmail.com www.mtmoriahangus.com

KY (859) 533-2020 • millersrunfarm@aol.com MILLERS RUN FARM D&D LONGVIEW ANGUSwww.millersrunfarm.com William N. Offutt IV Danny & Debbie Burris Heifers for sale 3790 Paris Road Georgetown, KY 40324 550 Willie Nell Road

PLEASANT HILL FARMS Gil, Mary, Corbin, Caroline, and Catherine Cowles Rockfield Richpond Road ASANT HILL SHAW FAMILY 500 ANGUS PLE Rockfield, KY 42274 f a r m s Jim & Cathy Shaw(270) 843-9021 • Fax (270) 843-9005 935 Miller Road •Located Hodgenville, 42748Green, 1/2 mile off Hwy 68/80 7 miles westKY of Bowling

(270) 769-8260 RAGS ANGUS FARM www.shawfamilyangus.com Richard and Glenda Stallons Quality Registered Angus Cattle sinceHopkinsville, 1975 1240 Dogwood Kelly Road KY 42240 Home: (270) 885-4352 Cell: (270) 839-2442 rstallons@bellsouth.net

SMITHLAND ANGUS FARM SHAW FAMILY ANGUS JimRussell & Cathy Shaw 5202 East Hwy 80, Springs, KY 42642 935 Miller Road • Hodgenville, KY 42748 Charles “Bud” & (270) Pam769-8260 Smith: (270) 866-3898 Henry & Melissa www.shawfamilyangus.com Smith: (270) 866-2311

Quality Registered Angus Cattle since 1975 SMITHLAND ANGUS FARM

ST. CLAIR FARMS 5202 REGISTERED East Hwy 80, Russell ANGUS Springs, KY 42642 Eric & Sherry St. Charles Clair “Bud” & Pam Smith: (270) 866-3898 Henry & Melissa Smith: (270) 866-2311 13433 Falls of Rough Road • Falls of Rough, KY 40119 Home: (270) 257-2965 • Cell: (270) 617-1079 ST. CLAIR FARMS REGISTERED ANGUS www.stclairangus.com Eric & Sherry St. Clair 13433Bull Falls& of Rough Road • Falls of Rough, Performance Tested Female Sale April 2016KY 40119 Home: (270) 257-2965 • Cell: (270) 617-1079 www.stclairangus.com Performance Tested Bull & Female Sale April 2020

TAMME VALLEY FARM TAMME VALLEY FARM Jacob Tamme, Owner-Operator Jacob Tamme, Owner-Operator (859) 583-7134 (859) 583-7134 jacob.tamme@gmail.com jacob.tamme@gmail.com www.tammevalley.com & Find us on Facebook! www.tammevalley.com & Find us on Facebook! TWIN CREEK FARM Shawn, Melissa, Devin & Dylan Gibson

TWIN CREEK FARM (270) 337-3072 or (270) 692-5304 Dennis &&Emily Shawn, Melissa, Devin Dylan Gibson or 270/402-4338 (270) 337-3072 or270/337-2128 (270) 692-5304 Watch for us in Branch View Production Sale in April Dennis & Emily FARM 270/337-2128 or WHITE 270/402-4338 Tim and Amy White Watch for us in Branch View Production Sale in April 3664 Military Pike • Lexington, KY 40513

Columbia, KY 42728 (270) 348-5766 • (270) 250-3701 • (270) 250-1277

(859) 533-2020 • millersrunfarm@aol.com www.millersrunfarm.com Heifers for sale

DAVIS BEND FARMS 10 Oak Hill Drive 2315 Davis Bend Road Russellville, KY 42276 Canmer, KY 42722 Wayne Johnson: (270) 303-6354 timmothyljeffries@gmail.com www.davisbendfarms.com Gary Johnson: (270) 498-7208 Tim: (270) 528-6605 • Leslie: (270) 528-6435

MUD RIVER ANGUS 10 Oak Hill Drive Russellville, KY 42276 Wayne Johnson: (270) 303-6354 Gary Johnson: (270) 498-7208

FALL CREEK ANGUS 448 Corder Farm Road Monticello, KY 42633 Ronnie Corder (606) 348-6588

FARM NAME FOUR KINGS ANGUS 250 Bright Leaf Dr. • Harrodsburg, KY 40330 Cary & Kim King 40330 Carymking@yahoo.com • fourkingsangus.com Cary Cell: (859) 613-3734 • Colby Myers - Purebred Manager ADDRESS

MUD RIVER ANGUS

Home: (859)223-0326 Tim: (859) 509-5401 • Amy (859)227-2552 whitefarm4@twc.com

KENTUCKY ANGUS ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION NAME

OLD BARK FARM 370 Ferrill Hill, Buffalo, KY 42716 Kenley Conner 270/358-8057 Registered Angus Cattle PLEASANT HILL FARMS

370 Ferrill Hill, Buffalo, KY 42716 Kenley Conner 270/358-8057 Registered Angus Cattle

KENTUCKY ANGUS ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

NAME

FARM NAME

FOUR KINGS ANGUS 250 Bright Leaf Dr. • Harrodsburg, KY Cary & Kim King Carymking@yahoo.com • fourkingsangus.com GREAT MEADOWS ANGUS ASSOCIATION Cary Cell: (859) 613-3734 • Colby Myers - Purebred Manager OLD BARK FARM

38th Annual Sale • April 25, 2020 www.greatmeadowsangus.com Paul Bradshaw (502) 817-7502

ADDRESS

CITY

STATE

PHONE 1

PHONE 2

ZIP

CITY

STATE

ZIP

Return to: Anne DeMott • 1220 Angus Trail • Lexington, Kentucky 40509 • Annaul Dues $35

COW COUNTRY • AUGUST 2020

• PHONE A P U1B L I C AT I O N O F T H E K E N T U C K YPHONE C AT2T L E M E N ’ S A S S O C I AT I O N

KENTUCKY ANGUS ASSOCIATION NEWS Anne Stewart DeMott, Secretary/Treasurer www.kentuckyangus.org • kyangusassociation@gmail.com •

Greetings from the Kentucky Angus Association and the Board of Directors. Hope this finds you and your family well. As we move toward fall in Kentucky, Angus members are busy making preparations for fall sales and activities. The association is working on plans for a fall field day in central Kentucky. It should

be filled with educational opportunities and fellowship so look for those details as we get closer. State Fair is right around the corner later this month. It will look different than in the past but I encourage you to support it in some way. That can be as simple as a word of encouragement to a junior who

Seldom Rest Sandy 8033 won reserve grand champion cow-calf pair at the 2020 Eastern Regional Junior Angus Show, June 26-28 in Lebanon, Tenn. Addison White, Lexington, Ky., owns the February 2018 daughter of EXAR Classen 1422B. A December 2019 daughter sired by Stevenson Turning Point is at side. Mark Hoge, Macomb, Ill., evaluated the 448 entries. Photo by Next Level Imaging, on behalf of the American Angus Association.

@kyangusassoc •

will be competing with their project they have worked with all year. Thanks to the State Fair Board for creating a plan that could be approved in order to have the event this year. Hopefully you can get out and enjoy the sunshine with family and friends during these summer months. If myself or any of

FCF Phyllis 958 won owned late intermediate champion heifer at the 2020 Eastern Regional Junior Angus Show, June 26-28 in Lebanon, Tenn. Kalli Flanders, Buffalo, Ky., owns the winning heifer. Photo by Next Level Imaging, on behalf of the American Angus Association.

These junior Angus members were presented with their Bronze and Silver Awards at the 2020 Eastern Regional Junior Angus Show, June 26-28 in Lebanon, Tenn. Pictured from left are Baxter Knapp, National Junior Angus Board (NJAB) vice chairperson, presenting; Lila Sims, Mc Ewen, Tenn., bronze recipient; Ethan Blevins, Greenup, Ky., bronze and silver recipient; and Caroline Cowles, NJAB communications director. The Bronze and Silver Awards are the first two levels of the National Junior Angus Association Recognition Program. Juniors must apply for the awards and then meet point requirements in many areas of participation before receiving them. Photo by Next Level Imaging, on behalf of the American Angus Association.

COW COUNTRY • AUGUST 2020

@kyangusassoc •

@kyangusassociation

the other officers and directors can be of assistance feel free to let us know. We’re here to help you in any way we can if you have concerns or ideas. Praying you all stay safe while continuing to feed the world. See you down the road. Jason Crowe Kentucky Angus Association President

CCC Saras Dream 85581 won late senior heifer champion at the 2020 Eastern Regional Junior Angus Show, June 26-28 in Lebanon, Tenn. Jacob Marksbury, Buffalo, Ky., owns the winning heifer. Photo by Next Level Imaging, on behalf of the American Angus Association.

HAF Drake won grand champion steer at the 2020 Eastern Regional Junior Angus Show, June 26-28 in Lebanon, Tenn. Catherine Cowles, Rockfield, Ky., owns the January 2019 son of Colburn Primo 5153. Mark Hoge, Macomb, Ill., evaluated the 448 entries. Photo by Next Level Imaging, on behalf of the American Angus Association.

• A P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E K E N T U C K Y C AT T L E M E N ’ S A S S O C I AT I O N

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JACOB REDWAY CAREY BROWN cbrown@kycattle.org CAREY BROWNjredway@kycattle.orgJACOB REDWAY cbrown@kycattle.org FARM ACCOUNTS jredway@kycattle.org BUSINESS OR NATIONAL ACCOUNTS BUSINESS OR NATIONAL ACCOUNTS

FARM ACCOUNTS

CALL US TODAY! (859) 278-0899 CALL US TODAY! (859) 278-0899 COW COUNTRY • AUGUST 2020

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KENTUCKY

GELBVIEH

AA LAND & CATTLE

Registered Gelbvieh & Balancers Cynthiana, KY Luke Arthur (859) 298-8323 luke.arthur93@gmail.com Bulls • Show Prospects • Embryos Bulls sell with GE EPD’s • Show Prospects

BAR IV LIVESTOCK

Barry, Beth & Ben Racke • Brad Racke

7416 Tippenhauer Rd. • Cold Spring, KY 41076 Phone (859) 635-3832 • Barry cell (859) 991-1992 Brad cell (859) 393-3677 • Ben cell (859) 393-3730 Fax (859) 635-3832 • bar4@twc.com

BEE LICK GELBVIEHS

Eddie Reynolds 277 Old Bee Lick Rd. Crab Orchard, KY 40419 606-379-2281(H) 606-305-1972(C) Bulls & Females for sale

A S S O C I AT I O N

William McIntosh, President.......................(502) 867-3132 Luke Arthur, Vice President........................(859) 298-8323 Pat Tilghman, Secretary/Treasurer.............(270) 670-8449

LARRY CLARK & SONS LLC

Registered Gelbvieh Cattle 106 Clark Houk Road • Greensburg, KY 42743 Larry Clark, Owner & Operator (270) 299-5167 • (270) 405-6848 Lpclarkandsons@msn.com

CLIFFORD FARMS

3459 KY HWY 1284E Cynthiana, KY 41031 Since 1937 (859) 234-6956

Cattle for sale at all times.

BRIAN W. DYER, DVM

Owner/Manager GELBVIEH/BALANCERS 2050 Glasgow Road Burkesville, KY 42717 Brian, Lauren, Kristen Barry, Emily & Julia (270) 864-5909

FULL CIRCLE FARMS

Registered Gelbvieh Cattle Brad Burke 989 Metcalf Mill Road • Ewing KY 41039 (H) 606-267-5609 • (C) 606-782-1367 gbb789@windstream.net

CD FARMS

Clayton & Debbie Cash 1214 Ottawa School Road Brodhead, KY 40409 (606)-308-3247 • (606)-758-8994 Gelbvieh-Balancer Bulls & Heifers For Sale by Private Treaty

KILBOURNE GELBVIEH

East Bernstadt, KY 606-843-6583 cell 606-309-4662 Black Replacement Heifers & Bulls Available Embryo transplant & AI sired calves

MOCKINGBIRD HILL FARMS

Registered Gelbvieh Cattle Shane Wells 10172 Provo Rd. Rochester, KY H: 270-934-2198 C: 270-791-8196 swells@logantele.com

Meeting modern industry demands: • Added Fertility • Increased Efficiency • More pounds of calf weaned American Gelbvieh Association 303-465-2333 | www.gelbvieh.org JOIN KENTUCKY GELBVIEH ASSOCIATION Mail to: 690 Lick Branch Road, Glasgow, Kentucky 42141 FARM NAME

YOUR NAME

ADRESS

CITY, STATE

PLEASANT MEADOWS FARM

Gary & Pat Tilghman Lindsey Tilghman Jones Family Carrie & Daryl Derossett Family 690 Lick Branch Road Glasgow, KY 42141 270.646.7024 • pleasantmeadowsfarm@hotmail.com

COW COUNTRY • AUGUST 2020

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ZIP

PHONE

Dues are $25/year, payable to Kentucky Gelbvieh Association

FEATURE

DROUGHT RISK MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR BEEF CATTLE FARMS Steve Higgins and Lee Moser If you ask a beef producer what their output is, they may say meat, when in fact, their answer should be forages. Without abundant forages, producers cannot increase the mass of grazing stock. The volume of forages in a pasture affects stocking densities and the amount of time cattle can spend in a pasture. Maximum forage production is accomplished by providing maximum cover, balanced fertility, deep well drained soils, and plant-available water. The water that falls on and over a farm’s landscape is transient. A producer’s goal should be to preserve water on the farm until it can be replenished again by the next precipitation event. This means that infiltration and water retention needs to be maximized and the volume of runoff that can cause erosion should be minimized. Producers who focus on these goals should be able to enhance beef production and will be able to manage better the moderate agricultural droughts that we encounter in Kentucky. Drought preparedness starts with the implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs) on Kentucky’s farms by utilizing an Ag Water Quality Plan. Implementing BMPs that support the following “Principles of Drought Preparedness” can improve a producer’s ability to cope with the additional stress a drought can add to soil, plants, and livestock.

limit the infiltration of water. All of these effects will be more problematic on sloped pastures. • Control Animal and Vehicle Traffic. Overgrazing and compaction are stresses that lower water holding capacity, infiltration rates, organic matter content, and forage yield. At the same time, overgrazing and compaction increase pasture deterioration, evaporation, and runoff. • Increase Soil Organic Matter Content. Each one percent increase in organic matter holds approximately 27,000 gallons of water per acre, which is the equivalent of infiltrating one hundred percent of a one-inch rainfall event. Rotational grazing and manure applications are two ways to increase organic matter. • Utilize Terracing. Subsoiling compacted soils heaves up the ground where the ripper passed through the soil profile. When subsoiling is conducted along the contours of hillsides, it creates a mini terrace. These terraces reduce the steepness and slope length, thereby slowing water runoff, and increasing infiltration rates. These combined effects increase forage production when properly grazed. • Establish Forage Diversity and Fertility Management.

Principles of Drought Preparedness

• Choose an Appropriate Stocking Density and Rotation Timing.

• Implement Rotational Grazing. Keep soil covered in vegetation to eliminate erosion. Raindrops can hit exposed soil with an explosive effect, launching soil particles and degrading soil structure. Once dry, the surface of the soil can experience hydrophobic (water repellent) capping, which can further

• Harvest Water and Develop Water Sources. These practices facilitate rotational grazing. Water harvesting has the added benefits of using collected rainwater to reduce water bills, while providing water for cattle and possibly reducing runoff and erosion.

Continuous grazing (field on the left) increases compaction and reduces infiltration as compared to rotational grazing (field to the right)

• Provide Plenty of Shade. Adequate shade reduces the water requirements of cattle, while providing relief from solar radiation. • Situational Confinement. A practice that is not advisable is to open every gate across the farm and let the cattle have access to every field. Depending on the severity of the drought, this could harm the productivity of pastures for months if not years. Producers can reduce the long -term effects of overgrazing during a drought by confining animals to a dry lot with shade and haul feed to them. Lots that have been reinforced with all-weather surfaces, which can facilitate manure management are ideal. Overtaxing soil resources can and will lead to damage. In extreme cases, the damage caused can be extremely difficult, if not impossible to correct. Simply removing the cattle or allowing natural methods to correct the damage may not work or may take many years to correct using natural forces. In some cases, improving infiltration rates requires mechanical correction. All of these negative effects are magnified when drought strikes. Producers should implement practices that preserve topsoil and increase organic matter content, while avoiding compaction.

COW COUNTRY • AUGUST 2020

The previously suggested practices are presented as a systematic approach to dealing with drought in Kentucky. They require a producer to implement adaptive management strategies that modify the operation to the environment instead of modifying the environment to the operation. Practices that increase, secure, and optimize the available water on the farm should be chosen to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the operation. Producers should prioritize addressing areas that are the most limiting production areas through self-evaluation and implement additional BMPs or practices to offset the limitations. Providing a source of water makes a field usable, but may reveal soil fertility issues or the need for improved forages, indicating that this is a dynamic process. More than likely, the processes and practices implemented in this procedure complement a producer’s agriculture water quality plan. The beauty of this process is the improvement of the overall productivity of the farm, while maintaining and improving the integrity of natural resources. For full details on BMPs for drought preparedness, refer to the University of Kentucky Extension publication “Drought Risk Management for Beef Cattle Farms”

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SUMMER 2020

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Pecos Liner Lock: 4 inches closed length, 3.5-inch blade length, Stainless Steel Bolsters, Cream Yellow Delrin handles, and a stainless steel pocket clip. abktinc.com $23.99

Case IH RB5 Series Round Balers are designed to consistently build dense bales in varying crop and field conditions. With more hay in each bale so you can spend less time moving, stacking and feeding, and more time on other tasks. caseih.com

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COW COUNTRY • AUGUST 2020

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS

AD INDEX

General August 11-13 Pasture-Finished Beef Workshop (pg. 34) September 10 CPC Fall Field Day, Fountain Run, KY (pg. 3) September 15 Anderson County Conservation District Farm Tour, Lawrenceburg, KY (pg. 32) October 1 Beef Bash, Princeton, KY (pg. 36) October 2-4 Kentucky Junior Cattleman’s Fall Classic, Morehead, KY (pg. 32) Angus September 5 Graber’s Angus Farm 2nd Annual Production Sale, Montgomery, IN (pg. 13) September 12 CKAA Ladies Day Sale, Danville, KY (pg. 40) September 12 Crazy K Ranch Fall Female Opportunity Sale, Michie, TN (pg. 44 & 45) September 25 Bluegrass Trifecta Production Sale, Carlisle KY September 25 Pelphrey/Ward Ratliff Sale, Lexington, KY September 26 Boyd Beef Cattle The Breeders Cup Sale, Mays Lick, KY (pg. 11) October 10 Isaacs Angus Sale, Horse Cave, KY (pg. 32) October 10 Pleasant Hill Farms 9th Annual Fall Production Sale, Rockfield, KY October 24 Great Meadows Angus Association Sale, Campbellsburg, KY October 25 Four Sons Farm Inaugural Sale, Cynthiana, KY October 26 Oak Hollow Fall Bull Sale, Smiths Grove, KY (pg. 5) October 26 Stone Gate Farms Fall Sale, Flemingsburg, KY (pg. 7) November 6 Ward-Ratliff Sale, Lexington, KY November 14 CKAA Annual Fall Sale, Danville, KY (pg. 40) December 4 Knoll Crest Farm Bull Sale, Red House, VA Gelbvieh September 19 Showcase Sale XV & Complete Dispersal of Oak Ridge Farms, Kingsville, MO (pg. 27) October 17 Fall Bull and Female Sale, Carthage, MO (pg. 27) November 7 Red Reward Fall Edition Bull & Female Sale, Osceola, MO (pg. 27) Hereford August 22 East Tennessee Polled Hereford Association Kick-Off Classic, White Pine, TN (pg. 11) September 7 Walker Polled Herefords Foundations for the Future Sale, Morrison, TN (pg. 8) October 24 Debter Farms Annual Production Sale, Horton, AL December 3 Kentucky Certified Hereford Influence Sale, Stanford, KY Limousin October 3 ACH Holdings Foundation Sale IV, Bowling Green, KY Multi-Breed August 13 CPH Sale, Owensboro, KY December 3 CPH Sale, Owensboro, KY December 8 CPH Sale, Guthrie, KY February 2 CPH Sale, Guthrie, KY Red Angus September 26 Shady Bottom Ranch Herd Reduction Sale, Crossville, TN (pg. 15) Simmental September 12 Kentucky Simmental Sale, Lexington, KY (pg. 31)

AgCentral Co Op......................................................21 AGCO......................................................................39 American Angus Association.................................. 9 American Buffalo Knife and Tool............................67 Anderson County Conservation District.............. 32 Beef Bash................................................................. 36 Beef Solutions..........................................................37 BioZyme, Inc...........................................................33 Blue Grass Stockyards............................................10 Boyd Beef Cattle...................................................... 11 Burkmann Nutrition.................................................7 Case IH...................................................................67 Central Kentucky Ag Credit...................................72 CPC Commodities....................................................3 CPH 45....................................................................71 Crazy K Ranch....................................................... 45 Dievert Sales...........................................................40 Duracast...................................................................12 East Tennessee Polled Hereford Assoc.................. 11 Graber’s Angus Farm..............................................13 Green River Livestock.............................................. 4 Gro-Tec Inc..............................................................67 Hayes Trailer Sales................................................... 4 Innovacyn............................................................... 23 Isaacs Angus........................................................... 32 Jackson Marketing Solutions.................................12 Kentucky Angus Assoc.................................... 62, 63 Kentucky Gelbvieh Assoc...................................... 65 Kentucky Hereford Assoc.......................................61 Kentucky Salers Assoc........................................... 68 Kentucky Simmental Assoc..............................31, 58 KJCA Fall Classic.................................................... 32 Limousin Breeders of the Bluegrass......................57 Moly Mfg.................................................................67 MultiMin USA.........................................................41 Oak Hollow................................................................5 Optum Angus......................................................... 44 Red Barn & Associates............................................12 Seedstock Plus.......................................................27 Shady Bottom Ranch..............................................15 Stone Gate Farms......................................................7 T & L Commodity Transport................................. 48 UK Pasture-Finished Beef Workshop.................. 34 Walker Polled Herefords.......................................... 8 Walters Buildings......................................................7 Wax Company........................................................... 2 Wells Lamont Retail................................................67

SALERS

The Balanced Breed STRINGER FARMS Bruce Stringer 128 Teresa Avenue Somerset, KY 42501 606-875-3553 68

DIAMOND J SALERS Donald Johnson 11660 N. Hwy 1247 • Eubank, KY 42564 606-379-1558 COW COUNTRY • AUGUST 2020

WILLIS FARMS • Danny Willis 964 Johnson Rd • Frankfort, KY 40601 502-803-5011 • drwc21@aol.com Matt Craig, Farm Mgr. 502-604-0821

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CLASSIFIEDS PERFORMANCE TESTED PUREBRED ANGUS BULLS FOR SALE Call 270-202-7186 for more info or check out www.oakhollowangus.com for current availability.

REGISTERED BLACK SIMMENTAL BULLS Excellent EPD’s. Semen Tested. Delivery Available. Maximize your profit with proven performance. All bulls qualify for new CAIP cost-share. Adam Wheatley 502-349-2665

FOR SALE 19-20 month old Polled Hereford bulls. Good selection. Low birthweight, medium frame. Free Delivery Available. JMS Polled Herefords, Knifley, KY Danny 270-566-2694 Trent 270-566-2000

OVER 15 BREEDING AGE HEREFORD BULLS FOR SALE Over 60 years of Line 1 Hereford Genetics. Also selling 15 open and 15 bred heifers. Chambliss Hereford Farms. 270-668-7126 COMPREHENSIVE NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PLANS (CNMPS) Livestock manure management planning, manure storage facility planning, and water quality BMPs implementation. Ben Koostra - Professional Engineer and NRCS Technical Service Provider Lexington - 859-559-4662

FOUNDATION SALE VI October 3, 2020 United Producers, Bowling Green, KY Selling FULLBLOOD & PUREBRED LIMOUSIN Genetics For info call : A C H Holdings, LLC Stephen Haynes 270-799-8685

BULLS FOR SALE Registered Angus bulls for sale. 20-21 months old. AI sired. All have low Birth Weights. Qualify for cost share program. Larry Tuttle. Happy Valley Farm. Cynthiana, KY 859-234-3390

RED ANGUS FOR SALE Bulls: Yearlings and 2-year-olds. Open Heifers. Show Heifer Prospects. Contact: Johnnie Cundiff 606-305-6443 or 606-871-7438

5209 NEW IDEA DISCBINE Cutter bar completely rebuilt. Good machine. $4,995. 606-875-3453 or 606-305-3081

FOR SALE Balancer cows with March calves 270-772-0939

WHITE FACE SIMMENTAL AND SIM/ANGUS YEARLING BULLS. Qualify for heifer acceptable, high productivity, and carcass merit with the Ag Development program. 502-604-1757 or 502-839-6651 SORTING POLES - PADDLES - FLAGS Poles with your 8” decal. $6.20 each per 50. Sorting flag, $11.25. Sorting paddles $9. Ear tag cutters, buckets, grain scoops. Kerndt Livestock Products 800-207-3115 24 FOOT GOOSENECK BRAND TRAILER Good condition. New canvas top. 502-867-9562 or 859-333-0807 JOHN DEERE 5065-4WD-LOADER-520 LOADER-$27,500 Vermeer 555 xL baler- 5000 rolls-$9995 Meyer silage boxes starting at $7000 New Holland 900 with 2 row header $10,000 Artex manure rental spreader- call Stoltzfus lime spreader- rental - call Horning 2 - 3 row silage header- reserve yours New Holland 513 manure spreader $5000 John Deere 3975-processor $22,000 Cloverdale 420 - 2017- front discharge $26,500 Farmco feeder - in stock ESCH hay tedders in stock 859-608-9745 redbarnandassociates.com

BRED HEIFERS 14 all black, put with young Red Angus bull 12/17/19. Pregnancy checked and ready to go. Weight not official but about 1,000 lbs.

$1,250 each Contact Mike at

(270) 670-5465

REGISTERED RED ANGUS BULLS AND FEMALES FOR SALE * FREE DELIVERY * FOUR WINDS FARM

New Castle, Kentucky

(502) 296-1044

MARKET REPORT

SOUTHEAST FEEDER CATTLE PRICES 17 JULY 2020 weights

STEER

HEIFER

KY/TN

LA/MS

9-10

109-115

115-121

105-111

109-115

115-121

111-117

8-9

116-124

121-129

110-118

113-121

121-129

118-126

7-8

124-132

127-135

118-126

121-129

127-135

6-7

132-142

138-148

120-130

129-139

5-6

138-150

145-157

130-142

4-5

151-165

155-169

146-160

weights

KY/TN

LA/MS

124-132

110-118

114-122

107-115

110-118

112-120

135-145

131-141

118-128

109-119

115-125

121-131

118-128

137-149

143-155

140-152

122-134

126-138

115-127

121-133

127-139

125-137

147-161

152-166

151-165

133-147

137-151

130-144

131-145

132-146

COWS AL

LA/MS

KY/TN

UTIL

57-66

56-65

58-67

59-68

58-67

56-65

CN/CUT

48-57

51-60

50-59

52-61

51-60

50-59

BULLS

88-96

84-92

86-94

90-98

94-102

85-93

COW COUNTRY • AUGUST 2020

Feeder cattle traded mostly steady to $3 firmer. Calves traded $2 lower to $2 higher, ending near steady. Market cows traded mixed, from $3 lower to $2 higher.

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FEATURE

TIMELY TIPS FOR AUGUST

WHAT IS A SELECTION INDEX AND HOW CAN I USE IT? DARRH BULLOCK University of Kentucky

Most beef producers are now very familiar with Expected Progeny Differences (EPD) and have become comfortable with using them to make selection decisions. I did a quick count of some of the major beef breeds and I was able to identify 30 different EPD across those breeds. With that many choices how can beef farmers be expected to make sense of all that information to choose their bulls? The good news is that you shouldn’t use all the information, just focus on the traits that are important to your operation or that give you a marketing advantage. One tool that can help some beef producers are selection indexes that many breeds provide. Many breed associations have developed selection indexes and they can usually be found with the EPD; they usually are identified with a dollar sign ($) or have “Index” in their title. Selection indexes use a combination of several traits to give one value to make selection decisions. These indexes are targeted to specific marketing opportunities and must make some management assumptions. For example, the American Hereford Association’s Baldy Maternal Index (BMI$) assumes that the Hereford bull will be bred to predominantly Angus cows, replacements will be retained, and the non-replacements will be marketed after finished to take advantage of the Certified Hereford Beef program. The traits that are used in the index include Sustained Cow Fertility, Weaning Weight, Mature Cow Weight, Milk, Dry Matter Intake, Carcass Weight, Marbling and Rib-eye Area. For producers that believe this index fits their management and marketing goals can use the BMI$ value in combination with the Calving Ease Direct EPD they feel is necessary for their herd to select their bull. So instead of analyzing 9 traits to make the selection decision this has been reduced to 2 values and it has weighted the value of each trait for its economic importance. Of course, other factors, such as visual appraisal, must be considered before 70

making the final decision. Another benefit of selection indexes, besides the ease of use, is that the comparisons are based on the value of the calves produced by one bull compared to another. In other words, if Bull A has a Terminal Index value of +25 and Bull B has a Terminal Index value of +35, Bull B’s calves would have an increased value of $10 per head compared to calves produced by Bull A. This assumes that the management scenario used in the index is similar to your management and the calves are marketed in the described manner for a similar price to the market price used to develop the selection index. However, research has shown that even if the price assumptions in the index are not precise, bulls still rank very similarly, it primarily impacts the magnitude of the difference. A properly developed selection index considers traits that provide a revenue stream for that specific scenario, but they also account for traits that incur costs to the operation. For instance, increasing marbling has a financial benefit for producers selling carcasses, so the bulls with higher Marbling EPD have increased selection index values in indexes that assume marketing on the rail. In this same index, a trait such as dry matter intake would work in the opposite direction; bulls whose calves eat more would incur higher feed cost and therefore higher DMI EPD would result in lower index values. Some traits have both a benefit and a cost and therefore must be balanced. A classic example is milking ability when replacement heifers will be retained. If a bull’s daughters milk more then their calves have more weaning weight and therefore more income, however, those daughters will also consume more in order to support their higher milk production which results in increased cost. A well-designed selection index takes all these factors into account. Selection indexes were developed to

provide commercial beef producers with a convenient tool to make selection decisions. When used correctly, they do exactly that; they are an easy to use means of making selection decisions based on dollars. However, the key is to use them correctly and to do that you have to do your homework. Prior to relying on selection indexes, you need to thoroughly study them and find out what traits are included and some of the basic assumptions that are being made. Many breed associations publish this information, but if not, inquire to find the necessary data. Next, determine if the traits included are the same traits that have an economic impact on your herd and that the marketing objectives meet yours. If so, then the index can provide you with an excellent selection option. The marketing objective of a selection index should always be close to yours. In other words, if you are keeping replacement females and marketing feeder calves then a “Terminal Index” that assumes retained ownership and carcasses marketed on a high-quality grid would not be appropriate. This type of index typically does not place any emphasis on maternal traits, which are important when keeping replacements, and places emphasis on carcass traits which have no financial benefit for someone marketing calves at the stockyard at weaning. Most breeds have several selection indexes to choose from, so do your homework and find the one that closest represents your operation. Single trait selection of your bulls in never a good idea but trying to find a bull that excels in every trait is not feasible either. The best method is to set goals for your operation, including how you will market the calves and if you will keep replacements, then determine what traits have an economic impact on your objectives. These are the traits you should focus on when making your bull choice and if EPD are available for those traits then that is your best tool for selection. If you are fortunate and the breed provides a selection index that meets your needs, then this can simplify the process and provide a more economically precise selection tool than you can devise on your own. Good luck and happy bull buying!

COW COUNTRY • AUGUST 2020

SPRING-CALVING COW HERD Fescue pastures don’t generally produce much this month. If you are lucky and had some rain with this heat, you may have some forage going into the usually dry months. Keep rotating pastures to permit calves to continue gaining weight. Keep minerals available at all times. Bulls should have been removed from the cow herd by now! At the very latest, pull them by September 1. They should be pastured away from the cow herd with a good fence and allowed to regain lost weight and condition. It is a good time to evaluate physical condition, especially feet and legs. Bulls can be given medical attention and still have plenty of time to recover, e.g., corns, abscesses, split hooves, etc. Repair and improve corrals for fall working and weaning. Consider having an area to wean calves and retain ownership for postweaning feeding rather than selling “green”, lightweight calves. Plan to participate in CPH-45 feeder CALF SALES IN YOUR AREA.

FALL-CALVING HERD Dry cows should be moved to better pastures as calving time approaches. Cows should start calving next month. Yearling heifers may begin “headstart” calving later this month. Plan to move cows to stockpiled fescue for the breeding season, so it will soon be time to apply nitrogen fertilizer. Prepare for the fall-calving season (usually September). Get ready, be sure you have the following: record book, ear tags for identification, calf puller, castration equipment

GENERAL Provide shade and water! Cattle will need shade during the hot part of the day. Check water supply frequently – as much as 20 gallons may be required by high producing cows in very hot weather. Select pastures for stockpiling. Remove cattle and apply nitrogen when moisture conditions are favorable. Stockpiled fescue can be especially beneficial for fall-calving cows after calving. Reproductive rates are highest in fall-calving cows grazing stockpiled fescue. Avoid working cattle when temperatures are extremely high – especially those grazing highendophyte fescue. If cattle must be handled, do so in the early morning. Do not give up on fly control in late summer, especially if fly numbers are greater than about 50 flies per animal. You can use a different “type” of spray or pour-on to kill any resistant flies at the end of fly season. Keep a good mineral mix available at all times. The UK Beef IRM Basic Cow-Calf mineral is a good choice. Cattle may also be more prone to eat poisonous plants during periods of extreme temperature stress. They will stay in “wooded” areas and browse on plants that they would not normally consume. Consider putting a roll of hay in these areas and/or spraying plants like purple (perilla) mint that can be toxic. Take soil samples to determine pasture fertility needs. Fertilize as needed, this fall.

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S A L E D AT E S : A u g u s t 1 3 : O w e n s b o r o • D e c e m b e r 3 : O w e n s b o r o • D e c e m b e r 8 : G u t h r i e • F e b r u a r y 2 : G u t h r i e

COW COUNTRY • AUGUST 2020

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