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TABLE OF CONTENTS
GREEN RIVER LIVESTOCK CAMPBELLSVILLE, KY
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COLUMNISTS 07 Chris Cooper: President’s Thoughts 08 Ryan Quarles: Commisioners Corner 10 Dave Maples: From Dave’s Desk 11 Baxter Black: The Last Dollar 12 Nathan Lawson: Make Mine with Cheese Please! 16 Dr. Michelle Arnold: FAQs about Bovine Leukemia Virus and Beef Cattle 20 Chris Teutsch: Summer Grazing: Managing What you Already Have
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33 Candace Smith: Is Your Fence Your Actual Boundary Line? 21 Dr. Jeff Lehmkuhler: To Crack or Not to Crack? A Common Question 46 Darrrh Bullock: The Genetics of Reproduction
FEATURE STORIES 22 Carving the Path for Others - Women in Livestock Marketing 24 NCBA Pushes Congress to Address Areas of Concern 25 Kentucky Agricultural Finance Corporation Approves Loans 26 Dinner Theater Grows Safety, Mental Health Awareness In Rural Kentucky 27 Registration Open For 2021 Kentucky Woodland Owners Short Course 28 Cedar Creek Farms: Selling Local Santa Gertrudis Beef Quality You Can Taste 30 Predictability, Pounds and Profit: STAR 5 Females Offer Commercial Producers Countless Advantages 34 2021 Cattle Industry Convention Speakers Will Educate, Motivate & Inspire 35 Meeting Cow Nutrient Requirements in the Winter Starts in the Spring 40 USDA To Strengthen Enforcement of Packers & Stockyards Act 42 2021 Saddle & Sirloin Portrait Gallery Inductee Named 44 KJCA Leadership Camp
14-15 County News 18-19 NCBA Legislative Updates 36-38 Economic & Policy Update 46-47 Membership 48-49 Kentucky Beef Council 50-51 Kentucky Beef Network 52 Press Release 55 Kentucky Angus Association News 60 Calendar of Events 61 Advertisers Index 61 Market Report 61 Classifieds
4 • Cow Country • July
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PUTTING IN THE PRACTICE Recently I heard the phrase “practice things with people that are better than you at them.” When telling my father this as a potential muse for this month’s article, he had an immediate reaction. He knew exactly where I was going with that thought. Growing up dad spent a lot of time at the lake water skiing. He thought he was a pretty good skier until one summer in college he spent a day skiing with some friends that were really good water skiers. Watching someone at the top of his craft and having him watch you make corrections is by far the fastest way to improve in any skill in life. I am sure as you are reading this, you may be thinking of something athletically you did in your youth. It is possible it’s a trade you learned since leaving school. Regardless, it is very unlikely you improved in any activity by leaps and bounds without spending significant time practicing with those better than you. Typically, those better than you are better because of practice. Like I have written before, they are probably also diligent in the details. Cow-calf production is an astonishingly complex sector of agriculture. The areas which we have to be competent to be successful are never ending. We are required to be agronomists, mechanics, veterinarians, accountants, economists and ruminant nutritionists. This does not begin to cover the skill required to build fence, repair automatic waters, or fix barn roofs. It does not cover the skill required for low stress animal handling, effectively engaging in pasture rotations, or to make genetic selection. I have no shortage of confidence in myself, but there are not many jobs I just listed where I can’t immediately think of at least one person better than me at them. There is a lot of free information available online and in publications for agriculture, but there is no substitute for learning by doing. There is no substitute for practicing. What is amazing is the willingness of those that are better than you to let you practice with them. You are probably thinking of someone right now. There is someone better than you at pasture management. There is someone better than you with electric fencing. There is someone better than you at low stress animal handling. I have no grand sales pitch or conclusion wrapping up the last 400 words to tell you to come buy cattle from me. I have one bull left for sale this spring season that I expect to be gone before this article is published. I sold out of fall bred heifers nearly immediately after publishing the price sheet. I have nothing left I am going to try to sell you until my 50 bred
heifers are available in September. I will leave you with this thought though. I challenge you to spend a day practicing one of your deficiencies with someone better than you. I also challenge you to approach that day like it’s your first day on earth and you know nothing. In beef production, knowing what you don’t know is possibly the most important thing you can know. Approach that day with an open mind and willingness to learn. If you spend money every single year on seed and fertilizer but still don’t have a good forage program, you may want to spend a day feeding mineral and rotating pastures with someone that has a good forage program. If you have problems with your calves after weaning, you may want to spend a day receiving and vaccinating calves with a backgrounder. If you are like me and do well to change a filter on a tractor, you may want to spend the day in the shop with some row crop farmers. In agriculture, old men sitting around talking in the sale barn or a farm sale are often put on a pedestal for their wisdom and life experiences. This summer take an opportunity to learn from some of these men and women before they become old men and women sitting around and talking about it. Spend that time with them while they can still show you and not just tell you how it might be done better - Joe K . Lowe II M.S. Agricultural Economics
8TH ANNUAL FALL BULL SALE MONDAY, OCTOBER 25TH, 2021
400 OAK HOLLOW DR. - SMITHS GROVE, KY KENNETH D. LOWE (270) 202-7186 JOE K. LOWE II (270) 202-4399 WWW.OAKHOLLOWANGUS.COM July • Cow Country • 5
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OFFICERS: PRESIDENT Chris Cooper 2140 Tates Creek Road Richmond, KY 40475 (859) 200-7711
PAST PRESIDENT Steve Dunning 8200 Antioch Road Hopkinsville, KY 42240 (270) 498-8180
PRESIDENT ELECT Cary King 250 Bright Leaf Drive Harrodsburg, KY 40330 (859) 734-2173
KCA PROGRAM CHAIRMAN Jeff Pettit 5745 US Highway 41 S Seebree, KY 42455 (270) 836-2963
VICE PRESIDENT Andy Bishop 6135 High Grove Rd Cox’s Creek, KY 40013 (502) 350-7609 TREASURER Ken Adams 90 E Horseshoe Ave. Upton, KY 42784 (270) 734-1443
KCA’S PAST PRESIDENTS: 1972-73 Jere Caldwell - Boyle
†
1974-77 Smith T. Powell - Lincoln
2003 Mark Williams - Crittenden
1978-79 Larry Lovell† - Union
2004 Paul Napier - Lincoln
†
1980-82 John Masters† - Mason
2005 Eddie Young - Washington
1983-85 Seldon Hail† - Laurel
2006 Greg Ritter† - Barren
1986-87 Bob Vickery† - Wayne
2007 Don Pemberton - Christian
1988 Glenn Mackie - Bourbon
KBC CHAIRMAN Joe Lowe PO Box 205 Smith’s Grove, KY 42171 (270) 202-4399 KBN CHAIRMAN Cary King 250 Bright Leaf Drive Harrodsburg, KY 40330 (859) 734-2173
REGIONAL DIRECTORS: 2002 Jack Kimbrough - Shelby
†
2008 Billy Glenn Turpin - Madison
1989 Dale Lovell - Muhlenberg
2009 Scotty Parsons - Christian
1990 Steve Henshaw† - Union
2010 Corinne Kephart - Shelby
1991 Jerry Fraim - Grayson
2011 Greg Robey - Mercer
1992 Glen Massengale† - Wayne
2012 Mike Bach - Bath
1993 Dell King - Christian
2013 Don Reynolds - Hart
1994 Kenneth Lowe - Warren
2014 Steve Downs - Marion
1995 Dr. J.L.Cole - Monroe
2015 Gary Woodall - Logan
1996 Harvey Mitchell - Mercer
2016 David Lemaster - Clark
1997 Jim Naive† - Spencer
2017 Chuck Crutcher - Hardin
1998 Shelby Hughes - Logan
2018 Bobby Foree - Henry
1999 Hoppy Lovell - Barren
2019 Tim White - Fayette
2000 Charles Miller - Jessamine
2020 Steve Dunnung - Christian
2001 Larry Clay - Perry
(Deceased)
†
REGION 1 Bobby Bell*.................................270-547-8547 Buddy Cook.................................270-275-1274 Ashley Holloway................................................. Leland Steely...............................270-339-3476 Don Pemberton...........................270-889-3855 Don Clements..............................270-389-0527 Mark Heimgartner.......................270-875-2585 Jeremy Armstrong......................270-668-2056 Blake Munger..............................270-293-8830 Sara Roberson............................270-668-2428 REGION 2 Adam Maulden*..........................270-590-1005 Dennis Smith..............................270-590-2840 Trent Jones.................................270-590-5266 Chuck Crutcher...........................270-272-6269 Allison Nissley.............................270-403-3205 Steven Green...............................270-528-1720 Don Reynolds..............................270-528-5239 Mike Bullock................................270-792-9644 Dr. Kenneth Green.......................270-589-7175 Corbin Cowles.............................270-991-2534 Kirk Cecil.....................................270-692-7698 Chris Imbruglio...........................270-993-0543 Rayetta Boone.............................270-230-5488 Andy Joe Moore..........................270-590-0841 Brian Manion...............................270-868-0253 Phyllis Gentry..............................502-331-1146 REGION 3 Allan Bryant*..............................502-548-1379 Allen Phillips...............................502-220-0948 Wanda Hawkins..........................502-321-5602 Phillip Douglas............................502-552-0688 Larry Bryant................................502-845-4615 Amanda Hall................................859-333-5001 Nicole Goecke.............................606-782-2263 Maynard Stetten..........................502-609-4986 Kevin Perkins..............................502-269-7189 John Allison................................502-220-3170 Lincoln Clifford...........................859-954-0102
What do you think of our new look? We’d love your feedback! Email us at cowcountry@kycattle.org VOLUME 34 • ISSUE 7 176 PASADENA DRIVE • LEXINGTON, KY 40503 • PHONE: (859) 278-0899 FAX: (859) 260-2060 • WWW.KYCATTLE.ORG • INFO@KYCATTLE.ORG Executive Vice President Dave Maples
KBN Industry Coordinator Dan Miller
Publication Coordinator Carey Brown
Director of Kentucky Beef Council Nathan Lawson
KBC Director of Education Niki Ellis
Graphic Designer Todd Brown
KBC Director of Product Development Katelyn Hawkins
Video Production Specialist Danny Coy
Membership Coordinator Nikki Whitaker
National Advertising Sales, Livestock Advertising Network, Debby Nichols (859) 321-8770, Cathy Campbell (609) 581-7644
Staff Accountant Kelly Tucker Director of Kentucky Beef Network Becky Thompson
COW COUNTRY 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. 6 • Cow Country • July
REGION 4 Randy Warner*............................859-771-5280 Lisa Baesler................................859-509-5020 David Lemaster...........................859-749-0258 Ron Ray.......................................859-825-8516 Amy White...................................859-227-2552 Donovan Pigg..............................502-229-9187 Bruce Witt...................................859-585-8889 Danielle Harmon.........................606-748-8059 Ronnie Lowe...............................606-782-5058 Brandon Sears................................................... Danny Callahan...........................859-388-0910 REGION 5 Phillip Reese*..............................859-339-0450 Herman Benge.............................606-862-6451 Tommy Spalding................................................ Dean Craft...................................606-634-0191 Brent Ware..................................606-305-8612 Rick Brewer.................................606-682-2352 Danny Ray Spalding....................859-336-0444 Gary Ford....................................270-402-2194 Aaron Burke................................859-265-1172 Ryan Miller..................................502-827-5027 C. Mike Spalding..........................270-699-6587 Jared Foley..................................270-585-1331 * Denotes member of Executive committee
Presidents Thoughts Wow! How about our new look! KCA’s Cow Country just keeps on getting better and better! The best Ag publication in Kentucky and the USA has been able to finally be published in magazine format. I know this has been a dream come true for staff and many others desiring to this day come. I also know that there is a lot of hard work, dedication and persistence that goes into each edition of Cow Country and I want to thank each one that contributes to its success. Carey Brown has been the heart and soul of Cow Country and I believe that this new magazine format is another reminder to us of her dedication to keep KCA the leader of the pack. We are very fortunate to have a great communications team on staff at KCA. As a fellow cattleman, neighbor, friend and citizen of the United States of America, I know there are many things going on today that disturbs you and me very much and I hear every day the heart felt concerns about your families, our communities and our nation. I see the cattle markets not excelling as other ag commodities. I see our input costs constantly rising. I hear folks talking bad about beef and the false information they are spreading about beef cattle and the environment. I see “fake meat” and “plant based” products competing against us. All of these circumstances could cause folks to become very discouraged and disheartened, but I would like to encourage everyone to not get mad or point fingers at the problems or even cast stones at those that are working hard for us every day. Let’s work together to find solutions instead of just pointing out the problems. Let’s be part of the solution and not make the situation worse. Now more than ever, cattlemen and cattlewomen across our great Commonwealth and across our nation need to pull together and work together and not against each other because we definitely have enough working against us. Let’s be united in our effort to make the cattle business in KY the best in the nation. The staff at KCA and KBC are always willing to listen to your concerns in a reasonable, rational, and mature fashion. The folks at KCA and KBC are working very hard every day on our behalf, defending our cattle business and promoting our product while we work on our farms taking care of our cattle. The cattle producers of KY are very fortunate to have such a highly skilled and talented group of folks at KCA and KBC that really care about us as cattle producers and our livelihood. Another advocate we are very blessed to have on our side is the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. I have been to Denver Colorado and Washington DC and seen these folks in action. I was very impressed at the professionalism and the respect that NCBA has on the national level. After seeing the passion that Colin Woodall and Ethan Lane have for the beef cattle industry, I left DC with the comfort of knowing that the beef cattle industry was in good hands regardless of what you may hear in the news media and social media realms – I saw it first-hand. I would caution you to really check out your information sources because a lot of these social media spokespersons are supported and funded by folks that want to put us out of business. I would sure hate to think of what our beef cattle industry would look like without the representation of NCBA on the national level and KCA and KBC on the local, state and national level. I am proud to be a member of both KCA and NCBA because they represent ALL cattle producers. I would remind you again that we all have a role in telling our beef cattle story and what better place to start than with your neighbor and what better time to start than now! You may even take it to a higher level and call or write your Congressmen and Senators, they love to hear the real life stories of cattle folks and KY farm families.
I would also like to remind you of the Cattle Industry Convention and Trade Show to be held August 10-12, 2021 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, TN, well within a half or days drive for anyone in KY. For more information on this event visit https://convention.ncba.org/. I will leave you with this encouragement from God’s Holy Word: If my people, which are called by name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. (II Chronicles 7:14)
Chris Cooper
Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association President
Today’s cattle industry is being overwhelmed by all kinds of new data. It is amazing how far we have come and how many different traits that are being monitored. But in this fast paced frenzy, are we allowing mathematicians to set the course for so called genetic improvement? The true cattleman knows how important this vast amount of information is but doesn’t get caught up in an endless pursuit for higher numbers. It is a pursuit for genetic consistency that needs to be the industry’s focus. Every facet of the industry longs for consistency. It can be achieved if we are able to select for the optimum level in all traits, from trait selection for an efficient brood cow to an optimum level of carcass merits for the end product. At Stone Gate we have almost 70 years of dedication to producing a consistent, predictable product.
STONE GATE FARMS 1669 MILL CREEK RD. • FLEMINGSBURG, KY 41041 CHARLES CANNON: 606-849-4278 • CELL: 606-748-0747 JERE CANNON: 606-849-4360 • CELL: 606-748-6306 CHRIS CANNON: 606-748-0407 • VICTORIA CANNON: 606-748-5420 WWW.STONEGATEFARMS.COM • STONEGATEANGUS@GMAIL.COM
July • Cow Country • 7
Commissioner’s Corner Ryan Quarles Commissioner of Agriculture including many agribusinesses and processors, are ramping back up to full capacity, I continue to hear about the labor issues affecting our employers. The number one thing I am hearing is that the enhanced unemployment benefit is having a negative effect on hiring. That’s why I’ve asked the Governor to consider eliminating that benefit like nearly half the other states in the United States have. I would much rather us have a “back to work” bonus that people get once they’ve been employed for a while than the way we are currently doing it. If we are truly going to be back to normal, that means fully reopening our economy.
It’s great to be back to normal after more than a year of unusual events and circumstances. Last month, I participated in the Southern Association of State Departments of Agriculture (SASDA) conference, where I spoke with regional directors, secretaries, and commissioners of agriculture about the importance of regional collaboration as we emerge from the pandemic. We also discussed the need for state departments to be unified and keep an eye on the Biden Administration as it continues to implement its agenda, whether on infrastructure or climate change. It was a little preview of what’s to come later this fall as I host the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) for its annual meeting this September.
of Manufacturing, the LAND forums connect farmers and businesses around the state for in-depth discussions about how to raise farm income and make sure our manufacturers are aware of the plentiful raw agricultural resources available in their own backyard before they consider importing foreign goods. With five forums occurring this summer, odds are one will take place in your backyard. To learn more or register to attend, please visit kam.us.com/landforums. Lastly, a quick state fair update: we are moving forward with our preparations for the 2021 Kentucky State Fair. The current plan is for us to have a 2019-style fair with concerts, shows, amusement rides, and all the traditions the agricultural community has come to know and love. The dates are August 19 to 29, and tickets go on sale this month, so be sure to keep up-to-date at kystatefair.org.
As we come out of the pandemic, it’s important that we as a farm community kick the tires and position ourselves well to grow into the future. It’s with that in mind that I’d like to invite you to our fifth year of Linking Agriculture for Networking and Development, or LAND, forums. Hosted with the Kentucky Association
As of June 11, Governor Andrew Beshear has lifted most every capacity restriction. While I think we are all grateful for that, I think many agree with me that the date was long overdue. Now that our businesses,
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Thoughts From Dave Dave Maples Executive Vice President I hope you enjoy the new look of Cow Country. This change has been a long time coming and the desire of many people to move to a magazine format. As we say in the office, “it is all about timing.” The time was right. The move was boosted because of the consolidation within the printing industry. When the printing press stopped at the Louisville Courier Journal and their printing moved out of state it was time to look elsewhere. I think we have landed in a good spot with LSC Communication in Lebanon Junction, Kentucky. LSC is an impressive business and prints 750 plus different magazines. They also offer postal services that would rival any major post office. But what I was really impressed with was their people. Just good Kentucky people that strive to do a good job in putting out a quality product. I have high expectations with the journey that we are starting with LSC. I also have to take a moment to complement Carey Brown and her team for all the extra time they have put into making this issue what it is. Todd Brown has spent many hours resizing the pages and doing the layout for the publication. There is more involved in publishing a magazine than what you see on the printed page. You also have the business
side that has to be changed. Carey and Kelly Tucker have work to get all those changes made and in place. In reality the entire office is involved in some way with the publication. Don’t think for one minute that the office has not been engaged with the many calls and conversations about the current cattle market. The topics have centered around packer concentration, the DOJ investigation of the packers, lack of packer capacity, price discovery, the beef checkoff, mCool and the simple fact that we are losing cow calf producers. Our office has dealt with many of these issue for many years. We don’t ever want to be insensitive to the issue or to the people that have a problem but often if we just step back and look at the real data or dig into who is really behind the issue you can come up with the answers. Sometimes the answer is not what you would expect or want it to be. But I would say look at the data and look at who is really behind the issue and their agenda. Just take packer concentration as an example. Our industry has had four packers that do 80 percent of the business for thirty years. Packer concentration is not something new but some would make you think that it is a new phenomenon. One of the
other points that was brought to my attention is that in 1965 the state of Iowa was the largest cattle feeding state by far and Kansas only feeding a small number of cattle. Today Texas, Kansas and Nebraska are the three largest cattle feeding states. When you look at packer capacity over the last four years there have been more fed steers and heifers that need harvesting than there is packing capacity. 2017 was the first year in twenty years that this occurred. If you look at the history, most of the packing plants were built in the 1980’s. We had more capacity through the years and when cattle numbers declined the packers closed some plants. In 2000 when the ConAgra plant in Kansas burned it was not rebuilt, then in 2008 Tyson closed the Emporia plant and in 2013 Cargill closed the Plainview, Texas plant. After the high cattle prices in 2014 and 2015 cattlemen expanded their herds quickly. Now we have more cattle than we have packing capacity. Today several new plants are being built as well as expansions and renovations of existing plants. So, in three to five years the process will be reversed and we will have more plants and fewer cattle. Rabobank recently did a study of the cattle market and published a nice report and the final paragraph was as follows. “The conclusion of this study shows the current frustration in the market is due to the imbalance of cattle supply to packing capacity and the loss of leverage, not a breakdown of price discovery,” Close wrote in his report.
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10 • Cow Country • July
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Animal Bonding Baxter Black www.baxterblack.com
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Today there is an increased recognition of the bonding process between man and animals. Pets are now referred to in politically correct circles as companion animals. Companion. By definition; an associate, a comrade. It’s not a bad choice of words in a world where families get fractionated, children leave home, neighbors don’t know each other and people get lonely. A pet can be a good companion. Of course, when the word ‘bonding’ is used, they are almost always speaking of the bonding between humans and dogs or cats. Wait... maybe not cats. I’m not sure one can bond with a cat. But, be that as it may, they are never referring to livestock people and the animals in their care. Livestock bonding does occur infrequently in fiction. Babe, the sheepherding pig, bonded with Farmer Hoggett. Mary had her little lamb. Colonel Sanders . . . well, that might be a bad example. I contend that in real life, there is a bonding between stockmen and their creatures. I have got a lot of miles out of pickin’ on cowmen who keep an old cow “one more year”. As a vet I have stood at the squeeze chute every fall as the cows are worked. My job is to give the cow a quick ‘going over’ for physical fitness and do a pregnancy examination. Typical deal; this ol’ mama comes stumbling in the chute at the speed of a sloth on Valium. The head gate clangs shut, never touches the cow. Run a stick down her side, sounds like a prod pole across a picket fence. Her tail head is stickin’ up like a shark’s fin, she’s draggin’ one tit on the ground. I’m thinkin’ to myself, ‘is there any point in putting on a plastic sleeve and torturing this poor beast anymore?’ Then I look up to the headgate and there is that good cowman, rubbing his chin and lookin’ at that old cow like he’s in a jewelry store. ‘Am I missing something here?’ I ask myself, dumbfounded. I finally realized I was missing something. That good cowman and me were not looking at the same cow! See, I was looking at an economic unit. Will she have a calf, breed back and bring another one home next fall? He on the other hand was looking at an animal that had taken him to the pay window for ten years. He might know her even better than that. She might have put him over a fence, or he might have helped her throughout a bad calving. But he knows her and owes her. He wants to make sure she gets the benefit of the doubt. And that’s a bond. As genuine as a cat or dog. Granted he doesn’t think of her as an associate or a comrade, as in “git along little comrade” or “let’s go to the pasture and gather our associates”. But it is a bond just the same, built on respect.
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July • Cow Country • 11
Opportunities Abound For Those Who Will Nathan Lawson Director, Kentucky Beef Council Why is it that we tend to expect things to be without adversity? In The Testing Time, Paul Harvey said, “Storms are a part of the normal climate of life. We sometimes think our generation has been especially discriminated against, but there have always been storms to test men.” We (myself included) have a tendency to think that things should always go well and we instinctively look for someone or something to blame when it doesn’t, discounting the value found in our struggles. We easily forget that there are only highs because of lows, rewards because of hard work, and blessings realized through trials. Our needs become eclipsed by our wants and the joy of the journey is robbed by our longing for the destination. History has proven that challenges will always confront us, but haven’t our greatest opportunities often been born out of times of misfortune and hardship? I believe that now is one of those times, a time of disguised blessings, opportunities in waiting for those who would. In If you were to get to know our children, you would discover one of the banners that waves over our family is the banner of “want to”. Born out of a desire to teach them diligence and hard work, we have made a habit of using the phrase, “want to”. From doing chores to school work, from brushing teeth to pursuing their dreams, they are learning to want to. What stands between us and excellence, is often the “want to”. The beef industry is full of men and women with the drive to work and do good work. Our highest hurdle is sticking together through challenging times. There are simply too few of us (roughly 0.8% of the US population) to be divided.
12 • Cow Country • July
At a glance, the world we live in seems to be full of voids, and imbalances many of which have been created by a lack of willing individuals to stand in the gaps. Yet, for those who will there are tremendous opportunities. What we do in the midst of these trying times will determine the rewards that will be reaped by the future generations of our industry. I’m counting on a generation of doers who will see opportunities rather than obstacles.
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IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION: DRAXXIN has a pre-slaughter withdrawal time of 18 days in cattle. Do not use in female dairy cattle 20 months of age or older. Do not use in animals known to be hypersensitive to the product. See Brief Summary of Prescribing Information below. Demonstrated versus competitive products in several large pen studies. Data on file, Study Report Nos. 1133R-60-05-491, A131R-US-12-028, 2132T-60-01-050, 1133R-60-02-376, 2132T-60-01-063, 1133R-60-03-388 and 11RGDRA01, Zoetis Inc. Animalytix Anti-Infective Therapeutic Category Segment Data Ending MAT Oct. 2020. All trademarks are the property of Zoetis Services LLC or a related company or a licensor unless otherwise noted. © 2021 Zoetis Services LLC. All rights reserved. DRX-00289
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Brief Summary of Prescribing Information for Cattle.
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(tulathromycin injection)
Injectable Solution
Antibiotic 100 mg of tulathromycin/mL For use in beef cattle (including suckling calves), non-lactating dairy cattle (including dairy calves) and veal calves. Not for use in female dairy cattle 20 months of age or older. CAUTION: Federal (USA) law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian. DESCRIPTION DRAXXIN Injectable Solution is a ready-to-use sterile parenteral preparation containing tulathromycin, a semi-synthetic macrolide antibiotic of the subclass triamilide. Each mL of DRAXXIN contains 100 mg of tulathromycin, 500 mg propylene glycol, 19.2 mg citric acid and 5 mg monothioglycerol. Sodium hydroxide or hydrochloric acid may be added to adjust pH. DRAXXIN consists of an equilibrated mixture of two isomeric forms of tulathromycin in a 9:1 ratio. The chemical names of the isomers are (2R,3S,4R,5R,8R,10R,11R, 12S,13S,14R)-13-[[2,6-dideoxy-3-C-methyl-3-Ο-methyl-4-C[(propylamino) methyl]-α-L-ribo-hexopyrano-syl]oxy]-2-ethyl3,4,10-trihydroxy-3,5,8,10,12,14-hexamethyl-11-[[3,4,6-trideoxy3-(dimethylamino)-β-D-xylo-hexopy-ranosyl]-oxy]-1-oxa-6azacyclopentadecan-15-one and (2R,3R,6R,8R,9R,10S,11S,12R)11-[[2,6-dideoxy-3-C-methyl-3-Ο-methyl-4-C-[(propylamino) methyl]-α-L-ribo-hexopyrano-syl]oxy]-2-[(1R,2R)-1,2-dihydroxy-1methylbutyl]-8-hydroxy-3,6,8,10,12-pentamethyl-9-[[3,4,6-trideoxy3-(dimethylamino)-β-D-xylo-hexopyranosyl]oxy]-1-oxa-4azacyclotridecan-13-one, respectively. INDICATIONS Beef and Non-Lactating Dairy Cattle BRD – DRAXXIN Injectable Solution is indicated for the treatment of bovine respiratory disease (BRD) associated with Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, Histophilus somni, and Mycoplasma bovis; and for the control of respiratory disease in cattle at high risk of developing BRD associated with Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, Histophilus somni, and Mycoplasma bovis. IBK – DRAXXIN Injectable Solution is indicated for the treatment of infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK) associated with Moraxella bovis.
Foot Rot – DRAXXIN Injectable Solution is indicated for the treatment of bovine foot rot (interdigital necrobacillosis) associated with Fusobacterium necrophorum and Porphyromonas levii. Suckling Calves, Dairy Calves, and Veal Calves BRD - DRAXXIN Injectable Solution is indicated for the treatment of BRD associated with M. haemolytica, P. multocida, H. somni, and M. bovis. DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Inject subcutaneously as a single dose in the neck at a dosage of 2.5 mg/kg (1.1 mL/100 lb) body weight (BW). Do not inject more than 10 mL per injection site. Table 1. DRAXXIN Cattle Dosing Guide Animal Weight Dose Volume (Pounds) (mL) 100 1.1 200 2.3 300 3.4 400 4.5 500 5.7 600 6.8 700 8.0 800 9.1 900 10.2 1000 11.4 CONTRAINDICATIONS The use of DRAXXIN Injectable Solution is contraindicated in animals previously found to be hypersensitive to the drug. WARNINGS FOR USE IN ANIMALS ONLY. NOT FOR HUMAN USE. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN. NOT FOR USE IN CHICKENS OR TURKEYS. RESIDUE WARNINGS Cattle intended for human consumption must not be slaughtered within 18 days from the last treatment. This drug is not approved for use in female dairy cattle 20 months of age or older, including dry dairy cows. Use in these cattle may cause drug residues in milk and/or in calves born to these cows. PRECAUTIONS The effects of DRAXXIN on bovine reproductive performance, pregnancy, and lactation have not been determined. Subcutaneous injection can cause a transient local tissue reaction that may result in trim loss of edible tissue at slaughter.
ADVERSE REACTIONS In one BRD field study, two calves treated with DRAXXIN at 2.5 mg/kg BW exhibited transient hypersalivation. One of these calves also exhibited transient dyspnea, which may have been related to pneumonia. STORAGE CONDITIONS Store below 25°C (77°F), with excursions up to 40°C (104°F). Use this product within 45 days of the first puncture and puncture a maximum of 20 times. If more than 20 punctures are anticipated, the use of automatic injection equipment of a repeater syringe is recommended. When using a draw-off spike or needle with bore diameter larger than 16 gauge, discard any product remaining in the vial immediately after use. HOW SUPPLIED DRAXXIN Injectable Solution is available in the following package sizes: 50 mL vial 100 mL vial 250 mL vial 500 mL vial Approved by FDA under NADA # 141-244
Distributed by: Zoetis Inc. Kalamazoo, MI 49007 To report a suspected adverse reaction or to request a safety data sheet call 1-888-963-8471. For additional information about adverse drug experience reporting for animal drugs, contact FDA at 1-888-FDA-VETS or online at http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/SafetyHealth. For additional DRAXXIN product information call: 1-888-DRAXXIN or go to www.DRAXXIN.com
Revised: March 2019 40026770A&P
July • Cow Country • 13
FOLLOW US ONLINE
McLEAN COUNTY NEWS Submitted by Nathan Howard
www.kycattle.com www.kybeef.com www.beefinthebluegrass.com www.kybeefnetwork.com www.edenshalefarm.com www.slnllc.com www.cph45.com www.livestockadvertisingnetwork.com www.kentuckycattlemensbeef.com www.beefsolutionsllc.com www.beefsolutionsverified.com youngproducerscouncil.weebly.com www.learntheyards.com The McLean County Cattlemen’s Association awarded a $500 scholarship to Donna Dunn of Calhoun. Donna is active on her family farm raising cattle and tobacco and will be attending Madisonville Community College in the fall pursuing an agriculture degree.
HARDIN COUNTY NEWS Submitted by Chuck Crutcher
KCA Facebook: @kycattlemen KCA Twitter: @kycattle KCA YouTube: The Kentucky Cattlemen’s Assoca. The YARDS: @TheYARDS KJCA Facebook: @kyjuniorcattlemen YPC Facebook: @youngproducerscouncil ESF Facebook: @EdenShaleFarm KBC Facebook: @kybeef KBC Instagram: @kybeef KBC Twitter: @kybeef KBC Snapchat: @kybeef KBC Pinterest: @kybeef KBC YouTube: KYBEEF Kentucky Cattlemen’s Beef Facebook: @kycattlemensbeef
Grilling Kentucky Cattlemen’s Hamburgers at the Master Gardeners plant fair. Katelyn Hawkins with the Kentucky Beef Council looks over the Hardin County Cattlemen’s grilling crew of Bradley Willcox, Jason Buckles and Marion Crutcher. 14 • Cow Country • July
Kentucky Cattlemen’s Beef Instagram: @kycattlemensbeef
BARREN COUNTY NEWS Submitted by James W. Bailey
OBITUARY
Charles “Bud” Smith October 24, 1947 May 17, 2021 (age 73) Charles B. “Bud” Smith, Jr., of Russell Springs, passed away on Monday, May 17, 2021, at his home.
Members of the Barren County Cattlemen’s Association are shown cooking hamburgers for the lunch that was served to the employees of T.J. Samson Regional Health at the T.J. Samson Hospital parking lot, Wednesday, May 12. This was done in observance of National Hospital Week. Pictured from left to right is; Frank Rowland, Mark Craine, Warren Wisdom, Gerry Bowman, Ken Wininger, and Don Wilson.
Born at home, in Russell Springs, on October 24, 1947, he was the son of the late Charles Bascum and Afteel Meece Smith. Bud cattle farmed all his life, being from a family of Angus breeders. Bud was a member of the American Angus Association and the Kentucky Angus Association. He was a member of Russell Springs First Baptist Church. Bud had a great love for God, his family and Angus cattle. He is survived by his wife, Pam Doss Smith, whom he married in June of 1990; his children, Henry Bryan Smith (and Melissa), of Russell Springs, Angela Dawn Ragle (and Mike), of Jamestown, Carla Gail Hart (and Clint), of Russell Springs, and Kacie Hood (and Troy), of Scottsville; his sisters, Charlene Harris and Deborah Popplewell (and Mike), both of Russell Springs; his grandchildren, Paul Allen Dick (and Kim), Katie Dick (and Tyler), Maggie Hart, Natalie Hart, Bryanna Smith, Blane Smith, Clare Hood, Reece Hood and Morgan Rutledge (and David); his great-grandchildren, Kylie Grace Dick and Eli Rutledge; and his step-son-in-law, J.T. Akers. Along with his parents, Bud is preceded in death by his first wife, Donna Gosser Smith; two grandchildren, Steven Dick and Sarah Dick; step-daughter, Lindsay Akers; and brother-in-law, Limon Harris. Active Pallbearers were Mike Ragle, Clint Hart, Troy Hood, Paul Allen Dick, Ryan Doss, Blane Smith and Kenley Conner. Honorary Pallbearers were Chuck Grove, Rabon Smith, Keith Jeffries, Tim Dievert, Gary Coffey and the Directors of First Bancorp. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Kentucky Angus Foundation, 1220 Angus Trail, Lexington, KY 40509 or to the Gideons International. July • Cow Country • 15
FAQs about Bovine Leukemia Virus and Beef Cattle Michelle Arnold Associate Professor, Ruminant Veterinarian
What is “BLV”? Bovine Leukemia Virus (BLV) is an “oncogenic retrovirus” common in cattle throughout the United States. “Oncogenic” means the virus can cause the infected animal to develop cancer. A “Retrovirus” is a unique type of virus that uses an enzyme to reverse its genetic code from RNA into DNA which then gets inserted into the host cell’s DNA and remains there for life. A well-known retrovirus in humans is the human immunodeficiency virus or “HIV” that causes the disease “Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome” or “AIDS”. Cattle infected with bovine leukemia virus have the disease known to veterinarians as “Enzootic Bovine Leukosis” or EBL, but it is most often referred to as “Leukosis”. How common is BLV in beef cattle? Compared with dairy cattle, much less is known about BLV and beef cattle. A survey completed in 2019 of 28 cow-calf herds in the Midwest found at least one BLV-infected animal in 21 of those 28 herds and more than a third of the individual cows tested were positive. A similar study of bulls on 39 Midwest farms found nearly 50% of these operations had at least one positive bull and 45% of the 121 bulls tested were positive. Why should BLV infection and leukosis be of concern when it is so common in cattle? Up until recently, the economic loss from leukosis was thought to be limited to death from cancer (lymphoma) or carcass condemnation at slaughter. However, similar to HIV in humans, now we understand the most important impact from BLV is actually disruption of the immune system that allows more diseases to occur, resulting in suboptimal performance and early culling. Because BLV indirectly allows other disease conditions to flourish, there has been delayed recognition of its importance to overall cattle health. How is the virus transmitted? This is one area of knowledge that is rapidly changing with improved technology. Blood-borne transmission is the most recognized route but it can occur in many ways. Traditionally, BLV was thought to spread primarily through biting flies and also poor management procedures such as injections with used needles, surgical castration/dehorning/ tattooing with bloody equipment, and rectal palpation with dirty sleeves. However, other modes of transmission are possible including, for example, blood exchange during natural service when there is penile or vaginal trauma, and calves may be infected during pregnancy, or through blood exchange during calving or by consuming colostrum or milk while nursing an infected dam. Although BLV can spread through management procedures, recent studies have 16 • Cow Country • July
shown that changing management practices does not dramatically decrease the number of cattle infected. Similarly, transmission by biting insect vectors such as horseflies was found to be important in some, but not all agricultural areas. Perhaps as important as knowing how the virus is transmitted, is knowing which cows are most likely to transmit the virus to their herdmates. A minority of cows are referred to as “super shedders” and are thought to be responsible for most BLV transmission in a herd. A new quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay has recently been developed that measures the amount of virus in a whole blood sample (blood is drawn into a lavender-top tube which prevents clot formation) called the “proviral load” or PVL. “Provirus” is the portion of viral genetic material that is found within the lymphocyte. PVL is a good indicator of infectivity; for example, a cow that is highly infectious may have a PVL = 0.5 or more, which a 0.5 means there is one BLV-infected lymphocyte out of every 2 in the sample. Cattle with an increased PVL are also more likely to be in an advanced disease stage and have more immune system dysfunction. A study published in 2020 found that infection with BLV did not impact a cow’s longevity in the herd unless the disease had progressed to a high PVL. For more information on this test, visit https://mycentralstar.com/diagnosticservices#1556487494253-1f97cd0c-b360 and click on BLV. Do all cattle with leukosis develop cancer? Cattle infected with the BLV virus may experience any or all of 3 distinct stages: asymptomatic (no visible symptoms of disease), persistent lymphocytosis (an elevated white blood cell count for prolonged period of time), and a cancerous stage (leukemia, lymphoma, and lymphosarcoma). • Asymptomatic: Approximately 70% of BLVinfected cattle do not show any symptoms and act as carriers of the virus; • “Persistent lymphocytosis” or “PL” is a condition diagnosed by a 3-fold increase in total lymphocyte count above normal, and that lasts for at least three months but with no cancer development. PL is thought to occur in approximately 1/3 of all BLV-infected cattle. Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell vital in immune system function. Dairy cattle with PL have decreased milk production, increased culling rates and more cancers. Beef cattle are probably similar but studies are lacking to make this claim. • Cancers, including leukemia, lymphoma
and malignant lymphosarcoma, are the most common neoplastic (cancerous) diseases identified in cattle slaughtered in the United States and the largest single reason cattle are condemned during postmortem inspection. However, less than 5% of BLVinfected cattle go on to develop cancer. Interestingly, approximately 1/3 of the cattle with lymphomas did not go through a “PL stage” before developing cancer. Also, younger animals, generally < 2 years old, can develop sporadic forms of cancer (juvenile, thymic and cutaneous lymphoma) that are not caused by the bovine leukemia virus.
Figure 1: Lymphosarcoma in the kidney-Photo courtesy of the UKVDL
What does a cow with cancer look like? The end stage of Enzootic Bovine Leukosis is cancer, usually a malignant lymphosarcoma. Only a small fraction of BLV-infected cattle, < 5%, develop cancer after an average incubation period of 7 years after infection with the virus. The sites most commonly affected by tumors are the heart, abomasum (true stomach), uterus, kidney (see Figure 1), spinal cord, and the area behind the eyeball. Early symptoms often include loss of appetite, weight loss, decreased milk production, and sometimes fever. The most common and usually earliest outward sign of cancer is enlarged lymph nodes which look like fist-size swellings in front of the shoulder, in the flank and other lymph node locations. Some cattle with cancer will show no sign of the disease and die suddenly. Other symptoms depend on the organ affected by the tumor and can include: • Tumors in the heart may cause cardiovascular arrhythmias, enlarged jugular veins, rapid heart rate or heart murmurs. These tumors in the heart are often found in cases of sudden death where the cow is described as “absolutely normal” the day before she was found dead. • Abomasal (stomach) tumors (see Figure 2) cause digestive problems resulting in loss of appetite and weight, constipation or diarrhea, abomasal tympany (bloat), and slow gut
motility. • Retrobulbar (behind the eyeball) tumors can cause bulging eyes, blindness and other ocular signs. • Spinal tumors may cause rear limb weakness or paralysis or other neurologic signs due to tumor growth. How is BLV diagnosed? Blood testing is the first step to identify BLV-positive (infected) animals. An inexpensive serum ELISA test is available at the UK Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory to detect antibodies to the virus. Once an animal is infected and tests positive for antibodies, she will test positive for her lifetime. Testing can be done in animals over six months of age. Peripheral lymphocytosis can be diagnosed by a complete blood count (CBC) on a blood sample submitted to a veterinary practice or vet diagnostic lab. Tumors such as lymphosarcoma are usually diagnosed after death at necropsy but some are identified ante-mortem through a biopsy of an affected lymph node. What should a producer do with a BLV (+) animal? The decision on what to do with a positive animal is best determined through consultation with the herd veterinarian, based on the specific goals of the individual farm. Implementation of a BLV control program depends largely on a comparison of the cost of the disease and the cost of preventing disease. Economic losses stem directly from the inability to sell cattle for export or as bull studs, condemnation of carcass at slaughter if tumors are present, and clinical disease/death loss. Recent research has shown indirect losses through lost milk production realized in lower weaning weights, higher culling rates, and immune system dysfunction also need to be considered. Seed
stock producers and especially those who export internationally are more likely to aggressively pursue BLV-free herd status. Disease control is based on testing and segregating or culling positive cattle, adding only BLV-negative cattle to the herd, and making management changes that eliminate contact with infected blood. Reducing transmission through single-use needles/sleeves and disinfecting equipment between animals, and implementing an integrated pest management program will help reduce the risk of BLV and all other blood-borne diseases. There is evidence of genetic influence on susceptibility to BLV that may become another tool for removing BLV in the near future. If I test my herd and a large percentage are BLV +, do I have to just sell them all and start over? The good news is that you can progressively reduce BLV transmission by removing the most infectious cattle first. A majority of antibody positive cows (ELISA +) pose a low risk of transmitting BLV to their herdmates so identifying and culling only the most infectious cattle first will greatly reduce new cases of the disease. Any cow that is positive on the inexpensive ELISA test (meaning she has antibodies) can undergo the new qPCR test for proviral load then cull or segregate based off results. With this method, the number of BLVinfected cattle in the herd decreases quite rapidly to the point where the inexpensive ELISA blood test for antibodies can be used alone to make culling decisions until BLV is eradicated in the herd. Twenty countries in the world are BLV free now but they started with very low infection rates and therefore could test and remove all animals positive for BLV antibodies. The qPCR for proviral load is an opportunity for countries like the US to remove the most infectious cattle and move a step closer to being BLV-free.
Figure 2: Multiple, firm white tumors may be present in any organ on post-mortem examination. This tumor is lymphosarcoma in the abomasum. Photo courtesy of the UKVDL.
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July • Cow Country • 17
L E G I S L AT I V E U P D AT E S ADDITIONAL CATTLE MARKETS LEGISLATION INTRODUCED IN U.S. HOUSE WASHINGTON (June 8, 2021) — Today, Representative Vicky Hartzler (R-MO-4) introduced the Optimizing the Cattle Market Act of 2021 in the U.S. House. The legislation builds on a growing consensus among cattle producers, industry leaders, and Members of Congress that the current market dynamics — which stunt producer profitability and put undue market leverage on the side of meatpackers — are not sustainable for the beef supply chain. If enacted, the bill would direct the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to create a cattle formula contracts library, and increase the reporting window for “cattle committed” from seven to 14 days. These measures would increase transparency in the industry and improve the opportunity for robust price discovery. Rep. Hartzler’s legislation also reiterates the need for expedited reauthorization of USDA’s Livestock Mandatory Reporting (LMR) program, a step NCBA has long pushed for and reached agreement on with other industry groups. The bill would also require USDA, in consultation with the Chief Economist, to establish mandated minimums for regional negotiated cash and negotiated grid live cattle trade. Minimums would be set within two years of passage of the bill, and would invite stakeholder input through a public comment period and the consideration of key, peer-reviewed research from land grant universities. NCBA’s member-driven, grassroots policy does not support mandated minimums at this time, opting instead for a voluntary solution. NCBA’s grassroots policy also provides for a change in direction should certain conditions be met, which would mean pursuing a legislative or regulatory solution determined by membership.
“The growing momentum we’re seeing in the House and Senate behind addressing these critical concerns in the cattle markets is reflective of the urgency producers are feeling across the country. Extreme market volatility, unpredictable input costs, a shifting regulatory landscape, and natural crises like drought leave cattle farmers and ranchers with a growing list of threats to their continued financial viability. Something needs to give,” said NCBA Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane. “NCBA, alongside our affiliates and other industry associations, shares Rep. Hartzler’s objectives and welcomes the discussion this bill will bring. While a government mandate on regional minimums for negotiated trade continues to be a hotly debated topic among producers, we are encouraged to see a proposal that builds on past efforts and moves us closer toward a realistic finish line.” BACKGROUND Cattle producers have long witnessed the decline of negotiated fed cattle trade, and NCBA has been the leading industry voice discussing how to increase opportunities for producer profitability in this landscape. While the use of formulas and grids help cattle producers manage risk and capture more value for their product, these methods depend upon the price discovery that occurs in the direct, buyer-seller interactions of negotiated transactions. Current academic research has shown that more negotiated trade is needed to achieve “robust” price discovery within the industry. NCBA’s grassroots policy — formed through debate and discussion among members from every sector of the supply chain — states that, “NCBA supports a voluntary approach that 1) increases frequent and transparent negotiated trade to regionally sufficient levels... and 2) includes triggers to be determined by a working group of NCBA producer leaders.” The policy further states, “if the voluntary approach does not achieve robust price discovery... and triggers are activated, NCBA will pursue a legislative or regulatory solution determined by the membership.”
NCBA ECHOES GROWING DEMANDS FOR DOJ INVESTIGATION RESULTS WASHINGTON (June 8, 2021) – Today, Representative Mike Guest (R-MS-3) and Representative Darren Soto (D-FL-9) led a bipartisan group of 52 lawmakers in pushing the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to complete their investigation into the meatpacking sector, and whether or not anticompetitive practices have contributed to a persistent imbalance in the cattle markets. This letter is the latest result of a recent groundswell of bipartisan, bicameral attention into the need to return market leverage to the side of cattle farmers and ranchers and address the startling price disparity between live cattle and boxed beef. Last week, NCBA — with the support of 39 state cattle groups — called yet again for a swift conclusion to DOJ’s investigation into the packing sector. “Market volatility leaves our producers with extreme uncertainty, and this lack of stability and profitability is problematic for the entire beef supply chain,” said NCBA Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane. “The growing motivation in Congress to hasten the conclusion of the DOJ investigation and take action on the issues plaguing our industry’s marketplace is the result of grassroots consensus among cattle producers. Across the country, in sale barns and state affiliate meetings, we’re hearing the same frustration from our members — no matter how the pendulum swings, the leverage always seems to be on the side of the packers. We thank Rep. Guest and Rep. Soto for adding their leadership to this critical effort at a time when cattle producers need stability.” Last month, NCBA worked with Senator John Thune (R-SD) and Congressman Dusty Johnson (R-SD-AL) to deliver a similar, bicameral letter to DOJ.
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.
kylivestockcoalition.org
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NCBA AND PLC READY TO DEFEND PROGRESS ON CLEAN WATER ACT
NCBA JOINS DIALOGUE WITH SEC. VILSACK ON BUILD BACK BETTER INITIATIVE
WASHINGTON (June 10, 2021) — Today, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and Public Lands Council (PLC) issued the following statement in response to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan’s announcement that the agency intends to revise the Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR).
WASHINGTON (June 9, 2021) — Today, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association joined an agriculture industry call with U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Vilsack to discuss the path forward for the recently-announced $4 billion Build Back Better initiative.
“Livestock producers, who manage both their private lands and safeguard public lands, have a deep-seated commitment to protecting and improving our waterways — which is why it is so deeply frustrating when EPA opts for government overreach instead of effective, proven publicprivate partnerships. The NWPR was an immense step forward in rectifying the egregious overreach of the 2015 rule,” said NCBA Executive Director of Natural Resources and PLC Executive Director Kaitlynn Glover. “Any changes to the NWPR that limit or restrict agricultural exclusions, or regulate waterbodies on farm and ranchland, will hinder ranchers’ ability to continue making vital investments in their land that restore waterways, conserve riparian areas, and protect wildlife habitat. We will engage fully with EPA as they move forward to ensure that their revisions respect private property rights and do not squeeze out Western communities and producers who are entrenched, by necessity, in responsible water stewardship.” NCBA and PLC have long fought for workable solutions for cattle producers under the Clean Water Act. Both organizations were instrumental in the repeal of the 2015 Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule and are currently engaged in litigation to defend the NWPR. The NWPR empowered states to manage waterbodies, solidified important agricultural exemptions, and eliminated federal control over isolated waterbodies that do not contribute to downstream water quality. EPA has outlined the following priorities for their intent to revise the WOTUS definition: • Protecting water resources and communities consistent with the Clean Water Act. • The latest science on the effects of climate change on our waters. • Practical implementation for state and Tribal partners. • Reflecting the experience of and input received from landowners, the agricultural community that fuels and feeds the world, states, Tribes, local governments, community organizations, environmental groups, and disadvantaged communities with environmental justice concerns.
During the coalition call, there was a productive, positive dialogue on how funds could best be utilized to strengthen the security of the beef supply chain and increase opportunities for profitability for all sectors of the cattle industry. In yesterday’s announcement, USDA outlined four areas of focus for the program — food production, food processing, aggregation and distribution, and consumers and markets. The prevailing theme on the call was processing capacity, and Sec. Vilsack specifically cited the urgent need to expand capacity in the cattle and beef industry. “I’m extremely optimistic about the priorities Sec. Vilsack expressed today, and the targeted interest he and his team have shown in improving business conditions for cattle producers,” said NCBA CEO Colin Woodall. “The fact that the focus of his comments was on processing capacity signals that the Build Back Better initiative could be directly beneficial for NCBA members. We discussed new local and regional processing facilities, bringing federal inspection within reach for more state-inspected facilities, and maintaining open, transparent markets. A nimble, durable beef supply chain is good for cattle producers and consumers alike, and NCBA looks forward to working with Sec. Vilsack and his team as they build out these resources for producers.” Woodall also reiterated to Sec. Vilsack that demand for U.S. beef is high and cattle supply is high, but the chokepoint in the middle — caused by a lack of hook space — has stifled producer profitability and created unsustainable market dynamics.
NCBA TAKES ACTION TO INCREASE PRODUCER PROFITABILITY THROUGH USDA-VERIFIED LABELS WASHINGTON (June 10, 2021) — Today, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) filed a petition with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) to eliminate the use of “Product of the USA” (POTUSA) and other broad U.S. origin labeling claims for beef products that are potentially misleading to consumers. NCBA believes that current “Product of the USA” labels are a disservice to American consumers and cattle producers alike. The claim implies that
a beef product is entirely of U.S. origin. However, in reality, imported beef products are eligible to be labeled “Product of the USA” as long as the product has been minimally processed or repackaged in a USDA-inspected facility. It is not subject to source verification, is not tied to any kind of food safety standard, and is applied by packers and retailers in a manner that does not deliver value back to the cattle producer. “The Product of the USA label does not meet the expectations of today’s consumers and disincentivizes the use of voluntary, sourceverified claims that allow cattle and beef producers to more effectively distinguish their product in the marketplace,” said NCBA President Jerry Bohn. “There is a growing desire among consumers to know more about the origin of the food they purchase, and it is critical that producers are empowered with opportunities to market their high-quality beef in a way that allows them to differentiate the source of their product from competitors and potentially increase profitability.” For many years, NCBA has supported voluntary efforts which provide producers the opportunity to capture more value through origin labels and corresponding marketing initiatives that are voluntary and source-verified. In lieu of the “Product of the USA” label, NCBA is advocating for a more appropriate generic label, such as “Processed in the USA.” Further, NCBA hopes to work with USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) to proactively educate cattle producers, processors, and retailers about the various opportunities that exist to develop voluntary, verifiable origin marketing claims that deliver tangible benefits to cattle producers without violating rules of trade. The voluntary labels that NCBA supports represent investments made by producers to continually improve their product and meet consumer demand. Marketing through sourceverification will provide a more accurate and truthful description of the product, which will reduce the potential for consumer confusion while increasing the ability for cattle producers to capture additional premiums for their product. BACKGROUND In 2019, NCBA established the Transparency in Labeling Working Group to investigate producer concerns about the “Product of the USA” label. After several months of investigation, research, and discussion, the producer-led working group recommended new policy for NCBA to address these concerns. NCBA producer members approved the policy in 2020, strengthening NCBA’s support for the use of voluntary source of origin claims, and USDA verification of any source of origin claim or label. Moving forward, NCBA’s policy team will work with USDA to ensure origin claims and source labels can only be used if they are from voluntary and verified programs.
July • Cow Country • 19
Summer Grazing: Managing What you Already Have Chris Teutsch UK Grain and Forage Center of Excellence, Princeton, Kentucky As we go through life we often try to fight Mother Nature and the results are normally less than stellar. Sometimes I think we need to take more cues from Mother Nature than we do. One of those cues may be to stop fighting summer grasses that are often considered weeds and start to manage them for grazing and maybe even hay. Crabgrass is one of those grasses (Figure 1). This species often shows up in thin stands of coolseason grasses or areas where the stand has been damaged by hay feeding or traffic. Crabgrass is a species of opportunity. It does not show up in a well-managed cool season stand, but rather where there is an opening in a sod. My friend R.L. Dalrymple, the crabgrass guru, once told me that a crabgrass plant needs a six-inch opening to get started and be productive. When cool-season pastures are grazed closely and often during the summer months, the composition of these stands tend to shift toward crabgrass. Unfortunately, these stands are often not managed to their full potential. The objective of this article is to give you a few pointers that will help you get the most out of volunteer crabgrass stands. Not all crabgrass is created equal. We tend to lump all crabgrass into one category, but there are several species and even improved varieties. Some crabgrass species and even local ecotypes are more productive than others and respond better to improved management. If you want to ensure that you have the most productive crabgrass species, then consider overseeding your volunteer stands with an improved variety of crabgrass (Table 1). More data on crabgrass varieties can be found by clicking on the “Variety Trial” icon found on the UK Forages webpage. Crabgrass seed can be mixed a carrier, like pelleted limestone or even some red clover and annual lespedeza seed and broadcast onto closely
Figure 1. Volunteer crabgrass stand developing in a grazed out annual ryegrass pasture at UK Research and Education Center at Princeton.
grazed pastures in late winter or early spring. The crabgrass seed will begin to germinate in early to mid-May as soil temperatures start to rise. Although crabgrass seed seems expensive, relatively low seeding rates are used. For overseeding pastures, 3-4 lb/A of uncoated seed or 4-6 lb/A of coated seed should be used. Drag closely grazed pastures to stimulate crabgrass stands. Dragging closely grazed pastures helps to get volunteer seed from the previous season or seed that you have broadcast onto the pasture into contact with soil. Good soil to seed contact is essential for germination and emergence. Any tillage or dragging should be
shallow since crabgrass is a very small seed and should be covered no deeper than ¼ inch. Apply 60-80 lb N/A to volunteer stands. Research conducted in Virginia found that like other summer annual grasses, crabgrass responds well to nitrogen fertilization (Figure 2). Nitrogen fertilizer not only increased dry matter yield, but also the crude protein concentration in crabgrass forage (Figure 3). Control broadleaf weeds. Once crabgrass seedlings have 3 to 4 collared leaves, then light applications of 2,4-D can be applied to control broadleaf weeds that have germinated. These
Table 1. Crabgrass performance at UK Research and Education Center at Princeton in 2020. The complete report can be found on the UK Forages webpage. Variety
Proprieter/ Distributor
Maturity1 July 16
Plant Height (in) July 16
Yield (tons/acre) July 16
August 6
September 9
Total
Commercial Varieties-Available for Farm Use Red River
Noble Foundation
41.5
22
2.04
0.74
2.15
4.92*
QuickNBig
Noble Foundation
41.5
20
2.01
1.06
1.81
4.87*
Impact
Barenbrug USA
41.5
20
1.77
1.02
2.19
4.84*
Mojo
Barenbrug USA
41.5
22
1.69
0.80
2.21
4.70*
Mean
41.5
21
1.86
0.90
2.08
4.83
CV%
0
12
15.72
25.25
12.58
8.78
LSD,0.05
0
4
0.47
0.37
0.44
0.72
1. Maturity rating scale: 37=flag leaf emergence, 45=boot swollen, 50=beginning of inflorescence emergence, 58=complete emergence of inflorescence, 62=beginning of ppollen shed. See Table 3 for complete scale. *Not significantly different from the highest numerical value in the column, based on the 0.05 LSD. Nitrogen applicatiioin: 60 lb/acre of actual nitrogen on July 22 and August 13 (Total of 120 lb of N/acre). 20 • Cow Country • July
may include spiny pigweed and cocklebur. Make sure and always following instructions on the herbicide label. Allow crabgrass to reach a height of 6-8 inches before grazing. Allowing crabgrass to become well established before grazing will increase season long productivity. Stop grazing at 3 -4 inches. By leaving residual leaf area, the regrowth of crabgrass will be more rapid and overall productivity will be increased. Crabgrass pastures can be grazed again once they reach a height of 6-8 inches. Apply 30-40 lb N/A in mid-summer. If you are getting plenty of rain, you might consider applying a small amount of nitrogen in midsummer. This will increase late summer growth and improve crude protein levels. Allow stands to go to seed at least once during the growing season. Crabgrass is a summer annual grass that behaves like a perennial through prolific reseeding. This means that it must come back from seed each year. Therefore, allowing it goes to seed ensures that there will be plenty of
volunteer seed for next year. Plant a winter annual in late summer or early fall. Crabgrass is productive from June until September. Planting a winter annual grass like annual ryegrass or a small grain can provide late fall or early spring grazing. As these winter annuals are grazed out, crabgrass will germinate and fill in. OR
This month’s FEATURED VIDEO is Optimizing Existing Forage Resources: Using What the Good Lord Gave us! This presentation was given as part of the 2020 Kentucky Forage and Grassland Council VIRTUAL Fall Grazing
Thicken stands up in the fall by interseeding cool-season perennial grasses. If you want to get more cool-season perennial grasses in the pasture, interseeding the pastures in the fall is the best option. This avoids competition from crabgrass and other summer annuals grasses and broadleaves. This interseeding is best accomplished using a no-till drill.
Conference held on October 27, 28, and
I realize that crabgrass isn’t for everyone, although most everyone has it in their pastures. It is just another resource that you might be able to use to make it through those hot and humid summer months!
is “Crabgrass” by Chris Teutsch,
29. Proceedings of this conference are available at https://uknowledge.uky. edu/ky_grazing/ This month’s FEATURED PUBLICATION Ray Smith, Tom Keene, and Jimmy C. Henning. It can be accessed at http:// bit.ly/342CcRK or found at your local extension office FENCING TIP Avoid using metal t-posts in electric
Figure 2. Impact of nitrogen fertilization on the dry matter yield of crabgrass. Maximum yield was achieved at a nitrogen rate of 305 lb N/A. However, the economic rate likely lies between 100 and 150 lb N/A applied as a split application.
fencing applications. Metal T-posts are durable, easy to install, and cost competitive. Unfortunately, they are also dead grounds if the insulators fail. In contrast, posts constructed of wood, plastic or fiberglass have no or limited conductivity and will not result in fence failure is an insulator cracks or breaks. FORAGE MANAGEMENT TIPS • Graze summer annuals pastures and fertilize if regrowth is desired. • Identify pastures to stockpile for winter grazing. Pastures should be well
Figure 3. Impact of nitrogen fertilization on the crude protein concentration of crabgrass at the second harvest. Crude protein increased in a linear manner as nitrogen fertilization rate increased. Like other summer annuals, nitrogen fertilization improves both yield and forage quality.
drained and have a strong sod. Limit summer grazing so that they are ready to grow as conditions cool and rain comes in late summer. • Do NOT mow hayfields or graze pastures closer than 4-5 inches. • Soil test pastures to determine nutrient needs. • 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.
July • Cow Country • 21
Carving The Path for Others – Women in Livestock Marketing Livestock Marketing Association For decades, the livestock and livestock marketing industries have been influenced by male figures. To many, cow–boys and cattlemen are individuals who spent hours on horseback, driving cattle across the country and pouring blood and sweat into establishing the American West.
you need to try to think like a man and always act professional,” Helen Marie says. “Either they’ll listen, or you’ll listen, but I always try to make the customer be right.”
While they certainly left an impact on the foundation and modernization of our current-day operations, women have also trailblazed paths, opening doors for all to feel a sense of belonging in the livestock sectors.
Her three sons and their wives, grandchildren and great-grandchildren have all helped with the dayto-day operations of the family business at some point. Although Mid America Stockyards recently switched ownership, Helen believes the men and women who came before them allowed her to play a role in shaping their auction business.
Women holding large roles in the livestock marketing industry isn’t a recent phenomenon. In fact, Helen Marie Varner, office manager and matriarch of Mid America Stockyards, Inc. in Bristow, OK, is still actively invested in the livestock marketing industry after nearly 60 years.
“It’s been a great life,” Helen Marie said. “I love it. I’ve been so fortunate to have those in my life, especially my husband and dad, who encouraged me to be a strong front figure in this business. They pushed me to do what has made me the person I am today.”
Helen Marie started working in an auction setting after her parents purchased their first market in Okmulgee, OK. After selling that location, they bought a small, horse auction in Bristow, creating the foundation for what would eventually turn into Mid America Stockyards, Inc. In 1985, Helen’s brother sold his portion of the barn to her and her husband, and after her husband’s passing in 2017, she remained the sole decision maker for the family business.
Robin Varelman, owner of Livestock Exchange, LLC in Brush, Colorado, also grew up with a passion for the livestock auction industry. For nearly 20 years, Robin worked various jobs at auction markets in different locations. In 2014, she knew it was time to take the next step in her career, and she purchased Livestock Exchange. Robin credits her success to her willingness to work, regardless of the task at hand.
“I guess you could say I’m the monarch of the family and still holding on,” Helen Marie said. In her role as office manager, Helen Marie works regularly with buyers and sellers, answers customers’ questions when they call and takes accurate records for their market. Through all her years of experience, though, Helen Marie has learned how to establish long-term relationships with her customers, noting that some buyers and sellers run four generations deep. “When you’re a woman or a lady in my position, 22 • Cow Country • July
“There isn’t a single job I can’t do at my auction, except auctioneer,” Robin said. “I’ll put on my boots and walk through the cattle or help you sort. Whatever you want. That’s my job.” A typical day for Robin starts around 4:30 a.m. on her own cattle operation in eastern Colorado. She arrives at her auction between 6:30 a.m. and 7:00 a.m., except on Sundays. After making coffee and meeting for a morning debriefing with her employees, she focuses specifically on business entities, knowing her local producers will call with a variety of questions in the afternoon.
While she has an established relationship with her customers now, Robin says her background and knowledge in marketing livestock was often overlooked as a female. However, through hard work and determination she proved her goals were producer focused, earning their respect, and ultimately, their business. “They have built trust in me,” Robin said. “I think that’s the most important thing in a relationship, whether it be a friend or someone in a livestock transaction. They know I have their best interest in mind.” While relationships are critical to her business, Robin’s knowledge in livestock production from her own operation gives her an advantage when helping customers maximize value of their livestock. Robin says her goal and job is to ensure her customers are aware of the reasons their livestock may bring a certain price and how to capitalize on sale day. “I watch the markets regularly,” Robin said. “While that’s a factor of our industry I can’t control, I can control how you and your livestock are treated when you come to my facilities.” When thinking about advice for other women looking to get involved in livestock marketing, Robin says that when you do right, then right will follow. “Don’t let hurdles stand in your way – you are meant to learn from them,” Robin said. “If it’s your driven path, do what the good Lord has intended for you.” Although Stephanie Barnett was raised in agriculture, she was convinced her driven path would not lead her to marrying a farmer. Now, she’s the office secretary at Kentucky- Tennesse Livestock Market in Guthrie, Kentucky, a livestock auction operated by her husband, also a farmer, and his family.
Stephanie started working at the auction in 2007, learning the business inside and out. At the time, she was engaged to her husband, Tom, working another job at a local co-op and attending college. In 2012, the main office secretary retired, and she transitioned into the position, eventually where she would take a lead management role in overseeing facility maintenance, accounting, payrolls, reports, employee tasks and many other day-today operations. “While Tom and my father-in-law, Mark, are farming full-time or taking calls from producers, I try to keep everything at the market running as smooth as possible,” Stephanie said. “My job is very broad.” Growing up, Stephanie remembers going to the stockyard and selling cattle with her grandfather, as well as leaving for the fields in the mornings with her dad and uncles. Traditionally, her mother stayed at home to “keep it together”, but Stephanie says that more women in the industry are being noticed on the frontlines as they leave their homes and take on larger responsibilities. “I think for years women flew under the radar,” Stephanie said. “They led silently but were never given true leadership roles. I think now, as women take more roles in agriculture, we’re seeing the ways they are strengthening our industry. Not with the attitude that ‘I can do this better than a
man can do it’, but because they’ve always been leading while supporting their families.” Stephanie says the respect she receives from her husband and father-inlaw, when it comes to making business decisions for KentuckyTennessee Livestock Market, is critical to their success. When discussing issues, advertising ideas, or special sales, they seek and value her input. “I always joke and say that behind every good man there is an even better woman,” Stephanie said. Whether male or female, providing opportunities for future generations to continue traditions in livestock or market settings is a commonality shared by all. As a new mother, Stephanie has
U V X
already been thinking about ways for her 8-weekold daughter to become a leader in the livestock marketing and agriculture industries. “At my age, I’m thinking about how we preserve this lifestyle for the next generation,” Stephanie said. “And I hope that we, as women, can inspire other females to look at those agriculture jobs and auction careers.” While Stephanie may help to lay the groundwork for her daughter’s future, she also understands the strong sense of self-worth needed to step into those roles. “As long as you know your industry, and you know your role, I think you will do exceptionally well,” Stephanie said. “Don’t be afraid to lead.”
Helen Marie (center) with family members who helped at Mid America Stockyards, Inc. Photo courtesy of HelenMarie Varner.
Robin Varelman, owner of Livestock Exchange LLC in Brush, Colorado, stands on the block at her auction. Photo courtesy of Robin Varelman.
Stephanie Barnett, of Kentucky-Tennessee Livestock Market, holds her newly-adopted daughter. Photo courtesy of Stephanie Barnett.
July • Cow Country • 23
NCBA Pushes Congress To Address Areas Of Concern In The Cattle Industry The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association
WASHINGTON (June 1, 2021) — Today, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) led a letter with the support of 37 affiliate state cattle organizations, urging the leadership of the U.S. Senate and House Agriculture Committees to address critical areas of concern in the cattle and beef industry. Specifically, NCBA pushed Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Sen. John Boozman (R-AR), Rep. David Scott (D-GA-13), and Rep. Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA-15) to consider swift Congressional action to • Expand beef processing capacity • Broaden labor policies to strengthen the beef processing workforce • Increase transparency in cattle markets by reauthorizing Livestock Mandatory Reporting (LMR) • Support industry efforts to reform “Product of the USA” generic labeling • Ensure proper oversight of cattle market players by concluding the ongoing U.S. Department of Justice investigation into the meatpacking sector Read the full text of the letter at https://bit. ly/3uX8nio. This grassroots letter comes as cattle producers across the country express mounting frustration at the persistent imbalance in the markets. As much of the country lifts pandemic restrictions, consumer demand for U.S. beef remains strong. Producers also have a high supply of cattle to meet demand. Despite this, producers in the cow-calf and feeder sectors of the industry are facing significant challenges. The profits yielded by high boxed beef prices are not being passed on to the producers supplying live cattle, and the supply chain is being choked by a lack of processing capacity. “Cattle producers are frustrated, and with good reason. In sale barns and state meetings across the country, we’re hearing the same story of sky-high input costs and intense market volatility. Across the industry, there’s a consensus that market dynamics which consistently squash producer profitability are not sustainable for live cattle or beef producers,” said NCBA President Jerry Bohn.
24 • Cow Country • July
“As members of Congress create policy that directly impacts business conditions for our producers, it is critical that they consider the grassroots input and firsthand experiences of folks on the ground. Our letter provides that perspective and reinforces how urgently we need something to shift here to strengthen the security of the beef supply chain. NCBA has strong working relationships with members on both sides of the aisle, we have grassroots policy to back the actions we outlined today, and we hope the conversation in Washington around these critical policy areas will progress quickly.” The letter is the latest move in NCBA’s longstanding efforts to secure greater processing capacity, increase transparency, fight for the future viability of family farms and ranches, and increase opportunities for producer profitability. NCBA’s letter was signed by 37 affiliate state cattlemen’s associations. Several statements of support included below: “I am appreciative of NCBA’s efforts to inform Congressional leadership about the cattle and beef industry’s most pressing issues. This is timely as expanding processing capacity, labor and ensuring cattle producers receive a fair price for their high-quality product is at the forefront of cattle producers’ minds—including the over 12,000 Michigan producers,” said Michigan Cattlemen’s Association (MCA) Executive Director George Quackenbush. “It’s critically important for lawmakers in D.C. to understand the importance of these issues and to know where our producers stand. We, at MCA, look forward to working with NCBA and members of Congress to find solutions that ensure a viable business climate for cattle producers in Michigan and across the country.” “For more than a year, Arkansas’ cattle producers have withstood some of the toughest times the cattle industry has faced in recent memory; it is time for real solutions. This letter to Congressional leadership outlines real, producer driven solutions that can make meaningful changes within our industry, not just inconsequential rhetoric,” said Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association (ACA) Executive Vice President, Cody Burkham. “During
these times, it is imperative our elected leaders have a clear and concise understanding of the challenges impacting the cattle industry. I commend the work of NCBA leadership and staff for their work on these issues, including this letter. The ACA will continue to work with our state and national partners toward meaningful reforms that benefit all cattle producers across the nation.” “The Georgia Cattlemen’s Association is appreciative of the support that our Congressional leaders have shown through the allocation of CARES Act payments for cattle producers over the past year due to the uncertainties and challenges our industry faced due to COVID-19 and significant market volatility. While this relief has been critical over the past year, we still have concerns about the prices our members are receiving for the high-quality beef they produce compared to the significantly higher prices that packers are enjoying,” said Georgia Cattlemen’s Association Executive Vice President Dale Sandlin. “As an industry, cattle producers have resisted a legislative solution to the challenges of market forces, however the industry cannot survive if the current disparity is left unchecked. We appreciate the ability to work with NCBA and other affiliates to find an approach that works for the benefit of the entire industry.” “Pennsylvania cattle producers have been facing extreme market uncertainty and a host of other challenges for more than a year. Their frustration reflects very real challenges to producer profitability, and we need to act to return market leverage to farmers and ranchers. This NCBA-led letter gives clear direction to Congressional leadership about issue areas that need their focus, and points us in the direction of meaningful action,” said Pennsylvania Cattlemen’s Association President Cliff Orley. “With a wide range of voices on the House and Senate Agriculture Committees, it’s more important than ever that our industry clearly articulate our needs to our elected officials. Pennsylvania Cattlemen’s thanks NCBA for its leadership, and we will continue working to strengthen the business climate for producers across the country.”
Kentucky Agricultural Finance Corporation Approves $967,643.50 in Loans Aid bolters cattle, grain, beginning farmers across the commonwealth FRANKFORT (June 11, 2021) – The Kentucky Agricultural Finance Corporation (KAFC) approved $967,643.50 in seven agricultural loans for projects across the commonwealth at its board meeting today. “The investments made by the KAFC today cover a wide array of projects as well as many regions of Kentucky,” Commissioner of Agriculture Dr. Ryan Quarles said. “In particular, critical investments were made for the future of Kentucky agriculture through the Beginning Farmer Loan Program which helps build a strong pipeline of agriculture leaders for the Commonwealth. I appreciate all the work done by KAFC board members to review these applications.” Agricultural Infrastructure Loan Program (AILP) Two Agricultural Infrastructure loans totaling $150,000 were approved for recipients in Allen
($100,000) and Laurel ($50,000) counties. KAFC participates with lenders to provide financing to producers making capital expenditures for agricultural projects through the AILP. Eligible projects include permanent farm structures with attached equipment that improves the profitability of farming operations. Producers may be eligible for up to $150,000 not to exceed 50 percent of the project. Agricultural Processing Loan Program (APLP) Two Agricultural Infrastructure loans totaling $150,000 were approved for recipients in Allen ($100,000) and Laurel ($50,000) counties. KAFC participates with lenders to provide financing to producers making capital expenditures for agricultural projects through the AILP. Eligible projects include permanent farm structures with attached equipment that improves the profitability of farming
operations. Producers may be eligible for up to $150,000 not to exceed 50 percent of the project. Beginning Farmer Loan Program (BFLP) Four Beginning Farmer loans totaling $617,643.50 were approved for recipients in Lincoln ($250,000), Mercer ($130,000), Warren ($100,000), and Wayne ($137,643.50) counties. BFLP is designed to assist individuals with some farming experience who desire to develop, expand or buy into a farming operation. Beginning farmers may qualify for financing to purchase livestock, equipment or agriculture facilities; to secure permanent working capital; for the purchase of farm real estate; or to invest in a partnership or LLC. For more information on the programs offered by the KAFC, contact Ali Hulett, loan programs manager, at 502-782-1760 or email kafc@ky.gov.
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July • Cow Country • 25
is an opportunity to change things for the better, as youth participants will also receive QPR training. QPR stands for question, persuade and refer. It will help them identify when someone might be going through personal struggles and available community resources that may help them. “Since I became a nurse practitioner, my focus has been on access to care,” Marfell said. “It’s important for people to have access to care, especially mental health services, and to know it is okay to seek out services if they need them.” Nathan Lawson, director of the Kentucky Beef Council, said the council recognized the need for better access to care in rural Kentucky and happily provided matching funds to support the program.
Dinner Theater Grows Safety, Mental Health Awareness In Rural Kentucky Katie Pratt University of Kentucky
LEXINGTON, KY - Rural young Kentuckians will have the opportunity to explore their artistic skills while learning about farm safety and mental health through Farmers’ Dinner Theater, a partnership between the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment and the UK College of Nursing. “The theaters are an opportunity to build stronger communities and to get teens to think about how they fit in and understand and identify local issues,” said Julie Marfell, co-lead for the project and associate professor in the UK College of Nursing. “The partnership between the two colleges allows us to look at rural issues from two different lenses, which strengthens our ability to provide communities with the services they need.” The “Farmers’ Dinner Theater” model was originally created by Deborah Reed, professor emeritus in the UK College of Nursing, as an innovative, nontraditional way to educate farmers about occupational health and safety risks. Reed’s decades of community-based research on Kentucky farms found that famers are not persuaded by traditional lectures and pamphlets and don’t have the time in their demanding work schedules to attend educational meetings. The dinner theater format offers a casual setting and harnesses farmers’ affinity toward storytelling to help inform them about commonly unaddressed health and safety risks in their community. Four counties will host programs this year. The first program will be offered as a camp in Warren and Logan counties July 12-15 with 26 • Cow Country • July
“The vibrance of Kentucky’s farming communities is rooted in the health and well-being of our farmers and their families,” he said. “The Kentucky Beef Council is grateful for the opportunity to support programs that equip communities and farm families with the tools they need to help protect the mental well-being of our farmers, our friends and neighbors.” This work was made possible through support from the Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action, an initiative of the AARP Foundation, AARP, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the Kentucky Beef Council.
a performance on the evening of July 15. The weeklong camp will give youth the opportunity to write plays and design sets based on challenges and issues in their area. Local leaders will serve as actors and perform the plays for the community to cap off the week.
Allison Char Charolais Breeder Si AllisonAllison Charolais • Charolais
Daviess and Henderson counties will host a similar program later this year. UK College of Nursing staff will facilitate both programs.
Bulls Avail
“The Farmers’ Dinner Theater program gives us the opportunity to celebrate rural culture and Charolais Breeder Since 1962 values while addressing relatable health and safety themes that affect farm families,” said Jennifer Hunter, assistant director of family and consumer sciences extension and project co-lead. “This year’s performance theme will focus on mental health including suicide awareness. In addition Ø Bull calves out of HCR Answer 2042 and to learning theater techniques and skills, students HCR SPIRIT 4007. will develop a greater understanding of mental health awareness and locally available resources.”Ø Bred for calving ease and growth.
Charolais Breeder Since 1962
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BULLS & HCR SPIRITØ4007. University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension HEIFERS Bulls for both purebred and co Service agents in the four counties are assisting inØ Bulls for both purebred and commercial breeder Bred for calving and growth. youth and communityØ leader recruitment. AVAILABLE Ø Yearlings and two-year-olds available. Øease Yearlings and two-year-olds a
“The agents have been instrumental in helping us develop these programs as they are the authoritiesØ Bred heifers to calve in fall available. on their communities,” Marfell said. John Allison,John Owner Allison, David Carter, Farm Manag Owner “Our goal is to prevent bigger safety issues on 545 Eminence Road 502-706-0075 farms by starting conversations about potential John Allison, Owner David 545 Eminence Road New Castle, KY 40050 issues between family members,” said Janet 545New Eminence 502-220-3170 Castle, Road KY 40050 Turley, Warren County 4-H youth development agent. New Castle, KY 40050
Ø Bulls for both purebred commercial Ø Bredand heifers to calvebreeders. in fall av Ø Yearlings and two-year-olds available. Ø Bred heifers to calve in fall available.
Allison, Owner In Kentucky, 112 out of 120John counties are considered medically underserved. The programRoad 545 Eminence
New Castle, KY 40050 502-220-3170
(502) David220-3170 Carter, Farm Manage 502-220-3170 502-706-0075
Registration Open for 2021 Kentucky Woodland Owners Short Course Carol Lea Spence University of Kentucky
LEXINGTON, KY —The Kentucky Woodland Owners Short Course is the most extensive educational program designed specifically for Kentucky woodland owners. Registration is now open for the 2021 course, which consists of online sessions and in-person sessions tailored toward Eastern, Central or Western Kentucky woodland issues. Administered by University of Kentucky Forestry and Natural Resources Extension, the short course instructs woodland owners on why and how they can manage their woodlands and also connects them with those who can provide technical and financial assistance to do so. “Not everyone knows where to turn to for advice on how to meet their property objectives, but the Woodland Owners Short Course helps woodland owners find the many resources available to them in the state,” said Billy Thomas, UK extension forester in the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment.
Course participants can attend all four on-line sessions and one field session in their region. Online sessions take place on Zoom from 7 to 8:30 p.m. EDT, with two sessions a week held over a two-week period. All sessions will be recorded. Online topics include: • July 27 - The 5 W’s of Woodland Management in Kentucky • July 29 - Woodland Health • August 3 - Woodland Management Practices • August 5 - Wildlife Management Practices • An in-person field session will take place in each region from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. EDT. • West region: Aug. 14 at the UK Research and Education Center in Princeton, Caldwell County. Deadline to register is Aug. 11. • East region: Aug. 21 at UK’s Robinson Forest in Breathitt County. Registration deadline is Aug. 18.
• Central region: Aug. 28 at Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest in Bullitt County. Deadline to register is Aug. 25 Small-scale logging equipment demonstrations will take place at each location. People without woodland property, but who have an interest in learning more about the subject, also are invited to enroll. Registered attendees can watch the live webinars or view the recorded sessions at their own convenience. Registration is required and includes lunch during the field session, a clipboard binder and reference resources. Register online at https:// wosc.ca.uky.edu. Tuition is $15 per person or $25 per couple. Registrants will receive directions for attending the field session they select. Email forestry.extension@uky.edu or call 859-257-7597 for more information. The 2020 Woodland Owners Short Course is a partnership between the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service, UK Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Kentucky Division of Forestry, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, Kentucky State University, Kentucky Tree Farm Committee, Kentucky Woodland Owners Association, National Woodland Owners Association, U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, Kentucky Forest Industries Association, the Kentucky Association of Consulting Foresters and Sustainable Forestry Initiative.
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bgstockyards.com July • Cow Country • 27
Cedar Creek Farms Selling Local Santa Gertrudis Beef Quality You Can Taste Emily Stribling Contributing Writer
able to formulate a finishing ration utilizing feed sources grown locally and on the farm. Having grown up on a large farming operation himself, supporting other farmers in the community was important to Borden as he developed his operation. The careful planning proved its success when the first calves went to harvest in 2017 and 16 of the 18 graded Choice or better. “We proved the USDA graders wrong about the Santa Gertrudis breed,” Borden says. Cedar Creek has continued to have the same success with their growing Santa Gertrudis and STAR 5 herds, with 34 head grading Choice or above in 2019 and 100 head finishing Choice or above in 2020, 10 of which graded Prime. Their success on the rail, however, was not passive. Borden knew what he wanted as he grew his herd: moderate-framed cattle with a year-round calving season to meet his product demands. After inquiring why some of their cattle were not grading as well as others, “we realized we hit a genetic wall with ribeye size and marbling,” Borden says. Utilizing resources available through SGBI, he began further honing his genetics. He started focusing on ribeye area, fat and marbling, not only to improve quality grades but also the overall eating experience for Cedar Creek customers. “At the end of the day, a quality [product] we’re putting on someone’s plate is what we’re after,” Borden says. Implementing new genetics was necessary to accomplish these goals. “It was difficult for us to find exactly what we were looking for,” Borden recalls. With help from Santa Gertrudis Breeders International, he was able to purchase a new bull from Strait Ranches and looks forward to receiving the harvest data on his first calves in December 2021.
Providing the best quality beef at a fair price has always been the mission behind Cedar Creek Farms and owner Jewett Borden, who cannot speak highly enough of the performance of his Santa Gertrudis herd. After serving in the U.S. Navy, Borden returned to his home state of Kentucky in 1997. It wasn’t long before he returned to his agricultural roots and rejoined the cattle business, as well. A few years after the dispersal of his initial cow-calf herd, a visit with a local Santa Gertrudis breeder convinced Borden to enter the business once again, but with a new breed. “I was reminded of my appreciation for eared cattle and the success we had when I was growing up,” Borden recalls. With the purchase of two purebred Santa Gertrudis heifers, his cow-calf operation was back in business. Eager to find a new outlet for his red-hided calves, Borden began finishing 28 • Cow Country • July
an average of 10 head per year, selling sides of beef to friends and family. As word spread about his local beef, interest for purchasing smaller quantities grew. “At that point, we had to make a choice to either sell beef or raise calves,” Borden says, and that’s how the storefront dream of Cedar Creek Farms began. In 2016, Borden reached out to the University of Kentucky and the Kentucky Beef Network for resources and guidance as they set out to design a finishing facility on their Shepherdsville, Ky., farm. The design started as a 40-foot by 40-foot sawdust-packed stack pad with a gravity flow feeder, a designated space for hay and water and fans for climate control. Over the last four years, they’ve grown the space to 40 feet by 120 feet, which became necessary for their increasing demand. With the help of their nutritionist, they were
Looking toward the future, they are about to begin DNA testing their herd in order to aid culling decisions on cows that aren’t progressing Cedar Creek toward their goals. They also hope to continue improving their marbling through expected progeny difference selection and evolving into a purebred Santa Gertrudis herd. Operating a storefront was not the original intention when Cedar Creek Farms began, but “as a small operation, we knew finding a niche market was necessary,” Borden says. Their operation’s development happened organically as local interest grew. “Customers enjoy seeing the operation firsthand and where their food comes from,” he says. “I spend the majority of my time at the store, educating customers and answering their questions.” Customer service and a pound of ground beef are what solidify new customers. “I’ve gained more [returning] customers off a single pound of ground beef than any steak,” Borden explains. “I ask people to do a taste test: purchase a pound of my ground beef and cook it alongside a pound from the grocery store and
R T
Ribbon cutting at Cedar Creek Farms storefront location grand opening. Of the 100 head Cedar Creek Farms harvested in 2020. all graded Choice or higher with 10 finishing Prime
TT
Cedar Creek Finishing Facility
taste the difference. It works every time.” While the COVID-19 era has proved difficult for many, it has further pressed the “buy local” movement. As everyday staples such as beef became sparse at local grocery stores in early 2020, consumers began turning to their local farmers and ranchers. Cedar Creek was happy to provide for their community. At the start of 2020, they were meeting their goals of growing their sales by one-third every year and were on track to eventually process 80 head per year. However, that shifted for the better as Cedar Creek sold out of all their scheduled beef for 2020 within five days in March. As demand continued to grow, however, acquiring extra space at the packer was increasingly difficult. Thankfully, a great relationship with their packer, along with purchasing calves from neighboring farms, allowed them to far surpass the 80-head goal they had set at the store’s inception, finishing/ harvesting 100 head, 85 of which were Santa Gertrudis or STAR 5.
mind, paying close attention to fat and ribeye area. “A few good cattle with good genetics you can grow your herd from makes the best start,” Borden says. “The more data you keep along the way, the easier it is to go back and make changes.” Borden looks forward to watching his grandchildren begin showing Santa Gertrudis cattle and hopes to one day pass Cedar Creek Farms on to the next generation . This article first appeared in the March issue of Santa Gertrudis USA.
While the impacts of COVID-19 are beginning to subside, the desire for buying local is likely to continue. When asked what advice he has to offer others interested in finishing and selling local beef, Borden could not stress enough the impact that finding a quality cattle nutritionist made on his outcomes. He also suggests investing time in finding a packer that is the right fit for you. “I spent two-and-a-half months traveling the state looking for packers,” Borden says. “When you’re selling to the public, what it looks like is just as important as how it tastes. Find a packer that offers quality packaging and the cuts your customers desire.” When it comes to genetic selection, “I can’t say enough about following the genetics that get us the yields and grades we need,” he says, reminding breeders to keep the end product in July • Cow Country • 29
Predictability, Pounds and Profit STAR 5 Females Offer Commercial Producers Countless Advantages Micky Burch Contributing Writer KINSGVILLE, Texas – As many Santa Gertrudis breeders know, the STAR 5 program is a threelevel grading-up system designed for herds to progress from a non-Santa Gertrudis base to purebred status. But along the way, purebred breeders and commercial cattlemen alike have found significant value in Santa Gertrudis F1 females. Santa Gertrudis cattle are becoming well known for complementarity with numerous breeds, as cattlemen understand the value of crossbreeding, heterosis and combining breeds that excel in different characteristics. Breeders have identified multiple crosses with Santa Gertrudis to meet production and marketing objectives, and individual operation goals. Many times, those goals include marketing commercial females and cow-calf pairs. Texas Oaks Cattle Ranch, Brenham, Texas, had a hot spring sale season, first at the San Antonio All Breeds Bull and Commercial Female Sale where one of their pens of pairs sold for $3,000. They followed that up with the Grand Champion
Pen of Females in the All Breeds Range Bull and Commercial Female Sale at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo with a pen of Gert-Hereford cross pairs, which also garnered them $3,000. They rounded out the spring with the Champion Pen at the Southeast Texas Independent Cattlemen’s Association Bull and Heifer Sale, Beaumont, Texas. Their high sellers at this sale included $2,300 for Gert-Hereford crosses and $2,400 for Gert-Red Angus pairs.
come.”
Matt Zibilski, Texas Oaks Cattle Ranch manager, attributes the ranch’s success to the increasing quality of the cattle. “We’re getting the quality to where it needs to be,” he says of producers breeding Santa Gertrudis crosses. “Everybody is doing a better job breeding them.”
Those are the kinds of numbers Jim Corporron, Corporron Acres/Pinnacle Cattle Co., Schulenburg, Texas, has been getting for his pairs at public auction. Corporron has been breeding F1 Red Motts for more than 25 years, and has successfully taken those females back to low birth weight Angus and Brangus bulls to create many of his entries at the San Antonio All Breeds Bull and Commercial Female Sale.
Evidence of that is seen in the noticeably improved cattle performance. Specifically, Zibilski noted the females are docile, sound uddered and wean a heavy calf. Those characteristics keep buyers coming back, he says. “People are seeing that these cattle are fault free,” he explains. “We can sell cattle like these and top sales for years to
By and large, Zibilski believes the cattle are bringing what they’re worth. As a rule of thumb, he quotes a mentor who once told him to multiply the value of a weaned steer by two to come up with the value of a replacement female, and multiple it by three to calculate the value of a cow-calf pair. Oftentimes, that equates to $2,000 to $2,500 – a price-point for many pairs sold this spring.
Corporron explains that it’s the only consignment auction they attend each year, so they go all out and reserve two pens that consist of five pairs each (10 pairs total) for their Red Mott females
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Jim Corporron has been breeding F1 Red Motts for more than 25 years and has successfully taken those females back to low birth weight Angus and Brangus bulls. Photo by Jim Banner, Southern Livestock Standard.
with black calves at side.
changing cattle industry.
“There are usually 200 pairs of all breeds at San Antonio,” he points out. In 2015 and 2016, Corporron Acres consigned the champion Santa Gertrudis-influenced pen, and was then named Grand Champion Pen of Females over all breeds at San Antonio. This spring, the pairs Corporron consigned sold from $2,500 to $3,300 each.
Joe Jones, general manager at Briggs Ranches, Victoria, Texas, has seen the cattle industry change, especially when it comes to making commercial Santa Gertrudis females. For Jones, the primary deciding factor of what breed to cross with a Santa Gertrudis is environment.
Privately, the Corporron family sells upwards of 50 commercial pairs annually, selling the remainder of their females open, and have recently started marketing Red Mott bulls to commercial cattlemen who put them back on Braford, Charolais and Brangus females. “Commercial breeders like heavy weaning weights because the bottom line is profit,” Corporron says of his experience. “These cattle add pounds at the auction barn, and they can retain the females.” Corporron is a true believer that Santa Gertrudis cattle cross with English breeds better than any other Bos indicus breed, creating performanceleading cattle. Regardless of whether a buyer is looking for replacement females, pairs or even a bull, Corporron likes to concentrate on the relationship being built, sighting his appreciation over the years for repeat buyers among the ever-
“We’ve gotten along exceptionally well with Herefords, but recently have started using Brangus bulls because there’s more demand for blacks and Brahman,” he says of selling cattle north and east out of Texas. Briggs Ranches holds two production sales annually. The fall sale will see some 200 to 250 commercial females and 100 bulls run through the ring, where Jones notes that straight-bred Santa Gertrudis sell for similar money as the crossbreds because commercial cattlemen can take them home and breed them to their bull of choice. Recently, Briggs Ranches held their spring sale where, along with guest consignors, 100 commercial females were sold. Bred females garnered an average of $1,800, while those with calves at side ranged from $2,200 to $2,500. The group of females consisted of a range of crosses, including Red Motts, straight reds that were Santa Gertrudis-Brangus cross, and black half-bloods with black calves at side.
Performance and hardiness are the top reasons Jones believes the sales are successful. “Crossbreeding opens up another market for someone to use a different breed of bull,” he points out. “And that’s where the money is made – in efficiency.” Even through dryer conditions, like much of the Southwest part of the country is currently experiencing, the calves are resilient. “The performance is there, we just have to give them a chance to perform,” he says of starting early weaned calves on feed due to drought conditions. Briggs Ranches also consigns cattle to the sales at San Antonio, Houston and Beaumont. While Houston and Beaumont were traditional inperson sales this year, San Antonio was virtual due to COVID-19 guidelines and restrictions. Jones says the sale, held in a real-time auction format, was still phenomenal, with commercial Santa Gertrudis cattle bringing record money. With so many breeds that complement Santa Gertrudis to create a STAR 5, the crossbreeding possibilities are almost endless. “I like a good cow no matter what color she is,” Zibilski concludes. “But these Santa Gertrudis females are good.” . This article first appeared in the June issue of Santa Gertrudis USA. July • Cow Country • 31
SANTA GERTRUDIS DATA DRIVEN • PROFIT PROVEN
To beef up your herd, attend the 43rd Kentucky National Show and Sale, or contact these breeders. Pat & Beverly Heath • Heath Farms 387 Goodin-Williams Rd. Hodgenville, KY 42748 270/358-4820
Nolan, Emily, Luke and Thomas Taylor 477 Logan Lane Leitchfield, KY 42754 270/589-9046
The Smith Family Rebel Ridge Santa Gertrudis 1501 Rebel Ridge Road LaGrange, KY 40031 • 502/222-9667
Randall & Barb Beckman • Beckman Farms 2899 Memory Lane Lanesville, IN 47136 812/952-2190
John & Karen Taylor • Windcrest Farms 1238 Claggett Road Leitchfield, KY 42754 270/879-9556
Charles and Deanna Parker • Parker Farms 5552 Jackson Highway Cave City, KY 42127 270/678-5302
Jewett Borden III • Cedar Creek Farm 696 Cundiff Lane Shepherdsville, KY 40165 502/718-5441
District VI Show and Sale Contact: Craig Lapossa 480 Jordan Village Road Poland, IN 47868 • 812/829-8053
The Mattingly Family 486 Rock Haven Road Brandenburg, KY 40108 270/668-2310
Arrow Creek Santa Gertrudis M. C. Longacre, Jr. Old Cedar Point Farm • Elizabethtown, Ky 270-505-2910
Mosby Creek/Osborne Livestock Sparta, Kentucky 1-859-991-2438
43rd ANNUAL SALE • JULY 16-17 • BOWLING GREEN, KY United Producers Livestock Market
Is Your Fence Your Actual Boundary Line? Candace Smith Steptoe & Johnson, PLLC If you are a cattle owner, you likely have a fence around your property. You might have installed the fence, it may have already existed when you bought the property, or your neighbor may have built the fence. Regardless of who installed the fence, you should make sure that the fence is in the proper location. This is because a fence can be one factor of many that a court considers when someone claims to have acquired another’s land through the theory of adverse possession. Essentially, adverse possession allows someone who has openly and exclusively possessed property for at least fifteen years in a row to take title to that property away from the record owner (such as the deed holder). The theory is built on the idea that the record owner had notice that someone else was claiming to own the property and should have acted before the fifteen-year period expired. There are several requirements that must be met before a court will find that someone has sufficiently possessed property to do so. However, one type
of evidence courts will consider is whether the person claiming adverse possession put a fence on the record owner’s land. In Mudwilder v. Claxton, Claxton sued claiming that he had taken ownership of a small strip of land from the Mudwilders by adverse possession. Mudwilder v. Claxton, 301 S.W.2d 3 (Ky. 1957). The strip of land at issue was located between where Claxton’s actual boundary ended and a fence that was on the Mudwilders’ original property. Claxton presented evidence that he had used his field and the strip at issue as pasture land for cattle; livestock grazed the strip of land; Claxton used the fence to enclose his cattle; and he had strung barbed wire along the fence to keep in the cattle. On the other hand, the Mudwilders did not use the strip of land at all, other than to occasionally cut down a Christmas tree. As a result, the Court found that Claxton “openly treated the property as his own, and utilized it continuously for the purposes for which the land was best suited—pasturing
and timber-cutting.” Id. at 4. Because of this and other factors, the Court ruled that Claxton’s “possession [of the strip of land] ripened into title after the passage of 15 years.” Id. Therefore, while a fence alone might not be enough to create adverse possession, the use of a fence plus other factors like using the property up to the fence line, can be evidence that supports adverse possession. To avoid a neighbor potentially claiming your land by adverse possession, it is important that you ensure any fences around your property are in the correct location. If you suspect that your neighbor is placing a fence on land that you own, you should act promptly and not wait until the fifteen-year period expires. Again, there are many steps that must be followed for someone to take property by adverse possession. If you suspect a fence is in the wrong location, an attorney can help advise you as to your correct boundary line, and help you avoid having your property taken by adverse possession.
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.
July • Cow Country • 33
2021 Cattle Industry Convention Speakers Will Educate, Motivate and Inspire Additional General Session Adds Value to Convention Registration CENTENNIAL, Colo. (June 9, 2021) – The 2021 Cattle Industry Convention will hit all the right notes when country music stars, inspirational speakers and hot topics converge in Nashville, Tenn., Aug. 10-12, 2021. New to this year’s convention is an additional general session, which provides even more value to registration. “We are excited to bring people together once again to learn and be inspired,” says Kristin Torres, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association executive director of meetings and events. “We’ve crafted a program that will give attendees an exceptional experience as well as a great value.” Buzz Brainard, host of Music Row Happy Hour with Buzz Brainard, will emcee convention events. Brainard is a familiar face in Nashville and his voice is well known on SiriusXM radio, Animal Planet and the Discovery Channel. The Opening Session on Tuesday, Aug. 10, sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim, will kick things off with country music singer and songwriter, Kix Brooks. Brooks, who was recently recognized as the National On-Air Personality of the Year by the Academy of Country Music, will talk about his experiences in country music as well as his passion for creating award-winning wines. CattleFax will present its U.S. and Global Protein
34 • Cow Country • July
& Grain Outlook Seminar on Wednesday, Aug. 11, exploring factors driving the market, and Dr. Art Douglas will discuss evolving weather patterns and provide a weather forecast for the United States and the world. This session is sponsored by Zoetis and Purina Feeds, LLC. The final day of convention includes two general sessions, featuring a panel discussion on sustainability, sponsored by Roto-Mix, LLC. Sustainability continues to be a hot topic, with environmental stewardship often making the headlines, but economic viability and social responsibility play roles as well. Session speakers will discuss how the cattle industry offers solutions to the climate change conversation. The Closing General Session on Thursday, Aug. 12, celebrates the industry’s Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Program. In addition to honoring recipients of the BQA Awards, sponsored by Cargill, the session features speaker Jason Brown, a former professional football player who turned in his cleats for a tractor. Brown left the NFL to serve others through farming and he will talk about his life-changing journey from the football field to the vegetable field. Additional educational opportunities can be found throughout the three days including the Learning Lounge, which offers “lightning sessions” on the trade show floor providing
busy attendees valuable educational tips. The Stockmanship and Stewardship demonstration arena provides unique educational experiences featuring sessions on adding value to calves at sale time and horseback handling to improve the bottom line. And, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association “State of the Industry” session, which will be held in the general session room, will feature CEO Colin Woodall, and Vice President of Government Affairs, Ethan Lane, discussing the current climate in Washington. For those arriving early, Cattlemen’s College, sponsored by Zoetis, will highlight cutting-edge topics and top industry leaders such as Tuesday’s keynote speaker, Dr. Jayson Lusk from Purdue University who will discuss industry impacts from COVID-19 and keeping beef at the center of the plate. “Nashville is open for business, and we look forward to seeing everyone in person this August,” says Torres. While the 2021 Cattle Industry Convention is being held in person, a virtual option is available for those who can’t attend. The CattleCon Remix ticket provides live streaming of all general sessions as well as on-demand options for other educational events. For more information and to register and reserve housing, visit https:// convention.ncba.org/.
Meeting Cow Nutrient Requirements in the Winter Starts in the Spring Dr. Katie VanValin University of Kentucky
Cattle marketing solutions to fit your needs!
When the weather forecast calls for a few days of clear skies this time of year, it is a safe bet that many producers are hitting the hay fields to get hay put up to feed their herd this winter. When thinking about the hay requirements for a herd, I often hear discussions about the number of bales required. However, focusing on the number of bales alone is like only looking at half of the picture. Cattle have nutrient (energy and protein) requirements, not a bale requirement. So really, at the end of the day, it won’t be a certain number of bales that maintain the cowherd at a BCS 5 or greater. Instead, supplying enough pounds of total digestible nutrients (TDN) or energy and pounds of crude protein will meet the cow’s nutrient requirements. The exact amount of TDN and crude protein required depends on several factors such as stage of production, environmental factors, and mature cow size, to name a few. The single most significant factor that impacts forage quality or the nutrient content and digestibility of the forage is the stage of maturity at harvest. As the plant matures, the leaf to stem ratio decreases, which means a greater concentration of fiber (a portion of which is undigestible) and decreased protein concentrations. Unfortunately, when cool-season forages are rapidly growing in the spring, it can be easy to miss the optimal stage of maturity to capitalize on forage quality. Weather can also have a significant impact on harvesting hay at optimal maturity. While wet springs can be a catalyst for cool-season grass growth, they can also make finding a window to cut hay difficult. However, this spring, we have had several good opportunities to get hay harvested. Luckily, it takes the same amount of time to cut, rake, and bale good quality hay as it does poor quality hay. It is important to remember that hay is often the base of any of our cattle rations (or perhaps mixed with other forage sources such as silage). The goal should be to meet as much of the cow’s nutrient requirements through the forage as possible and limit the amount of supplement that is needed. The table below shows an example of the cost of supplementation with an 80:20 soyhull and DDGS blend (priced at $210/T) based on hay quality.
Forage
lbs of supplement (lbs/head/d)
Midgestation
Lategestation
TDN: 58, CP: 10.5, NDF: 50
None
TDN: 54, CP: 8, NDF: 55 TDN: 48, CP: 6, NDF: 65
Bowling Green, Ky. Weekly Auction: Tuesday at 1 p.m. CST Henry Smith • (270) 349-8314 Irvington, Ky. Weekly Auction: Monday at 9 a.m. EST Ryan Batt • (812) 620-0769 & John Gibson • (812) 968-4097
Cost of supplementation ($/head/d)
Lactation
Midgestation
Lategestation
Lactation
None
None
-
-
-
None
None
6
-
-
0.63
1.5
4
12
0.16
0.42
1.26
As we can see in this example, supplying medium to high-quality hay can go a long way to meeting cow nutrient requirements while minimizing supplementation costs. Getting hay tested will also help ensure that the right hay gets fed to the right cows by matching nutrient concentrations with nutrient requirements. However, the time to truly impact hay quality is before and at harvest, well before it is fed out this winter.
Owenton, Ky. Weekly Auction: Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. EST Robert Green • (502) 321-6012 Little York, Ind. Weekly Auction: Tuesday at 10 a.m. EST Ryan Batt • (812) 620-0769 Visit us online at www.uproducers.com or find us on Facebook! July • Cow Country • 35
E C O NO MI C & P O L I C Y U P D A T E
Proposed Gift and Estate Tax Changes Laura Powers University of Kentucky basis. In other words, the heir would have to pay capital gains tax on the increased value of the asset over the decedent’s time of ownership. Thus, using the previous example, the heir would have an immediate capital gains tax liability based on a $7000 per acre gain ($10,000-3,000). The current proposal includes an exemption for family-owned and operated farms and small businesses. They are looking for an acceptable definition of family. Would “family” only be a son or daughter (the current proposal) of the decedent, or would this also include nieces, nephews or other relations? Testimony provided by the National Farm Income Tax Extension Committee is that farms are often made up of family members from multiple generations and broader relationships. Some own the land while others are involved in the operation of the farm. It is also unclear whether any transfer taxes saved by the election could be recaptured if the land is sold some time after the decedent’s death, as is the case with the current Special Use Valuation.
You may have been reading in the news lately about proposed changes to various tax laws and their impact on farmers. At this time, we must emphasize the use of the word “potential.” Discussions between lawmakers and the President are ongoing. At this point, however, we would like to provide some background information as to what you may be hearing. Elimination of Step-up in Basis One of the potential changes is eliminating the step-up in basis on farming assets, such as equipment, buildings, and land, when those assets transfer ownership through inheritance. Eliminating step-up in basis would have a potentially drastic, and negative, impact on the capital gains tax due at the sale of those assets by the heir. Under current law, for example, when a farmer dies, the heir gets a new “stepped up” basis on assets they inherit, based on current market value of those assets. If the heir later sells the asset, any capital gains tax due by the heir is calculated on the difference between the sales price and their basis determined at acquisition. As an example, under current law, if the decedent had an original basis of $3000 per acre on land and the market value was $10,000 per acre at death, the heir’s basis would be $10,000 per acre. If the heir sold the land for $12,000 an acre, the capital gain tax would be based on a $2000 per acre gain. Eliminating the step-up in basis would result in the heir owing capital gains tax on a $9000 per acre gain ($12,000-3,000). An additional proposal is that there would be an immediate tax liability due at the time the heir acquires the land as a transfer of the increased
Another question is how this applies to nonland farm assets. Raised cattle and crops and depreciated equipment and breeding stock currently receive step-up in basis. Under the American Families Act proposal, they will have no basis for the decedent’s heir. Self-Rental Another talking point regarding tax changes is eliminating the exclusion of Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT) on self-rentals. When the NIIT passed as a part of the Affordable Care Act, it only applied to Investment Income. Many farming operations have either land or equipment in an entity separate from the operating entity.
Basic (per ac)
Sell Price (per ac)
Gain (per ac)
Maximum Tax Rate
Tax Paid (per ac)
Tax for 100 Acre Farm
Current Law
$10,000
$12,000
$2,000
23.8%
$476
$47,600
Proposed Law
$3,000
$12,000
$9,000
43.4%
$3,906
$390,600
36 • Cow Country • July
At present, when the operating entity pays the asset-owning entity the rental of those assets, there is no NIIT due on that income, regardless of total income. The Biden Administration plans to eliminate that exclusion. Currently, the NIIT applies for income higher than $200,000 (single) or $250,000 (Married Filing Jointly). Therefore, farms that have self-rental among entities will face an increased tax of 3.8% on that income. Example The NIIT also applies to capital gains tax at higher income levels as well. The table below displays a very simplified example of these proposed tax increases, using the earlier example. The Capital Gains Tax computation above is much more complicated than the table implies. The maximum rate of capital gains tax is not computed on all dollars of gain, just on the gain amount over certain thresholds of income. Length of ownership of the asset is also a factor in calculating capital gains tax. The example above is only a demonstration of the proposed tax changes. We are assuming that the overall computation of capital gains tax would remain the same and that the only changes are to the tax rates and determination of basis. For individual tax planning and estimates, seek advice from your tax advisor. Farming is an asset-intensive, yet low-margin business. One of the barriers to entry into farming is the high cost of the assets needed to operate the business. One of the struggles that many farmers face is the availability of cash. Many farmers spend their entire careers paying off the land debt from a 30-year note. It sounds like the next generation will have to do the same. Except they will not be funding an asset, they will have to pay off a tax bill. There have been many government programs lately with the goal of helping young and socially disadvantaged farmers enter farming. Changing the stepped-up basis rules would create significant challenges in attaining these goals. It has also been pointed out that the loss of stepped-up basis, whether applied at death or sale, will increase the cost of land outside the range of farmers who operate at low returns compared to those assets. Thus land may leave agricultural production altogether or become concentrated in the hands of land trusts.
Solar Farming Considerations Alison Davis University of Kentucky An effort to rely on renewable resources instead of nonrenewable has the potential to meet the increased global demand for electricity. Both solar and wind energy have the potential to offset a significant fraction of non-renewable electricity demands, yet it occupies extensive land when deployed at levels large enough to meet global demand. With continuing cost declines, led by federal and state incentives, solar power is playing an increasingly important role in how states meet their energy needs. The following summarizes some of the considerations for individual farmers, communities, and local leaders before any final decisions are made and/or contracts signed: 1. The most suitable land suitable for utility-scale solar farms is flat, clear of trees, structures or other obstacles, free of ponds, streams, and creeks, and bordered by a road that will provide easy access to construction crews. These conditions are typically found on prime agricultural farmland. This can create tensions between land uses and bid up the price of these higher valued lands. Ideally, solar panels should be used on more marginal lands. 2. It is essential that anyone considering the lease of their land has their contract reviewed by a lawyer familiar with the possible terms. In particular, the contract should clearly specify the disposal of panels and the negotiated terms of returning land for production. In some states, solar companies are required to post a bond to protect the property owner from developer bankruptcy, disposal and clean up. 3. It is easy to be swayed by the short-term benefits of leasing your land for solar panels. Currently, solar farms are leasing land at
prices ranging from $400 to $1,200 an acre. These lease rents are higher than the current cash rents Kentucky farmers are receiving for cropland and tobacco. In the short run, there are financial benefits, particularly for older farmers who are battling a downturn in the agricultural economy. It is important to make decisions with the long term in mind. How does the present value of the lease payment offered by the developer compare to the expected long-term return if the land was in production? 4. Through the popularity of utility-scale solar farming, it has become clear how important farm succession plans are. If the term of the lease is expected to outlive one’s life expectancy, then creating a succession plan now is critical. 5. Land maintenance might be lower but it is not negligible. Because solar panels capture 20% of the light for about 5 hours of the day, the rest of that solar energy will pass through to the ground. As a result, grasses, broadleaf weeds, and eventually woody shrubs will grow. There are three ways that solar farms can address this potentially unwanted vegetation: herbicides, mowing, ground cover, or a combination of all three. It’s likely that a non-trivial amount of herbicide will need to be used to minimize weeds. In addition, landowners will still need to maintain equipment to remove unwanted vegetation or soil, grade roads or paths, mowing, etc. Some places have used sheep for some maintenance but this probably won’t be sufficient. Kentucky is not yet a significant player in
utility-scale solar farming. Currently, Kentucky is ranked 40th as measured by the number of annual new installations. California and the other Southwestern states, and even the state of New York, have been dealing with solar farming for several more years and only recently has there been a surge in interest in Kentucky. The topic is one of significant national, state, and local interest particularly since so many of the affected counties didn’t have any plans in place to address this new competition for land. In an effort to allow time for careful planning, dozens of communities across the country have imposed 6- and 12-month moratoriums on new large-scale solar projects. For example, Porter, NY, Riverhead NY, La Sueur County, MN, San Bernardino County, CA, Marshall County, IN, Duanesburg, NY and Northampton County, NC have all recently voted to impose short-term moratoriums. The local community should proactively adopt policies within its planning and zoning ordinances. The policies should complement the community’s existing comprehensive plan. It is important to not make fragmented decisions and instead identify areas of the community, if any, best suited for utility-scale development. The community should also clearly articulate its values and priorities to ensure all contracts meet the minimum standards. Stakeholder engagement is a key component of large-scale solar development. The majority of the proposed projects will require a zoning change which means the community will have an opportunity to voice their concerns in a public setting. The more community leaders and developers understand local values and policies, the easier it will be to develop a project that is acceptable to the community.
July • Cow Country • 37
E C O NO MI C & P O L I C Y U P D A T E
U.S. and Global Food Price Inflation Will Snell University of Kentucky
US Food Price Inflation (1970-2021)
Food price inflation continues to be headline news as the food system adjusts from the lingering effects of COVID-19 amidst tight labor/ag supplies, a resurgence in the U.S. economy, and a host of other factors discussed below. From 2010-2019, food price inflation in the United States was relatively benign, averaging 1.7% annually. Last year, COVID induced major disruptions in our food supply chain ranging from temporary closures of meat processing plants and restaurants to the panic buying of consumers. As a result U.S. food prices overall jumped 3.5% in 2020 -- its second-highest annual level spike over the past 30 years. Since peaking in April 2020, food price inflation eventually trended downward during the latter half of 2020 as the supply chain recovered. However, food prices were up 0.4% in April 2021 – its highest monthly increase since the 1.5% increase in April 2020. For the past 12 months, food prices have increased 2.4%, with a much higher boost for food consumed away from home (+3.8%) versus food consumed at home (+1.2%). Again, this reflects a much higher than the pre-COVID era price hike, but as the chart above indicates today’s food price inflation is still relatively low compared to the decade of the 1970s and 1980s. Retail pork prices have escalated to record levels in recent weeks, plus retail beef prices have been on the rise of late even prior to the seasonal bump generally induced by the summer grilling season. For the past 12 months, pork prices are up 4.9%, compared to 4.2% for beef, but only 0.7% for poultry. For the year, USDA is projecting that food 38 • Cow Country • July
Food Price Volatility: US vs Global (1990-2020)
prices will increase only between 2 and 3% for the year, as inflation for most food categories is expected to be at or below their 20-year historical averages. In a recent article, Lusk and McFadden claim that higher unemployment induced by the recessionary fall-out from COVID-19 reduced the “opportunity cost” of time for many food consumers which allowed them more time to shop for lower food cost alternatives. This combined with an increase in the number of more meals consumed at home (which are generally prepared at a lower cost), and bulk buying amidst supply chain concerns may have helped constrain the growth in food prices during COVID-19. Much of the recent run-up in food prices is being caused by several different factors that the industry experienced last year. While crop prices have retreated over the past two weeks, they still remain considerably higher than a year ago due to soaring exports (especially China) and weather concerns evolving from the grain regions in South America. As has been discussed before in this newsletter, increases in commodity prices alone typically do not have a relatively large impact on food prices since the farm value for every one dollar that consumers spend on food averages only 14 cents. The farm value of highly processed Items such as breads and cereals is generally less than 5% of the food dollar, while higher grain prices typically have a much great impact on retail meat prices.
But the recent surge in food prices goes much beyond higher commodity prices. Other inputs in the food supply chain such as escalating labor costs in response to tight labor supplies in processing plants and restaurants, increased packaging costs, and higher transportation costs moving food products across the nation as fuel prices rebound. On the demand side, a growing economy with a recovery in dining away from home coupled with expanding commodity/food demand overseas puts additional upward pressure on food prices and overall general inflation. Each 1% increase in the price of food in the United States causes the Consumer Price Index (CPI, a general measure of inflation) to increase by 0.14%.While food prices are increasing, the prices of many other goods in the economy such as lumber, automobiles, copper, iron/ steel and semiconductors are increasing at a much higher level. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI May 2021 report, indicates that overall U.S. inflation is running at a 4.2% clip in 2021, the largest 12-month increase since a 4.9% increase recorded in September 2008. While recognizing that inflation is increasing, officials at the Federal Reserve (i.e., the Fed) at the present time believe the recent run-up in prices is temporary as the market adjusts to some short-term supply chain challenges. Consequently, the Fed at the present time does not indicate an immediate change in monetary policy to boost interest rates as a way to slow down the inflationary pressures on the U.S. economy. However, policy-makers and financial markets are watching closely to
observe how increased government spending, supply chain issues, and consumers with excess cash emerging from COVID-19 might have on inflation which would provoke the Fed to respond in the coming months. While U.S. consumers are complaining about higher food costs, food price inflation is a much more alarming issue in many
developing nations where food accounts for one-third to one-half or more of a family household budget compared to less than 10% on average in the United States. According to the latest FAO World Food Price Index, food prices have increased for eleven straight months, recording their highest level since May 2014. Over the past 12 months, the global food price index has soared by more
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.
than 30%. Although food price volatility is newsworthy in the United States., it is typically pale in comparison to what we observe globally. Over the past 30 years, U.S. food prices have moved on average 2.5% annually, versus nearly a 9% average globally.
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
July • Cow Country • 39
USDA To Strengthen Enforcement of Packers & Stockyards Act The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will begin work on three proposed rules to support enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards (P&S) Act, the 100-year-old law that was originally designed to protect poultry and hog farmers and cattle ranchers from unfair, deceptive, and anticompetitive practices in the meat markets. USDA’s pending action was noted in the Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions released today by the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB). USDA intends to take three actions related to rulemaking in the months ahead. First, USDA intends to propose a new rule that will provide greater clarity to strengthen enforcement of unfair and deceptive practices, undue preferences, and unjust prejudices. Second, USDA will propose a new poultry grower tournament system rule, with the current inactive proposal to be withdrawn. Third, USDA will re-propose a rule to clarify that parties do not need to demonstrate harm to competition in order to bring an action under section 202 (a) and 202 (b) of the P&S Act. “The pandemic and other recent events have revealed how concentration can take a painful toll on independent farmers and ranchers, while exposing working family consumers to higher prices and uncertain output,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “The Packers and Stockyards Act is a vital tool for protecting farmers and ranchers from excessive concentration and unfair, deceptive practices in the poultry, hog, and cattle markets, but the law is 100 years old 40 • Cow Country • July
and needs to take into account modern market dynamics. It should not be used as a safe harbor for bad actors. The process we’re beginning today will seek to strengthen the fairness and resiliency of livestock markets on behalf of farmers, ranchers and growers.” USDA is working to make meaningful investments and improvement to build back a better food system that is fair and equitable, more resilient against shocks, delivers greater value to growers and workers, and offers consumers an affordable selection of healthy, affordable food produced and sourced locally and regionally. The planned P&S Act proposals will support USDA’s efforts to ensure fairer and more resilient markets for farmers, ranchers and producers. In the last five years, stresses and disruptions caused by concentration in livestock markets have impacted not only producers, but consumers as well. As USDA works to strengthen the resiliency of supply chains, enforcement of the P&S Act will be critically important. Earlier this week, USDA announced $4 billion in assistance as part of the Build Back Better initiative, an effort designed to strengthen and transform critical parts of the U.S. food system so the food system of the future is fair, competitive, distributed, and resilient. Investments made through Build Back Better will include a mix of grants, loans and innovative financing to address problems throughout the food supply chain; these investments will include efforts to address the shortage of small meat processing facilities
across the country as well as the necessary local and regional food system infrastructure needed to support them. Complementary efforts such as the P&S Act proposals announced today will also seek to put a spotlight on the need for greater transparency and competition in livestock markets and the meat processing sector, including unfair treatment of some farmers, ranchers and small processors. The Unified Agenda released today demonstrates the Biden Administration’s continuing work to build back better and more equitably. The agenda includes actions to deliver on the President’s early commitments to protect health and safety, ensure a robust and equitable economic recovery, advance racial justice, and confront the climate crisis. The Agenda also continues the Administration’s work to remove obstacles to recovery, equity, and sustainability. USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, ensuring access to healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate-smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean-energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.
To Crack or Not to Crack? A Common Question Dr. Jeff Lehmkuhler Extension Professor, University of Kentucky
As grain and commodity prices shoot up, beef producers begin to look for other feedstuffs to find bargains. In many cases, there are no bargains to be found as commodity brokers know the value of the feeds they market. However, occasional opportunities do present themselves from plant shutdowns, shipping issues, and other various reasons. Yet, many folks look past the common feeds available such as corn, oats, wheat, distillers grains and other local feedstuffs hoping to save a few dollars. Corn is a constant in our area and should always be considered as an energy source in ruminant diets.
additives and other factors can have an influence on performance.
One of the first questions I get when I start talking about feeding corn to beef cattle producers is whether it has to be cracked or ground. Seems like an easy question with a simple answer. However, the impact of grain processing has been studied for decades and continues to be researched. The hammer mill was invented in 1840 to process grains for feeding. Flaking of corn was developed in 1962 to gelatinize starch and increase efficiency. Reviews on grain processing were presented in papers dating back almost 50 years by the National Research Council. Yet today, research continues to investigate the impact of grain processing on cattle performance.
I normally cannot convince producers that feeding whole corn rather than cracked corn will result in similar performance. Producers always have the rebuttal that they see whole kernels of corn in the feces. Research conducted by Ohio researchers investigated the interaction of grain processing and forage or roughage level in finishing diets. The poor student working on this project determined the number of corn kernels fed, and wait for it, physically separated corn kernels from the manure! For both weanlings and yearlings, the percentage of whole corn kernels digested was similar at 92%. The weanling calves ate almost 19,000 kernels of corn a day. Some quick math reveals that these steers excreted about 1,500 kernels of corn a day, about 1 pound of corn. Seeing this corn in the feces is the reason producers are convinced they must grind the corn. You are convinced now that you should process the corn, aren’t you?
A review paper on grain processing published around 25 years ago summarized research of finishing cattle and the impact of grain processing. Similar daily gains were noted when corn was fed whole or cracked. Intakes were slightly lower improving feed efficiency when grain was left whole. Ohio researchers published a paper in 2020 in which dry rolled corn was compared to whole shelled corn in finishing diets feeding a typical level of hay at 7% of the diet dry matter. Feeding dry rolled corn resulted in greater intakes which in turn led to close to an 8% or 0.25 lb/d increase in daily gains. Yet, feed efficiency, animal gain per unit of feed consumed, was similar between the rolled and whole corn. Keep in mind the work discussed above relates to finishing diets with low forage levels. Diet composition, feeds selected, hay level, feed
The main site of starch digestion is the rumen and processing can influence the extent of digestion in the rumen. Processing can increase rumen starch digestion from approximately 60% to 80%. This increase in ruminal starch fermentation can increase the risk of ruminal acidosis and digestive upset. Maintaining sufficient forage intake is important to reduce this risk. Today, the substitution of low starch feedstuffs like corn gluten and distillers grains for corn or other grains reduces the risk of digestive upsets.
This Ohio work also demonstrated that processing corn did not have an impact on digestibility of dry matter, starch, protein, or fiber. The authors mention a 44% increase in fecal starch excretion, a variable feedlot nutritionists monitor. This is a huge increase, right? Well, figures can be misleading and there was 100 grams more starch excreted in the feces. However, steers eating whole corn consumed 800 grams more starch compared to ground corn. Overall, total gastrointestinal tract starch digestibility
was found to be similar at 93% for whole and 95% for ground corn. Previous research in Kansas revealed similar results with total GI tract digestibility of corn being 89% and 91%, whole and cracked, respectively. What about performance on higher forage diets? North Dakota researchers investigated daily gains of yearling cattle from 900 to 1,100 lbs consuming a diet containing approximately 30% forage. Average daily gains for cattle receiving whole corn were 7% lower than cracked and 3% lower than ground corn. However, feed efficiency was better for whole corn. When 500-700 feeders were offered a receiving diet with 35% forage, gains were slightly higher for whole corn compared to cracked and gain efficiency was similar. These studies would seem to support the previous feedlot review with little or no benefit in processing corn. In our area, cracked or ground corn is often significantly greater in price than whole corn. Further, if you can purchase whole corn from your neighbor at elevator price, it will often be much less than what one will pay from the feed dealer. In many instances, the cost of processing corn will likely not be recovered unless we are finishing cattle with low roughage diets. I caution readers to consider the forage source and other diet components. If supplementing mature cows on the spring flush, the rapid passage rate and greater orifice for feed to pass out of the rumen will impact kernel digestion and processing corn will likely improve total tract digestibility greater than discussed above. Further, consider the risk of sorting. Cattle have the capacity to sort out larger feed particles, even the size of a corn gluten pellet. When using a loose mineral supplement or a protein source in a meal form like soybean meal or dried distillers grains, rolled corn may be needed to minimize sorting. This needs to be considered particularly if feed additives are in your mineral or meal protein source. So, I ask you, process or feed whole? July • Cow Country • 41
2021 Saddle & Sirloin Portrait Gallery Inductee Named LOUISVILLE, KY - (June 10, 2021) — Officials of the Kentucky State Fair Board recently announced that J. Neil Orth has been selected as the 2021 Saddle & Sirloin Portrait Gallery inductee. The portrait gallery serves as the livestock industry’s hall of fame. The Saddle and Sirloin award is one of the highest honors awarded to individuals in the livestock industry. The award is presented by the Saddle and Sirloin Award Committee based on an individual’s service and industry impact. Neil Orth began to forge a career path in livestock marketing and leadership as a student at Michigan State University. While still a student at MSU, Orth assumed the role of “beef ambassador,” managing and touring International Livestock Exposition grand champion steers throughout the United States. The tour was expanded by USDA to Europe and the 1964 World Trade Fair. The project was designed to promote the U.S. beef industry internationally. In May 1968, Orth began a well-documented, successful career in livestock marketing as a young field representative for Vance Publishing’s (now Farm Journal) publication, Drovers Journal. Neil’s reputation as having a keen eye for phenotype preceded him as a marketer. While making a routine herd visit to sell Drovers Journal advertising, the potential advertiser asked him to evaluate the family’s steer prospects. One calf quickly caught his eye. Orth encouraged the family to bypass any terminal shows and take him to the International. The rest is beef industry history. The steer was the iconic “Conoco” that became the first crossbred steer ever selected as the 1969 grand champion steer at the International Livestock Exposition held in Chicago, Illinois. Two years later, Orth and his father bred a promising crossbred calf, “Bold Move,” that was selected by Dr. Gary Minish as the 1971 grand champion steer at the International.
Board and is displayed throughout the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Kentucky. The collection includes more than 350 original oil portraits, dating back to the early 1900s. To be considered for the Saddle & Sirloin Portrait Gallery, an individual must be nominated by his or her peers. Neil Orth’s nomination was supported by more than 150 letters from industry leaders, university leaders, professional colleagues, and national and international breed association executives. Orth’s official induction into the Saddle & Sirloin Portrait Gallery will be Sunday evening, November 14, 2021, at the North American International Livestock Exposition, held at the Kentucky Exposition Center.
During Orth’s 18-year career at Drovers Journal, advertising sales increased dramatically year over year, Vance Publishing launched a national pork publication, began to offer ring service in Canada and the publication became the premier voice of the livestock industry. After two years, Neil was promoted to director of field staff and advertising sales manager. Under Orth’s leadership, the field staff was the most respected team of marketers in the beef industry. His ability and commitment to teach and mentor young people became a bellwether of industry contributions. In 1983, he was named associate publisher. In 1988, Neil Orth’s career path changed from livestock marketer and publisher to breed association executive when he became the executive vice president of the International Brangus Breeders Association, San Antonio, Texas. Orth approached his new career path with the same passion for progress as he had in all previous endeavors. During his 12-years of Brangus leadership, the association made tremendous progress through an aggressive commitment to research; improved and expanded genetic selection tools; and structured commercial marketing programs and video auctions. During a difficult economic period, Orth’s leadership led to the doubling of the association’s cash reserves and greater breed acceptance. Orth’s executive management and leadership skills were again recognized, and he was named executive vice president of the American-International Charolais Association in 2000. As a breed executive, Orth’s mastery in improving the financial position of the associations under his leadership is the result of his ability to assess inefficiencies and willingness to make change. His unassuming leadership and administrative style enabled him to effectively see association issues in the broader context of the beef industry. Three generations of young people have benefitted from Neil Orth’s mentoring and leadership and parlayed their experiences into successful careers in the livestock industry. Two major breed associations have made course corrections and continue to own a share of the beef industry market. During a career that spans more than 50 years, Orth has received multiple awards from his peers, served on national and international boards and made significant and lasting industry contributions. The Saddle & Sirloin Portrait Gallery is curated by the Kentucky State Fair 42 • Cow Country • July
Toxin Infested Fescue?
WE CAN HELP!
A three-year research study was conducted using Fescue 7 at Morehead State University. Researchers measured cow body condition scores, calf weights, hair shedding, body temperature, and cow behavior. Cows provided the Fescue 7 mineral had significantly better body condition scores, quicker hair shedding, lower body temperature and grazed more frequently during the heat of the day. We believe that our research shows that Fescue 7 mineral can be an effective tool in combating heat stress associated with fescue toxicosis.” Dr. Patricia Harrelson
Associate Professor of Animal Science at Morehead State University
Gro-Tec • Austin Stevens • Willy Campbell 1-800-535-3354 • (606) 748-9987 • www.gro-tec.com
T O MATO TA C OS 1 tbsp. olive oil • 1 lb. Kentucky Cattlemen’s Ground Beef • 1 medium onion, chopped 1 (1-oz.) packet taco seasoning • 4 large, ripe beefsteak tomatoes • 1/2 c. shredded Mexican cheese blend 1/2 c. shredded iceberg lettuce • 1/4 c. sour cream 1. In a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add onion and cook, stirring, until soft, 5 minutes. Add ground beef and taco seasoning. Cook, breaking up meat with a wooden spoon, until no longer pink, 8 minutes. Drain fat. 2. Flip over tomatoes so they’re stem-side down and slice to make 6 wedges, being careful not to cut all the way through. Carefully spread open wedges. 3. Divide taco meat among tomatoes, then top each with cheese, lettuce, and sour cream or any of your favorite toppings before serving.
TOMATO TACOS
KJCA Leadership Camp Niki Ellis Director of Education, Kentucky Beef Council
The Kentucky Junior Cattlemen’s Association hosted a modified Leadership Camp for 20 junior members. The camp is geared for members ages 13-21 to grow beef industry knowledge, network with other beef cattle enthusiasts and have fun. This year the University of Kentucky Department of Animal and Food Science hosted our junior members with a great all day agenda. Members were welcomed by the college ambassadors, heard from multiple animal science staff, toured the meats lab, and had immersive demonstrations at the beef and sheep units. KJCA would like to thank department chair Dr. Richard Coffey for putting together a great day for our camp as well as all of the university employees involved in the agenda.
44 • Cow Country • July
July • Cow Country • 45
MEMBERSHIP 9,962
11,000 GOAL DIVISION 1
DIVISION 2
DIVISION 3
2021
2020
Diff
Purchase Area
77
75
2
Out of State
67
59
8
Pendleton
66
66
0
Campbell
66
74
-8
Clinton-Cumberland
65
67
-2
Grant
65
69
-4
Woodford
62
58
4
Nelson
60
64
-4
Taylor
60
67
-7
Robertson
56
56
0
Mason
56
56
0
Oldham
55
55
0
Whitley
52
54
-2
Lewis
52
54
-2
Ohio
52
55
-3
(UP TO 75 MEMBERS)
2021
2020
Diff
Rockcastle
51
59
-8
Henry
145
148
-3
Todd
48
51
-3
-3
Metcalfe
142
142
0
Hancock
45
49
-4
315
-9
Monroe
132
149
-17
Wayne
43
49
-6
277
295
-18
Edmonson
126
92
34
Breckinridge
275
336
-61
Montgomery
41
50
-9
Bath
269
302
-33
Pulaski
124
132
-8
Highlands
40
39
1
Madison
261
272
-11
Daviess
124
135
-11
Nicholas
38
38
0
Lincoln
255
239
16
Fleming
122
99
23
Union
36
66
-30
Christian
253
225
28
Franklin
117
134
-17
Carroll
35
45
-10
Grayson
246
281
-35
Caldwell/Lyon
110
98
12
Simpson
35
46
-11
2021
2020
Diff
Barren
471
525
-54
Shelby
335
338
Adair
306
Marion
(151+ MEMBERS)
(76-150 MEMBERS)
Logan
207
213
-6
Allen
106
146
-40
Estill
33
40
-7
Hart
195
228
-33
Northeast Area
104
88
16
Calloway
32
30
2
Bracken
177
179
-2
31
26
5
Trimble
102
114
-12
Bullitt
Scott
95
117
-22
Knox
29
45
-16
Jackson
93
93
0
McLean
27
26
1
Boyle
92
91
1
Butler
27
33
-6
Trigg
89
90
-1
Clay
26
33
-7
McCreary
26
38
-12
Washington
173
201
-28
Clark
173
224
-51
Meade
172
172
0
Hardin
170
187
-17
Mercer
161
156
5
Harrison
160
160
0
Garrard
89
106
-17
Green
158
158
0
Bourbon
87
84
3
Hopkins
25
29
-4
Crittenden
23
23
0
Livingston
22
27
-5
Menifee
17
20
-3
Henderson
11
13
-2
Magoffin
10
8
2
Powell
8
8
0
Eastern Foothills
7
5
2
Gallatin
7
8
-1
Pike
6
3
3
River Hills
6
7
-1
Harlan
2
1
1
Bell
1
3
-2
Casey
153
194
-41
Louisville Area
85
91
-6
Northern Kentucky
151
159
-8
Mountain
84
93
-9
Warren
147
165
-18
Anderson
81
113
-32
Laurel
138
156
-18
Twin Lakes
79
79
0
Owen
77
77
0
Muhlenberg
77
81
-4
Webster
75
86
-11
Larue
138
166
-28
Jessamine
136
203
-67
Totals as of: June 8, 2021
2021
2020
Diff
9,962
10,738
-776
Fayette
75
87
-12
Russell
74
77
-3
If you need anything for membership, please contact Nikki Whitaker at (859) 278-0899 or nwhitaker@kycattle.org 46 • Cow Country • July
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
COUNTY DUES Dues are $30 except for the counties listed below. 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 Lincoln ............................$25 Louisville Area ................$20 (Jefferson, & Spencer) Magoffin ..........................$20 Menifee ...........................$25
Mountain........................$25 (Breathitt, Knott, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Morgan, Owsley, Perry & Wolfe) Oldham ...........................$35 Taylor ..............................$20 Twin Lakes ......................$25 Warren ............................$40 Wayne ............................$25 Whitley ............................$25 Woodford ........................$25
TOTAL MEMBERSHIP: KCA
KJCA
$
$
TOTAL CONTRIBUTIONS: CATTLEMEN’S FOUNDATION DONATION (voluntary)
$
TOTAL AMOUNT ENCLOSED: ALL DONATIONS TO KCF ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE
$
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
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 Join online at www.kycattle.org or call (859) 278-0899
July • Cow Country • 47
Katelyn Hawkins Director of Product Marketing, Kentucky Beef Council
Healthy Herds, Farm Families, and Tasty Traditions. These three pillars of Kentucky’s beef industry were the focus of Kentucky Beef Council’s 2021 Beef Month campaign highlighting that Beef Starts Here in Kentucky. Throughout May we utilized in-person community events, interviews with media outlets, social and digital advertising as well as promotional giveaways to share with consumers across the Commonwealth the hard work and dedication Kentucky’s farm families have to providing all Kentuckians quality beef. Beef month kicked off with a proclamation signing at the Capitol in Frankfort with Governor Beshear as well as a proclamation event at the Kentucky Department of Agriculture offices with Commissioner Quarles celebrating Kentucky as the largest beef producing state east of the Mississippi River. KBC staff looks forward to beef month proclamation signing each year; however, this year was even more special as it served as the start of a string of in-person events we were unable to attend in the previous year. This year staff attended events at Hinton Mills in Flemingsburg, Blue Grass Lexington, Blue Grass East, Hardin County Plant Day, Casey County
Heifer Sale, Shelby County Beef Day, Southern States Beef Day in Paris, and Madison County Beef Day during which we shared summer grilling tips, featured recipes, promotional items and were able to capture free media coverage through radio interviews. While in-person events were popular this year, we were able to reach thousands more through paid and free tv and radio segments and ads. Cooking segments with WBKO in Bowling Green, WAVE 3 in Louisville, LEX 18 and WKYT in Lexington featuring the Grilled Beef, Summer Squash, and Onion Salad, Bourbon Blueberry and Brie Bacon Cheeseburger, and Grilled Steak Charcuterie Board recipes. Through a sponsorship with 98.1 The Bull, positive beef messaging was played at the top and bottom of every hour during beef month highlighting Kentucky’s farm families. Additionally, staff was able to capitalize on numerous free radio spots with stations in Flemingsburg, Shelbyville, Richmond, and Bowling Green promoting beef recipes, resources for information about beef, and our ultimate beef month giveaway featuring summer grilling essentials and a Traeger Grill.
You will continue to see beef messaging on your television throughout the summer as we have partnered with Lexington stations ABC 36, WKYT, and LEX 18 to feature farm families and tasty traditions. Starting in May, ABC 36 will do a beef farmer of the month feature showcasing the many faces behind beef in our state. WKYT will feature anchors and farmers showcasing some of their favorite beef recipes during Summer Grillin’ segments that will air Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday thru Labor Day. We are even beefing up the 2021 Summer Olympics with beef advertising on LEX 18 the entire month of July during Olympic coverage. We may have wrapped up our 2021 beef month celebration, but Kentucky’s beef industry should be celebrated every day. As you go about your daily routine, I encourage you to find opportunities to share your beef story with consumers and family members around you. Whether you craft a catchy social media post, correct someone’s misguided statement about beef, or assist someone lost in the meat department at your local grocery store, do not hesitate to share your beef story. The smallest moments can make a big impact.
RR R
Beef Day at Bluegrass Regional Marketplace
KCA President Chris Cooper and KBC Chairman Joe Lowe accompany Governor Andy Beshear signing the proclamation proclaiming May as Beef Month.
T
48 • Cow Country • July
Madison County Beef Day
BURGER WEEK
IS COMING! Lexington:
July 5 - 11 Louisville:
July 19 - 25
SS
Fleming County Cattlemen’s on-air with radio at the Hinton Mills Flemingsburg Beef Month
S
R
KCA President Chris Cooper and KBC Chairman Joe Lowe with Commissioner Ryan Quarles at the Kentucky Department of Agriculture Beef Month Proclamation event
Danielle Harmon (Bath Co.) tapes gilling segments with DeAnn Stephens from WKYT
July • Cow Country • 49
Keeping Up With Kentucky Beef Network Becky Thompson Director, Kentucky Beef Network Here are some things going on with the Kentucky Beef Network this month. Kentucky Livestock Marketing Association and the Kentucky Beef Council become sponsoring partners for BQCA Certification. The Kentucky Beef Network and University of Kentucky are pleased to announce that the Kentucky Livestock Marketing Association and the Kentucky Beef Council will be sponsoring the enrollment costs for Beef Quality and Care Assurance (BQCA) certification through December 31, 2021. The Kentucky BQCA program takes national BQA practices one step further to provide a holistic program for Kentucky producers, by adding cattle handling and animal care component to the training models. Educational modules provide the best management practices for handling cattle and providing for their well-being, in addition to training on the core principles of BQA. The cost of BQCA enrollment is normally $5, however from March 1- December 31, 2021, the Kentucky Livestock Marketing Association and the Kentucky Beef Council will be sponsoring the enrollment costs, making it free for producers. Producers interested in taking advantage of this opportunity can visit www.kybeefnetwork. com for access to the online training platform or contact their county extension office for training opportunities.
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. KBN Webinars KBN has been busy the last few months hosting webinars on marketing and profitability for your operations, below is an outline of some you may have missed and others that are coming up! Please visit www.kybeefnetwork.com/webinar for a link to each session recording and registration information. *Steptoe & Johnson Webinar Series: Through our partnership with the law firm Steptoe & Johnson we discussed estate planning, insurance protections, fencing laws, and mitigating risk on your farm.
Who is the Livestock Marketing Association and why should you sell at auctions? Questions to the Sale Block (Q&A Session with Stockyard Managers) Value Added Marketing Opportunities through your auction. *Pricing & Market Outlook Webinar: Dr. Kenny Burdine with the University of Kentucky discusses price discovery, a lookback at our 2020 markets and looking forward to 2021 markets. *Cow Calf Profitability Conference: Our UK partners reformatted the conference into a webinar series including topics on, key profit drivers, managing for profit, bale grazing, controlling hay costs, and profitable stocking rates. 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
*Kentucky Livestock Marketing Association Webinar Series:
Certified Preconditioned for Health www.cph45.com
New ways to market cattle or understanding more about how cattlemen can influence the price of their calves are always an interest for cattlemen. To help address this issue in more depth KBN partnered with the Kentucky Livestock Marketing Association to host three sessions.
University of Kentucky Forages http://forages.ca.uky.edu/ University of Kentucky Extension Publications http://www2.ca.uky.edu/agcomm/pubs.asp
K E N T U C K Y B E E F N E T W O R K FA C I L I TAT O R S
Ben Lloyd
Whitesville, KY (270) 993-1074 strridge@aol.com
50 • Cow Country • July
Ron Shrout
Winchester, KY (606) 205-6143 ronshrout@bellsouth.net
Charles Embry
Cave City, KY (270) 646-5939 dale.embry@yahoo.com
Jeff Stephens
Ewing, KY (606) 782-7640 stephensbeef@gmail.com
Jacob Settles
Springfield, KY (859) 805-0724 jacob.settles4@yahoo.com
Oh Kentucky; springtime in your midst is a hopeful and promising time. A time to plan and aspire for better conditions going into next season.
Eden Shale Farm Update Dan Miller Industry Coordinator, Kentucky Beef Network
The sun warms and the grass grows, and with hopeful regularity a gentle shower of rain crescents the shimmering waves of green forage. With your lush hillsides you tease us into thinking we may harvest your bountiful excess of green grass you have bestowed us. But it is a trick! With the thought of full hay barns, you lure us into mowing your fields only to have it precipitate unexpectedly as the baler is being pulled from its winter slumber of the barn. To our neighbors we go; to borrow a small piece of hope. To fluff up our chances, and scatter about the idea that the crop is not lost. The tedder tries to fight off the oppressing humidity, but Oh Kentucky, you do not relent! Through scattered showers and hazy hills we remain optimistic for the balers return. And when it returns, chasing windrows and spitting out green bales of promise, we pray for mechanical stability of at least one more day. The appearance of the challenge has faded, but not the need to work diligently to secure the fruits of our labor and reduce the exposure for our new winter stockpile. With hay barns full and equipment put away, we delight as dark clouds build in the western sky. Its then Oh Kentucky, that we thank you for a bountiful harvest from your rolling hillsides.
July • Cow Country • 51
P RE SS R ELEA S E S
has Revolutionized Tissue Collection for Genetic Testing in the Cattle Industry The exponential growth in demand for high quality protein has been a major topic of discussion in the cattle industry for the past decade. The main question - how will cattle producers meet the demand with fewer natural resources and larger strain from input costs? Enter the latest technologies, novel hormone-based growth implants, innovative reproductive technology, and most recently, unprecedented insight from genetic testing. As science continues to identify traits directly related to profitability (such as feed efficiency and disease susceptibility) and consumer preference (like tenderness and flavor), the opportunities for producers to use genetic testing to inform better herd management seem endless. Until now, there have been a few problems. The amount of added labor required to collect blood or hair samples, as well as the added stress from working animals more than required, have been barriers for large scale genetic testing. Datamars Livestock is hoping to change that with the Z Tags Tissue Range. The Z Tags Tissue Range offers two options: a Tissue Sampler only and a Tissue Sampler+ Tag. The tissue sampler takes a fast, clean, and accurate sample in an easy, low stress way. The Tissue Tagger is easy to load and works like any other tag applicator. For the Tissue Sampler, just squeeze the handles until you hear a click, which lets you know the sample has been collected. The all-in-one Tissue Sampler+ Tag also has the added value of applying a visual tag at the same time. The process is straightforward and identical to applying a conventional ear tag - just squeeze the tagger until you hear two clicks and you’re done. Unlike blood or hair, tissue samples are robust and longer lasting. z Tags also uses a dry desiccant; this allows the sample to last for up to 6 months without refrigeration. Other tissue samplers use a wet desiccant, which risks sample destruction if the vial is cracked and the liquid leaks. Furthermore, tissue samplers take a larger sample, giving you the ability to run more tests than with a conventional blood or hair sample. Verne Atmore, VP Datamars Livestock, says: “With the exponential growth in demand for high grade protein, the ability to prove and test genetics is crucial for producers of these quality breeds. Being able to select high value production traits that increase productivity, not costs, is key to maximizing a farmer’s bottom line.”
quality, disease-resistant cattle. About Datamars Livestock A business division of Datamars, Datamars Livestock is a global leader in animal identification products, farm infrastructure products, animal performance and monitoring, and animal health delivery products. Datamars Livestock includes globally recognized brands Z Tags, Temple Tag, Tru-Test, Speedrite, Patriot, NJ Phillips and Simcro.
This combination enables animal health, precision livestock management, and improved protein production. All of this is underpinned by a cloud software solution called Datamars Livestock, which connects producers with information about their livestock, bolstering their intuition and enabling them to make precise, informed decisions. For more information, please visit livestock.datamars. com.
A SANTA GERTRUDIS WEEKEND in beautiful Kentucky Bluegrass Country
43rd KENTUCKY NATIONAL Show & Sale
JULY 16-17, 2021
“We’ve combined ease and quality into a product that is not only a great compliment to our Z Tags suite of management and official identification tags, but sets us apart from the market with the unique dry desiccant for tissue preservation.”
UNITED PRODUCERS STOCKYARDS • BOWLING GREEN
The Z Tags Tissue Tagger can also be used to apply most of the two-piece range including EID tags, reducing the number of tools you need.
Kentucky Junior Association Show July 17 following the sale
Making the right decisions for livestock productivity is crucial. The new Z Tags suite of tissue products gives producers credibility with proof of genetics and information to maximize profitability. Producers can be confident making decisions to improve genetic traits and produce high52 • Cow Country • July
Show July 16. 10:00 am • Sale July 17, 11:00 am To Consign or Catalog Request contact Darren Richmond • 423 364 9281 • djrichmd@gmail.com
Sale Chairman Nolan Taylor • 270 589 9046 • nolantaylor18@gmail.com
KENTUCKY
GELBVIEH
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 AA LAND & CATTLE
BRIAN W. DYER, DVM
BAR IV LIVESTOCK
FULL CIRCLE FARMS
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
Owner/Manager GELBVIEH/BALANCERS 2050 Glasgow Road Burkesville, KY 42717 Brian, Lauren, Kristen Barry, Emily & Julia (270) 864-5909
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
Registered Gelbvieh Cattle Brad Burke 989 Metcalf Mill Road • Ewing KY 41039 (H) 606-267-5609 • (C) 606-782-1367 gbb789@windstream.net
BEE LICK GELBVIEHS
KILBOURNE GELBVIEH
Eddie Reynolds 277 Old Bee Lick Rd. Crab Orchard, KY 40419 606-379-2281(H) 606-305-1972(C) Bulls & Females for sale
East Bernstadt, KY 606-843-6583 cell 606-309-4662 Black Replacement Heifers & Bulls Available Embryo transplant & AI sired calves
BRAY’S GELBVIEH CATTLE
MOCKINGBIRD HILL FARMS
Niles & Betty K Bray 1568 Bray Ridge Road Bedford, KY 40006 (502) 255-3584
Registered Gelbvieh Cattle Shane Wells 10172 Provo Rd. Rochester, KY H: 270-934-2198 C: 270-791-8196 swells@logantele.com
CD FARMS
Meeting modern industry demands: • Added Fertility • Increased Efficiency • More pounds of calf weaned American Gelbvieh Association 303-465-2333 | www.gelbvieh.org Advertise today! Contact Pat Tilghman for more information at 270-670-8449 JOIN KENTUCKY GELBVIEH ASSOCIATION
Clayton & Debbie Cash 1214 Ottawa School Road Brodhead, KY 40409 (606)-308-3247 • (606)-758-8994
Mail to: 690 Lick Branch Road, Glasgow, Kentucky 42141 FARM NAME
Gelbvieh-Balancer Bulls & Heifers For Sale by Private Treaty YOUR NAME
CLIFFORD FARMS
3459 KY HWY 1284E Cynthiana, KY 41031 Since 1937 (859) 234-6956
PLEASANT MEADOWS FARM
Cattle for sale at all times.
Gary & Pat Tilghman Carrie & Daryl Derossett Family 690 Lick Branch Road Glasgow, KY 42141 270.646.7024 • pleasantmeadowsfarm@hotmail.com
UPCOMING EVENTS
ADRESS
CITY, STATE
ZIP
(WATCH FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION IN FUTURE ISSUES)
AUGUST 2021: KENTUCKY STATE FAIR • GELBVIEH/BALANCER SHOW LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY FALL 2021 • GELBVIEH FIELD DAY NOVEMBER 2021• NORTH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL LIVESTOCK EXPO LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY
PHONE
Dues are $25/year, payable to Kentucky Gelbvieh Association
HERITAGE FARM Tom McGinnis 1024 Hinkle Lane • Shelbyville, KY (502) 633-1634, home • (502) 633-5100, work (502) 655-0164, cell HIGHVIEW FARMS 827BEEF West Main Street BOYD CATTLE Campbellsville, Kentucky 42718 6077 Helena Road Mayslick, 41055 Ben T.KYCox DVM Charlie Boyd II: (606) 584-5194 • Blake Boyd: (606) 375-3718 (270) 469-5517 www.boydbeef.com • cboyd2@maysvilleky.net Registered Angus Cattle
RAGS ANGUS FARM Richard and Glenda Stallons 1240 Dogwood Kelly Road Hopkinsville, KY 42240President: Jason Crowe Home: (270) 885-4352 Cell: (270) 839-2442Vice President: Henry B Smith rstallons@bellsouth.net Secretary/Treasurer: Anne DeMott
ANGUS THE BUSINESS BREED
HILL VIEW FARMS Jimmy Gilles 5160 Lee Rudy Road Owensboro, KY 42301 (270) 686-8876 (270) 929-537
BRANCH VIEW ANGUS VIEW 927HILL Old Liberty Pike FARMS • Hustonville, KY 40437 Jimmy Gilles (859) 238-0771 • www.branchviewangus.com James S. & LuAnn Coffey, Donald & Donna Coffey 5160 Lee Rudy Road Annual Production Sale- 2nd Saturday in April
JOHNSON FARMS ANGUS Angus Bulls & Females Slaughters, KY Keith: (270) 635-0723 Reese: (270) 635-1137
531 Rick Rd. Park City, KY 42160 Eddie Burks • (270) 991-6398 JOHNSON FARMS ANGUS www.burkscattle.com
LYNN CREEK FARMS Kris and Sara Lynn 2184 Bardstown Rd Springfield KY 40069 573-721-6663
Owensboro, KY 42301 (270) 686-8876 BURKS CATTLE CO. (270) 929-537
Angus Bulls & Females Slaughters, BURTON & SONSKY ANGUS Joe D. or Karen Burton • Bryan Carman, Partner, Ridgeview Angus 480Keith: Hominy(270) Hill Rd.635-0723 Nancy, KY 42544 Joe: (606) 305-3081 • Bryan: (606) 875-3453 Reese: (270) 635-1137
Located 15 miles West of Somerset • klburton01@windstream.net
Bulls & females sold private treaty. Inquiries Welcome. Sell only what we would buy.
LEGACY COFFEY ANGUSFARMS FARMS 661Daniel Hopewell Road and Lindsey Reynolds Liberty, KY 42539 1709 South Jackson Highway Matt Coffey: (270) 799-6288 Hardyville, KY787-2620 42746 Dewey Coffey: (606) Genetics Maximum Profitability since 1984 (270)for528-6275/(270) 528-6120 www.legacyfarmsangus.com
JASON & KATIE CROWE ELI HASKELL MILLERS RUN FARM 10825 Red Lick Road William N. Offutt IV Irvine, KY 40336 (859) 582-0761 3790 Paris Road Georgetown, KY 40324
(859) 533-2020 • millersrunfarm@aol.com
DAVIS BEND FARMS www.millersrunfarm.com 2315 Davis Bend Road Heifers for sale Canmer, KY 42722 timmothyljeffries@gmail.com www.davisbendfarms.com Tim: (270) 528-6605 Leslie: (270) 528-6435 MUD RIVER •ANGUS
SHAW FAMILY ANGUS Jim & Cathy Shaw 935 Miller Road • Hodgenville, KY 42748 SMITHLAND ANGUS FARM (270) 769-8260 5202 East Hwy 80, Russell Springs, KY 42642 www.shawfamilyangus.com Charles “Bud” & Pam Smith: (270) 866-3898 Quality Registered Angus Cattle since 1975
Henry & Melissa Smith: (270) 866-2311
SMITHLAND ANGUS FARM 5202 East Hwy 80, Russell Springs, KY 42642 Charles “Bud” & Pam Smith: (270) 866-3898 ST. CLAIR FARMS REGISTERED ANGUS Henry & Melissa Smith: (270) 866-2311
Eric & Sherry St. Clair 13433 Falls of Rough Road • Falls of Rough, KY ANGUS 40119 MT. MORIAH ANGUS FARMS ST. CLAIR FARMS REGISTERED Bob, Kathy, and Rob Clark (859) 748-5558 & Sherry St. 617-1079 Clair Home: (270) 257-2965 Eric • Cell: (270) 1446 Kennedy Bridge Rd. Harrodsburg, www.stclairangus.com KY 40330 13433 Falls of Rough Road • Falls of Rough, KY 40119 Bob: (859)339-2610 • Rob: (859)612-1594 Home: (270) 257-2965 • Cell: (270) 617-1079 Performance Tested Bull & Female Sale April 2016 mtmoriahfarms1@gmail.com www.stclairangus.com www.mtmoriahangus.com
Performance Tested Bull & Female Sale April 2020
TAMME VALLEY FARM FOUR KINGS ANGUS TAMME VALLEY FARM 250 Bright Leaf Dr. • Harrodsburg, KY 40330 Jacob Tamme, Owner-Operator Jacob Tamme, Owner-Operator Cary & Kim King (859) 583-7134 (859) 583-7134 jacob.tamme@gmail.com Carymking@yahoo.com • fourkingsangus.com jacob.tamme@gmail.com Cary Cell: (859) 613-3734 • Colby Myers - Purebred Manager www.tammevalley.com & Find us on Facebook! www.tammevalley.com & Find us on Facebook! TRIPLE D ANGUS Nathaniel & Darla Denham
OLD BARK FARM 370 Ferrill Hill, Buffalo, KY 42716 Kenley Conner 270/358-8057 Registered Angus Cattle
TWIN CREEK FARMNathaniel(Bub), Sarah, Ashley Denham Shawn, Melissa, Devin (606) & Dylan Gibson 423-2457 • (606) 875-0780 (270) 337-3072 or (270)tripledangus.com 692-5304 Dennis & Emily TWIN CREEK FARM PLEASANT HILL FARMS 270/337-2128 or 270/402-4338 Shawn, Melissa, Devin & Dylan Gibson Gil, Mary, Corbin, Caroline, and Catherine Cowles Watch for us in Branch(270) View Production in April 337-3072 or (270)Sale 692-5304 500 Rockfield Richpond Road EASANT HIL L
L
P Rockfield, KY 42274 f a r m s (270) 843-9021 • Fax (270) 843-9005 Located 7 miles west of Bowling Green, 1/2 mile off Hwy 68/80 n
n
Dennis & Emily 270/337-2128 or 270/402-4338 Watch for us in Branch View Production Sale in April
KENTUCKY ANGUS ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
10 Oak Hill Drive FALL CREEK ANGUS Russellville, KY 42276 448 Corder Farm Road WayneKY Johnson: Monticello, 42633 (270) 303-6354 Ronnie GaryCorder Johnson: (270) 498-7208
L I S T I N G S A V A INAME LABLE Contact Anne DeMott (606) 782-1118
(606) 348-6588
GREAT MEADOWS ANGUS ASSOCIATION FOUR KINGS ANGUS 39th Annual Spring Sale • April 24, 2021 250 Bright Leaf Dr. • Harrodsburg, KY 40330 www.greatmeadowsangus.com Cary & Kim King Paul Bradshaw (502) 817-7502 Carymking@yahoo.com • fourkingsangus.com
SHAW FAMILY ANGUS Jim & Cathy Shaw RAGS ANGUS FARM 935 Miller Road • Hodgenville, 42748 Richard andKY Glenda Stallons 1240 Dogwood Kelly Road Hopkinsville, KY 42240 (270) 769-8260 Home: (270) 885-4352 Cell: (270) 839-2442 www.shawfamilyangus.com rstallons@bellsouth.net Quality Registered Angus Cattle since 1975
FARM NAME
WHITE FARM Tim and Amy White 3664 Military Pike • Lexington, KY 40513 Home: (859)223-0326 Tim: (859) 509-5401 • Amy (859)227-2552 whitefarm4@twc.com
KENTUCKY ANGUS ASSOCIATION
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION NAME
ADDRESS
Cary Cell: (859) 613-3734 • Colby Myers - Purebred Manager FARM NAME
HAINES ANGUS FARMS 5294 Park City- Glasgow Rd. Park City, KY 42160 OLDHaines, BARK Kenneth Jr.:FARM (270) 749-8862
370 Ferrill Hill, Buffalo, KY 42716 KenleyANGUS Conner 270/358-8057 HAMILTON FARMS Registered Angus Cattle Eddie Hamilton 2142 Stilesville Road Science Hill, KY 42553 edjohami@aol.com (606) 271-1286 PLEASANT HILL FARMS Bulls and Females for Sale
CITY
CITY
PHONE 1
Gil, Mary, Corbin, Caroline, and Catherine Cowles EMAIL 500 Rockfield Richpond Road HERITAGE FARM Tom McGinnis KY 42274 Rockfield, 1024 Hinkle Lane • Shelbyville, KY (270) 843-9021 • Fax (270) 843-9005 (502) 633-1634, home • (502) 633-5100, work Located 7 miles (502) 655-0164, cell west of Bowling Green, 1/2 mile off Hwy 68/80 54 • Cow Country • July
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Return to: Anne DeMott • 1220 Angus Trail • Lexington, Kentucky 40509 • Annaul Dues $35 Return to: Anne DeMott 1220 Angus Trail • Lexington, Kentucky 40509 • Annaul Dues $35
KENTUCKY ANGUS ASSOCIATION NEWS Anne Stewart DeMott, Secretary/Treasurer
We just wrapped up the Kentucky Angus Preview show that was back at the Fair and Expo Center in Louisville. It was a great event with an awesome set of cattle. I would like to thank all the participants and their parents for attending and supporting the Kentucky Angus Association.
I would also like to thank the Preview Committee for all their hard work getting the event organized and fundraising to support it. It’s great to be a part of such a great breed of cattle with even greater families behind it. The National Junior Angus show is now set for Grand Island, NE and our Kentucky juniors are busy getting things ready to attend. They will make lifelong friends and learn many valuable lessons. We wish them safe travels and good luck as they represent Kentucky. We hope that your summer is productive and your able to make progress on the list of things needed finished while
@kyangusassoc •
@kyangusassociation
also enjoying family and friends. Continue to tell the story of what we do daily in Agriculture every chance you get. You never know when that person is going to take up the message and campaign for our success. Be sure to get out and enjoy GOD’s creation every chance you get. If myself or any of the other officers and directors can be of assistance feel free to let us know. We are here to help you in any way we can if you have concerns or ideas. See you down the road. Jason Crowe Kentucky Angus Association President
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1. Reserve Senior Champion Female DBF Peggy JHL 861 won reserve senior champion female at the 2021 Atlantic National Super Point Roll of Victory (ROV) Angus Show, May 30 in Lebanon, Tenn. Emily Jeffries, Canmer, Ky., owns the winning female. 2. Junior Champion Bull S A F Diesel 9060 won junior champion bull at the 2021 Atlantic National Super Point Roll of Victory (ROV) Angus Show, May 30 in Lebanon, Tenn. Blane Smith, Russell Springs, Ky., owns the winning bull. 3. Owned Senior Champion Female DBF Peggy JHL 861 won owned senior champion female at the 2021 Atlantic National Regional Preview Junior Angus Show, May 29 in Lebanon, Tenn. Emily Jeffries, Canmer, Ky., owns the winning female. 4. Junior a Showmanship These young Angus enthusiasts won top honors in junior A showmanship at the 2021 Atlantic National Regional Preview Junior Angus Show, May 29 in Lebanon, Tenn. Pictured from left are Ellee Marksbury, Buffalo, Ky., champion; Ella Michael, Fisherville, Va., reserve champion; Gavin Kuhn, Manchester, Tenn., third place; and Miss American Angus Ellie Kidwell. 5. Bred-and-owned Intermediate Champion Bull BJF KCC Spade 0660 won bred-and-owned intermediate champion bull at the 2021 Atlantic National Regional Preview Junior Angus Show, May 29 in
Lebanon, Tenn. Taylor Jeffries, Canmer, Ky., owns the winning bull. 6. Bred-and-owned Junior Champion Heifer BJF KCC Elba 9326 won bred-and-owned junior champion heifer at the 2021 Atlantic National Regional Preview Junior Angus Show, May 29 in Lebanon, Tenn. Taylor Jeffries, Canmer, Ky., owns the winning heifer. 7. Bred-and-owned Reserve Senior Heifer Calf Champion S A F Lucy Pride 9135 won bred-and-owned reserve senior heifer calf champion at the 2021 Atlantic National Regional Preview Junior Angus Show, May 29 in Lebanon, Tenn. Bryanna Smith, Russell Springs, Ky., owns the winning heifer. 8. Reserve Grand Champion Steer Covells Black Ops won reserve grand champion steer at the 2021 Atlantic National Regional Preview Junior Angus Show, May 29 in Lebanon, Tenn. Catherine Cowles, Rockfield, Ky., owns the March 2020 son of PVF Blacklist 7077. Andy Higgins, Auburntown, Tenn., evaluated the 237 entries. 9. Grand Champion Bred-and-owned Steer McCauley Bravo H2 won grand champion bred-and-owned steer at the 2021 Atlantic National Regional Preview Junior Angus Show, May 29 in Lebanon, Tenn. Adam McCauley, Cynthiana, Ky., owns the April 2020 son of Colburn Primo 5153. Andy Higgins, Auburntown, Tenn., evaluated the 237 entries.
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It has sure been a busy and little hectic this spring from getting hay up to planting crops and breeding cows. All those tasks that are just part of what we do. Summer and getting caught up are just around the corner……I hope. Although I’m not sure we ever get caught up on all the things that need done.
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www.kentuckyangus.org • kyangusassociation@gmail.com •
KENTUCKY ANGUS FIELD DAY August 7th • Heritage Farm and will begin at 10:30. Lunch will be provided. Genomics Education Sessions featuring 3 Speakers Sponsors are: Heritage Farm, Neogen Corporation, Boehringer Ingelheim, Kentucky Nutrition Services, Select Sires, Corteva Agriscience, and Genex.
Bring the whole family! Junior Activities Offered
July • Cow Country • 55
Kentucky Hereford Association Join the Kentucky Hereford Association today! Call Earlene Thomas for more information.
Send in membership directory information and advertisementss now!
Toby & Debby Dulworth 2492 S. Kirkman Road LaCenter, KY 42056 (270) 224-2993 dogwood@brtc.net
The Dogwood Difference? Total Performance Polled Herefords that trive on forages. www.dogwoodherefords.com
WELLS FARM Polled Herefords
439 Flatwoods Frozen Camp Rd, Corbin KY 40701 Bobby & Brenda Wells (606) 523-0569 or (606) 344-0417 wells_farm@yahoo.com Kevin, Angela, Kenlea & Kyler Murray (606) 528-1691 or (606) 682-8413
KHA OFFICERS President: Steve Green Secretary/ Treasurer: Earlene Thomas 859-623-5734 thomasep@roadrunner.com
NJB Limited Dale Stith
5239 Old Sardis Pike Mays Lick, KY 41055 dalestith@yahoo.com Home of Select Sires’ Boyd Fort Knox 17yxz54040
TK4 Herefords
K3 CATTLE REGISTERED HEREFORDS 6077 Helena Road Mayslick, KY 41055 Charlie Boyd II 606-584-5194
Annual Bull Sale second Saturday in March Hereford and Angus Bulls
MPH Farms
Registered Polled Herefords PAUL L. HANCOCK 8559 KY 56 Owensboro, KY 42301 270-771-4194
Chambliss Hereford Farms Brad, Carla, Clay & Clint Chambliss
916 Winchester Blvd. Elizabethtown, KY 42701 Home (270) 982-3905 Cell (270) 668-7126 fax 270-735-9922 www.chamblissherefordfarms.com
KYLE BUSH K3CATTLE@YAHOO.COM 859-588-4531 198 HICKS PIKE CYNTHIANA, KY 41031
THOMAS FARM
Jackson Farms
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”
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”
WCN Polled Herefords Since 1961 Bill & Libby Norris 2220 Celina Road Burkesville, KY 42717
Phone (270) 433-7256 Cell (270) 433-1525 “Every calf needs a white face”
Bulls & Females for sale
Tim & Peggy Wolf 12939 Peach Grove Road Alexandria, KY 41001 Home: 859-635-0899 Cell: 859-991-3484
Polled Hereford and Gelbvieh Cattle 3459 KY Hwy. 1284 E. Cythiana, KY 41031
133 Edgewood Drive • Stanford, KY (606) 365-2520 home/fax (606) 669-1455 cell
Victor- influenced cattle bred for performance on grass.
“Black cows need a good Hereford Bull”
56 • Cow Country • July
Old Fall Creek Farms
AHA & KHA member • Proven bloodlines Private treaty sales • Visitors welcome 1874 Old Fall Creek Road Monticello, KY 42633 Reed Bertram (606) 348-7486 David Bertram (606) 278-3630 w w w. o f c f a r m s . c o m
992 Knotts Road
(859) 234-6956
Brandenburg, KY 40108 (270) 422-4220 tstaples@bbtel.com
Windy Hills Farm
Registered Polled Herefords
Ben, Jane, Shelby and Lincoln
Jackie D. Perkins II 367 Mt. Pisgah Rd. Bremen, KY 42325 (270) 543-3586
Breeding to produce good cows since 1981
BECKLEY HEREFORDS L. Wayne Beckley • 1420 Fitchburg Rd. Ravenna, KY 40472 • 606-723-3021 Cell: 859-779-0962 L.W. Beckley D.V.M 284 Pyrse Lane • Irvine, KY 40336 Cell: 859-779-1419 • Clinic: 606-726-0000
PILE STOCK FARM HANSELL PILE, JR.
12045 St. John Rd. Cecilia, KY 42724 270-735-5192 270-862-4462 12 miles West of Elizabethtown
www.beckleyherefords.com
LINEBRED VICTOR DOMINO CATTLE
Multi-Trait Selection
Fertility Miller Calving Ease Danny Disposition Milking Ability jmspolledherefords.com 4850 Caldwell Ridge Rd. 270-465-6984 Knifley, KY 42753 270-465-6984 270-566-2694
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TUCKER STOCK Tucker Stock Farms FAR
“Breeding Polled Herefords “Registered Angus and Polled Herefords” “Registered Angus for over 58 Years” and John PolledA.Herefords” Tucker II Breeding cattle for sale at all times.
1790 Hidden Valley Lane John Tucker II Hudson, KY 40145
1999 Walnut Hill Rd. 1790 Hidden Valley Lane (270) 257-8548 Hudson, KY257-8167 40145 Lexington, KY 40515 Office (270) 270-617-0301 (859) 271-9086 18-month-old Angus & Polled Hereford Bulls “Bulls always for Sale” cell (859)533-3790
WATSON LAND & CATTLE Peyton’s Well Polled Herefords The Lowell Atwood Family
Tony & Kathy Staples
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WOLF FARM
Registered Polled Herefords
HEREFORDS
Codee Guffey • 1815 Grassy Springs Road Versailles, Kentucky 40383 (502) 598-6355 rockridgeherefords@gmail.com www.rockridgeherefords.com
Matt, Melinda, Harlee, & Wyatt Watson 6196 Mount Sterling Rd Flemingsburg, Kentucky melindawatson8660@gmail.com Matt - 606-748-1600 Melinda - 859-625-8660
CATTLE FOR SALE AT ALL TIMES
LIMOUSIN
B.F. Evans Cattle Company Byron Evans
CUMMINS POLLED LIMOUSIN
David & Donald P. Cummins 4312 Willow-Lenoxburg Rd. Foster, KY 41043 David: 606-747-5886 (C) 606.782.7003 cumminsd@windstream.net
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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”
P.O. Box 1509 599 Ray Allen Lane Versailles, KY 40383 Byron 859-509-8046 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
Breeders of the Bluegrass
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Tom & Chris Daniel
Daniel Gettings
Elbow Bend & Center Point Rd. Tompkinsville, KY 42167
(270) 487-9454 or (270) 202-7755
“Registered Limousin - LimFlex - Angus Genetics”
5171 Camargo-Levee Rd. • Mt. Sterling, KY 40353 859-498-0030 859-585-1785 859-585-8388 “Your source of purebred homopolled/homoblack.”
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!”
WHITE LIMOUSIN & WHITE ANGUS
Donald & Mary Ann Wenzel
994 Airport Road • Falmouth, KY 41040
(859) 654-3612 • (859) 322-0752 maryawenz@aol.com
TOMORROW’S REGISTERED WHITE ANGUS TODAY!
Joey & Donnie Massey 80 Sublimity School Rd. • London, KY 40744 606-682-2126 • 606-682-2125
Decker Family Limousin & LimFlex Kenny & Tiffany Decker Leitchfield, KY • (270) 589-7999
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Terry W. McPhetridge • 606-843-6903 Cell: 606-524-9241 1645 Winding Blade Rd. East Bernstadt, KY 40729
Bob Minerich, 859-582-6888 2003 Barnes Mill Rd. Richmond, KY 40475 minegwen@aol.com “Cattle for sale private treaty”
Greg Blaydes 859-338-9402 James Hicks 859-227-0490 1225 E. Leestown Rd. Midway, KY 40347
BULLS - HEIFERS PROCESSED BEEF
Brad Kidd (606) 495-6396 (606) 738-9493 Paul Kidd (606) 743-7349 8254 Hwy 711 West Liberty KY 41472
Performance you can count on! Russ Crum • 2423 KY Hwy 3003 Cynthiana, KY 41031 • 859-298-8713
FOUNDATION SALE VII September 18, 2021
Selling FULLBLOOD & PUREBRED LIMOUSIN Genetics • To consign or for catalog call ACH Holdings, LLC, Steven Haynes 270-799-8685
July • Cow Country • 57
Grand Champion Bull Jordan Stephens
Grand Champion Cow/Calf Raylee Dotson
Grand Champion Percentage Heifer Madison Metzger
Grand Champion Purebred and Grand Champion Bred and Owned Purebred Heifer Wyatt Phillips
Grand Champion Steer Lindsey Dotson
Reserve Grand Champion Bred and Owned Percentage Heifer Jordan Stephens
Reserve Grand Champion Percentage and Grand Champion Bred and Owned Percentage Heifer Bella Swain
Reserve Grand Champion Purebred Heifer Ann Lawrence Allen
Showmanship Winners Senior Dakota Webb Intermediate Bella Swain Junior Josie Phillips Novice Ann Lawrence Allen
STATE SIMMENTAL SALE WILL BE ON SEPTEMBER 11. F OR N O M IN ATIO N FOR MS P L E AS E C ONTAC T DP S AL E S . SWAIN SELECT SIMMENTAL JUDY AND RONDAL DAWSON 1156 Buzzard Roost Road Shelbyville, KY 40065 502-593-5136 jrdawson22@outlook.com
12113 Green Valley Dr. Louisville, KY 40243 frederickswain@bellsouth.net facebook.com/swainselectsimmental Fred & Phyllis: 502-245-3866 502-599-4560 Chi & Angie: 502-287-2116
KEVIN AND RACHEL BARRON Crestwood, Ky (502) 905-5851 rkbarron812@gmail.com
Rocking P Livestock
8308 Orangeburg Road Maysville, KY 41056 Chan: 606-584-7581 Keith: 606-584-5626 rockingplivestock@maysvilleky.net 1939 Huntertown Road Versailles, KY 40383 BULLS FOR SALE Chris Allen 859-351-4486 WAYWARD HILL FARM callenuky@hotmail.com Dr. Henry Allen 859-229-0755
Bill Kaiser • Shelbyville, KY • 502.639.4337
BRIAN & HEATHER SWAIN
3906 Pottertown Road Murray, KY 42071 270-293-4440 wksbswain@murray-ky.net SIMMENTAL AND SIMANGUS BULLS FOR SALE
Call or visit one of these Simmental breeders for cattle that work!
www.kysimmental.com
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
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
TOTAL NUMBER OF CATTLE SOLD
STATE OF ORIGIN*
X X
$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 05810093. 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. July • Cow Country • 59
CALENDAR OF EVENTS DATE
EVENT
LOCATION
JUN 5
Central Kentucky Premier Heifer Sale
Lexington, KY Blue Grass Stockyards
JUN 26
Consignment Machinery Sale
JUL 16
Deadline for Submissions to Calloway, Graves, Marshall Hay Bowl
JUL 16-17
43rd Kentucky National Show & Sale
Bowling Green, KY
JUL 20
CPH Sale
Guthrie, KY
AUG 6
Deadling for Submissions for KCA Hall of Fame Awards
AD
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28
AUG 10-12
Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show
Nashville, TN
AUG 12
CPH Sale
Owensboro, KY
AUG 19-29
Kentucky State Fair
Louisville, KY
SEP 9
CPC Fall Field Day
Fountain Run, KY
29
OCT 22-23
Stockmanship & Stewardship Program
Bowling Green, KY
34
OCT 30
Yon Family Farms Fall Sale
Ridge Spring, SC
DEC 2
CPH Sale
Owensboro, KY
DEC 3
Knoll Crest Total Performance Bull Sale
Red House, VA
11
DIAMOND J SALERS
SALERS T H E
B A L A N C E D
B R E E D
Donald Johnson • 11660 N. Hwy 1247 • Eubank, KY 42564 606-379-1558
WILLIS FARMS
Danny Willis • 964 Johnson Rd • Frankfort, KY 40601 • 502-803-5011 drwc21@aol.com
DEL-SU FARM
Howard & Sue Edwards • 420 Rose Rd • Somerset, KY 42501 606-679-1675 • Jeriah Privett • 606-416-1154
KNOB LICK FARM - BULLS & HEIFERS FOR SALE Larry Cox • Tina Cox-Lynch • Amanda Cox Gibson • 1315 Knob Lick Road • Irvine, KY 40336 • 606-723-3077 • 606-975-1716
60 • Cow Country • July
CLASSIFIEDS PERFORMANCE TESTED PUREBRED ANGUS BULLS FOR SALE Call 270-202-7186 for more info or check out www.oakhollowangus.com for current availability. 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 FOUNDATION SALE VII September 18, 2021 Selling FULLBLOOD & PUREBRED LIMOUSIN Genetics To consign or for catalog call: A C H Holdings, LLC Stephen Haynes 270-799-8685 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 REGISTERED BLACK SIMMENTAL BULLS Many blaze faced. 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 BREEDING AGE HEREFORD BULLS FOR SALE AT ALL TIMES Over 60 years of Line 1 Hereford Genetics. Groups of open and bred heifers available for sale at all times. Chambliss Hereford Farms. 270-668-7126 Artex SB 600 Spreader -in stock John Deere 468 - net $14,500 John Deere 566- twine $12,000 Meyer 510 TMR mixers - In STOCK Cloverdale 500 T -TMR mixers - in Stock Stoltzfus 10 ton Litter spreader $30,000 Caterpillar 242B skid loader-$17,500 New Holland 790 choppers-@$7500 John Deere 8200 drills $5850 Gehl 8335 feeder wagon $7500 New Idea 363- manure spreader $8500 Artex SB 200- vertical beater- for rental Stoltzfus lime - litter- fert cu 50 $19,500 JD 6415 loader - 4wd- cab $30,000 Farmco feeder wagons-15 in stock-call John Deere 7405 -4wd -canopy -$24,000 WWW.REDBARNANDASSOCIATES.COM Charlie B. Edgington 859-608-9745
Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans (CNMPs) Winter feeding structures, manure storage facility planning, and water quality BMPs implementation. Ben Koostra - Professional Engineer and NRCS Technical Service Provider - Lexington - 859-559-4662 ANGUS HEIFERS Registered and commercial Black Angus Heifers for sale, heifers are vaccinated and pregnancy checked, Genomic EPD’s, CAIP eligible. Service Sire - AAA #19690896 502-370-8168
REGISTERED RED ANGUS BULLS FOR SALE * FREE DELIVERY * FOUR WINDS FARM
New Castle, Kentucky
(502) 296-1044
AD INDEX AGCO.....................................................9 Allison Charolais........................................8 Baumalight.....................................48 BioZyme, Inc............................................25 Blue Grass Stockyards.................................8 Burkmann Nutrition....................................4 CPC Commodities.....................................29 Four Winds Farm.....................................45 Green River Livestock................................4 Gro-Tec, Inc.............................................17 Hayes Trailer Sales...................................21
ZHI-BA SHING-GA
YAKS
John Deere...............................................2
REGISTERED
Jude Sherlock..........................................45
PROVEN BLOODLINES VISITORS WELCOME 159 CUB RUN ROAD WELLINGTON, KY
Kentucky Angus Association...................38-39 Kentucky Gelbvieh Association....................37 Kentucky Hereford Association....................41 Kentucky Livestock Marketing Association.......3 Kentucky National Santa Gertrudis Sale........21
HERD
606-776-0022 N C T 1 1 0 8 @ YA H O O . C O M GREG & LINDA DIKE
Kentucky Salers Association.......................44 Kentucky Simmental Association..................36 Kuhn......................................................15 Limousin Breeders of the Bluegrass..............42 National Cattlemen’s Beef Association......11, 27 Oak Hollow................................................5 Stone Gate Farms.......................................7 United Producers, Inc.................................13 Walters Buildings......................................10
YOUR AD
HERE (859) 278-0899
Zoetis.................................................20 July • Cow Country • 61
Open Heifer Options – Making Lemonade out of Lemons Kevin Laurent Extension Specialist, Department of Animal and Food Sciences, University of Kentucky Option 1: Sell at the sale barn. Obviously the easiest option, but be prepared for a pretty severe discount mainly because there are simply not that many heifers of that weight class at the sale barn on any given day. Remember, the cattle market moves in load lots of 48-50,000 pounds. It may take order buyers several weeks to assemble 45-50 open heifers of that weight class to make a load.
There are many events or moments throughout the year that we as beef producers look forward to with great anticipation, excitement and frankly some degree of worry. It could be the daily checks during calving season or finding out your pay weight and price for a load of yearlings you delivered to the sale barn. I think most of us would agree that the annual preg checking of the cow herd is right there towards the top of the list of management activities that can have us on pins and needles. Open cows and open heifers are part of the business. What we choose to do with open females can affect our bottom line. For the sake of brevity, I would like to limit this discussion to replacement heifers and what options we have when the vet finds her empty.
the feeder calves. There appears to be great potential for producers to pool open replacement heifers in late summer and send to the feedlot as opposed to selling at a discount. But there are some additional factors to consider. Considerations for retaining ownership and finishing open replacement heifers:
Option 2: Feed them. Open replacement heifers are still of an acceptable age to be finished for slaughter. Most heifers at pregnancy check time are about 18 months of age and can be easily finished with 3-4 months of additional feeding. Local beef is in big demand and if slaughter space can be scheduled this may be an acceptable option.
• Be mindful of the age of heifers. Heifers that are skeletally mature may be downgraded to Commercial or Utility grade and severely discounted. Try not to feed heifers that are older than 20 months. • Manage heifers much like feeder calves. Make sure to booster respiratory vaccines and deworm before shipping to the feedlot.
Option 3: Retain ownership and send them to the feedlot. This is one option that most small to medium size cow calf producers have probably not considered. Recent data from the PVAP-Feedlot program on 18 open replacement heifers showed an average profit of $132 per head while feeder calves on the same load lost $98 per head. The primary reason for this difference is due to the discounted starting value of the open replacement heifers, however as you can see in the table below, the replacement heifers outgained and out graded
Give her another chance or cull her? It may be tempting to give open heifers another chance especially if you have both a fall and spring calving season. The problem with this option is research shows that there may be upwards of 20 % reduction in conception rates on heifers that failed to conceive in the first breeding season. Ask yourself, if she was a slow breeder as a yearling, what will her chances be of breeding back as a 2 year old? If we choose to cull her, what is the best way to market a 900-1100 lb open heifer.
• If you choose to feed heifers on your farm and have never finished cattle, take advantage of upcoming Master Finishing programs that will be offered this fall. As always, contact your local ANR Extension agent for more information on the PVAP program or marketing open replacement heifers.
Type
No Head
Start Weight
Start Price ($/cwt)
Final Weight
Average Daily Gain
% Prime and CAB
Profit/Head ($)
Replacement Heifers
18
1,054
92.06
1,517
3.99
83
131.64
Feeder Calves
45
733
125.27
1,230
2.89
18
-97.89
T I M E L Y Spring-Calving Cow Herd • Consider removing bulls from the cow herd by the end of the month and keep them away from the cows. A short calving season can concentrate labor during the calving season; group calves by age so that it is easier to find a convenient time to vaccinate, castrate, dehorn, etc.; and provide a more uniform group of calves at market time. • Mid-July is a good time to deworm cattle, use a product that is effective against inhibited ostertagia. Re-implant calves which were implanted at birth if the type of implant and amount of time indicate. Calves which haven’t been vaccinated for blackleg should be. Spraying or using a pour-on for flies while cattle are gathered can supplement other fly control methods. Remember to work cattle early in the morning when it is cool and handle them gently to minimize stress. • Watch for pinkeye and treat if necessary. Minimize problems by clipping pastures, controlling face flies and providing shade. Monitor the bulls’ activity and physical condition as the breeding season winds down. • Fescue pastures tend to go dormant in July and August, so look for alternatives like warm season 62 • Cow Country • July
T I P S
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grasses during this period of time. Try to keep the young calves gaining weight. Go to pastures which have been cut for hay to have higher quality regrowth when it is available. • Consider cutting warm season grass pastures for hay, if reserves have not been restored yet. Fall-Calving Cow Herd • De-worm calves in mid-July with a product that is effective against inhibited ostertagia. • Fall-calving cows should be dry and pregnant now. Their nutrient needs are minimal, and they can be maintained on poor pasture to avoid over fattening. Keep a good free-choice mineral mix available at all times. You can use a lower phosphorus mineral supplement now, if you want to save a little money. These cows are regaining body condition after a long winter feeding period. • Get ready for fall calving and plan to have good pasture available at calving and through the breeding season. Stockers • Sell heavier grazing cattle before rate of gain decreases or they get into a heavyweight category. This
will also relieve grazing pressure as pasture growth diminishes. They can be replaced with lightweight calves after pastures recover. • Lighter cattle which are kept on pasture need to be rotated to grass-legume or warm-season grass pastures to maintain a desirable level of performance. Re-implant these calves and deworm with a product that is effective against inhibited ostertagia. General • Check pastures for downed wild cherry trees after storms (wilted wild cherry leaves are toxic to cattle). • Be sure that clean water is always available, especially in hot weather. Make routine checks of the water supply. Cattle need 13 to 20 gallons of clean water in hot weather. Cattle should have access to shade. • Maintain a weed control program in permanent pastures and continue to “spot-spray” thistle, honey locust, etc. • Have forage analyses conducted on spring-cut hay and have large, round bales covered. Begin planning the winter feeding program now. Most of the hay was cut late due to a wet spring. • Start soil testing pastures to determine fertilization needs for this fall.
sales@baumalight.com | BAUMALIGHT.COM Dan Thorne 615-948-1406 | dan@thornesales.com
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