December 2019 - Missouri Beef Cattleman by Missouri Cattlemen's Association

CONTENTS

December 2019

FEATURES 14

The Gift of Good Labor

The Future of Feed Efficiency

The Beef Industry Faces Changes in the Business and Work Force

Collecting Data and Using It Can Increase Efficiency

MEMBER NEWS 6 24 58

Association Update Beef Checkoff News County News

The Future of Feed Efficiency

COLUMNS 8

MCA President’s Perspective The Farewell

CattleWomen’s Corner

What’s Cookin’ at the Beef House

Straight Talk: Mike Deering

Part of the Job

American Horseman Challenge

Purpose

On the Edge of Common Sense: Baxter Black

DECEMBER 2019

Thumbs Up

Capitol Update Tis the Season

ON THE COVER:

Photo by Kelly Massey of KJM Photography. The Missouri Beef Cattleman is an official publication of the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association.

MISSOURI

BEEF CATTLEMAN

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE MISSOURI CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION

Volume 48 - Issue 19 (USPS 890-240 • ISSN 0192-3056) Magazine Publishing Office 2306 Bluff Creek Drive, #100, Columbia, MO 65201 Phone: 573-499-9162 • Fax: 573-499-9167 Andy Atzenweiler: Editor/Production/Ad Sales P.O. Box 480977 • Kansas City, Missouri 64148 816-210-7713 • E-mail: mobeef@sbcglobal.net Coby Wilson: Ad Sales 573-499-9162 Ext 235

Missouri Cattlemen’s Association MCA Website: www.mocattle.com

The Gift of Good Labor

Mike Deering • Executive Vice President - Ext 230 Mike@mocattle.com Sydney Thummel • Manager of Membership - Ext 231 Sydney@mocattle.com Coby Wilson • Manager of Strategic Solutions - Ext 235 Coby@mocattle.com Candace Bergesch • MBC Editor/Production Artist Candace@mocattle.com Lisa Stockhorst, Administrative Assistant – Ext 234 Lisa@mocattle.com

Missouri’s Cattlemen Foundation www.mocattlemenfoundation.org

DEPARTMENTS 7

New MCA Members NCBA News

MCA Convention Preview

Charolais News

Feedlot News

MCA Proposed By-Law Changes

Advertisers Index

Missouri Beef Cattleman, (USPS 890-240 • ISSN 0192-3056) is published monthly (12 times a year) and is the official publication of the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association, 2306 Bluff Creek Drive, #100, Columbia, Missouri, 65201. PERIODICALS postage paid at Columbia, Missouri and additional mailing offices. Subscription price is included as a part of the minimum membership dues of $70.00 per year in Missouri Cattlemen’s Association. Postmaster: Send address changes to: Missouri Beef Cattleman, P.O. Box 480977, Kansas City, Missouri 64148

2019 MCA Officers

Bobby Simpson, President 573-729-6583 • 3556 CR 6150, Salem, MO 65560 Marvin Dieckman, President-Elect 660-596-4163 • 28998 Hwy JJ, Cole Camp, MO 65325 Patty Wood, Vice President 660-287-7701 • 16075 Wood Road, La Monte, MO 65337 Matt Hardecke, Treasurer 573-846-6614 • 19102 Skymeadows Dr., Wildwood, MO 63069 David Dick, Secretary 660-826-0031 • 23529 Anderson School Rd., Sedalia, MO 65301

2019 MCA Regional Vice Presidents

Region 1: Eric Greenley, 61998 Pleasant Valley Rd. Knox City, MO 63446 660-341-8750 Region 2: Chuck Miller, 393 Spring Garden Road Olean, MO 65064 • 573-881-3589 Region 3: Charlie Besher, RR 5, Box 2402 Patton, MO 63662 • 573-866-2846 Region 4: Deb Thummel, 12601 Hwy. 46 Sheridan, MO 64486 • 660-541-2606 Region 5: Bruce Mershon, 10015 Windsor Drive Lee’s Summit, MO 64086 • 816-525-1954 Region 6: Clay Doeden, 14555 S. Hwy A Stockton, MO 65785 • 417-808-0415 Region 7: Traves Merrick, 1956 Hwy 97 Miller, MO 65707 • 417-536-8080

DECEMBER 2019

Missouri’s CattleWomen

http://mocattle.com/missouricattlewomen.aspx

DECEMBER 2019

Dakota Arnold, Cape Girardeau, MO Brenda Bader, Hermann, MO Jacob Bollinger, Creek Rock Angus, Sedgewickville, MO Matthew Bollinger, Creek Rock Angus, Sedgewickville, MO Von Brottlund, Pierce City, MO Jared Byerly, Byerly Farms, Mtn. Grove, MO Barry & Janet Charter, Kari & Matt Ball, Charter-Ball Beefmaster, Neosho, MO Randall Childress, Seymour, MO Bill Conley, Conley Angus, Clarksdale, MO Forrest Cunningham, Cunningham Farm, Hallsville, MO

Skyla Day, Silex, MO Tayler Gudde, Sedalia, MO Danny Mairs, High Valley Angus Ranch, Ironton, MO Van Kelly, Norwood, MO Jason Miller, Cricket Ranch, Garden City, MO Will Morris, Holden, MO James Mouyassar, MMM Black Angus Ranch, St. Louis, MO Stephany Reyes, Festus, MO Donald Waterhouse, Atkanta, MO Avery Wheeler, Wheatland, MO Tina Wibberg, Wibberg Farms, Jefferson City, MO See the MCA Membership Form on page 93

DECEMBER 2019 7

DECEMBER 2019

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DECEMBER 2019

6:00 p.m. Bred Cows and Breeding Bull Sale

“Why Sustainability?” Source: Ethan Lane, Vice President, Government Affairs, NCBA When the topic of sustainability comes up in conversation in cattle circles, it’s common to see heads shaking. It’s not a topic we like to discuss in our industry – primarily because it’s so often raised with bad intentions and worse information. We bristle because we’ve been doing things right in our business for many generations and it’s difficult to accept that outsiders have influence in how we’re doing business. Increasingly, though, that’s exactly what’s happening. In the case of sustainability, consumers have decided they ought to have a better understanding and perhaps even a say in how their food is produced. Now, we don’t have to like the fact that consumers and in many cases outside interest groups have turned a spotlight on beef production, but there is tremendous interest in how food is produced. You can probably trace the origins back to the rise of Food Network and celebrity chefs, but special interests also played a role in the attention that’s paid to modern food production and the practices used to raise cattle and produce beef. The natural evolution of that interest was the conversation about sustainability and whether a product is viewed by consumers as “sustainable.”

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Regardless of whether we might like the word or agree with its definition, we’re being judged on how we do things in this business. That same scrutiny is being applied to every single product that goes into a shopper’s cart. The folks who are buying beef care about what we did to the product along the way and we have a good

story to tell. But we all know we can tell it until we’re blue in the face and not many folks are going to listen. To get people to pay attention to the beef sustainability story, we must rely on others to help tell it, and perhaps more importantly, verify the story that’s being told. In many cases, the groups telling our story haven’t always had our best interests in mind. One group that has come up in conversations recently is the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). To set the record straight up front, NCBA isn’t a member of WWF and WWF is not a member of NCBA. Neither organization receives any support, financial or otherwise, from the other. Likewise, no checkoff dollars have been sent to WWF. Both NCBA and WWF are members of the Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (GRSB) and the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (USRSB) and these efforts are funded strictly with NCBA membership dollars. Here again, no checkoff funds have been used to fund GRSB or USRSB. NCBA participates in both GRSB and USRSB at the direction of its members and we participate to make certain that the voice of cattlemen and cattlewomen is heard in conversations about cattle and beef production practices. Groups like WWF and many others have tremendous influence over corporations in the United States and most foreign countries. That influence extends to the purchasing decisions that are being made by corporations like Costco, Wal Mart, McDonald’s, Sysco and many others. The influence of WWF and other non-governmental organizations (NGOs) extends to Wall Street and the investment banks that provide funding for these massive global corporations. Here too the NGOs hold significant power.

The sustainability of a product like beef can be measured through a lifecycle assessment (LCA), a process that is well-documented and backed by science. The beef industry, thanks to the Beef Checkoff, has already completed its own LCA and it continues to update and refine the results of that work, which shows that beef producers have always been sustainable and continue to become more sustainable with each passing year. Cattle producers have always been good stewards of our natural resources and we’re continually making our animals more efficient. But the sustainability of a product doesn’t begin or end at the ranch gate. It extends backward to the feed and minerals we supply the cowherd. It also encompasses the fuel used to ship packages of beef to distribution centers and the refrigeration used to keep it cold in the grocery store. It’s perhaps the longest and most complex supply chain of any food item. We know there’s a lot of misinformation about cattle and beef and the impact it has on the environment. We know that some of the folks spreading that misinformation sit across the table from us in conversations about sustainability, but frankly that’s why it’s important for us to be at that table in the first place. Without us that conversation will still happen, but it will happen only amongst our detractors, and without an advocate for our strong record of sustainable production.

We also know that because we have a seat at the table during GRSB and USRSB meetings, we’ve been able to educate both NGO representatives and participating corporations about our resource stewardship and the improvements being made by the entire beef supply chain. Because of these conversations and because of the beef industry’s work to complete an LCA, we’ve been able to demonstrate our sustainability and keep their buyers in the market for our product, instead of shifting to chicken or pork, which are still our two biggest competitors by a wide margin. The world around us is changing and we’re not headed back to a simpler time. Ever. The world in which we’re producing cattle becomes more complex by the day and frankly that’s why NCBA exists, to help lead the industry through the challenges we face. We might not like the topic of sustainability but that’s one of the many ways NCBA provides value to our members. We sit at the table and represent the interests of our members in conversations they’d rather not have, with people they don’t always agree with. Those conversations aren’t always easy or popular and we’re going to face our share of critics for having them, but that’s part of the job when you serve as the trusted leader and definitive voice of the beef industry.

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DECEMBER 2019

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DECEMBER 2019

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DECEMBER 2019

What’s Cookin’ at the

Missouri Beef House By Pat & Patty Wood, MCA Beef House Managers American Horsemen Challenge On Thursday, October 17, 2019, the MCA Beef House was opened to serve our delicious beef burgers to 80 competitors and guests in the 8th Annual American Horseman Challenge (AHCA) held this year at the Missouri State Fairgrounds in Sedalia, Missouri. AHCA members from North America had the opportunity to compete with individuals from outside their local competition area in an obstacle course event, perfect for all riders, all disciplines and every skill level. The fourday event included a barbecue on Thursday evening at the MCA Beef House hosted by the Sedalia Chamber & Convention & Visitors Bureau for the fifth consecutive year. Executive Director Carolyn Crooker said, “An area of tourism some people may overlook is private events that bring in new visitors… on the fairgrounds and the economic impact for our community.” AHCA - what is it you ask? Imagine all of the competitive events that are part of the equine world: barrel racing, pole bending, hunter over fences, roping, working cow horse, cutting, reining, dressage, trail riding, trail class, mounted shooting, any pleasure division, and the list can go on. AHCA takes aspects from as many as 13 different disciplines and will

DECEMBER 2019

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combine them into a course of up to 13 obstacles, depending on the division. This is truly a great way to challenge each horse and rider team. The courses are designed to help the horses and riders succeed, not fail. By doing this, it allows growth as riders, trainers and well-rounded horses. Another unique aspect of the American Horsemen Challenge Association is that it is open to any breed of horse, pony, mule or donkey including those that gait. The camraderie experienced and friendships made are invaluable. “Great Horses, Great People and Great Times… What more could you ask for…life is good!” according to AHCA. The website www. americanhorsemanchallenge.com if you want to learn more. A big thanks goes out to MCA volunteers: Suetta Carter, Marvin & Carolyn Dieckman, Eric Kraus, Russell & Donna Martin, Ted & Merrilyn Williams and Pat Wood who graciously accepted the MCA challenge to cook and serve this delicious meal. Thought for the month: “President Bobby Simpson sat in the corner eating his Christmas dinner. He picked up his knife and cut up a steak and said, “What a good life we have!”

DECEMBER 2019

Your

BEEF CHECKOFF NEWS Are We Making a Difference?

The Proof is in the Pudding… or the Tours

With Samantha Riley, Director of Education and Marketing Missouri Beef Industry Council and Midwest Dairy hosted three dietetic intern tours this fall for 85 dietetic interns, from Springfield to St. Louis. These tours are not only a chance to take future registered dietitians to actual farms, but also a chance to educate and mold perceptions about the beef industry, while building lasting relationships. Dietetic interns from SLU, SEMO, Cox, Fontbonne, MU and MSU participated. Most had never stepped foot on a farm, let alone seen a cow up close or met a “real” farmer or rancher. Participates learned first-hand what it takes to be a steward of land and cattle. “These dietetic interns will soon be Registered Dieticians (RDs) working for hospitals, clinics, community organizations, foodservice and research. The messages shared by these future health professionals will have a large impact on consumers and their purchasing habits.” said Jaelyn Peckman, Director of Consumer Affairs, MBIC.

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“When you start to see the wheels turning as things begin to click together throughout the day, it’s incredible. What attendees once thought to be true and factual is being influenced by social media and the news.” said Mark Russell, Executive Director, MBIC. A student shared, “Beef is not as harmful as the media addresses it to be, and the fact that a product will not pass in grocery stores, if it has antibiotics, is very interesting.” Another student commented, “Consumers are very misinformed due to the access of news and

Ryan Goodman, Director of Grassroots Advocacy and Spokesperson Development, NCBA, focused students on two or three key messages to convey to audiences when speaking about beef.

social media. As a future dietitian I should take the initiative to make sure people are correctly informed.” We take for granted what students know and should just be common knowledge. Hosting tours like this, gives the industry a chance to right any misinformation and move positive messages of beef in the diet to consumers. These tours aren’t just about taking dietetic interns to farms but, to educate, through media training and presentations. Ryan Goodman, Director of Grassroots Advocacy and Spokesperson Development, NCBA, led media training at each tour. Media training consists of ways to share messages on tv, social media and other medias. Goodman shared real-world scenarios when conducting media training, and had attendees participate in mock interviews on camera. This resource prepares dietetic interns for times when they advocate for a healthy diet and are asked questions about beef. Media training provides tools needed to help spread the beef message. Peckman presented a multitude of topics to the interns, focused on beef nutrition. Lean beef options, beef being a complete protein, monounsaturated fat vs. saturated fat and more were discussed. Students learned from these conversations, complimenting the farm tours. Within a year, these influencers will share with others about beef’s protein powerhouse. In a post survey, one student reflected the following, “There are a lot of

Bill McClaren, owner of Crooked Creek Beef, explained to Fontbonne and SEMO students about calving seasons, rotational grazing and genetics. Photos provided by: Samantha Riley, Director of Education and Marketing

lean options with reduced amounts of cholesterol and saturated fats.” Another said, “I was not aware beef has a lot of monounsaturated fat as compared to saturated fat, as well as the fact it has a slew of vitamins and minerals such as selenium.” Discussions with the dietetic interns created a confidence in talking about beef nutrition that lacked before. Peckman continued, “Growing up on a farm is a blessing. I have full confidence in food safety when shopping in a grocery store, which I attribute to watching my parents and grandparents care for cattle and our land. Although I am part of the 2% who grew up in production agriculture, I see why it is vitally important to connect with the 98% who are not connected to production. Through these dietetic intern tours, I worked to share the message of trusting our food. Farmers care for animals and the environment, and we can feel confident in the future of beef production.”

ranchers” increased from 20% to 75%. • ‘Agreement’ for “Beef has an excellent total package of nutrients” increased from 36% to 85%. • ‘Agreement’ for “Beef can be an economical protein choice” increased from 35% to 78%. The impressions and relationships created during events like this last well into budding careers as registered dietitians. “Each time we get to interact with these students during their dietetic internships, we hope they learn something new about the beef industry and see the Missouri Beef Industry Council as a resource.” added Russell. Hosting tours has already led to invitations to on-campus meetings and presentations. Learning and education doesn’t stop when students leave the farm, it’s just the beginning.

To help gauge what students gained from the tours, pre-surveys were sent out prior to the tour and then again afterward. This gives feedback of what was gained from the tours and what topics they gained confidence in. Results from the survey included:

DECEMBER 2019

• Eating beef as often as other protein sources increased from 24% to 62%. • Feeling very prepared to answer questions about beef nutrition increased from 7% to 41%. • ‘Agreement’ for “I am confident farmers produce safe, nutritious, wholesome beef with consumers’ best interest in mind” increased from 27% to 81% • ‘Agreement’ for “The beef industry uses antibiotics responsibly” increased from 24% to 89%. • ‘Agreement’ for “The environmental impact of raising cattle is minimal.” increased from 10% to 51%. • ‘Agreement’ for “Cattle are treated humanely by farmers and

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Rex Ricketts Receives 2019 Ag Educators Lifetime Achievement Award Source: University of Missouri Extension KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – The organizers of the Missouri Livestock Symposium announced that longtime dairy educator and agriculture industry leader Rex Ricketts, of Hallsville, will receive the 2019 Agriculture Educators Lifetime Achievement Award. Ricketts, University of Missouri professor emeritus of animal sciences, will receive the award 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, at the 20th annual symposium at William Matthew Middle School, Kirksville. The evening’s keynote speaker is Temple Grandin, animal sciences professor at Colorado State University and prominent author and speaker on autism. Ricketts retired as coordinator of the MU Extension Commercial Agriculture program in 2013 after 42 years of service. “His ability and energetic efforts to analyze a situation and outline constructive programs have contributed much to Missouri agriculture,” says Zac Erwin, MU Extension field specialist in livestock and one of the organizers of the symposium. While Ricketts’ specialty is dairy, he has worked extensively with swine, beef and agronomy educators and industry leaders across the state and nation, Erwin says. “Livestock teams that he organized at MU exemplify Ricketts’ focus on the land-grant mission of giving instruction and practical demonstrations of existing or improved practices or technologies in agriculture.”

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“Ricketts’ multidisciplinary collaborations at MU continue to be emulated by other universities that want to move faculty from the narrow focus of their individual disciplines to a more integrated, holistic, perspective of agriculture. These teams developed products that continue to be used in agriculture today,” Erwin says.

Ricketts grew up on 160-acre farm with a registered Jersey dairy herd at Fair Grove, Mo. During high school, he and his brothers showed many prizewinning cattle at fairs. He earned a bachelor’s degree in agriculture in 1963, a master’s degree in 1964 and a doctorate in dairy husbandry in 1970 from MU. In college, he was president of the ag and student dairy clubs. The MU College of Agriculture named him the 1962-63 Outstanding Senior. He was a member of numerous honor societies and earned High Individual Award as part of Mizzou’s Dairy Judging Team at an international contest in 1961. Early employers included Cargill Nutrena Mills and Ralston Purina. In 1970, he became the MU Extension state dairy specialist. In 1985, the MU Department of Dairy Sciences named him as chair. In 1989, Ricketts became MU Commercial Agriculture coordinator. While chair of dairy science at MU, Ricketts led the Missouri Dairymen’s Institute, the All Breeds Show and Sale, and Dairy Day programs. He strongly promoted the state Dairy Herd Improvement Association program and the Missouri Livestock and Poultry Health Council. He revamped the management and cropping system at MU’s Foremost Dairy Research Center to increase feed and milk production and improve labor efficiency. He worked closely with state breed and dairy products organizations as well as 4-H and FFA. The Missouri Dairy Hall of Honors bestowed its Dairy Leadership Award to him in 1993. He lives in Hallsville with his wife, Sondra, who holds a bachelor’s in education from MU and is retired after 28 years as a librarian. They have three children, who were active in 4-H, and six grandchildren. All are Mizzou graduates. Their son, Chad, was the first graduate of the MU food engineering program. He owns and runs his own food engineering company in Tulsa, Okla. Daughter Trina is an attorney shareholder with Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart P.C. in Kansas City, Mo. Neysa, their youngest, farms with her husband in Lawrence County and is a senior oncology specialist for Amgen.

AICA’s David Hobbs Honored at the Missouri State Fair Beef Show Dedication

David Hobbs, originally from Moberly, Missouri, grew up on his family’s Angus cow/calf operation. After graduating from Moberly High School David attended the University of Missouri where he was an AGR and received a BS in Ag Econ in May 1981. David’s history at the Missouri State Fair began as an exhibitor and has since changed by helping work the ring for many years during the steer show. Today, David lives in the Kansas City area with his wife Mary Jane and their daughter Annaleigh. David works at the American-International Charolais Association as Director of Activities and International Relations and is the Charolais Journal manager.

DECEMBER 2019 47

Straight

Talk

with Mike Deering Purpose The years seem to get shorter, the ground gets a little farther away and I don’t forget that today could be my last. Yeah, the older I get, I seldom take for granted the value of a true friend, the innocence of a child and the love from my family. I no longer worry as much about perfection and now focus more on living and working with purpose. I believe 2019 was a perfect example of working with purpose. This organization’s accomplishments this year will forever impact the association and the cattle industry in our state.

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We followed through on our commitment to ensure marketing with integrity. We led the first-ever legislation in the nation requiring manufacturers of fake meat to truthfully label the products or face the consequences. It didn’t end there as the legislation faced a legal challenge by the fake meat mafia. We spent the year successfully working closely with the attorney general’s office to make sure the law was not delayed or watered down. This isn’t over, but we are heading in the right direction.

We led the impossible legislation that was declared dead right out of the gate. With the passage of SB 391, farm and ranch families will be afforded the opportunity to expand or start from scratch without the worry of a county health ordinance putting them out of business. The patchwork quilt of regulations has been burned, and no county rule can be more stringent or inconsistent with state laws rooted in science. This victory didn’t come easy, and we will have to continue our fight to keep it in place. The law is facing litigation, and we are confident it will stand up in court. But, we will not let our guard down. We formed the Missouri Cattlemen’s Leadership College in 2018 with the inaugural class starting this year. The only way MCA has survived for over 100 years and can last

Executive Vice President another 100 is a focus on leadership development. The 2019 MCLC class is comprised of nine individuals who could easily become president of this association in the future. The program is undoubtedly a huge victory for the future of MCA and would not have been possible without the support from MCA’s supportive partners, Merck Animal Health in particular. Our 52nd annual convention will also be one with purpose. It’s the place where every producer member has a vote and works together to set the direction for this association. The theme of this year’s convention, held in Columbia, January 10-12, says it all: “Driven by 2020 Vision.” We will finalize the association’s three-year strategic plan with deliberate and measurable goals, establish 2020 policy priorities, honor the next generation, recognize outstanding members and elect new leadership. Speaking of leaders, Bobby Simpson has been a president with razor-sharp focus. He insisted every decision be meaningful and one that moves the needle for the industry and the association. We didn’t always agree, but I never questioned his passion or commitment to every member we represent. He wasn’t afraid to fight when the fight had purpose. When you see him at convention, please let him know his efforts aren’t taken for granted. Also, please take time to thank all past presidents of this association as it takes a lot of time and commitment.

DECEMBER 2019

Innovation Brings Profit

Feeding Quality Forum Speakers Encourage New Thinking Source: CAB - Miranda Reiman The cattle industry needs to make some bold, creative changes to ensure its viability. That was the wakeup call from speakers at the Feeding Quality Forum, Aug. 27 to 28 in Amarillo, Texas. Persistent problems may require new approaches. “Revenue is the reward for doing the right thing,” said Anne-Marie Roerink, principal at 210 Analytics. The retail food expert talked of marketing claims, consumer preferences and buying trends she studies in the Power of Meat survey, but the idea that doing right would eventually yield more profit was a common theme at the two-day forum, hosted by Certified Angus Beef LLC (CAB) and supporting sponsors. “Everyone throughout the grocery store is stealing our protein argument,” she said, pointing out sales of peanut butter to granola bars. “Meat is still the superior deliverer of protein.” Consumers want to include more plants in their diets, but that doesn’t mean it’s at the expense of meat. “Sometimes we have to have an open mind to still be on the menu,” Roerink said. Joe Leathers, 6666 Ranch, said cattlemen need to shift their perspective on cattle tracking, too. “I hear a lot of talk about how are we going to pay for a disease traceability program? There’s no added incentive to do it,” he said. Indeed, it’s a cost to the industry. “But how can we afford not to have a disease traceability program as an insurance policy?”

It’s “realistic” to think there will be another disease outbreak, Leathers said. Breaking away from tradition may help the industry solve ongoing challenges in feedyard receiving pens. John Richeson, West Texas A&M University, said one future strategy could be targeting only the highest risk share of a pen with preventative measures. Everything from chute-side nasal swabs to haptoglobin-measuring blood tests could help find the animals within a pen or load that need the most attention. It would be more labor intensive but reduce antibiotic usage because most cattle may not need treatment. “I don’t think the consumer is going to accept metaphylaxis if they understand that, so we need to find ways to better target,” he said. Yet, a cattleman’s priority is to keep cattle healthy, and in some cases, the only tool we have today is turning to health products. Feedyard consultant Scott Laudert explained the cause and incidence of liver abscesses in fed cattle, where minor differences in performance and carcass merit still add up to major costs. “Losses for the packer can be a combination of time, labor and saleable product,” he said, noting a $60-million price tag. Today’s advice is pretty routine: “Control liver abscesses as early as possible or the train will have left the station,” Laudert said. But negative consumer perception of mass preventative

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(Continued on page 52)

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treatment motivates the industry to keep learning more about best practices for Tylan or researching alternatives. “It’s going to take some outside-the-box thinking from feedyard managers and nutritionists and veterinarians,” Laudert said. “What can you guys do that you haven’t been doing to soften the impact?” Communication is a big part of using technology to its full advantage, and that’s true with growth promoting implants. Ruminant nutritionist Robbi Pritchard said implants improve profitability, adding weaning weight and hot carcass weight for a small investment, while using fewer resources to add those pounds. But choosing the wrong implant for the wrong animal at the wrong time can both decrease efficacy and carcass quality. “Using it without sound technical advice, you can ruin a lot of carcasses,” Pritchard said. That’s why sharing implant information from rancher to grower to feeder is so important, he said Dale Woerner, Texas Tech University meat scientist, said beef demand is on a rising plane because of attention to everything that impacts final quality, from genetics to feeding cattle longer. Camera grading improved an evenhanded application of grading standards across all major plants and—even though there may be future improvements—it gives confidence in today’s system.

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Consumer satisfaction odds increase as marbling does. There’s an 82% and 88% chance of a good eating experience with Modest and Moderate marbling (premium Choice), respectively, but less than one chance in three of satisfaction with Select beef. That’s why restaurateurs pay more for higher grading beef, Woerner said.

“It took 5.5. million CAB carcasses to meet that demand,” he said. “The packer partners we work with sent an economic signal back into cow country, to the tune of $1.4 million dollars a week in the form of Certified Angus Beef premiums. That said, ‘Keep the supply coming.’” Cargill’s Glen Dolezal said cattle feeders have done an incredible job, especially in a difficult feeding year. “Hats off to the beef industry for a very high-quality, very rich [supply], and again this is translated to a current, very strong Choice-Select spread,” he said. Cargill supports the Beef Quality Assurance program to educate and assess beef producers on best practices. The company’s goal was 90% of their supply coming from yards with BQA certifications by December 2018, and they reached that mark. “If you do business with Wendy’s, McDonald’s and others, they’re demanding this now,” he said. “That’s why it’s become even more important to be able to tell the story that you’re following some sound guidelines and trying to do the right thing.” Beef producers are trying to compete globally as well, said Dan Basse, president of AgResource Company, who noted a key advantage. “We’ve never seen such a high [quality] grade as we are now,” he said. That’s important as world economies grow and people have more money to spend on better protein. Ending the trade war with China is imperative for growth and long-term profitability for the American farmer, the analyst said. However, world economies in general are slowing. “The future is not going to show the same type of growth we’ve enjoyed for the last few decades,” he said.

“If I’m in the foodservice business, I don’t need you to come to my restaurant once to make a living, I need you to come back many times.”

Still, Basse is optimistic about beef production, predicting fourth-quarter fed cattle moving back up to $112 to $114 per hundredweight, with an additional $10 or more added to that by the first quarter of 2020.

As the quality grades continue a dramatic upward trend, CAB president John Stika often hears: “Are we producing too much quality?”

“There’s a lot of difficulties ahead for the grain farmer, but I think you in the meat business are really in a pretty good position,” he said.

His definitive answer: “No.”

Feeding Quality Forum was made possible by Zoetis, Diamond V, Cargill, Micronutrients, Feedlot Magazine, Angus Link and Angus Source, and CAB. To view presentations or post-event coverage, visit CABcattle. com.

Sales data support that. Last year, partners around the world sold 1.21 billion pounds of the brand.

DECEMBER 2019

USMEF Update

pork production and 22.8% for muscle cuts, both up slightly from a year ago.

September Beef Export Volume Steady with 2018; Pork Exports Higher Year-over-Year but Down from Summer Pace September exports of U.S. beef were steady with last year in volume but export value trended lower, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). Pork exports were above year-ago levels in September but pulled back from the large totals posted in June, July and August.

“While red meat exports face obstacles in some key markets, global demand dynamics are strong and we see opportunities for significant growth in the fourth quarter and into 2020,” said USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom. “Progress is being made on market access improvements and this makes for a very positive outlook going forward.”

September beef exports totaled 109,799 metric tons (mt), essentially even with last year, valued at $661.3 million (down 4%). Through the first three quarters of the year, beef exports were 2% below last year’s record pace in both volume (991,325 mt) and value ($6.1 billion). Beef export value per head of fed slaughter averaged $318.54 in September, up significantly from the previous month but still 5% below last year. The January-September average was down 3% to $310.77. September exports accounted for 14.6% of total U.S. beef production and 11.9% for muscle cuts only, down from 14.8% and 12.4%, respectively, last year. Through the first three quarters of the year, exports accounted for 14.3% of total beef production and 11.6% for muscle cuts, down from 14.6% and 12.1%, respectively, in 2018. September pork exports increased 13% from a year ago in both volume (202,248 mt) and value ($532.2 million). These results pushed January-September export volume 5% ahead of last year’s pace at 1.9 million mt, while value increased 2% to $4.89 billion. Pork export value averaged $49.98 per head slaughtered in September, up 3% from a year ago. For January through September, the per-head average was down 2% to $51.50. September exports accounted for 25.1% of total U.S. pork production, slightly higher than a year ago, and 21.7% for muscle cuts only (down slightly). January-September exports accounted for 26.3% of total

DECEMBER 2019

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Beef export trend to Japan highlights need for tariff relief Beef exports to leading market Japan continue to reflect the tariff rate gap between U.S. beef and its competitors. September exports were 14% below last year in both volume (24,041 mt) and value ($148.3 million). For the first three quarters of the year, exports to Japan were 4% below last year’s pace in volume (241,739 mt) and 5% lower in value ($1.51 billion). The decline was steeper for beef muscle cuts, which were down 10% in volume to 192,676 mt, valued at $1.22 billion (down 9%). Beef variety meat exports to Japan (mainly tongues and skirts) have been a bright spot in 2019, increasing 26% in volume (49,063 mt) and 15% in value ($290.8 million). While these items also face higher tariffs compared to competitors’ products, the rate is 12.8% versus 38.5% for U.S. muscle cuts. “Japan is still delivering excellent value for U.S. beef producers, but tariff relief cannot come soon enough,” Halstrom explained, referring to the recently signed U.S.-Japan trade agreement, which is being discussed and considered for approval by the Japanese Parliament. “With a level playing field, the U.S. beef industry will move a wider range of products to our loyal customers in Japan and will definitely capitalize on emerging growth opportunities.” Beef exports to South Korea continue to build on last year’s record performance, as September exports climbed 11% from a year ago in volume (21,267 mt) and 6% in value ($151.6 million). For January through September, exports reached 195,557 mt (up 8%) valued at $1.36 billion (up 10%). Korea surpassed Japan as the top value market for U.S. beef muscle cuts, reaching $1.36 billion through September (up 10% year-overyear). Muscle cut volume to Korea increased 9% to 185,288 mt. Korean customs data ( January through October) indicate U.S. beef accounts for 56% of Korea’s beef imports this year, up from 53% last year. Fueled by strong demand for variety meat, September beef exports to Mexico were slightly above last year in volume (19,464 mt) and 2% higher in value ($91.2

million). Through the first three quarters of the year, exports to Mexico reached 175,992 mt, down 1% from a year ago, while value increased 5% to $820.7 million. Mexico is the leading destination for beef variety meat, and September was an especially strong month, as variety meat exports climbed 26% from a year ago in volume (9,018 mt) and 51% in value ($26.4 million). While January-September variety meat exports were steady year-over-year in volume (71,522 mt), value jumped 16% to $192.5 million. January-September highlights for U.S. beef include: Beef exports to Taiwan remain well ahead of last year’s record pace, climbing 10% in volume (47,868 mt) and 6% in value ($427.3 million). In just nine months, exports to Taiwan have already surpassed all full-year totals posted before 2018. Led by impressive growth in Indonesia, beef exports to the ASEAN region were 31% ahead of last year’s pace in volume (44,481 mt) and 15% higher in value ($214.5 million). Exports to Indonesia soared 74% in volume (16,984 mt) and were 42% higher in value ($60.5 million). Demand for beef variety meat increased at an even more rapid pace in Indonesia, jumping 83% in volume (9,207 mt) and 78% in value ($18.4 million).

Strong September results in Central America pushed beef exports 8% above last year’s pace in volume (11,351 mt) and 13% higher in value ($64.6 million), led by strong growth in Guatemala and Panama. Although volume slowed in September, beef exports to the Dominican Republic remained on a record pace, increasing 39% from a year ago in volume (6,594 mt) and 32% in value ($53.2 million). Rebuilding effort continues for U.S. pork in Mexico; exports to China/Hong Kong moderate Since Mexico removed its 20% retaliatory duty on U.S. pork in late May, exports have rebounded significantly but not yet to the record-large, pre-tariff levels posted in 2017 and early 2018. September exports to Mexico were down 1% year-over-year in volume (56,467 mt), but value increased 7% to $97.6 million. Through the first three quarters of the year, exports were down 10% in volume (529,776 mt) and 9% in value ($919.4 million). “Although the U.S. industry has made rebuilding pork demand in Mexico a top priority, there is definitely a lingering effect from the retaliatory duties, which were in place for nearly a full year,” Halstrom said. “While it is a great relief to once again move pork to Mexico dutyfree, ratification of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (Continued on page 56)

DECEMBER 2019 55

would certainly help the psychology of the market and bolster our major customers’ confidence in the U.S. supply chain.” Although dramatically higher than a year ago, September pork exports to China/Hong Kong pulled back from the large totals posted over the previous two months as China’s domestic pork supplies felt increasing pressure from African swine fever (ASF). September volume was 51,192 mt, up 158% from a year ago, while value increased 123% to $115.6 million. For January through September, exports to China/Hong Kong were up 47% in volume (407,514 mt) and 25% in value ($833.5 million). “Obviously we are anxious to learn the details of the phase 1 agreement between the U.S. and China and hopeful that it removes obstacles for U.S. pork,” Halstrom said. “Exports to China/Hong Kong are improving, but certainly not to the level that could be achieved if U.S. pork returned to normal tariff levels and if the U.S.-China agreement addresses non-tariff barriers as well.” The U.S. pork industry stands to benefit significantly from the U.S.-Japan trade agreement, which will bring tariffs on U.S. pork in line with those imposed on major competitors such as Canada and the European Union. Japan remains the leading value destination for U.S. pork, but September volume was down 8% to 27,812 mt and value fell 5% to $116.2 million. Through September, exports to Japan trailed last year’s pace by 6% in both volume (278,352 mt) and value ($1.14 billion).

DECEMBER 2019

January-September highlights for U.S. pork include: While September exports slowed to mainstay market Colombia and to the region as a whole, pork exports to South America were still 24% above last year’s record pace in volume (114,535 mt) and 26% higher in value ($287.9 million). Chile has been South America’s growth pacesetter in 2019, with exports climbing 60% in volume (33,992 mt) and 53% in value ($97.6 million). The U.S. is now Chile’s largest pork supplier and

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opportunities continue to expand as more Chilean pork is exported to China. A strong September performance pushed pork exports to Central America 16% above last year’s record pace in volume (67,982 mt) and 19% higher in value ($165.1 million). Exports trended higher to Honduras, the largest Central American destination for U.S. pork, and Guatemala, Panama, Costa Rica and Nicaragua have achieved excellent growth in 2019. Exports to Oceania continue to reach new heights, climbing 37% from a year ago in volume (85,557 mt) and 33% in value ($243 million), with impressive growth in both Australia and New Zealand. While ASF has impacted pork production in Southeast Asia, especially in Vietnam but more recently spreading into the Philippines, lower domestic prices have affected the ASEAN region’s demand for imports. U.S. shipments to the ASEAN dropped sharply in September and through the third quarter trailed last year’s pace by 15% in volume (41,905 mt) and 23% in value ($95 million). However, pork and hog prices have started to trend higher in Vietnam, and the European Union’s pork exports to Vietnam were record-large in August, suggesting potential for larger U.S. exports in coming months. September lamb exports trend higher Exports of U.S. lamb increased 22% year-over-year in September to 1,435 mt, while value improved 9% to $1.77 million. Through the first three quarters of the year, exports were 31% above last year’s pace at 12,061 mt, while value increased 13% to $19.3 million. Lamb muscle cut exports were 9% lower than a year ago in volume (1,652 mt) but increased 2% in value ($10.2 million). Markets showing promising muscle cut growth included the Dominican Republic, Panama and Guatemala. Complete January-September export results for U.S. beef, pork and lamb are available from USMEF’s statistics Web page.

DECEMBER 2019

COUNTY NEWS

See What’s Happening in Your County

Douglas / Wright County The Douglas / Wright County Cattlemen’s Association met on Tuesday, November 12, 2019, at 6 p.m. in Mountain Grove, Missouri at Club 60 Steakhouse. The group enjoyed a steak dinner with sides sponsored by Hannah Kelly, Representative of Missouri’s 141st district, and Van Kelly, who is running for a seat in the state senate. President Ernie Ehlers welcomed the group and gave a treasury report. He proceeded with a blessing before the meal, and 51 members in attendance enjoyed fellowship during dinner. Following dinner, the top three essay contestants chosen for the 2019 Douglas / Wright County Cattlemen’s Bred Heifer Project read their essays to the group. In no particular order, the top three essays that were selected by the board include: Libby Shaver, Hartville FFA Grovespring; Landry Golden, Mountain Grove; and Sadie Schober, Mountain Grove. The board will announce the winner of the bred heifer at the December Cattlemen’s meeting.

DECEMBER 2019

Following the reading of the essays, Jaxon Kelly, representative and nephew of Hannah Kelly, spoke to the group, highlighting the importance of cattlemen in the agriculture industry and touching on his own

Libby Shaver, Hartville FFA Grovespring; Landry Golden, Mountain Grove; and Sadie Schober, Mountain Grove all recited their essays to the group.

experiences within his family’s cattle operation. Van Kelly then spoke to the group highlighting his thoughts on agriculture and what he plans to focus on if elected for senate. The Douglas / Wright County group will hold their next meeting on Monday, December 2, 2019, at 6 p.m. at Club 60 Steakhouse in Mountain Grove, Missouri. The Douglas / Wright County Cattlemen’s Group will host this meeting. Cattlemen in the area are always welcome and encouraged to attend.

Moniteau County The Moniteau County Cattleman’s held their annual meeting on Tuesday, November 12 at Centennial Hall in California Missouri. Special guests included Governor Parson and Missouri Director of Agriculture, Chris Chinn. William Inglish and Quinten Potter were recognized as retiring board members. Kyle Fulks and Tyler Schmidt were voted in as the new board members. The 2019 Outstanding Cattleman for Moniteau County was Kenny Jones. He has served on the board for many years. Following the meal, over $18,600 was raised for the local scholarship fund through cash donations and a live auction by Petree Auction. Every year, the Moniteau County Cattleman’s awards $1,000 scholarships to seniors from California, Jamestown and Tipton Schools with $8,000 awarded to 2019 graduating seniors.

2019 Outstanding Moniteau Cattleman Kenny Jones with Moniteau County Cattleman’s President, Blue Gieir.

Governor and Mrs. Parson with Kenny Jones and his family.

DECEMBER 2019 59

Hickory County A great time was by all in Weaubleau last Thursday night for our November meeting! President Carl Button opened the meeting with the Pledge if Allegiance and Zane Durnell gave the blessing on our meal. Thanks to Ginger Culbertson for the great bbq beef dinner! Special thank you to Clay Barnhouse and Kingsville Livestock Auction for sponsoring our meal and telling us about their new color-coded ear tag weened/vaccinated calf program. Very interesting program to hear about! Raysha Tate from the St. Clair County MU Extension office gave a great presentation on Missouri fencing laws, which can be quite a complicated subject for many farmers. She gave the group some great resources for those seeking more information! It was very exciting to see the For-Most squeeze chute system we’re raffling off next month, in person. It’s a beautiful machine, and one lucky winner I’d going to be very proud to have it on their farm! There are only a handful of tickets remaining so please contact a member for your 1 in 100 chance at winning the squeeze chute.

DECEMBER 2019

As always we want to thank our local FFA members for being very gracious hosts, and also our growing number of junior members. Great work, everybody!

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DECEMBER 2019

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St. Clair County St. Clair County Cattlemen’s Association held their Annual Meeting on Saturday, November 9, 2019, at the Assembly of God Church in Osceola. President Austin Shelby called the meeting to order with around 70 members and guest present. The children led the pledge for the group. The meal was served by the ladies of the Church with Chuck Simpson, Osceola FFA advisor, cooking the meat for the meal. A special thank you to them for putting on a great meal for our organization. We would also like to thank the following businesses for donating to our meeting: Bartz Tax and Accounting, Burns Custom Spraying LLC, Cook Tractor Parts, Inc., Farmer’s Elevator Supply Co. Inc., Gregg Smith Ford, Hawthorne Bank, Heritage Tractor, Jim Raysik Inc., Oakstar Bank, Osage Valley Electric, Osceola Abstract and Title, Powell Meat Company, Sugarfoot BBQ, and Zink Motor Company.

Kendra Stewart - Scholarship recipient with President Austin Shelby.

St. Clair County Cattlemen were grateful to have State Representative Warren Love, Presiding Commissioner Robert Salmon, Treasurer Rhonda Shelby, and Recorder of Deeds Pat Terry with us for the evening. The three FFA Chapters from our County, Appleton City FFA, Lakeland FFA, and Osceola FFA, were present to give the organization updates on their activities for the year. Bobby Simpson, Missouri Cattlemen’s Association president, was our guest speaker for the evening. Simpson stressed to our organization the importance of being involved in your organization, your community and how it does impact your own advancements on your ranch.

DECEMBER 2019

This year our local organization started the MO Beef for MO Kids in our county. To date, we have sent seven head to our local schools and are getting ready to send four more after the first of the year. We would like to thank our cattlemen who have donated: Bryon and Angie Wheeler of Wheeler Livestock Auction, Paul and Marion Wheeler, Larry and Rhonda Shelby, Austin and Rachael Shelby, Weston and Julie Shelby, Mike and Gwenny Nance, Josh Salmon, Eddie Meredith, and Johnson Ranch. This program has been a great asset to our schools and we hope to be able to continue it in years to come.

This year the Cattlemen awarded two $2,000 scholarships provided by the support of Paul Tom Firestone, Orval Johnson, Dr. Larry Moore Memorial and David Barger Memorial. This year’s recipients are Max Unell and Kendra Stewart. Both students talked about how their first semester at college is going so far. Congratulations to them and best of luck as they pursue their agriculture degrees.

Max Unell - Scholarship recipient with President Austin Shelby.

Mr. Bobby Simpson, MCA President.

Polk County The Polk County Cattlemen’s Association had their November meeting in conjunction with the University of Missouri Extension, at the Southwest Missouri Beef Conference. The beef conference was held on November 14, the slogan this year was “Management Makes the Difference in Tough Times.” The night kicked off with the trade show opening at 4:30 p.m. Exhibitors included Countryside Vet Clinic, Joplin Regional Stockyards, Gibson Insurance Company, Crown Power & Equipment, Kingsville Livestock Auction, Ollis/Akers/ Arney, Missouri Department of Conservation, and The Missouri Ag & Small Business Development Authority. At 5 p.m., Joe Homer, Ag Economist at the University of Missouri, spoke about industrial hemp, and the opportunities that it offers for Missouri. Next Wesley Tucker, an ag business specialist with the MU Extension, talked about the Polk County Ag Census. Following that, we had a good meal, and honored our veterans. At 7 p.m., Senator Sandy Crawford gave us a legislative update and discussed what they have been working on in the State Agriculture Committee. Harry Cope then discussed an Innovative winter feed source. We ended the evening with a presentation from Mark Geen, the lead resource conservationist with the NRCS, where he talked about Fencing Tips, and shared some very good ideas. We would like to thank the Bolivar Farmers Exchange, FCS Financial, as well as all of our Trade Show exhibitors for sponsoring the event, and helping make it possible. We hope to see everybody at the Polk County Cattlemen’s Christmas Party on December 7. It will Start at 6:30 p.m., at the Rockin R Auction House. We hope to you there!

DECEMBER 2019 63

Henry County Well, we seem to be winding down for the year. We have had several informative meetings, and delicious meals. This month, Dr. Randy Drake, DVM from the Midwest Missouri Veternary Services sponsored a meeting. He also introduced Dillon Hamlin, a nutrition specialist, who spoke to the group.

Another activity this month was donating, and grilling, over 300 hamburgers to the Montrose FFA Day. All of the area schools were invited to attend this event. The FFA advisor Shayla Coale and two of the chapter members, Malanie Fennell and Madyson Faulkenberry, were special guests at one of the of the meetings to promote this activity. We helped one of our members, Bob Harriman, at his bull sale. He provided the food and we helped serve the many people there before the sale began.

Dillon Hamlin Nutritionist, Dr. Randy Drake, DVM and member Robert Trolinger. A family affair: Carol and Gary Sell and nephew Richard Snider waiting for the meeting to begin.

Harriman Bull Sale helpers: Anthony Lesmeister and Roy Batschlett seated. Standing are Robert Trolinger, Sammy Lesmeister, Marylin Lesmeister, Marguerite Hankins, and Danny Goth.

DECEMBER 2019

New members Patty and Kurt Moore.

Members Sarah Bush and Tom Gregg enjoying the meeting. David Wilson, Bob Harriman, and Marguerite Hankins listening as our program progresses.

Vernon County

Lafayette County

Congratulations to Tommy Wait and Jay Sloniker! Both of these Vernon County Cattlemen members received awards at the 22nd Celebration of Schools held at MSSU. Tommy and Jay have both been very involved in our annual VCC scholarships offered to graduating high school seniors. Jay was also a leader in bringing the MO Beef for MO Kids program to Vernon County’s public schools, and both he and Tommy have donated beef to the program. Thank you both!

The Lafayette County Cattlemen completed their Food Pantry donations for 2019 by delivering 100 lbs. of ground beef and packages of hamburger buns to the Odessa Food Pantry. This makes 300 lbs. of ground beef donated by LCCA to help county food pantry participants to have a good source of protein to accompany the usual food pantry staples. The LCCA board of directors met Tuesday, November 19 at the Lafayette County Extension Office. Reports were given on summer activities including 4-H/FFA Fair donations, cookouts including Odessa MFA, Higginsville Country Fair, Kleinschmidt’s Rodeo and the Wood & Huston Tailgate at Lafayette County C-1 School. Secretary and Treasurer’s reports were given and Marsha Corbin reported on the summer bus trip and shared plans are being made for the 2020 trip to Kentucky. Plans were discussed for the 2020 year including annual meeting and election of officers and annual Scholarship dinner and auction.

Tommy Wait.

Board members Kathy Harris and Marsha Corbin delivered the LCCA donation to the Odessa Community Service Center. Jay Sloniker.

Editorial Note:

DECEMBER 2019

Please send County News items via email to: mobeef@sbcglobal.net Andy Atzenweiler Deadline for the January 2020 issue is December 15.

Dallas County Another great crowd turned out once again for the annual meeting of the Dallas County Cattlemen’s Association (DCCA) held on November 12 at Prairie Grove Mennonite School south of Buffalo. The nearly 200 in attendance enjoyed a roast beef dinner with plenty of extras prepared by the ladies of the community. We want to thank all the ladies who helped, but certainly Ruby Hostetler and Gloria Miller who graciously donate their time for all of us to enjoy a great meal. President Stuart Dill welcomed the crowd that evening. We appreciate Region 6 MCA Vice-President Clay Doeden being with us as well as Missouri Beef Queen Lauren Gilbert and her family. Also present and offering remarks were State Senator Sandy Crawford and State Representative Jeff Knight. We are quite honored to have not one but two state legislators as members of DCCA who are such strong proponents of agriculture and our industry.

Sandy Crawford and Jeff Knight.

We want to thank the Buffalo FFA Chapter for joining us at each meeting and updating us on their activities and events. We were glad that four members were able to attend our annual meeting as well as their advisor Joey Stokes and his family. In other business, the 2019 DCCA officers and board were recognized and thanked for their efforts this past year. Dayle Nelson was elected president for the upcoming year, with John Crawford and Jeff Eagleburger added to the board. All other officers will remain the same. We want to thank our members and businesses who donated alot of door prizes.

Region 6 MCA Vice-President Clay Doeden.

Our Christmas project this year will once again be to buy socks as part of the OACAC “Toys for Tots” program. Each year, the need keeps growing. We are glad to help in such a worthy project, and anticipate

Buffalo FFA Chaper members offer an update on their activities. DECEMBER 2019

helping to buy socks for an estimated 400 children this year.

Missouri Beef Queen Lauren Gilbert shared an update.

We will not be holding a December membership meeting. We already have some meetings planned for 2020 and look forward to the New Year. We hope everyone has a great holiday season!

Nodaway County The Nodaway County Cattlemen’s Association hosted their fall monthly meeting on Thursday, October 17, 2019. The program provided at the meeting was vaccination protocols and was presented by a panel of local veterinarians. We owe a big thank you to the following veterinarians for sharing their knowledge, best practices and their time. A complimentary catered meal of beef brisket and sides were provided to the over 35 members who were in attendance at the meeting. • Dr. Edward Powell, DVM - Nodaway Veterinary Clinic, Inc. • Dr. Pat O’Connell, DVM - Maryville Veterinary Clinic • Dr. Mike Roberts, DVM - Roberts Veterinary Service

Veterinarians offered their expertise on the vaccination protocols.

DECEMBER 2019 67

On the Edge of

Common Sense with Baxter Black Thumbs Up I confess to not owning a tractor. I have plenty of friends nearby with tractors. But in a lapse of good judgment I borrowed one to brush hog a patch of weeds. Experienced farmers, even an 8 year-old farm kid knows that you always drive a tractor thumbs up. I didn’t remember. As I was farming around I managed to hit a post with the front wheel. The steering wheel spun like a helicopter blade and jammed my protruding thumb! It swelled up so big it wouldn’t fit through the neck of a quart jar. I only mention this humiliating self-inflicted injury because Dr. Willis sent me a scientific report regarding wound response in plants. It said, in effect, that localized injury in one part of a plant causes a protective response in another part of that plant. For instance, when a caterpillar gnaws on a near leaf, a change occurs in a far leaf that inhibits that type of caterpillar’s digestive enzymes.

DECEMBER 2019

It is therefore a natural assumption that if plants are able to protect themselves, that the human body, particularly my human body would work to prevent further similar injuries to itself.

But when you listen to rodeo cowboys recount the list of their broken bones it is obvious that some human bodies forgot to read the scientific report. However, it is possible that no protecting mechanism could safeguard people who leap off galloping horses onto stampeding steers or tie them selves to twelve hundred pounds of horns and hair and then scream, “turn ‘im out!”.

I admit, there is some sort of warning that goes off in your brain the second time you realize you have not completely latched the head gate. Or you’re fixin’ to stab yourself with the pistol grip syringe again, or you’ve just set yer hair on fire with the branding iron like you did last year. So you would think that through experience, if nothing else, the body would learn to be more careful. I confess to not owning a roping arena. I have plenty of friends nearby with roping arenas. Four days after I had stove my thumb on the tractor, I was roping at a friend’s. Even a novice trail rider with a law degree knows when you dally you always keep yer thumbs up. I didn’t remember. I managed to double hock a speedy little steer, set my horse, go to the horn and catch that same thumb under a coil. It peeled a square foot of skin off the outside and mashed the tip till it looked like the paddle on a butter churn. It turned black, now when I put my hand in my pocket it looks like I’m packin’ a roll of silver dollars. But all is not lost. It has occurred to me that since the injuries were both crop and livestock related, something good could still come from my misfortunes. So I have submitted my swollen digit for consideration as Poster Thumb for the “Diversified Farming Movement.”

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Oval F Ranch

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Missouri Land Values Up 4% on Average Source: Linda Geist, Writer, University of Missouri Extension COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Extension’s recent land value survey shows that average land prices for non-irrigated cropland across the state increased about 4% or $204 per acre from last year.

Central Missouri timber/hunting and recreational land grew the most in value, according to the survey, with a 32% positive change. Good cropland and pastureland in central Missouri posted upward changes of 22%.

MU Extension economist Ray Massey says the webbased survey considered the average value of three classes of cropland and pasture as of July 2019. It also considered timberland as well as hunting and recreational land.

The Lake of the Ozarks region posted the highest changes in land values in the state for timber/hunting and recreational land at 34%.

Bootheel area land topped statewide values at $7,090 for good non-irrigated cropland and $7,353 for good irrigated land while even poor cropland ranked at $4,051. Respondents estimated good pastureland at a statewide average of $3,174 per acre, up $259 or 9% from 2018 estimates. Reported changes in value varied greatly, from a 6% decrease to a 22% increase. Pastureland in counties bordering the Missouri and Mississippi rivers showed the highest values.

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Overall, Missouri hunting/recreational land and timberland posted a 12% increase in value.

The study shows averages of $5,421 per acre for good non-irrigated cropland. Survey respondents rated good irrigated cropland at $6,148 per acre, $634 more per acre than last year.

Demand remains strong and rental rates decreased little. Broadband internet expansion might influence some sales near metropolitan areas. Massey also points to low interest rates and low rates of return on “safe” investments such as certificates of deposit causing people to put their money in land.

Hunting/recreational property in those same counties also ranked at the top, with timberland values at $2,789 and hunting/recreational land values at $2,700.

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The survey also reports a growing trend of buyers planning to farm the land themselves. As many as 62% of buyers plan to farm the land; 27% intend to rent out the land; 10% plan to use the land for non-farming purposes. Massey says survey respondents expect little change in land values in the coming year. “In 2018, the respondents to this survey expected land values to decrease slightly. This year, while some regions show decreases and some increases, the average value of cropland, pastureland, timberland and recreational land across the state is expected to hold where it is now,” he says. Massey says 75% of responses came from lenders, 12% from farmers, 9% from rural appraisers and 4% from other occupations. For the complete report, go to extension2.missouri.edu/ g401.

Ron McBee

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DECEMBER 2019

Commercial Cattlemen’s Symposium Unites and Informs Producers Source: Hannah Frobose, Red Angus Association of America media intern DUBUQUE, IA – This year’s National Red Angus Convention, hosted in Dubuque, Iowa, featured the Commercial Cattlemen’s Symposium which allowed members to hear from industry professionals about opportunities to increase profit in their herds. The symposium theme, “Navigating the River to Profitability,” effectively summarizes the insight that speakers offered. Troy Marshall of Marshall Cattle Co., kicked off this year’s symposium asking the audience five questions relating to the Red Angus industry: where are we, what lays ahead, where do we want to go, do we have the right crew and are we on the right course? Covering recent trends, he reflected on where the industry has been and discussed where it is going, emphasizing the economic factors that are driving current and future needs. “The exciting thing to me is that we have the tools to address every one of these needs,” said Marshall. “The value of genetics is going to become even more important in the future and we’re going to have genetics that will not only change the production side of things, but also the efficiency, marketing and even address consumer preferences.” Dr. Ken Odde, Kansas State University, continued the morning’s discussion. He highlighted Superior Livestock Auction and Merck Animal Health’s data while crediting the reputation that Red Angus Association of America members have established for their cattle.

DECEMBER 2019

“You folks belong to a breed that has tremendous respect from a maternal standpoint,” said Odde. “That’s a really strong position to be in. You can attribute that to a lot of different things, but one in particular is a really strong set of breeders for such a long period of time.”

Dr. Tony Bryant, head nutritionist for Five Rivers Cattle Feeding, started the afternoon’s discussion of ideal feeder cattle, focusing on factors that influence a successful feedyard such as health, consistency and uniformity. He further discussed the increasing role that consumers play in influencing production practices, and how that will impact future market trends. “Consumers want to know where the cattle come from, how they’re treated and if they had a good home,” said

Troy Marshall, Marshall Cattle Co., addressed the crowd during the opening session of the Commercial Cattlemen’s Symposium at the National Red Angus Convention in Dubuque, Iowa. Marshall’s keynote lecture was titled “Which Came First - The Cow or the Calf?”

Bryant. “Natural, organic, antibiotic-free, vegetarian – these are huge percentage increases that show the trend. Yet, in the grand scheme, traditional beef is still a big percentage.” Bob Scherer, director of procurement for Tyson Foods, continued the discussion with “Designing the Best Finished Cattle.” While referencing the history and current state of Tyson, Scherer maintained that the driving factor of the fed cattle industry is quality. “We’re looking for pounds, we’re looking for efficiently yielding animals, but more importantly, we’re looking for quality,” Scherer said. The symposium concluded with a live ultrasound demonstration from The CUP Lab LLC. Members gathered to watch as Mark Henry, CUP Lab president, performed ultrasound demonstrations on cattle provided by the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, while stressing the value of ultrasound use and not forgetting the importance of scanning heifers. “If you’re not scanning heifers in your operation, you really should be,” said Henry. “It can provide valuable data that will greatly influence future breeding decisions.” The annual Red Angus Commercial Cattlemen’s Symposium is an excellent opportunity for members to hear from industry professionals on current trends that are directly impacting producers.

Missouri Red Angus Breeders

K Farms Red Angus K Bulls and Heifers Ken & Brenda Keesaman 816-675-2503 • C: 816-390-4988 Kody Keesaman 816-724-1432 Kolten Keesaman 816-808-2846 3803 SW Rogers Rd. • Osborn, MO 64474 Ken@kkfarmsredangus.com www.kkfarmsredangus.com Visit us on Facebook at KK Farms Red Angus Cattle

Balancing Performance with Maternal

Mike and Stephanie Smith Columbia, Missouri 573-881-0395 • 573-449-1809

MAPLEWOOD ACRES FARM

Matt & Jennifer Boatright David & Mariah Boatright 29775 Pony Path Rd, Sedalia, MO 65301

Jerry Ellis 660-909-6110

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Centerview, MO ellisjerryd@hotmail.com

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DECEMBER 2019

A Guide to Selling Stockers Source: Shelia Grobosky, Public Relations Coordinator, BioZyme, Inc. (SAINT JOSEPH, Mo., Oct. 10, 2019) For cow-calf producers who spring calve, now seems like a logical time to market weaned calves. You’ve invested time and resources into breeding the cows, raising the calves and getting them weaned. Those cows should be bred back, and the cycle continues. But, is this really the best time to sell? Like any good business manager, producers need to use the resources available to them with some practical record-keeping information to determine the best time of year for them to market their feeder calves. Glynn Tonsor, PhD, and Professor of Agricultural Economics at Kansas State University suggests the price received for feeder calves is impacted by the simple MBCSept2014c.qxp_Layout 9/24/14 9:59 AM PageSince 62 a majority of principle of 1supply and demand. producers spring calve, there are more cattle ready to sell in the fall, therefore the price is typically more depressed. Conversely, with fewer fall-born calves, the supply in the spring is lower, so those calves tend to bring higher prices. “Most importantly that is just a sales price; that doesn’t tell you what is most profitable for your operation. The cost of wintering an animal is more than any other season,” Tonsor said. A higher price on sale day is not on its own indicative of an increased profit. Producers need to be aware of all their input costs and keep records, not only of their cost of gain, but also calculate the value of gain. Simply stated, cost of gain (COG) is the marginal cost of putting

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weight on your cattle. The value of gain (VOG) takes that a step further to determine if the cost of adding weight before selling your calves will help you turn an increased profit. A simple equation for VOG is: (Sale Price – Purchase Price)/(Sale Weight – Purchase Weight). If the realized VOG is more than the COG, the seller will make a profit. Tonsor recommends www. beefbasis.com as a resource to help project the VOG. This helpful online tool includes price forecasting for various regions across the country, for different feeder cattle types, at different times of year. “Consider the value of gain for your calves. What do you think those additional pounds will be worth? Everybody needs to compare that to their cost of gain and calculate their inputs compared to overall expenses. An attractive output price doesn’t mean anything if you are a high-cost producer. It’s a net margin that drives the profit. If you don’t measure it, you can’t manage it,” Tonsor said. Timing is Everything Old Man Winter isn’t always kind to cattle producers, and therefore, it is more costly to raise a calf through the winter, when you are devoting additional resources to both the mother cow and her offspring. A calf born in the spring and sold during the fall run never has the cost associated with winter care. Tonsor reminds producers that if they do choose to keep their spring-born calves until they are yearlings and sell them in the spring, that is when calculating VOG is imperative. “Anytime you delay a sale, you are exposing yourself to market risk. That can be good or bad. Risk is often viewed only in a negative way, but when it comes to pricing cattle, good things can develop, and bad things

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can develop. If you have a corn price spike during that period, feeder cattle get cheaper. If corn drops, feeder cattle get more valuable,” Tonsor said.

Generally, once a producer does the calculations, selling the calves post-weaning doesn’t look as bad as it once did.

Cattle, Corn Relationship According to Tonsor, the corn market can significantly influence price between selling now or waiting until spring, either good or bad. Once again, the weather conditions and timing are both an integral part of this relationship, that is out of any human’s control. IF the entire corn industry was slow to get its crop in, and less overall corn is harvested, that elevates corn prices, and depresses feeder calf prices. It all goes back to supply and demand.

Marketing your feeder calves doesn’t have to be complicated. Geographic location, timing, weather, and even the corn market all play a role in what you can expect to receive for your calves. Online resources like www.AgManager.info and www.beefbasis.com can help producers forecast the market and make selling decisions. The more you know, the more likely you are to succeed. The key to profitability is good management and knowing what works best for your operation.

“The corn, feeder cattle inverse relationship is critical to the cattle industry,” Tonsor reminds. Walk a Mile in Someone Else’s Shoes Retained ownership is an alternative that allows the producer to continue owning the cattle through the feed yard, while a feeder finishes the cattle and then sells them to a packer. If a producer has done his or her homework, has studied the future market and calculated their breakeven, retained ownership of calves through the feed yard might be a viable choice. Many custom feed yards will manage cattle, while you still own them, allowing you to potentially get the cattle price back to where you want it to be by owning cattle throughout their life. However, you will have to absorb that market risk and be exposed for a longer period of time to do that.

DECEMBER 2019 79

Cattlemen Gather in Reno for 2019 Angus Convention Source: Angus News More than 1,700 attendees made the 2019 Angus Convention an overwhelming success Nov. 2-4 in Reno, Nevada. The American Angus Association® met its goal of providing top-notch education, networking and entertainment to those who made the trip west. During the opening general session on Saturday, Nov. 2, Association CEO Mark McCully reflected on the past success of the Business Breed and provided a positive outlook on the year ahead for Angus producers and their commercial customers. McCully gave attendees from all segments of the cattle industry a front-row seat to the interworkings of the Association, extending the reach of the Angus family across the nation. “While this was the first time the Angus Convention has ever traveled west, we knew the region is home to cattle operations of every size and production type,” McCully said. “The Association had an important goal of increasing the connection between our western members and their commercial bull-buying customers. By providing unmatched educational opportunities and an expansive trade show with plenty of time for networking, I believe we did just that.” Angus Convention kicked off on Friday, Nov. 1 with the National Angus Tour, hosted by Bently Ranch and sponsored by the California Angus Association. Close to 400 attendees visited the unique operation just south of Reno, located in Minden, Nevada. Tour participants spent the day learning about the multifaceted Bently Ranch, which has vertically integrated their commercial Angus operation, farming and distillery, all in one location. Friday evening, the new Angus Convention Kick-Off Party celebrating the Angus Foundation honored generous donors and a year of advancements made by the Foundation. Kyle Shobe and the Walk ’em Boys

DECEMBER 2019

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entertained the crowd of more than 400 guests. A live auction of five lots, ranging from hunting and fishing trips to video packages, brought in more than $33,500 unrestricted funds for the Angus Foundation. “We introduced a new format to our Friday evening event, and we are so happy with the outcome,” said Rod Schoenbine, Angus Foundation director of development. “The opportunity to raise funds through a live auction, to showcase touching video tributes, and to enjoy live music and great food delivered a fun evening for all who attended.” With producer education as the main focus, attendees had the opportunity to learn from some of the best in the business when it comes to genetics, cattle handling, herd management and more. The Angus Genomics Symposium sponsored by Neogen GeneSeek pushed producers to think outside of the box. Keynote addresses by Innovater and Former CEO of Travelocity Terry Jones and Brad Hine of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), provided attendees with a roadmap to digital disruption and an update on a cattle immune function expected progeny difference (EPD). Stuart Bauck, vice president of agrigenomics for Neogen, unveiled new Angus GSSM content to be released in the coming months. In addition, an in-trade show Learning Lounge was added to provide even more education in quick, 30-minute time frames. Attendees were able to stop into the Learning Lounge during trade show hours to catch up on the latest advancements made by sponsors and Association staff. The 2019 Convention was truly a well-rounded educational experience. Angus University speakers included Beck Weathers, Mt. Everest survivor, and Joel Cowley, CEO of the Houston Livestock Show and RodeoTM. They inspired convention-goers with stories of history and perserverence. The Sunday afternoon Angus University workshops, sponsored by Zoetis, covered everything from bull development to the relationship of maternal function and carcass merit, and more. To add to the excitement, more than 800 attendees entered to win a Priefert and Tru-Test by Datamars Complete Cattle Handling System, a John Deere XUV835M HVAC Gator™ Crossover Utility Vehicle and a Bridgeview Manufacturing Bale King 5300. Steve Gilje of Rollete, North Dakota, took home the Complete

Cattle Handling System, valued at $33,000. Taylorsville, Kentucky, native Anne Patton Schubert was the lucky winner of the John Deere Gator, a $22,000 piece of equipment. Sarah Thomas took the Bridgeview Manufacturing Bale King 5300 back to Homedale, Idaho. The second annual Certified Angus Beef ® brand judging contest results were announced, and winners of the three divisions took home a hat from Greeley Hat Works, a $650 value. Colter Pohlman of Texas took home high honors in the junior division and Kallie Knott of Indiana won the young adult division. Minnesota native Karen Mitteness won the adult division and was named overall champion. Following the giveaway drawing, Lubbock, Texas’ own Flatland Cavalry entertained the crowd with their “easy on the ears, heavy on the heart” Texas country music. Finally, the highly anticipated Awards Recognition Breakfast highlighted some of the Association’s best and brightest. Award winners are: American Angus Auxiliary 2019 retiring president: Cindy Ahearn, Texas ROV Show Heifer of the Year: T/R NFF Princess E307, Kayden Nowatzke, Michigan City, Indiana ROV Show Bull of the Year: C&C Intuition 7104 Ryan Callahan, Edmond, Oklahoma; Express Ranches, Yukon, Oklahoma; Cross Creek Farms Inc, Brimfield, Illinois ROV Breeder of the Year: Express Ranches, Oklahoma Century Awards: Spring Cove Ranch, Idaho Purath Angus Farm, Minnesota Heritage Angus Foundation Inductees: Jarold Callahan, Oklahoma Jere and Charles Cannon, Kentucky Jim Bradford, Iowa Posthumously, Paul St. Blanc, Lousiana NJAA Angus Ambassador: Maddie Fugate, Illinois Miss American Angus: Eva Hinrichsen, Kansas

President and chairman of the board: Don Schiefelbein, Minnesota Vice president and vice chairman of the board: David Dal Porto, California Treasurer: Jerry Connealy, Nebraska Mark your calendars for the 2020 Angus Convention, Nov. 7-9, in Kansas City, Missouri. Proudly themed “Decades of Angus,” the 2020 Angus Convention is set to bring even more education, networking and entertainment to producers in attendance. Registration and lodging reservations open July 1, 2020. For news and more information about this year’s Convention, visit AngusConvention.com.

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To complete the Angus Convention was the 136th Annual Convention of Delegates. Nearly 300 delegates came together to elect five directors and vote on Association business.

DECEMBER 2019

Association Board of Directors elected: Richard Dyar, Alabama Dave Hinman, Montana Alan Miller, Illinois Jonathan Perry, Tennesee Barry Pollard, Oklahoma

MU Guide Explains Livestock Insurance Revisions from USDA Source: Duane Dailey, Writer, University of Missouri Extension COLUMBIA, Mo. – With volatile livestock market prices, farmers now have more appealing insurance underwritten by the USDA. The federally subsidized protection has been revised and simplified. Ryan Milhollin, University of Missouri Extension economist, says that while crop farmers are protecting against losses, livestock producers haven’t done as much.

Missouri farmers avoided complexities of the old system. That left them exposed to risk. This year, Missouri farmers insured only 5,000 head of feeder calves, down from 30,000 in 2014. While USDA underwrites LRP, policies come only from local insurance agents. Usually, they also sell crop insurance. “Local agents help farmers pick a plan to fit their situation,” Milhollin says.

USDA Risk Management Agency heard complaints and revised Livestock Risk Protection (LRP), Milhollin says. Higher subsidies on premiums may especially appeal to farmers growing feeder calves.

There are many LRP advantages, he says. Risk management protects from financial loss when sale prices drop. Most appealing, USDA helps pay premiums.

A policy covers unexpected lower sale prices. When prices fall, a policy softens loss. Buyers can obtain full or partial coverage. Lower protection costs less.

LRP provides protection similar to a “put option” on the futures market. But it’s easier and more flexible. Policy coverage fits the number of weeks a calf herd is held. There are no broker fees.

New policies fit small producers and are more flexible. The policies partially cover price shortfalls below expected prices. Percent of coverage can be adjusted. The premium subsidy, which had been 13%, now ranges from 20% to 35%, depending on the plan chosen. MU agricultural economists, including Milhollin, wrote MU Extension publication G459, which explains LRP and other livestock and dairy risk plans. The newly updated four-page guide is available for free download.

LRP insurance covers only market prices. It doesn’t compensate for other losses, such as death by disease or lightning. Further, ending values aren’t based on actual sale prices. Payments rely on indexes and market data sets. “Farmers need to understand their local markets,” Milhollin says. LRP covers much more than feeder calves. But fewer farmers retain feeders into the feedlot. LRP also cover hogs and sheep. A separate risk plan covers dairy.

DECEMBER 2019

MU Extension publication G459, “Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) Insurance in Missouri,” is at extension2.missouri.edu/g459.

Missouri Cattlemenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Association Proposed By-Law Changes Will be Voted on 1-12-20 in Columbia

DECEMBER 2019 83

DECEMBER 2019

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These proposed by-law changes will be voted on at the

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SALE REPORTS Spur Ranch 10.25.19 – Vinita, OK 117 Older Bulls............................................. Avg. $4,344 96 Commercial Open Heifers....................... Avg. $1,106 236 Commercial Pairs................................... Avg. $1,978 Mead Farms – Fall Production Sale 10.26.19 – Barnett, MO 150 Yearling Bulls......................................... Avg. $3,449 15 Open Heifers............................................ Avg. $1,061 28 Bred Heifers............................................. Avg. $2,042 74 Bred Cows................................................ Avg. $1,904 60 Fall Pairs................................................... Avg. $2,620 McBee Cattle Company Fall SELECTION DAY 2019 10.26.19 – Fayette, MO 8 Braunvieh Purebred Bulls.......................... Avg. $4,484 12 McBeef Builder Hybrid Bulls................... Avg. $3,913 20 Total bulls................................................. Avg. $4,141 6 Braunvieh Purebred spring bred heifers.... Avg. $2,475 14 McBeef Builder Hybrid spring bred heifers......................... Avg. $1824 29 BU Influ halfblood spring bred heifers.... Avg. $1,767

Worthington Angus 11.2.19 – Dadeville, MO 9 Older Bulls................................................. Avg. $3,977 17 Yearling Bulls........................................... Avg. $4,011 11 Commercial Open Heifers....................... Avg. $1,150 158 Commercial Bred Heifers...................... Avg. $1,587 Moriondo Farms & MM Cattle Co. Third Annual Production Sale 11.9.19 – Mount Vernon, MO 55 SimGenetic Bulls...................................... Avg. $3,720 32 Angus Bulls............................................... Avg. $3,283 35 Commercial Fall Bred/Pairs..................... Avg. $1,646 59 Commercial Bred Heifers........................ Avg. $1,476 Circle A Angus Ranch 11.12.19 – Iberia, MO 14 ½ Blood Wangus® Bulls.......................... Avg. $6,893 18 ¼ Blood Wangus® Bulls.......................... Avg. $4,489 40 Purebred Angus Bulls............................... Avg. $3,935 50 Commercial Heifers................................. Avg. $1,946

DECEMBER 2019

See page 27 for more details.

SALE CALENDAR December 7 Wright Charolais Sale, Kearney, MO December 7 Show-Me- Select Replacement Heifer Sale, Fruitland December 13 Show-Me- Select Replacement Heifer Sale, Farmington December 14 Show-Me- Select Replacement Heifer Sale, Palmyra January 25 Nichols Farms Sale, Bridgewater, IA February 1 Loonan Stock Farm Sale, Corning, IA February 4 Hoover Angus Production Sale, Creston, IA February 8 J&N Black Hereford Sale, Leavenworth, KS February 8 Crooked Creek Angus Sale, Clarinda, IA February 9-16 Iowa Beef Expo, Des Moines, IA February 15 Byergo Angus Sale, Savannah, MO February 17 Ade Polled Herefords Presidents Day Sale, Amsterdam, MO February 21 Galaxy Beef Production Sale, Macon, MO February 22 Seedstock Plus North Missouri Bull Sale, Kingsville, MO February 23 63rd Missouri Angus Breeders Futurity Sale, Columbia, MO February 28 Jamison Hereford Bull Sale, Quinter, KS March 6 Express Ranches Spring Bull Sale, Yukon, OK

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March 7 March 7 March 7 March 8 March 13 March 14 March 14 March 14 March 14 March 14 March 15 March 16 March 18 March 20 March 20 March 21 March 21 March 21 March 21 March 21 March 21 March 26

Mead Farms Spring Sale, Versailles, MO Peterson Farms Bull Sale, Mountain Grove, MO Seedstock Plus Arkansas Bull & Female Sale, Hope, AR Sampson Annual Bull Sale, Kirksville, MO Schlager Angus Production Sale, Palmyra, MO Wright Charolais Bull Sale, Kearney, MO Express Honor Roll Sale, Yukon, OK Heart of the Ozarks Angus Sale, West Plains, MO Seedstock Plus Red Reward Bull & Female Sale, Osceola, MO Genetic Power Gelbvieh & Balancer Bull Sale, Springfield, MO Briarwood Angus Annual Production Sale, Butler, MO Hinkle’s Prime Cut Angus Sale, Nevada, MO Valley Oaks Spring Sale, Lone Jack, MO Marshall & Fenner Farms Sale, Marshall, MO THM Land & Cattle Sale, Vienna, MO Circle A Spring Production Sale, Iberia, MO Pinegar Annual Herdbuilder XXVI Sale, Springfield, MO Falling Timber Farm Sale, Marthasville, MO Aschermann Charolais Bull Sale, Carthage, MO Brinkley Angus Ranch Sale, Green City, MO Mississippi Valley Angus Sale, Palmyra, MO Maplewood Acres Sale, Sedalia, MO

March 28 Worthington Angus Sale, Dadeville, MO March 28 Arkansas Bull Sale and Commercial Female Sale, Heber Springs, AR March 28 Seedstock Plus South Missouri Bull Sale, Carthage, MO March 28 Harriman Santa Fe “Top of the Breed” Bull & Bred Heifer Sale, Windsor, MO March 30 Southwest MO Performance Tested Bull Sale, Springfield, MO April 2 Hunter Angus Sale, Fair Grove, MO April 3 Meyer Cattle Co. Sale Curryville, MO April 4 Four State Angus Association Sale Springfield, MO April 4 B/F Cattle Co. Spring Maternal Integrity Gelbvieh & Balancer Bull Sale, Butler, MO April 6 Brockmere Farms Inc. Sale, New Cambria, MO April 10 Howard County Angus Association Sale, Fayette, MO April 11 Renaissance Sale, Strafford, MO April 14 Sydenstricker Genetic Influence Sale New Cambria, MO April 18 East Central Missouri Angus Association Sale, Cuba, MO May 9 Mead Angus Farms Spring Female Sale, Versailles, MO

MBC Classified The MBC Classified column appears monthly. Classified advertising is only 50¢ a word. Send your check with your ad to Missouri Beef Cattleman, 2306 Bluff Creek Drive, #100, Columbia, Mo 65201. Deadline 10th of month before an issue.

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DECEMBER 2019 97

DECEMBER 2019

Advertiser Index

A-1 Feeders............................................................ 82 American Angus Association ............................... 17 BioZyme................................................................ 41 Briarwood Angus.................................................... 7 Brickhouse Farms Red Angus............................... 73 Brookover Cattle Co. of Scott City....................... 54 Buffalo Livestock Market...................................... 78 Callaway Livestock Center Inc............................. 11 Central Missouri Sales Co.................................... 78 Circle A Angus Ranch.......................................... 61 Clearwater Farm................................................... 61 Cook Charolais..................................................... 46 Datamars Livestock.............................................. 71 Double A Land & Cattle....................................... 73 Durham Simmental Farms................................... 69 Eastern Missouri Commission Company............. 89 Ellis Cattle Company Red Angus......................... 73 F&T Livestock Market.......................................... 50 FCS of Missouri.................................................. 100 Feed Train............................................................. 58 Galaxy Beef LLC.................................................. 61 Gast Charolais...................................................... 47 Gerloff Farms........................................................ 61 Gleonda Farms Angus - Traves Merrick............... 61 Green’s Welding & Sales....................................... 79 Hinkle’s Prime Cut Angus.................................... 61 HRC Feed Yards................................................... 51 HydraBed.............................................................. 77 Innovative Livestock Services, Inc........................ 99 Irsik & Doll............................................................. 2 Jim’s Motors.......................................................... 92 JRS ......................................................................... 3 Kingsville Livestock Auction................................ 96 Kinsley Feeders, LLC........................................... 53 KK Farms Red Angus.......................................... 73 Lacy’s Red Angus.................................................. 73 Loonan Stock Farm.............................................. 23 Lucas Cattle Co.................................................... 69 Maple Oaks Red Angus........................................ 73 Maplewood Acres Farm........................................ 73 Marshall & Fenner Farms..................................... 61 MC Livestock Red Angus..................................... 73 MCA Bull Auction................................................ 43 MCA Convention Preview.................................... 27 MCA Member Benefits......................................... 90 MCA Membership Form...................................... 93

MCA Presidents Council...................................... 91 MCA Proud Member Signs.................................. 94 McBee Cattle Co................................................... 70 McPherson Concrete Products.............................. 97 Mead Cattle Co..................................................... 15 Mead Farms.......................................................... 61 Merck Animal Health........................................... 49 Merry Meadows Simmental................................. 69 Missouri Angus Association.................................. 61 Missouri Angus Breeders...................................... 61 Missouri Beef Industry Council............................ 25 Missouri Cattlemen’s Leadership College............. 26 Missouri Red Angus Association.......................... 73 Missouri Red Angus Breeders............................... 73 Missouri Simmental Association........................... 69 Missouri Simmental Breeders............................... 69 Missouri Valley Commission Company............... 89 Naught-Naught Agency......................................... 12 Oval F Ranch....................................................... 69 Ozark Hills Genetics............................................. 73 Preifert .................................................................. 30 Ragland Mills....................................................... 21 Richardson Ranch................................................ 61 RLE Simmental.................................................... 69 Rogers Cattle Co. and Lile Farms Red Angus..... 73 Sellers Feedlot....................................................... 56 Shoal Creek Land & Cattle................................... 73 Shoal Creek Land & Cattle................................... 69 South Central Regional Stockyards...................... 79 Square B Ranch/Quality Beef.............................. 61 Superior Steel Sales............................................... 18 Sutphin Cattle Company...................................... 67 Sydenstricker Genetics.......................................... 61 Sydenstricker Implement - JayLor......................... 13 Tiffany Cattle Company....................................... 55 Ultralyx................................................................. 63 Valley Oaks Angus................................................ 61 Vitalix.................................................................... 57 Weiker Angus Ranch............................................ 61 Westway Feed.......................................................... 9 Wheeler Auctions & Real Estate........................... 80 Wheeler Livestock Market.................................... 56 Mike Williams....................................................... 80 Windrush Farm Red Angus.................................. 73 Windsor Livestock Auction................................... 22 Zeitlow Distributing.............................................. 81

DECEMBER 2019

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DECEMBER 2019