The Carolina Cattle Connection - Volume 37, Issue No. 6 (JUNE 2023)

2023 South Carolina Sale Barn Cattle Receipts .................................................................... page 50

2024 Clemson Bull Test Call for Nominations, by Dr. Steven E. Meadows .......................... page 46

701x Autonomous Rancher News ........................................................................................... page 39

A Lifetime of Service and the Clemson University Bull Testing Program ....................... page 46

A Message from the CEO — We Won’t Rest Until We Win, by Colin Woodall .............. page 50

Alltech News ................................................................................................................................ page 61

Amazing Grazing — Amazing Grazing Completes Pastureland Ecology Webinar Series, by Johnny Rogers .................................................................................................................... page 16

American Angus Association News ....................................................................................... page 30

American Gelbvieh Association News .................................................................................. page 20

Animal Agriculture Alliance News ......................................................................................... page 40

Ashley’s Beef Corner — Dieticians and Beef, by Ashley W. Herring ................................... page 14

Beef Cuts and Recommended Cooking Methods ................................................................ page 25

Beef Quality Assurance Update .............................................................................................. page 14

BioZyme News ........................................................................................................................... page 56

Boehringer Ingelheim News .................................................................................................... page 64

Carolina Cooking — Tangy Lime Grilled Top Round Steak ................................................ page 24

Certified Angus Beef News ...................................................................................................... page 26

Cow at South Carolina Processing Facility Tests Positive for BSE .................................... page 46

Culinary Corner, by the Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner Culinary Team ..................................... page 24

Director’s Report — The More You Know, by Bryan K. Blinson ............................................ page 3

E.B.’s View from the Cow Pasture

— Technology Has Moved Us A Long Way, by E.B. Harris ............................................. page 20

Federation of State Beef Councils Update ............................................................................ page 53

Fight the Animal Rights Groups Infiltrating Our Industry, by Todd Wilkinson ............... page 32

Forage News — Soil Health Impacts of No Till Pasture Renovation with Annual Forages, by Alan Franzluebbers ............................................................................................................. page 19

Have You Herd — What if You Could Not Feed the Cattle Tomorrow?, by Reagan Bustabad ................................................................................................................ page 54

John Deere News ....................................................................................................................... page 60

N.C. Angus News — 39th Annual N.C. Angus Association Spring Fever Sale, by Cortney Holshouser .......................................................................................................... page 28

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association News ..................................................................... page 48

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President’s Report

— The Fake Meat Narrative Doesn’t Add Up, by Todd Wilkinson ................................ page 42

New NCCA Members for 2023 ................................................................................................. page 42

North Carolina Cattle Receipts, Trends, and Prices ............................................................ page 10

Pasture Managment Systems, Inc. Mile of Fence Program Update ................................. page 45

Ridley Block News — Don’t Just Put Your Fall Breds Out to Pasture ............................... page 36

South Carolina Cattle Receipts, Trends, and Prices ............................................................. page 13

The Chaplain’s Corral — Good Fencing, by Skeeter Spaulding ............................................ page 18

The Simmental Trail, by Jennie Rucker .................................................................................... page 38

Trending in Food & Media ......................................................................................................... page 52

Understanding Beef Quality Grades ................................................................................... page 65

Understanding the Real Cost of Drought .............................................................................. page 32

Valley Vet News ......................................................................................................................... page 65

You Decide, by Dr. Mike Walden ............................................................................................... page 22

Zoetis News — Thinking Beyond VL5 for Reproductive Vaccines, by Dr. Jeff Sarchet ................................................................................................................... page 62

N.C. Cattlemen’s Association

President SCOTT WEST

489 Panacea Springs Road • Littleton, NC 27850

Vice Presidents

RYAN CLARK

5250 NC 772 Hwy. • Madison, NC 27025

BRANDON BOWMAN

2346 Ann Street • Claremont, NC 28610

JIM LEDFORD

260 Mulberry Lane • Otto, NC 28763

Immediate Past President

BURON LANIER

2877 Piney Woods Road • Burgaw, NC 28425

NCBA Regional Vice President (Policy)

FRED SMITH, JR.

NCBA Policy Division Director - JOHN LANGDON

N.C. Beef Council Director

RALPH BLALOCK, JR.

Beef Board Director - BRIAN WARREN

Secretary/Treasurer - EVERETT JOHNSON

Directors At Large

MATT POORE • NEIL BOWMAN • TODD SEE

Executive Director - BRYAN K. BLINSON

2228 N. Main Street • Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526

N.C. Cattlemen’s Beef Council

Director of Consumer Information

ASHLEY W. HERRING

Administrative Assistant - KIM BURDGE

S.C. Cattlemen’s Association

Executive Director - TRAVIS MITCHELL

P.O. Box 207 • Saluda, SC 29138

Phone: 803-609-2828

Email: twmitch@clemson.edu

Website: www.sccattlemen.wildapricot.org

Executive Committee

President - Timmy Benton

1st Vice President - Joe Oswald IV

2nd Vice President - Gene Crim

Secretary - Carol Hendrix

Treasurer - Eric Seymour

Past President - Roscoe Kyle

John Lews, Chester • Joe Oswald, IV, Allendale

Roscoe Kyle, Inman • Terry Kirkland, Batesburg

Lloyd Baxley, Georgetown • Joe Davis, Westminster

Michael Hall, Abbeville • Richard Sox, Lexington

Carol Hendrix, Westminister • Jamie Driggers, Hamer

Timmy Benton, Walterboro • Michael Bailey, Lancaster

Bonnie Cann, Abbeville • Ashley Mills, Blair

Drake Yon, Ridge Spring • Gene Crim, St. Matthews

Lee Haddon, Gaffney • Eric Seymour, Columbia

S.C. Beef Council

P.O. Box 11280 • Columbia, SC 29211 Phone: 803-917-1119

Email: scbeef@scda.sc.gov

Website: www.sccattle.org

The Carolina Cattle Connection

Vol. 37, No. 6 JUNE 2023

Sales & Publication Office 2228 N. Main Street Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526

Phone: 919-552-9111

Fax: 919-552-9216

Email: mail@nccattle.com

Website: www.nccattle.com

The Carolina Cattle Connection is printed on 30 lb recycled newsprint by BN Printing in Benson, N.C.

STAFF

Manager, N.C. BRYAN BLINSON

Manager, S.C. TRAVIS MITCHELL

Editor & Advertising Director CASEY L. HINNANT

Assistant Editor & Proofreader KIM BURDGE

N.C. Circulation KIM BURDGE

S.C. Circulation TRAVIS MITCHELL

Material in The Carolina Cattle Connection is not to be reproduced in total or in part without the written permission of the Editor. All submissions become property of The Carolina Cattle Connection, but we make every effort to return items such as photographs and artwork as requested.

The Carolina Cattle Connection, the official publication of the N.C. Cattlemen’s Association and the S.C. Cattlemen’s Association is published monthly by the N.C. Cattlemen’s Association.

A complementary subscription is included with membership to each state’s association. Nonmember subscriptions are $30 per year.

All address changes for NCCA members to:

The Carolina Cattle Connection 2228 N. Main Street • Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526

All address changes for SCCA members to:

The Carolina Cattle Connection P.O. Box 207 • Saluda, SC 29138

Hereford

Director’s report

By BRYAN K. BLINSON Executive Director, NCCA

The More You Know

Most of us can relate to the idea that when we were in high school, we knew everything. The older I get, the more I realize that what I knew or thought I knew then was just the basis of what I would be able to learn in the future. I often have opinions about something when hearing about it for the first time. I often find that I modify or dismiss that opinion altogether once I dig in and get more complete information on the subject. For me, and hopefully, for most of you who are reading this column, learning new things or better ways to do the things I am doing now or simply being more well versed on a subject is exciting.

I get the opportunity to attend as many educational programs about agriculture and, specifically, cattle related programs as almost anyone in the state. You would think that after a lifetime of these programs, I should know everything there is to know about cattle. Hopefully, I am well versed, but I find it interesting that regardless of the speaker and the topic, I always seem to learn something from the presentation. It may not even be something the speaker says, but rather it sparks a thought about what I am doing and how I could do it better, more efficiently, cheaper, or would produce a better result. I also think of people who have asked me questions about something, the program I have attended or article I have read would be helpful to them.

One of the things that I love about our industry is that almost everyone is willing to share their knowledge of successes and failures to help someone else. I also am encouraged that we never seem to shy away from supporting research that can help us to do better for our cattle, our grass, our soil, and as a result, our bottom line. Every year it seems that we are finding ways to make our farms more productive, while improving the quality of not only our cattle but the soil that provides the grass we depend on. I enjoy going to the meetings where the speaker stimulates the crowd that hangs out afterward and discusses how they have

employed some aspect of the talk and how it has worked for them.

When I was at N.C. State University, I was fortunate to have some of the best instructors, whether in class or in labs, that anyone could ask for. I feel that they imparted all of the knowledge that was available at the time but taught us to be open to the enhancement of that knowledge to fit the future. For example, performance testing was still relatively new, and we were learning how to best use that technology. After that, we learned about and adopted EBVs (Estimated Breeding Values), EPDs (Estimated Progeny Differences), and now DNA technology allows us to get an even more accurate prediction of an animal’s potential shortly after birth. Who knows what will come next. Exciting, at the least. Another area that I have found fascinating is the better ways to help our animals express their genetic potential. In college, we learned a lot about balancing rations, primarily with feedstuffs. This has proven to be very beneficial if we consider these lessons as we try to use forages in grazing systems and utilize conventional supplements as well as byproduct feeds from other agricultural systems to make our cattle perform at an optimal level with forage as the primary driver in our cow/calf systems.

There are so many exciting things going on in the cattle and beef industry that the challenges and negatives seem to pale in comparison. One of the most exciting things to me is the number of young and new producers that are getting involved. They are trying new things, whether it involves innovative grazing practices, genetic enhancement, or merging these ideas into a local beef program or value added marketing at their favorite livestock market or other marketing opportunities that their market operator provides. The excitement of these young and new producers is infectious, and if those of us who have been around a while support and work with these new folks, we can learn from them as well.

Another area where I try to learn all I can is in the area of policy that comes out of Washington or Raleigh that affects the cattle families in North Carolina. I find it imperative that we learn all we can about these policies before we decide to advocate for or against them. Often, the first impression of a policy is that, Hey, that sounds good, but when we dig deeper into the implications of the policy or the unintended consequences, what sounds really good could prove to be really bad. First impressions about a pair of shoes may make us buy them, but if they hurt our feet, they were probably not a wise purchase. Laws and regulations can be the same way. If you see or read something about a potential piece of legislation coming down the pike in the area of state or national policy, try to find out all you can about it before digging into a particular position. Again, the more you know can help you be on the positive side of an issue.

The point of this column is to emphasize how important it is to keep learning. I hope we can continue to support research and the teaching of the findings that come out of it. I also hope that all of us can use the parts of these new concepts that fit our situation so that we can make our farms not only more profitable but make the hard work all of you do more satisfying. I can truly say I am more than thankful that everything I learned in college was not all there was to know about the cattle industry.

I look forward to what I learn today in an article or an email I read or what I learn at the next meeting, sale, or field day I attend.

In closing, I have figured out that the more I learn, the more things I realize that I do not fully understand. It just goes to show that the more you know, the more you understand just how much more there is to learn. What could possibly be more exciting than that?

2023 Spotlight iSSueS Schedule

Most of the breed associations in North and South Carolina have stepped forward and renewed their contracts for Spotlight sections in The Carolina Cattle Connection for 2023. If your breed is not featured as a Spotlight section and you would like to inquire on any open months please feel free to contact me. Below is the tentative schedule for the upcoming year.

2023 Reserved Spotlight Issues

For more information about your breed’s Spotlight Issue, contact:

Spotlight on hEREFoRD e Special Section f

Hereford Heritage

The Hereford breed originated as a product of necessity. Efficient, adaptable, and hardy, these cattle have always had a face to remember.

Nearly 300 years ago, farmers of Herefordshire, England, founded the breed in response to demand created by Britain’s Industrial Revolution. Efficient production, high yields, and sound reproduction were of utmost importance.

Benjamin Tomkins is who to thank for the original design. A primary founder of the breed, Tomkins began in 1742 with a bull calf from the cow Silver and two cows, Pidgeon and Mottle.

Henry Clay, Kentucky statesman, brought Herefords to the United States in 1817. A true Hereford identity was not established in the states until William H. Sotham and Erastus Corning, Albany, N.Y., began the first breeding herd in 1840.

Among other renowned early Hereford breeders were Charles Gudgell and Thomas A. Simpson of Missouri. Their big break came with the importation of Anxiety 4, a bull credited as being the “father of American Herefords.”

A few of these early breeders came together in Chicago on June 22, 1881.

The result was the foundation of the American Hereford Cattle Breeders Association, later renamed the American Hereford Association (AHA). Its purpose was two-fold: to keep the breed’s records and to promote the interests of its breeders.

Seven years later, Warren Gammon noticed naturally hornless Herefords at the Trans-Mississippi World’s Fair in Omaha, Neb. He decided to fix the hornless trait using the bull Giant and 11 Hereford females. In 1910, the American Polled Hereford Association (APHA) was founded.

The two Hereford associations merged in 1995, keeping the AHA title. The AHA now registers all horned and polled Herefords.

Through the years - Shows and expositions contributed greatly to a growing Hereford popularity. The breed’s doing ability, coupled with early maturity, revolutionized American beef production.

To achieve this desired early maturity, breeders in the 1930s and 1940s sought short, low set, wide and deep bodied cattle. Success eventually became a downfall.

Compact, fat cattle continued to excel in the show ring into the 1950s. However, beef packers were starting to pay less for over fat cattle. The American diet was calling for leaner, more heavily muscled carcasses. Hereford breeders stepped up to the challenge.

Beginning in the 1960s, breeders focused their attention on tools such as performance testing, artificial insemination, objective measures, embryo transfer, and sire evaluation. These tools allowed the rapid genetic change needed to bring Herefords in synch with consumer and industry expectations.

A broad genetic base allowed Hereford breeders to select stock comparable in size and performance to competing “exotic” European breeds. Although major changes were made, breeders didn’t lose sight of fundamental Hereford traits, particularly fertility and docility.

A new goal was established in the late 1980s — formal documentation of Hereford performance in the feedlot and on the rail. Colorado State University animal scientists conducted related

tests for the AHA from 1991 to 1993. Superiority was noted in average daily gain, feed conversion, and cost of gain.

Further studies in the early 1990s demonstrated the quality of Hereford beef. Regardless of marbling, Hereford steers consistently excelled in tenderness, juiciness, flavor, and palatability.

These findings led to the formation of a branded beef product known as Certified Hereford Beef ® (CHB). In 1994, the AHA, Midland Cattle Co., and its affiliate, Mid-Ag, came together to market CHB. Mid-Ag, later renamed Red Oak Farms, was licensed as the exclusive seller of CHB. In October of 1998, the AHA board of directors pulled exclusivity from Red Oak Farms due to its failure to meet license covenants.

The Greater Omaha Packing Co. was licensed as the second company to produce and market CHB in November of 1999. The following October, the AHA formed a limited liability corporation, CHB LLC, for management of the CHB program.

Hereford history was made during the second week of 2005. CHB had its first million pound week when packers sold approximately 1.3 million pounds of product to participating retail locations and foodservice outlets.

The CHB program has experienced 40 percent annual sales growth since 2000, indicating the power of its mission:

To strengthen demand for Hereford cattle, Certified Hereford Beef LLC commits superior customer service, competitive pricing, and creative marketing strate as cattlemen continue to seek the optimum traits inherent in Herefords. Those traits critical to survival in the cattle business are exactly the same traits Hereford offers today’s industry:

• Fertility

• Reproductive performance

• Feed efficiency

• Optimum size and growth

• Documented feedlot and carcass superiority

• Low maintenance costs

• Optimum muscling

• Optimum milk

• Adaptability and hardiness

• Superior disposition

• Soundness

• Crossbreeding advantages

Spotlight on hEREFoRD e Special Section f

55th Annual N.C. Hereford Association Banquet

By MYRON McCOY Secretary-Treasurer, NCHA

The N.C. Hereford Association held its 55th Annual Banquet and Meeting on May 12 at the Iredell County Agricultural Center in Statesville. President Bryson Westbrook called our meeting to order and welcomed everyone.

Keith Blinson gave the invocation. We all enjoyed a delicious meal of Certified Hereford Beef prime rib with all the trimmings.

Vice President Wayne Mitchem

remembered friends Nancy Shanks, Dr. Steve Meadows, and Bob Stamey, who passed away in the past year.

Wes Carpenter recognized our outof-state guests and first time attendees. American Hereford Association Directors Whitey Hunt and Bob Shaffer were thanked for their service. He thanked everyone for their attendance.

Linda Davis, Pollette President, read a poem in memory of Nancy Shanks.

Nancy has been in the Pollettes for as long as any of us can remember and has been the main one that kept us together. She will be truly missed. She told of things that the ladies do and encouraged all ladies to attend our meeting.

Melanie Fishel, Queen Chairman, thanked the Pollettes for all of their support. She introduced and thanked the 2022 Princesses and Sweethearts. The 2023 N.C. Hereford Queen, Princesses,

and Sweethearts will be announced before the sale. Good luck to all!

Regan Mitchem, N.C. Junior Hereford Association President, thanked everyone for all their support. She reported on activities they had been involved in and fundraisers they have done. More fundraisers are being planned. We will host the 2025 Southeast Regional Junior Hereford Show. The theme will be “Carolina On My Mind.” She introduced

N.C. HEREFORD ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Bryson Westbrook - President (2021-2024)

405 W. Marion Street Shelby, NC 28150

908-230-4878

Pam Bissett (2021-2024)

9196 Grassy Creek Road Bullock, NC 27507 919-482-1176

Wes Carpenter (2022-2025)

2939 Old Salisbury Road Winston-Salem, NC 27127 336-970-1655

Brent Creech (2021-2024)

13037 NC Hwy. 39

Zebulon, NC 27597 919-801-7561

Jim Davis (2023-2026)

243 Horseshoe Neck Road

Lexington, NC 27295 336-247-1554

OFFICERS

Wayne Mitchem - Vice President (2021-2024)

400 David’s Chapel Church Road Vale, NC 28168 704-472-4369

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Bill Kirkman (2023-2026)

2440 Herfshire Drive Greensboro, NC 27406 336-382-9635

Kristen McCoy (2022-2025)

11346 Old Hwy. 70 West Cove City, NC 28523 252-341-2877

Myron McCoy - Secretary/Treasurer (2023-2026)

11350 Old Hwy. 70 West Cove City, NC 28523 252-637-4995

Kim Prestwood (2022-2025)

390 Pleasant Hill Road Lenoir, NC 28645 828-320-7317

Jason Revis (2022-2025)

255 Martin Branch Road Leicester, NC 28748 828-707-7176

Andy Smith (2023-2026)

7007 Sugar and Wine Road Monroe, NC 28110 704-400-3436

Tammy Ward (2023-2026)

3404 Shady Grove Road Providence, NC 27315 434-251-6847

e Special Section f

the NCJHA officers — President - Jordan Mitchem, Vice President - Wyatt McCoy, Secretary - Amber Shutsky, and Reporter - Mazie Bunn.

The 2023 N.C. Hereford Scholarship was awarded to Amber Shutsky. Bill Kirkman and Brent Creech presented this award.

Wayne Mitchem recognized Bryson Westbrook for having the top indexing bull at Waynesville Bull Test Station and Jim Davis for having the top indexing bull at the Butner Bull Test Station.

The 55 th Annual Hereford Classic Sale is dedicated to Andie and Wes Carpenter. They are always willing to help and truly have servant’s hearts. Wes said that they do it for their love of Herefords and for everyone in this room. It’s not what the association can do for you; it’s what you do for the association. Congratulations to Andie and Wes!

Whitey Hunt, American Hereford Association Director, said we made his night when he came in tonight. He was surprised to see his bull on our poster display. He relayed a message from Tommy Coley, our field representative, that he wished he could have been here and he was sure we would have a great sale. Mr. Hunt shared with us what was going on at the American Hereford Association and thanked us for inviting him.

The 55th Hereford Classic Sale not only has a new date this year but also a new location. Auctioneer Dale Stith will start our sale off at 12:00 noon at Shuffler Farm in Union Grove. We also have new sale managers, Kathryn and Mitch Ingram. They were introduced, and Mitch said our sale committee and Dale had been a pleasure to work with. We have 60 outstanding lots and looking for an

outstanding sale tomorrow.

President Westbrook thanked retiring directors Jim Davis and George Ward for their service. He introduced new directors Andy Smith and Tammy Ward and reelected directors Bill Kirkman and Myron McCoy. He thanked them for all being willing to serve.

Karen Fishel spoke about women in agriculture. She told about resources and programs available, mental health month in May, and how this relates to farming and ranching. Karen said she would be glad to help anyone with any questions or want information on this.

Dale Stith auctioned our N.C. State Fair chairs. The grand champion chair will be sponsored by W & A Hereford Farm. The grand champion bull chair will be sponsored by 4 B Farm. The Got to Be N.C. chair will be sponsored by Blinson Hereford Farm. Thank you for your

continued support.

The Junior Beef Round-Up grand champion heifer award was sponsored by PD Farms. A Hereford Print donated by Andie and Wes Carpenter was auctioned and purchased by Will-Via Polled Herefords. Since it was Mother’s Day weekend, two flower arrangements were auctioned to give us a chance to purchase fresh flowers to carry home. Thank you to PD Farms and 4 B Farms. Crystal Mitchem said that they also had carnations that you could purchase at the door. Thank you for supporting the juniors. Don’t forget to bid on our silent auction items.

President Westbrook thanked everyone for coming and said that we were going to take a short break and then have our annual business meeting. He encouraged and invited everyone to join us.

West End Precast

FEED BUNKS

Spotlight on hEREFoRD e Special Section f

55th Annual N.C. Hereford Classic is Dedicated to Wes and Andie Carpenter

Andie (Fishel) and Wes Carpenter have been active and influential members of the N.C. Hereford Association and the Hereford Industry for many years.

Andie’s passion for the Hereford breed started at a very young age. Growing up on her family’s purebred Hereford operation, Windmill Acres Farm, with her brother, Neil Fishel, and parents, Phil and Brenda Fishel, Andie’s love for the Hereford breed was inevitable. They exhibited cattle on both the local and national levels and found the most joy in the lifelong friends they made along the way. After a successful show career and a bachelor’s degree from Western Carolina University, Andie accepted a position with the American Polled Hereford Association after an impromptu interview “straight off the wash rack” at a cattle show. During her ten year career at the APHA, Andie was instrumental in the implementation of Creative Services, working directly with

breeders across the country to create advertisements as well as the design and layout of the organization’s national magazine.

Upon returning to North Carolina, Andie stayed involved in her family’s cattle operation as well as the N.C. Hereford Association. While working in public relations for Dale Earnhart, she met the love of her life, Wes Carpenter. They both left the racing industry and purchased the AlphaGraphics franchise in Winston-Salem. Wes dove headfirst into agriculture and quickly became involved in the family’s farming operation. As their nieces and nephew continued to exhibit Hereford cattle, Andie and Wes were fixtures at every show. Andie was always ringside, taking photos and cheering all the juniors on, while Wes could be found on the wash rack and helping prepare animals to show. He is now the voice of several local shows, taking up the microphone as an announcer. Wes also serves in many leadership roles in local agriculture organizations. He is the current Vice President of the N.C. Hereford Association and serves on both the Forsyth County Cattlemen’s Association and the Forsyth County Farm Bureau Board of Directors.

Through their ownership of AlphaGraphics, Andie and Wes have supported numerous farm families and livestock organizations by using their extensive marketing expertise to design and develop print and promotional products such as farm signs, print ads, sale catalogs, branded farm apparel, and so much more. They have both designed and printed the N.C. Hereford Association Membership Directory for many years as well as sale catalogs, ads, and other print and digital media for the NCHA. One of their greatest passions, however, is supporting juniors. Andie and Wes have become some of the greatest supporters of the N.C. Junior Hereford Association by providing them with custom stall cards and banners for Junior Nationals, t-shirts, and promotional products for them to sell to raise funds for junior activities, and numerous print materials and design services for events, including the Southeastern Regionals Junior Hereford Show.

Wes and Andie are always willing to help any junior, breeder, or friend in need. They are humble in all the things they do and never hesitate to put others before themselves. They are giving, welcoming, knowledgeable, resourceful, and above all, they care deeply about the Hereford breed and the people they meet along the way.

Spotlight on hEREFoRD e Special Section f

N.C. Hereford Classic Sale Review

On May 12, Shuffler Farms in Union Grove, N.C., was all a buzz with interested buyers, N.C. Hereford Association members, and cattle being prepared to enter the sale ring.

Prior to the sale, spectators and potential buyers got bidding practice while competing for the top bidder on the N.C. Junior Hereford Association sponsored silent auction. The juniors were also busy cooking up a delicious hamburger lunch with all of the fixins in order to raise funds that will go towards projects such as the Southeast Regional, which will be hosted in North Carolina in June of 2025.

worked extremely hard throughout the prior months to get the sale ready. They faced challenges, planning logistics, and many conversations with the sales team, consigners, and more. All their hard work paid off as they ushered the first cow into the show ring, and Dale Stith took the first bid.

Special Thanks

Sale Manager - KSI Marking and Design, Kathryn & Mitch Ingram

Sale Committee

Mike Mericka & Wes Carpenter, Co-Chairmen

Will Thompson

Kim Prestwood

Chad Davis

Wesley Bowen

Preston Cave

William Ward

Dustin Brim

Special Guests

Noah Benedict, AHA Field Representative

Whitey Hunt & Bob Schaffer, AHA Directors

Our Hereford Royalty was crowned during the lunch and introduced to the crowd as the new faces and ambassadors of the N.C. Hereford Association for the 2023-2024 year.

Behind the scenes were members of our sale committee led by co-chairs Mike Merika and Wes Carpenter, who

Throughout the afternoon, our three ringmen called out, bids were taken, and our sale continued with success into the late afternoon. The high selling lot went for $45,000. Our second high selling lot was $19,000.

We finished up with a 50/50 raffle for the juniors and wished everyone safe travels and appreciation for attending.

Truman Sanner DVM, Sale Day Veterinarian

Online Bidding - Cowbuyer.com

North Carolina Hereford Sale Honorees

The sale is dedicated each year to a person selected by the previous three honorees. 2023 - Wes & Andie Carpenter

2022 - All NCHA Members & Families

2021 - George & Tammy Ward

2020 - Reggie & Patty Lookabill

2019 - Dale White

2018 - Bill Perry, Keith Blinson, & All Charter Members

2017 - Phil Fishel, Jr.

2016 - Earl Forrest

2015 - John Wheeler

2014 - Bryan Blinson Family

2013 - Harry Myers

2012 - Michael Mericka

2011 - Jim Love

2010 - Robert Smith

2009 - Frank Myers

2008 - James Triplett

2007 - Rick Kern

2006 - Colon Nifong

2005 - Bill Gragg

2004 - Porter Claxton

2003 - Bill Mericka

2002 - McCoy Family

2001 - Roy Ammons

2000 - Jim Davis

1999 - Teeter Family

1998 - Kim Prestwood

1997 - Bob Rhyne

1996 - Jack Shanks

1996 - Roy Haberkern

1994 - Kenneth Buckner

1993 -Fred Hyatt

1992 - Bill Perry

1991 - Keith Blinson

Hereford Juniors Enjoy a Weekend in the Foothills

As the sun peeked over the foothills on the morning of April 21, the barn was already buzzing with the sound of families feeding, washing, and walking their cattle as the Showdown in the Foothills weekend got underway. The weekend agenda was packed with opportunities our kids and parents were excited to be a part of. Kirk Stierwalt walked around outside the barns talking with juniors and catching up with parents. He soon made his way to the show arena to welcome the kids who signed up for the clipping clinic.

Our Hereford juniors were a strong presence and active members. Kirk covered daily care, feeding, management, and proper clipping methods that have served him well over his career. The barn was filled with interested kids of all ages, parents in camping chairs drinking coffee and listening intently, and Showdown staff members making sure everyone had what they needed.

Anna Munday English worked with her father, Jim Munday, along with several others, on Friday morning to prepare a “walking taco” lunch so participants wouldn’t have to leave the grounds and could continue learning and practicing what Kirk was teaching them.

As the day continued, the youth got their chance to put into action the tips they had learned in the morning session. They had to work as a team to clip a “model” for Kirk to evaluate and give feedback on. The small group attention and the encouragement this nationally recognized clinician gave our youth was incredibly valuable and greatly appreciated by all who participated. As he dismissed the group for the day, he gave them homework to think about and do for the Saturday morning feeding and showmanship clinic.

The Saturday morning sounds and routines mimicked the previous day. However, there was double the amount of participants preparing for another day filled with information. The barn was now standing room only while the show community gathered with donuts in hand to hear tips and advice from Kirk on proper feeding, overall nutrition, and showmanship. Throughout the day, students were able to listen, ask questions, and take notes that will help them with their own projects during their show season.

The participants were provided a wonderful hamburger lunch with all the fixins to fill their bellies while they also filled their minds.

As the clinic portion of the day came to an end, the participants quickly transitioned to show mode. Exhibitors showed cattle from a variety of breeds to our judge, Noah Hinson. He evaluated each class and gave the kids things to consider and reflect upon regarding their cattle. The group even took a break from the steady pace of the show ring to wish Noah a very happy birthday which he spent with us doing something he loves to do.

As the second day came to an end, the Hereford juniors were ready to take a break and go burn off some energy at Bo’s, the local arcade and fun zone. The families played laser tag, tried their hand at bowling, attempted to get a hole-in-one while playing putt-putt, and much more. We called it a night fairly early in the evening because the State Hereford Show was taking place on Sunday morning.

Sunday morning started at the wash rack and feed pans as the juniors prepared their cattle for the day. Kirk Stierwalt joined us again but this time as our judge.

Our Hereford juniors exhibited their heifers, steers, bulls, and cow/calf pairs with confidence and grace. They made our association proud throughout the morning.

In addition to making us proud in the show ring, they made us proud throughout the weekend. Each of our N.C. Junior Hereford Association members helped pass out ribbons, ran errands for show staff, helped prepare lunches, sold 50/50 raffle

tickets, and much more. We are happy to report that our junior association was able to raise around $400 with the 50/50 raffle, which will go towards our junior projects and Southeast Regional in 2025.

On behalf of all who participated in this show, we would like to thank Anna English for putting on a wonderful show and having a great weekend in the Foothills.

N.C. Cattle Receipts, Trends, and Prices for the Month of APRIL 2023

Cattle Receipts: 18,768 • Previous Month: 19,778 Feeder supply - 20% steers • 42% heifers • 37% bulls

Scenes from the N.C. Junior Hereford Association

4B FARMS, LLC

Shelby, NC

Bryson, Wren, Beau, Belle, Bonnie & Bennet Westbrook 980-230-4868 brysonw@thewestbrookco.com

4K RANCH

Nelson, VA

Rick & Linda Kern 919-272-6124 4kranch@bellsouth.net

AWC CATTLE COMPANY

Winston-Salem, NC

Andie & Wes Carpenter 336-970-1655

jcarpenter@alphagraphics.com www.windmillacresfarms.com

BLINSON

POLLED HEREFORDS

Lenoir, NC

Keith & Peggy Blinson - 828-310-4526

Bryan & Beth Blinson - 919-422-9108

THANK YOU

To all our consignors, supporters, buyers, and sale committee members for a great 55th Annual Hereford Classic Sale!

Congratulations to TAMMY WARD and ANDY SMITH for being elected as our new board members

DOUBLE J FARM

Traphill, NC • Earlysville, VA

John Wheeler 910-489-0024 doublejfarmllc@yahoo.com www.doublejfarmllc.com

FIVE J’S BEEF & CATTLE COMPANY

Clayton, NC Jody & Angela Standley

Kim Prestwood (Manager) 828-320-7317 - Kim jodystandley@gmail.com

GRASSY CREEK FARM

Bullock, NC Scott, Pam, Hailee, Lillee, & Elizabeth Bissett 919-482-1176 Bissettsp1@gmail.com

HEREFORD HILLS

Greensboro, NC

Bill Kirkman III 336-382-9635 ST Genetics Representative

LOOKABILL FAMILY LIVESTOCK

Lexington, NC

Reggie, Patty, Tyler & Noah Lookabill 336-240-2142 rlookabill6015@gmail.com

McCOY CATTLE FARM Cove City, NC Myron & Charlie McCoy 252-229-4602 mccoycattlefarms@gmail.com

MITCHEM’S FARM 3C Vale, NC Wayne, Crystal, Regan & Jordan Mitchem 704-472-4369 mitchemsfarm@bellsouth.net

NORTH PINO LAND & CATTLE COMPANY Mocksville, NC Kevin Robinson 336-940-2547 kevrob1@aol.com

P and J FARMS Monroe, NC Andy Smith 704-400-3436 pandjfarmsherefords@gmail.com

QUAIL RIDGE FARM Rutherfordton, NC Mark Brewer 828-329-2074 markbrewer65@gmail.com

TAYLOR’S MILL FARM Zebulon, NC J. Brent Creech 919-801-7561 tmfherefords@icloud.com

TERRACE FARM Lexington, NC Jim, Linda & Chad Davis 336-247-1554 jgdavis101@yahoo.com

TRIPLETT POLLED HEREFORDS Statesville, NC James Triplett 704-902-2250 triplettmarble@bellsouth.net

W&A HEREFORD FARM Providence, NC George, Tammy, William, & Andy Ward 434-251-3637 gwwardjr@comcast.net

Grassroots Cattle Feeding and Carcass Knowledge. “We would all love to identify that one bull that does it all — easy birth weight, his cattle all grow, and they all grade well and feed well,” says Lee Mayo, general manager of HRC Feed Yards, Scott City, Kansas. “The only way to get the information needed to identify that bull is by testing the genetics. That’s what these programs are about.”

Mayo refers to the American Hereford Association (AHA) Hereford Feedout Program* and the National Junior Hereford Association Fed Steer Shootout**. Both provide Hereford breeders and commercial users of Hereford genetics the opportunity to send a few head or entire pens to feed at HRC Feed Yards. They learn more about the cattle feeding and beef packing sectors while collecting performance data from their cattle.

“As a registered breeder, we just needed to do it, and all of the stars aligned this year,” explains first year participant Matt Beery of Beery Land and Livestock (BLL), Vida, Montana. “We’re hoping to bring this information back to our bull customers and say, ‘Here’s how your bulls’ younger brothers do in the feedlot and as carcasses.”

The BLL program includes both seedstock and commercial herds. Beery sent 54 straightbred Hereford steers and 52 red baldy steers to feed and evaluate. While also a marketing decision, more than anything, he says it is the chance to see how his cattle perform in the feedlot and on the rail in order to improve his program and to help the Hereford breed.

Currently, 94 participants from 22 states are feeding more than 1,400 head of Hereford, and Hereford influenced feeder cattle at HRC Feed Yards.

Hands on learning - Beery took advantage of the annual Fed Steer Shootout field day April 15 to visit HRC and see his cattle.

“I wish more people could see this side of the business and understand it. I wish I could have had 50 of my commercial producers with me that day,” Beery says. “When I showed up, all of the cattle across the yards were so clean and so well taken care of. I was so happy to see what Lee was doing. It’s just a win-win for us, for the breed, and all of the way through.”

Mayo and his crew welcomed more than 100 participants and guests to the field day, which included intensive informational and hands on educational sessions.

• A talented team from Cargill Protein

News

North America led producers through rotations, including a carcass cutout demonstration, along with focuses on beef quality and consistency, carcass defects, and cattle hide value points.

• Corbin Stevens, DVM, HRC Feed Yards consulting veterinarian, performed necropsies and showed participants the difference between healthy bovine lungs and those scarred by respiratory infection.

• AHA staff led participants through the ins and outs of live market cattle evaluation, including estimating grade and yield to arrive at value differentiations.

• Kevin Good, CattleFax vice president of industry relations, provided an overview of current cattle markets and the drivers behind them.

• Gregg Barfield of BlockTrust Network and Mike John, MFA Health Track manager, introduced a new information sharing system fueled by blockchain technology.

“The field day continues to strengthen the overall program,” says Trey Befort, AHA director of commercial programs. “Our hands on approach to education brings a lot of value to the experience. Once program participants also come to the field day, everything comes full circle for them.”

“I am so happy the association is providing a program like this, doing something to get some numbers back that we can take to the commercial industry,” Beery says. “Lee Mayo also deserves a great deal of thanks for providing this opportunity.”

Tracing value - Current participants are also the first, on a voluntary basis, to be part of a collaborative pilot program testing the efficacy of blockchain technology to share data from pasture through the packing house. AHA, HRC, BlockTrust Network, and National Beef LLC are partners in the project.

“You have more value points associated with the genetics of these cattle on feed than I’ve ever seen. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a feeding trial of this size with this much complete data attached to it,” explained Mike John, manager of MFA Health Track. He and Gregg Barfield, president of BlockTrust Network, developed the system being tested.

“This opportunity you have with the genetic data, the growth data, and carcass data is very rare. It’s an amazing opportunity for you to get some really important feedback for your genetic programs,” John told the crowd.

Mayo summed up the many

opportunities at the outset.

“Everyone, every day, can produce the champion beef animal. That’s a Prime Yield Grade 1. Everyone has a shot at being a champion every day,” Mayo says. “There aren’t many of those champions in the country today, but that should be the goal. How do we get there? And how do we create that animal where its mother still does a good job on grass, yet her calf converts well, gains well, and performs well in the feedyard and then does that on the rail. That’s the idea, and we’re all striving for it.”

References

*Hereford Feedout Program — participants enroll a minimum of five head of same sex (steer or heifer) cattle for

feeding within a designated delivery period; participants can enroll whole pen groups outside of the designated delivery period.

**NJHA Fed Steer Shootout — participants enroll individual steers or pens of three steers.

About the American Hereford Association. AHA, with headquarters in Kansas City, Mo., is one of the largest U.S. beef breed associations. The not-for-profit organization, along with its subsidiaries — Certified Hereford Beef (CHB) LLC, Hereford Publications Inc. (HPI), and American Beef Records Association (ABRA) — provides programs and services for its members and their customers while promoting the Hereford breed and supporting education, youth, and research.

S.C. Cattle Receipts, Trends, and Prices for the Month of APRIL 2023

Cattle Receipts: 10,116 • Previous Month: 10,873 Feeder supply - 36% steers

Ashley’s Beef Corner T

Dietitians and Beef

By ASHLEY W. HERRING Director of Consumer Information N.C. Cattlemen’s Beef Council

Annually, the nutrition seminar program through the Beef Checkoff provides a speaker for each state’s dietetic association meeting. We’ve been virtual for the past couple of years, and now we’re back in person. This spring, the North Carolina Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics selected Carolyn Williams, Ph.D., R.D., to bring her expertise to their gathering.

Carolyn resides in Alabama, so she was happy to visit another southern state with good weather and a fun atmosphere in the nutritional world. Carolyn is the author of Meals that Heal, a cookbook focusing on foods that help inflammation. She is a James Beard award winning dietitian with a down-to-earth personality.

“The real key to eating healthy for all ages — is reducing inflammatory foods and increasing certain nutrients,” she writes.

Her cookbook features recipes that can be prepared in 30 minutes or less, ideal for busy folks and families. She walked into this area of interest in inflammation after her mother had a major health event.

Her presentation wasn’t about the cookbook but about the management of social media, which is increasingly more important for dietitians. Titled “Snoozefest or Going Viral,” she

described tips and examples of how to best engage your following while increasing your reach. This is the largest meeting of dietitians and health professionals in our state, and the attendees were quite interested in this subject matter.

UPDATE

2022

National

Beef

Quality Audit

Shows Efficiency Improvements. Since 1991, the Beef Checkoff funded National Beef Quality Audit (NBQA) has delivered a set of guideposts and measurements for cattle producers and other stakeholders to help determine quality conformance of the U.S. beef supply. Results from the 2022 NBQA indicate that the beef cattle industry is producing a high quality product that consumers want more efficiently, and the industry’s primary focus across the supply chain remains food safety.

overall increased efficiency across the beef supply chain.

• Market sectors indicate 0d that their companies strive to increase their sustainability and work with the entire beef supply chain to do so.

• The entire industry felt the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nonetheless, beef proved to be a choice of consumers, and the industry persevered to provide products.

• Due to pandemic pressures, more cattle over 30 months of age were harvested.

Carolyn cited examples with her own account and what methods (reels, photos, etc.) she has found to be the best engagement tools. Intertwining a bit of her personal story with her brand has grown her following because everyone prefers to see real life (I’m too tired to cook dinner).

We thank Carolyn for sharing her knowledge with North Carolina dietitians and hope to see her again soon!

“The NBQA is an important tool for the industry to identify where improvements are being made and where there are opportunities to capture more value,” said Josh White, senior executive director of producer education and sustainability at NCBA. “The good news is, overall, the beef industry is providing a quality product to consumers that they enjoy.”

Early NBQAs focused on the physical attributes of beef, such as marbling, external fat, carcass weight, and carcass blemishes. These cattle industry concerns have evolved to include food safety, sustainability, animal well being, and the growing disconnect between producers and consumers. As a result, over the past 30 years, NBQA researchers have made significant changes to the research, leading to an increasingly meaningful set of results.

Based on individual interviews with stakeholders from across the cattle industry as well as in-plant research, key findings for fed cattle from the 2022 NBQA include:

• Market segments no longer consider food safety as a purchasing criterion but an expectation.

• When comparing 2016 and 2022 NBQAs, the largest improvement was

• The beef industry’s image improved within the fed cattle market sectors.

• Foreign materials continue to present a problem, but the industry is making strides to decrease incidence.

• There was an increase in usage of electronic identification (EID).

• There was an increase in the frequency of Prime and Choice quality grades, while Select decreased drastically.

• While the industry is improving the quality of beef being produced, that quality is being accompanied by an increase in carcass weight and fat thickness, as well as large increases in percentages of Yield Grade 4 and 5 carcasses.

About the National Beef Quality Audit. The NBQA, conducted approximately every five years, provides an understanding of what quality means to the various industry sectors and the value of those quality attributes. This research helps the industry make modifications necessary to increase the value of its products. The efforts of the findings from the 2022 NBQA serve to improve quality, minimize economic loss, and aid in advancements in producer education for the U.S. beef industry. For more information about the 2022 National Beef Quality Audit, visit www.bqa.org

By JOHNNY R. ROGERS Amazing Grazing Program Coordinator

Amazing Grazing Completes

Pastureland Ecology Webinar Series

The Amazing Grazing Team had a busy winter/spring meeting season. One highlight was the Pastureland Ecology Webinar Series held over a three week period in April. The framework for this event comes from the National Pastureland Ecology Course taught for NRCS staff by the Amazing Grazing Team. The objective of this series was to help graziers better understand pasture ecology and give them tools to become better stewards of their pastureland resources. Amazing Grazing will conduct hands-on workshops throughout the summer to demonstrate how to apply the concepts learned during the webinar. A recording of each presentation will be available soon. Until then, this article will summarize the material covered and give everyone a preview of the summer workshops.

Dr. Matt Poore kicked off the first webinar with a presentation about pasture ecology and how land stewards can interact with pasture ecosystems. He emphasized the benefits of productive pastures and that producers should develop an appreciation for all the pasture ecosystem components. Managing with this mindset will result in better

resource stewardship while maintaining productivity. Dr. Deidre Harmon gave attendees a better understanding of how plants grow and why preventing overgrazing is so important. Plants use stored energy in their tissue to help them recover from grazing events. By grazing a plant that is not fully recovered, we are weakening our plants. Over time, this will reduce the amount of favorable forage in our pastures and increase the weed populations.

To achieve good livestock performance on pasture graziers need to have an understanding of their livestock’s forage demand. My goal with this presentation was to help producers understand the impact of the number of grazing animals and their production stage on forage intake. Livestock requires varying levels of water, protein, energy, vitamins, and minerals, depending on their production stage. For example, lactating cows will have higher nutrient requirements compared to dry cows. To meet these nutrient demands, we must provide the correct quantity and quality of forage. We can evaluate our short term management by observing our

livestock’s behavior, gut fill, and fecal consistency. While body condition scores illustrate the competency of our nutrition program over a longer period. Astute managers will observe their livestock and make changes to achieve production goals.

Dr. Harmon rounded out this session with the principles of grazing management. She outlined how to access your resources and develop a plan for adaptive grazing. Every farm has its own unique challenges and opportunities. Thus, grazing systems will look different from one farm to the next. However, the principles and practices will be similar, and the system will work for the farm and the people who operate it.

The second webinar featured Dr. Poore and Dr. Harmon discussing pasture renovation and design concepts. Pasture renovation is a major undertaking, and planning is required for success. The current state of your pastures is an accumulation of previous management. It takes time to improve pastures, but once they are upgraded, you can maintain them in this productive state with good grazing management. Developing a grazing system can be complicated and expensive.

Dr. Harmon suggested using temporary electric fence for the initial interior pasture subdivisions. This offers flexibility compared to permanent fence, and system design can be adapted to changing conditions. Steve Woodruff reviewed the principles of soil health. He shared how he has observed producers using them to improve their operation. Dr. Alan Franzluebbers covered the science behind soil health practices.

He suggested we consider soil biological activity as part of our fertility management. Improving soil health can lead to significant savings in pasture fertilizer inputs. Graziers should keep in mind that soil is a resource and will respond to management.

I lead off the final webinar with the “Power of One Wire.” Many who follow Amazing Grazing know this is our program for managing temporary electric fence. Improving forage utilization is only the beginning of the long list of benefits that come from using these tools. It is the key to adaptive grazing management and has application in all grazing systems. Beef cattle are the most prevalent herbivore in North Carolina grazing systems. However, Dr. Paul Siciliano and Dr. Andrew Weaver gave us a better understanding of how to apply grazing management practices to horses and small ruminants. It was clear that the key grazing principles still apply. However, the tools and practices may be slightly different when managing these species.

I recapped the webinar series and encourage producers to continue to learn, innovate, and to share their experiences. Again, the webinar presentations will be available online soon. Follow us on social media or our web page for more information. Pasture ecology is complex, and we must learn to enjoy playing our role as managers. It is difficult to know all the answers to the grazing questions we will encounter. However, we can gain new knowledge every day and appreciate all our experience while working with grazing systems.

Water system design is a key component of grazing systems.

Amazing Grazing Workshops provide practical information for graziers.

Adaptive grazing meets livestock needs and improves the resources.

By SKEETER SPAULDING Chaplain, Cowboys for Christ

Good Fencing

Good fencing is critical to any cattle operation, whether it’s beef cattle or dairy cattle. It’s critical business keeping cows in the pasture and off the road. I experienced this firsthand many years ago. You guessed it; we hit a cow!

I was on my way home very late one night with my brother and a friend when my brother suddenly saw some glowing eyes and slowed down. But not quick

enough. We hit that cow, and she rolled up on the hood of the ‘67 Mustang.

Needless to say, we stopped. Or should I say, she stopped us with a thud! Looking around for whom this cow may have belonged, we saw some lights on in a nearby house. After knocking on the door, a man opened the door in overalls. A house full of kids was all up and seemed full of energy, like a bunch

of wild mustangs. We informed the farmer we had hit a cow. He indicated it belonged to him. I’m sure he wished he had fixed the fence. We made it home by stopping to get water out of the creek to fill the radiator every so often.

Good spiritual fencing is critical to our lives as well. Two passages of scripture come to mind. We find one in Philippians 4:8-9 - “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me or seen in me - put into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” (ESV)

What a powerful couple of verses of truth these are. Now that we have our material to work with let’s unpack it. This is the Apostle Paul speaking to the believers in Philippi. Paul is not asking them to do something he’s not already done himself. He is encouraging them to follow his lead. A man like Paul, who wrote so much of the New Testament, had to keep proper thinking in order just like we do. The promise of scripture is that if we do this, the God of peace will be with us. Who doesn’t want that?

It’s also important to notice the word “finally” at the beginning of verse 8. That’s because it’s the finishing touches of something previously stated in verses 4-7. Paul just told them to rejoice always and let their reasonableness or fairness be known to everyone. He also reminded them that the Lord is always near, don’t be anxious, pray about everything, and be thankful. This is a lot of good stuff and so enriching for our lives.

Our fencing materials are these, according to Paul:

1. Truthful thinking - things that are the opposite of dishonest or unreliable;

2. Noble thinking - refers to what is dignified and worthy of respect;

3. Right thinking - refers to conformity to God’s standard;

4. Pure thinking - what is wholesome, not mixed with moral impurity;

5. Lovely thinking - speaks of what promotes peace rather than conflict;

6. Admirable thinking - relates to what is positive and constructive rather than negative and destructive

These items are what Paul calls excellent and praiseworthy.

The other great passage is 2 Peter 1: 5-8 - “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith, goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self control; and to self control, perseverance, and to perseverance, Godliness; and to Godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness,

love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (NIV)

Here is a breakdown of these truths the Apostle Peter wants us to put into practice:

1. Goodness - excellence expressed in deeds;

2. Knowledge - studying God’s word;

3. Self control - knowing how to act according to God’s word;

4. Perseverance - patience and endurance in doing what is right;

5. Godliness - to live reverently, loyally, and obediently toward God;

6. Brotherly kindness/love - mutual sacrifice for one another

Peter is reminding us that these things are important so we don’t become nearsighted about our salvation and what it means to know Christ as Savior and Lord.

We find here more great items or things we can use for proper spiritual fencing. Spiritual cows could be such as follows; fear of the future, what others are thinking of me, unchecked anger, doubt, I’ll never succeed, and the list can go on and on. This passage, like the first one, is a treasure trove of right thinking to keep the cows on and off the road.

I personally want to know the Lord Jesus more tomorrow than I do today. I hope you do as well. I must go back and read these passages often. I like being reminded of them so they stay fresh in my mind. It helps me live them out.

If we lose sight of these things from a difficult day or even a week, we can start mending those fences the very next day. It’s called grace!

Y’all have stumbled on the best place to advertise expert A.I., superior genetics, the best in purebreds and outstanding farm supplies. Check the Classifieds in this issue!

FORAGE NEWS

By ALAN FRANZLUEBBERS, N.C. State University

Soil Health Impacts of No Till Pasture Renovation with Annual Forages

Replacing K-31 tall fescue - Tall fescue is a reliable cool season forage that grows throughout the southeastern United States. However, its natural association with a wild strain of the endophytic fungus, Neotypohodium coenophialum, leads to reduced ruminant livestock performance and possible animal health disorders. An emerging strategy to renovate these undesirable pastures is to spray the existing vegetation and, subsequently, plant annual forages for a few seasons to (1) smother any remnant seedlings and (2) repeatedly spray any emerging tall fescue seedlings prior to twice yearly sowing of cool season and warm season forages. Annual forages could allow sufficient high quality biomass to be produced until a new perennial stand can be established. Some proponents of the soil health movement consider multispecies annual forages as essential to build soil health. Mixed annual forages provide diversity, can be no-till planted, maintain excellent soil cover, have rooting in multiple seasons, and can be grazed by ruminant livestock. However, the impact of these annual forages on soil health changes in renovated tall fescue pastures has not been extensively studied.

What was done? Three farmers in North Carolina participated in a USDANatural Resources Conservation Service Conservation Innovation Grant to assess how simple and complex annual forage mixtures could be utilized to renovate perennial pasture in beef cattle grazing operations. Farms were located in the Blue Ridge (Clay County), Piedmont (Surry County), and Flatwoods (Pender County) regions. Tall fescue pastures were chemically terminated, and fields split into two portions – one to be planted with a simple mixture of annual forages and the other a complex mixture. Simple mixes varied from year to year and also among farms, but the most typical was pearl millet + cowpea in summer and ryegrass + crimson clover in winter. Complex mixes were sorghumsudangrass + pearl millet + sunflower + cowpea + radish + forage brassica in the summer and oat + triticale + ryegrass + winter pea + crimson clover + hairy

vetch + radish + brassica in the winter. These two annual forage treatments were repeated on the same paddock from the summer of 2015 to the spring of 2018. The soil was sampled in June of 2015 and April-June of 2018. A composite of 6 cores (4 cm diameter) from three zones in each paddock was collected at 0-6, 6-12, and 12-20 cm depths in 2015. A composite of 5 cores from five zones in each paddock was collected at the same depths in 2018. The soil was analyzed for soil physical properties (bulk density, sieved soil density, sand, and clay), chemical properties (residual soil nitrate, residual soil ammonium, total inorganic N, humic matter, pH, base saturation, acidity, cation exchange capacity, and Mehlich-3-extracted nutrients (P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Mn, Cu, and Zn), and biological properties (soil test biological activity, basal soil respiration, microbial biomass C, cumulative C mineralization, net N mineralization, apparent nitrification, and particulate and total organic C and N).

Full details of the study can be found at acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/ doi/10.1002/agj2.21218 [Franzluebbers & Poore (2023) Agron. J., 115, 384-394]

Was soil health different after three years of simple and complex annual forages? Soil properties were unaffected by annual forage species diversity under pasture renovation. The type of annual forage mixture even had little impact on soil biological properties, contrary to our expectations. Because this study deployed a contrast between simple and complex mixture of summer and winter annual forages, it is possible that at least two different functional species were sufficient to achieve the same effect as a more complex species mix. If a single species of grass were used, perhaps differences may have resulted. Historically, single-species annual forages were more typical in recommendations to livestock producers, but more recently, multi-species forage mixtures have gained traction. From our experimental setup, we found little evidence for soil change between simple (2-3 species) and complex (6-8 species) annual forages to renovate perennial pastures during a

three year period. Further research on soil responses to a greater contrast of forage species is warranted because plant functional diversity may improve animal performance and system productivity in some situations.

Analysis of soil health properties within and among farms - Some soil properties were relatively uniform at the spatial scales of a few inches with depth, ~100 feet among replicate samples within a paddock, ~500 feet between treatment paddocks, and ~200 miles among farms. These included bulk density, sieved soil density, and soil pH (11-12 percent variation). Soil properties with the largest variation were residual soil nitrate, humic matter, and Mehlich-3-extractable sulfur (118-202 percent variation).

In general, soil chemical properties were mostly affected by differences among farms located in different physiographic regions (47 percent of variation) and soil depth (33 percent of variation). Soil property differences among farms were expected due to unique environmental settings.

However, soil biological properties were mostly affected by soil depth (63 percent of variation) and random sampling within a paddock (14 percent of variation), both localized spatial scales. This was likely due to no-till planting and previously undisturbed perennial pasture that led to strong depth stratification of soil organic resources supporting biological properties.

Soil physical properties were equally affected by random sampling within a paddock (35 percent of variation), physiographic region (32 percent of variation), and soil depth (29 percent of variation).

Variation in soil properties over

time was observed for residual soil nitrate and net nitrification, likely due to mineralization of N in the field leaving behind significant residual soil nitrate following perennial pasture termination at the first sampling and significant plant N uptake at the later sampling.

Associations among soil properties - Association of net N mineralization with total organic C was positive but weak (Figure 1). The large component of resistant soil organic C in the Flatwoods region appeared to be primarily responsible for this weak association. When substituting total soil N for total organic C, the r2 with net N mineralization improved from 0.22 to 0.64. The C:N ratio of total organic matter averaged 11 in the Blue Ridge, 20 in the Piedmont, and 23 in the Flatwoods. It appears that a large resistant organic C fraction due to historical submersion led to a high C:N ratio in the Flatwoods, whereas the elevated particulate/total organic C ratio due possibly to recent timber clearing in the Piedmont soil may have contributed to high C:N.

A clear and uncomplicated association was found between net N mineralization and soil test biological activity (Figure 1). In fact, net N mineralization had a stronger correlation with soil test biological activity (r = 0.96) than with any other soil property. Data in Figure 1 illustrate why total organic C may not be the most effective indicator of soil N availability, but rather a more active portion of organic matter should serve this purpose of simple prediction.

Sincere appreciation is extended to Bass and Sandra Hyatt, Mike and Jean Jones, and Buron and Sara Lanier for their collaboration. Financial support was provided by USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, Conservation Innovation Grant 69-3A75-14-251.

Figure 1. Association of net N mineralization with total organic C when sampled in 2018 from five random sampling zones at three depths within paired fields from farms in three physiographic regions (left panel) and association of net N mineralization with soil test biological activity from same sampling in 2018 and an earlier sampling in 2015 from the same fields but with only three random sampling zones (right panel).

E.B.'s ViEw from thE Cow PasturE

By E.B. HARRIS

Technology Has Moved Us A Long Way

Every auction sale is different, and I learned something in the auction business the other day that I never thought or dreamed would happen ten years ago. We had a sale in Warren County in what we call the cow pasture auction. It started out as mostly a tobacco sale for an outfit from northern Florida, just across the Georgia Line.

The gentleman who called me said he wanted to sell his tobacco equipment and that he was the last tobacco producer he knew of in Florida, so there was not any demand for tobacco equipment in Florida. He said he had some friends in North Carolina, and they suggested that he contact me about having the sale. He said he was willing to move this equipment to North Carolina if it worked out.

We talked, worked out the terms, and picked out the date. He said he was going to have to hire someone to move the bulk barns, and he would move the other equipment. The man who had been set up to move the barns was having some trouble being able to get them to the sale site on the date I wanted them. I asked him if he could get them by sale day, and he said he could.

It was almost sale day, and the barns had not arrived. We had photos of the barns on our website. There was going to be both on-site and online bidding for this sale. On Monday, I could not get up with him. I was finally able to reach him late Tuesday. He said he was going to be in Florida on Wednesday morning to start loading barns and would have them at the sale site later on in the week.

The way I figured, it was about 11 hours from where the barns were located to the Warren County cow pasture. I talked to him on Thursday, and he said he had one of the barns loaded and would be in Warren County sometime late Friday. Late Friday afternoon, the barn had not arrived, and I contacted him back, and he said he had a little bit of trouble and was around Augusta, Georgia. I looked on GPS, and according to it, that was about seven hours away.

Just prior to the sale getting started on Saturday morning, I looked up, and there was a truck coming down the road that had the barn mover’s name on it. I thought he would be there in a few minutes, and we could put the barn in the spot I had picked out.

About 30 minutes before I knew we would be selling the barn, I made a phone call to the barn mover, and he said, “I am in Dillon, South Carolina. I had a little trouble, but I am heading your way.”

I knew we were going to have to sell those barns before they got to the sale site. The crowd was there, and it was lined up for a specific time on the internet. When we got to the spot where the barns were supposed to be, I announced to the crowd, “One of the barns is on I-95 somewhere between Dillon, S.C., and here. We are going to sell it, sell it sight unseen but guarantee you to be satisfied when it gets here. Tthe other barn is located in Florida, and we are going to sell it and if you get it up here and are dissatisfied with it, we will give you a $2,000 credit for moving the barn.”

We got ready to sell the barns,

the internet was online, people on-site stepped up, and the bidding started. They brought about the same money we had sold barns for about three weeks prior to another sale. The barns were sold to an internet bidder. Right shortly after the sale ended, the man that bought the barns called me. He said, “E.B., I understand the barns are in the road coming this way. I am in Dunn, N.C., and would you get up the barn mover and have him bring it straight to me and he won’t have to bring it another 60-70 miles. “

I got up with the barn mover, and he was just crossing the state line, and he delivered to the buyer in Dunn. It all worked out for the best in the long run. Technology has moved the auction business forward in a positive. Never thought I would sell a barn rolling on the highway.

GELBVIEH NEWS

Bradley Joins American Gelbvieh Association Full Time. The American Gelbvieh Association (AGA) is pleased to announce the hiring of Shianna Bradley to the AGA staff full time as the office services specialist. In her role, Shianna will assist AGA members and customers with submitting data to the online registry service, create educational resources for AGA members, and work with the DNA department to organize the DNA sample storage library.

“We are fortunate to have the

opportunity to have Shianna joining us full time upon her graduation,” says Megan Slater, AGA executive director. “She brings a well suited set of talents and experience that make her a great fit for this role where she’ll continue to work closely with AGA members and customers.”

Bradley grew up in South Whitley, Ind., where she was an active 4-H member and FFA officer. She graduated from Purdue University on May 12 with her bachelor’s degree in Animal Science with a concentration in Animal Agribusiness and a minor in Farm Management. During her time at Purdue, she was an active member of Block and Bridle. She recently worked part time at the AGA assisting members with the AGA Online Registry Service.

“Working at the AGA the past few months has truly been informative, from learning about breeding selection tools to learning from leaders in the industry; it feels great to be able to apply my education here at the AGA,” Bradley said. “I look forward to continuing to work with such great members and diving deeper into the Gelbvieh breed and its role in the beef industry.”

Bradley began her new role with the AGA on May 15 and can be reached at shianna@gelbvieh.org or the AGA office at 303-465-2333.

About the American Gelbvieh Association. The AGA is a progressive beef cattle breed association representing 1,100 members and approximately 40,000 cows assessed annually in a performance oriented total herd reporting system.

you have cattle, pastureland, or raise hay like I do, you need to call Donna Byrum. In 10 minutes on the hood of my pickup, she signed me up for a program that I had no idea about. The next time she came by the farm,

You Decide!

By DR. MIKE WALDEN William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor Emeritus N.C. State University

You Decide: How Does North Carolina Compare On Taxes? A couple of days ago, my wife heard an enthusiastic “Yippee!” from my home office. “What was that for?” she asked. “Did your Cincinnati Reds finally win a game?” My wife – who was born in New York –sometimes takes joy in reminding me how badly my hometown professional baseball team has performed in recent years.

“Just for your information,” I quickly responded, “the Reds did win last night.” But that wasn’t why I shouted. Instead, I was excited because the latest Facts and Figures from the Tax Foundation was just released. I think I heard my wife respond with, “Knock yourself out.”

I realize that for non-economists, reading about taxes is not their best form of enjoyment. But if you want to look at the taxes of states, and especially to compare both the level and types of taxes among states, then Facts and Figures is an indispensable resource.

Of course, my focus here will be on North Carolina’s taxes. Since it takes time to compile and publish government data, most of the information cited in the 2023 edition of Facts and Figures is from 2020, 2021, or 2022.

Let’s begin by looking at the big picture. The relative size of taxes in any state is captured by two measures: total taxes per capita (total taxes divided by population) and total taxes as a percentage of total income earned in the state. Total taxes include taxes paid to the state government as well as taxes paid to all local governments in that state. Federal taxes are omitted.

North Carolina ranks 32nd among all states for total state and local taxes per capita, and it ranks 31st for the percentage of total income taken by state and local taxes. Hence, North Carolina ranks near the lower ⅓ of states on the relative size of taxes.

It’s also important to compare North Carolina taxes to other states in the immediate region. Based on per capita and per income measures, North Carolina has higher taxes than the neighboring states of South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida. In the immediate region, only Virginia has higher per capita

and per income tax rates.

In addition to looking at the total tax picture, it’s informative to examine the specific kinds of taxes states use. Facts and Figures follows five categories of taxes: individual income tax, corporate income tax, general sales tax, property tax, and other taxes.

Compared to the averages for the other states, North Carolina collects relatively more of its total state and local taxes from the general sales tax and the individual income tax and relatively less from the property, corporate income, and other taxes. In particular, North Carolina’s collection of corporate income taxes is only half of the average state collection on a percentage basis.

This distribution of tax uses has created a long standing debate in North Carolina over whether individual and household taxes from the individual income tax and sales tax are too high compared to the much lower corporate income tax. Critics say the current distribution favors corporations too much.

Supporters say the state’s low corporate income tax – especially compared to other states in the Southeast – is a major factor behind North Carolina’s excellent record in attracting businesses and jobs to the state.

One tax I haven’t mentioned yet, but which is a tax most of us pay once or several times per week, is the state gasoline tax. North Carolina has a relatively high gas tax rate per gallon compared to other states. The state’s gas tax is 16th highest among the 50 states. However, in the Southeast, Florida and Georgia’s gas tax rate is higher than North Carolina’s.

There is an easy explanation for the high level of North Carolina’s gas tax.

It has to do with how roads are financed in a state. In North Carolina, most road projects are financed at the state level, where the gas tax is the primary source of funding. Relatively few road projects are paid for by county and city governments.

However, in many states, the financial responsibility for paying for roads is more evenly split between state and local governments. For the local share, property taxes are the major funding source. In these types of states, the reduced road funding from the state level allows gas tax

rates to be more moderate.

Let me conclude by discussing an alternative to taxes: borrowing. While states and localities do not have the ability, like the federal government, to use borrowing as a substitute for taxes for almost any kind of public spending, borrowing can still vary among the states. Some states have much larger debt burdens than others.

North Carolina is among the states with the lowest public debt. Measured as total state and local (counties and cities) debt per capita – that is, total state and local debt for every person – North Carolina ranks 48th, meaning 47 states have a higher relative debt level, and only two states (Wyoming and Idaho) have a lower relative debt level than North Carolina. In dollar terms, North Carolina’s total state and local debt per person is half the average for all states.

I know this column has presented many, many numbers and rankings. But studying taxes lends itself to numbers. Hopefully, I’ve provided a good summary of taxes in North Carolina. Now it’s up to you to decide if our tax system works well or if some tinkering is required.

You Decide: Will WFH And A.I. Help Or Harm Us? Most of us are prone to shortening names. Wolfpack becomes “Pack,” Tarheels are “Heels,” and the NHL “Hurricanes” are called “Canes.” Shorter names save time and energy in speaking.

The economic world is no different. Recently we’ve been hearing much about “WFH” and “A.I.” WFH stands for “work-at-home,” and A.I. means “artificial intelligence.” Both will have significant impacts on the labor market. But what are their pros and cons? Let me present some insights and analysis, and then let you decide.

Prior to the pandemic, less than 10 percent of workers worked from home. Due to the shutdowns in the economy caused by COVID-19, at the height of the pandemic, an estimated 60 percent of workers were engaged in WFH. Then, as the economy re-opened, workers returned to the office, but not at pre-pandemic levels. Today, it’s estimated about 30 percent of the workforce do WFH.

Some researchers think WFH could rise, perhaps leveling out at 40 percent. Yet the rate could be much higher for some occupations. Some forecasts predict that the WFH rate in computer science, management, design, and even law jobs could reach 70 percent.

Is the phenomenon good or bad?

I recently wrote a book (Re-Launch: How Families Can Be Renewed in the Post Pandemic Economy) that examined WFH from the point of view of workers, families, and the environment. With

daily trips to work no longer necessary, workers and their families could move to less expensive areas and save money on housing and commuting. With less commuting, pollution related to travel will be curtailed. Also, with living expenses and travel time reduced, parents would have more time to spend with their children.

Businesses using WFH would be able to cut their spending on buildings and related operating expenses. Traffic in metropolitan areas, where many of today’s jobs are located, would become less congested. Additionally, if a significant number of WFH workers move to small towns and rural areas, competition for housing in metro areas would drop, and so too would prices and rents. Certainly, some businesses in metro regions – such as restaurants and retailers – could see their revenues drop. Still, on the upside, the growth of WFH residents in smaller communities could spark economic growth in regions that have not kept up with the metros.

One big question about WFH is its impact on worker productivity. Can workers perform their tasks as well from home without interacting in-person with colleagues and supervisors? Studies of this question have thus far been inconclusive.

I certainly think WFH is here to stay. Whether it is good for any individual worker or business is a question companies and employees will have to answer.

A.I. has been in development for decades, but recent advancements in computer capabilities have pushed it to the forefront.

The idea of A.I. is actually simple. As computer power has increased, technology to collect, analyze, and develop conclusions from massive amounts of data has become possible. Projects that would have taken humans weeks, months, or even years to accomplish can now be done in minutes or seconds by technology.

A.I. is really machine learning. As an aid to people, it can have tremendous worth. Consider this example. A patient has a series of symptoms with no obvious diagnosis. The patient’s doctor uses A.I. to compare patients – potentially from all over the world – with similar symptoms and uses their outcomes to develop a diagnosis. A.I. will then also compare the results from different treatments of the symptoms. Using this information, the doctor can make a much more informed conclusion about how to help the patient. Without the immediacy of information from A.I., it would have taken the doctor much longer to develop a confident treatment.

From this example, we see A.I. can be a big benefit. A.I. gives us more

information in a faster period of time for human decision makers to use. Still, as A.I. has become bigger and more powerful, three concerns have emerged.

First, if A.I. is so good at analysis and decision making, will it simply replace humans? There’s already been a study predicting A.I. will impact 80 percent of today’s jobs, in some cases making those human jobs irrelevant. Important decisions will have to be made by employers in how far to go in ceding final decisions to a machine, without any human oversight and review.

Second, if A.I. does replace a large number of humans performing jobs, what will happen to those people? Fortunately, we’ve had plenty of experience over time with this question. For example, when mechanization came to the farm and factory, there were worries unemployment would become permanent for the displaced workers. But it didn’t happen. The economy created different kinds of jobs for workers. We can hope this will be repeated.

Last, the third concern might be the most important: The worry over the misuse of A.I. to create fraud, deceit, and deception. At this point, we don’t know how prevalent this concern may be or how to protect us from it.

Keep watch of both WFH and A.I. as they become more dominant parts of our lives. We’ve seen this story before with earlier forms of technology. Can we maximize the benefits while minimizing the potential disadvantages? You decide.

You Decide: Is the Economy Good, Bad, or Uncertain? Clint Eastwood has long been one of my favorite actors, going all the way back to his TV series “Rawhide” in the 1950s and ‘60s. A movie that propelled him to stardom was “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.” With a slight change to “The Good, the Bad, and the Uncertain,” that title is a great description of today’s economy. This is because there are some good aspects to the current economy, along with some bad parts, topped off with some uncertain features. In today’s column, I’ll try to provide some of each component but leave it up to you to decide which dominates.

There are plenty of “good” parts in today’s economy. The broadest measure of the economy – Gross Domestic Product (GDP) – continues to increase. This means the aggregate size of the economy is expanding and generating more production and income. The rule of thumb definition for a recession is two consecutive quarterly declines in GDP, so by this definition, we’ve not been in a recession.

The labor market continues to gain. Although job growth is not as strong as immediately after the pandemic, jobs

are being added at a healthy pace. The unemployment rate is now 3.4 percent, the lowest since 1953 (when I was two years old). A broader measure of the jobless rate, which also includes people who have stopped looking for work, has been trending downward.

The job gains have led to a reduction in the labor shortage that appeared during and after the pandemic. There is now only one-half job opening per every unemployed person. This is down from almost five openings per jobless person at the height of the pandemic and down from over one opening per unemployed person two years ago.

The improvement in the labor shortage has been a tremendous help to those economic sectors that have had trouble finding labor in the aftermath of the pandemic. In recent months, we’ve seen big gains in employment in restaurants, manufacturing, government, and health care, bringing some of these sectors back to pre-pandemic job levels.

But perhaps the biggest positive trend has been the moderation in price increases – aka, inflation. Don’t get me wrong, average prices are still rising, but they are rising at a slower pace. For example, last summer, the year-over-year inflation rate reached 9.1 percent, The latest inflation reading, measuring the change in average prices from April 2022 to April 2023, shows the rate now at 4.9 percent. The moderation in the inflation rate means more workers are seeing their pay raises keeping pace with rising prices.

Now onto the “bad” part of the economy, and let me start with inflation. Although price increases are slowing, this doesn’t mean prices are falling. Some are dropping, but most aren’t. Don’t expect most prices to return to their prepandemic levels of 2019. This means many people will continue to experience living standards lower than what they were four years ago.

While the overall economy continues to expand, there are some parts of the economy that are retreating. Construction and manufacturing have shown signs of significant slowing. The same is true for existing home sales. What these sectors have in common is the importance of interest rates. As interest rates on loans have risen, financing big projects and purchases has become more expensive.

Data show consumers are also experiencing some added stress. Retail sales have fallen in four of the last five months. Average household income –adjusted for inflation – is lower than it was prior to the pandemic. After pausing during the pandemic, the amount of consumer debt has recently accelerated. The savings that households accumulated

during the pandemic have rapidly been diminishing.

Two big issues dominate the “uncertain” category – banking problems and a potential default on U.S. debt securities. The failure of three major banks this year shocked the economy and created worries this is only the start of a larger problem. My reading of the situation is that no widespread banking failure is imminent. Still, whenever any bank fails, it raises worries about the safety of our savings.

We’ve seen the drama over raising the debt limit many times before. Fortunately, compromises between competing views and policies have always occurred –although some have literally come at the last minute. This is still my expectation. But if I’m wrong and a debt limit plan isn’t reached that prevents defaulting on U.S. debt payments, then we’re in new territory. At the least, I would expect interest rates to jump.

So, now that I’ve given you my Clint Eastwood version of the economy, what should you expect? I think there are three options. The first is the best – a slowdown in economic growth but no stoppage in growth that results in a typical recession.

Jobs are not lost. The slowdown causes more inflation moderation, and the Federal Reserve begins to reduce interest rates in the first half of 2024. This is the so-called “soft landing” outcome.

The second option is the opposite of the first. The economy eventually slips into a standard recession by the end of 2023 or the beginning of 2024. Businesses pull back, and unemployment rises. The only good news is the recession is relatively short and shallow, with the jobless rate rising from 3.4 percent, to a range between 5-5.5 percent. By the summer of 2024, growth resumes, and the inflation rate is much lower.

The third option is a hybrid. Modest job growth continues, but the economy suffers on the “capital” side, meaning losses to investors in everything from buildings and equipment to stocks. This scenario could actually cause a bigger overall financial plunge than with the second option, but a mid-2024 recovery would still occur.

Hopefully, my economic version of “The Good, the Bad, and the Uncertain” will have mostly a pleasing finale. Are we witnessing a script that turns out that way? You decide.

Culinary Corner

Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner Culinary Team

Culinary programs have been an integral part of the Beef Checkoff and its related predecessor organizations going back to the early 1900s. The first culinary related publication was created by the National Livestock and Meat Board in 1924 and was titled Meat and How I Cook It. It contained 188 recipes and was specifically designed to meet the needs of high school economics teachers, and in fact, was utilized as “the first national high school home economics recipe book.”

Over the past 100 years, hundreds of publications have been developed, thousands (upon thousands) of recipes created, along with countless cooking demonstrations, product tests, and educational seminars (and now webinars) conducted by dedicated culinarians and chefs. Over that time, society has changed, new generations have come and gone, and technologies have changed the way people live (most likely beyond many people’s imagination from 1924). Yet, many things remain the same. People still need to eat. People still love beef, maybe now more than ever. And people still have a lack of cooking

knowledge and struggle to get food on the dinner table for their family. Other challenges have arisen as well. Food prices are increasing. Other protein choices are abundant, time pressures on families are growing, and many food service operators are struggling to either stay in business or keep beef on the menu, along with numerous other issues facing today’s consumers and businesses.

So, how does the Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner. culinary team, funded by the Beef Checkoff, address these challenges to better serve beef producers? We can continue with what we have always done, and to a degree, we will. Still, we can also understand the current environment and look to the future to create a new and revitalized culinary program and vision.

In 2022, with collaboration across teams at NCBA, a contractor of the Beef Checkoff, the current environment was examined, trends discussed, challenges and opportunities identified, and essentially the question, “What if?” was asked. Through this process, more than 1,000 ideas were generated, along with a list of targeted areas to focus on, but most

importantly, a new vision was created for the culinary program. Out of these working sessions came the following:

Vision - To be the leading voice and resource for beef culinary knowledge, experiences, and innovation, from classic and cultural preparations to timely, future inspirations.

This is a lofty goal, but achievable, and much work will need to be done to attain it. As time goes on, you will hear

more about programs designed to realize this vision and about further interactions with the food industry, state beef council partners, and beef producers. Stay tuned for additional information in upcoming articles. But for now, since grilling season is right around the corner, here is a recipe specially created by Chef Alex Reitz in the Checkoff funded Beef Culinary Center to support the summer grilling program.

Carolina

Cooking

Grilled Sirloin Steak Kabobs with Garlic Rosemary Butter

Total Time - 35 minutes

1 pound beef top sirloin steak boneless, cut 1 inch thick

1 Tablespoon steak seasoning blend

1 Tablespoon olive oil

8 ounces red skinned potatoes

4 ounces cherry tomatoes

4 ounces portobello mushrooms

Basting Sauce

4 Tablespoons butter

1 teaspoon fresh rosemary

2 teaspoons fresh parsley

1.5 teaspoons garlic, minced

Garnish

1 teaspoon fresh parsley

1 teaspoon fresh rosemary

Cut potatoes into 1½ inch pieces. Place in microwave safe dish; cover with vented plastic wrap. Microwave on high for 6-8 minutes or until just tender, stirring once. Cool slightly.

Cut beef top sirloin steak into 1¼ inch pieces. Combine beef, mushrooms, tomatoes, potatoes, olive oil, and steak seasoning in a large bowl; toss. Alternately thread beef and vegetables onto metal skewers.

Place kabobs on the grid over medium, ash covered coals. Grill for 9-12 minutes (over medium heat on a preheated gas grill, 8-10 minutes) for medium rare (145°F) to medium (160°F) doneness, turning once and brushing with sauce during the last 5 minutes. Remove from grill and brush with remaining sauce. Garnish with remaining rosemary,

parsley mixture.

Basting Sauce - In a small sauce pot, combine butter, parsley, garlic, and rosemary. Melt butter mixture over low heat either on the stovetop or on your grill; until melted. Stir occasionally.

Makes 4 servings.

Grilled Sirloin Steak Kabobs with Garlic Rosemary Butter

“DESIGNED FOR CATTLEMEN

Angus Beef news

Premium Beef, Premium Production. How Certified Angus Beef is strengthening its messaging with data and still offering the same great taste. The best place to reach consumers is at the meat case - that’s why there are so many labels on products. To be successful, brands must create messages that resonate and matter to their ideal customer.

The Certified Angus Beef (CAB) brand is often advertised as “the best,” and its taste secured its growth around the globe. As a younger generation of consumers has more buying power in the market, their expectations of high quality beef are expanding.

“Our product has to taste great every time, and the consumer has to feel good about what the brand stands for,” said Nicole Erceg, CAB communications

director. “They seek products they think are good for them, the animal, and the planet.”

During a Learning Lounge session at the 2023 National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Trade Show, CAB shared how it’s meeting customers’ expectations. There, Erceg and Kirsten Nickles, Ph.D., CAB animal care and sustainability scientist, shared how the brand is responding to consumer research findings.

Leaning into Consumer CuriosityWhen asked about sustainability, animal welfare is the number one consumer concern, Erceg said, followed by the environment.

“The way we reach most consumers is at the meat case,” she said. “So as we think about telling your story, it has to be simple and fit on a package.”

Starting in 2023, consumers may

see the statement “Dedicated to Humane Animal Care and Climate Friendly Practices” on the packaging and marketing of the brand.

“We landed on this statement through consumer research,” Erceg said. “It’s obviously not something that connects with cattlemen; those aren’t words we’d

use to describe cattle production. But it is what cattle producers are doing and it resonates with consumers.”

Supporting the statement requires more information on production practices to verify how you’re caring for cattle and managing the land.

Sharing a Stronger Story -

Starting this year, you may see this label on Certified Angus Beef brand marketing. It’s an effort to resonate with consumers who want to feel good about the beef they buy.

Quantifying practices at the ranch is challenging, but accredited certifications like Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) verifies producers’ dedication to animal welfare to consumers. That’s why CAB is asking Angus breeders and commercial cattlemen to share their BQA or equivalent certification with the brand.

“It’s doing things like BQA certification, keeping good production records, and having a grazing management plan,” Erceg said when speaking about increasing consumers’ trust. “As a food marketer, I can take that information and use it to garner more value for your product.”

If you’re BQA certified and would like to share your certificate with CAB, visit CutTheBull.info

Measuring Climate Friendly Practices - Taking care of the land provides sustainable resources for cattlemen to raise premium beef year after year. The Working Grasslands Conservation Initiative supports the “climate friendly” part of the marketing claim by creating a collaboration to measure environmental practices with Ducks Unlimited.

“We are experts of beef,” Nickles said, “and Ducks Unlimited has conservation experts and access to research that quantifies how cattle and grasslands are essential to a healthy ecosystem.”

The initiative supports a voluntary suite of programs for producers in the Northern Great Plains and collects data measuring carbon sequestration, soil health improvements, clean water

resource development, and biodiversity.

“Consumers trust producers and believe beef can be raised in a way that’s good for the environment,” Nickles said. “This allows us to gather actual metrics in a variety of environments and share it through the supply chain.”

While data is still being collected, initial findings will be released later this year.

Investing in the Future - The best beef used to be a great tasting, consistent steak – and that’s still important – but now we have to deliver more.

While we must meet consumer preferences, it’s driven by the supply chain delivering beef to consumers at grocery stores and restaurants and their sustainability commitments.

Whether you’re marketing Angus bulls or commercial feeder cattle, the more information you can collect on an animal, the wider your customer base is, Erceg said.

“That’s really what we’re trying to do at the brand, look for ways to add value along the chain,” she added. “And producers are at the very beginning and have the most information to share about that calf.”

Certified Angus Beef Expands Offering with Grass Fed Beef. Certified Angus Beef Grass Fed launches with Niman Ranch. Consumer demand for high quality beef has been a long time sales driver for Certified Angus Beef, and ultimately, it has increased demand for superior Angus genetics. As consumer preferences evolve, the brand is growing to provide premium beef for every liking.

And now, that will include a grassfed option: Certified Angus Beef Grass Fed by Niman Ranch.

“While our core focus remains on the quality of our traditional product, we recognize that there is a growing consumer interest in grass fed beef,” says John Stika, President at CAB. “This product will represent a small portion of total sales, but it’s an important addition that helps us meet the needs of consumers who have different preferences — while offering them the high quality beef they expect from us.”

Angus Beef Grass Fed product to the right genetics, quality pasture forages, and top notch animal care that minimizes stress.

Stika notes that CAB has long heard the request for a Certified Angus Beef Grass Fed product, but it wasn’t until now the brand could offer a grass-fed program that included the brand’s specifications.

“We’re always looking for ways to meet the changing needs of our customers,” says Stika. “This collaboration with Niman Ranch allows us to continue offering choices to consumers at the meat case and on the restaurant menu, without compromising quality and taste.”

The Certified Angus Beef Grass Fed by Niman Ranch product will make up less than one percent of the total CAB supply. A niche product, the grass fed, natural beef, will initially only be available through a few exclusive restaurants and grocery stores.

Consistent with all Certified Angus Beef brand products, the grass fed beef must meet all ten specifications to qualify for the brand. With marbling a necessary specification to guarantee flavor and tenderness in beef, exceptional Angus genetics are key.

John Tarpoff II, Vice President of Beef for Niman Ranch, knows the value of high marbling Angus cattle. He attributes the consistent, well marbled Certified

Although availability of this new product is limited, it’s an integral piece of CAB’s business, maintaining relevancy in the marketplace and driving demand for Angus cattle.

Who is Certified Angus Beef? At Certified Angus Beef, we know people want to put great meals on the table. Our employees work across the beef supply chain to ensure chefs and home cooks find and prepare the best Angus beef. Led by our culinary, beef, and marketing experts, our team provides consultation, marketing materials, training, market insights, and tools that help businesses like grocery stores and restaurants thrive. Our team is also dedicated to sharing the story of family farmers and ranchers who supply the brand.

Certified Angus Beef Grass Fed short rib.

Certified Angus Beef Grass Fed bone-in ribeye.

NORTHCAROLINAANGUSASSOCIATION

By CORTNEY HOLSHOUSER, NCAA Executive Secretary

39th Annual N.C. Angus Association Spring Fever Sale

The 39th Annual N.C. Angus Spring Fever Sale was held on April 22 at the Shuffler Farm Sale facility in Union Grove, North Carolina. It was a rainy morning for potential buyers to view the cattle, but that did not affect the enthusiasm and number of attendees that came to evaluate the 70 live and frozen lots sold. The sale was a huge success, grossing $272,750 with an average of just over $3,915 on the 64 live lots. The sale was managed by Zach Moffitt Cattle Marketing & Consulting of Concord, North Carolina. The consignors, along with Zach, worked hard to showcase the females before and during the sale. The offering included cow/calf pairs, bred heifers, open heifers, N.C. Elite heifers and show heifer prospects, elite pregnancies, and embryos.

arrived early on Saturday morning. Between the crowd and the internet viewers, the sale reached bidders and buyers all over the country. A heifer was even sold to a buyer in Canada this year. The sale arena was full as Colonel Will Thompson kicked off the auction at noon. Thank you to the North Carolina Junior Angus Association for preparing a wonderful lunch of brisket sandwiches, chips, and banana pudding. The N.C. Angus Auxiliary once again decorated the sale ring with flowers. We appreciate the working partnership we have with these two groups.

The N.C. Angus Elite Heifers were a sale feature once again. To qualify for the Elite Heifer status, the females must meet a stringent set of performance and breeding guidelines. The consignors continue to make

Once again, there was a strong set of fall bred cows with big stout calves. The top Fall pair was Lot 11 and 11A, consigned by Locust Level Farms of Vernon Hill, Virginia. Lot 11, LLF 405

Lot 3 was ready for a closeup.

Consignors for this year included 4K Farms, Biltmore Company, Black Cedar Angus, Butcher Branch Land & Cattle LLC, Chapman Cattle Company, Chase Angus, Chessie Creek Farm, Dalton Angus, Dancing Pedlar Farm, Elite Cattle Company, Hawks Nest Farm, Hi-Lo Farms LLC, Hidden Hills Angus Farm, Legacy at Pine Hill Farm, Locust Level Farms, Rivers Bend Ranch, Ruckus Hill Farms – Smith, S & H Poultry, S & J Farms, Scarlett Farms, Shelton Angus Farm, Shuffler Farm, Straightstone Angus, Triple LLL Angus, Walkers Branch Angus, Windy Hill Farms LLC, and Wood Angus.

Several visitors came out on Friday afternoon to view the cattle, and lots more

The high selling lot in the 2023 Sp ring Fever Sale was Lot 43, a heifer pregnancy due in the fall by Poss Winchester and Biltmore Lucy 148J, consigned by Biltmore Company of Asheville, North Carolina. A young donor in the Biltmore program is 148J, sired by GAR Home Town and out of a Stallion daughter that stems from the $1 million producer Lucy 3056. She is in the top 10 percent of the breed or better for CED, BW, CEM, PAP, HS, Marb, Fat, Dairy Indexes, $M, $G, $B, and $C. This pregnancy was selected by Dr. Barry Pollard of Waukomis, Okla., for $13,000.

the extra effort to have their top quality heifers meet the standards, and this year, 17 of the bred heifer consignments were designated Elite. The Elite Heifers sold for an average of $3,853. Lot 38, Scarletts Countess 1PS18, was the high selling Elite Heifer at $5,000. She was a KR Pacesetter daughter bred to the popular Connealy Craftsman consigned by Scarlett Farms. Mickey Love of Pilot Mountain, N.C., purchased Lot 38. Other N.C. Angus Elite Heifer consignors included Chapman Cattle Company, S&J Farms, Butcher Branch Land & Cattle LLC, Hi-Lo Farms, Locust Level Farms, Triple LLL Angus, Rivers Bend Ranch, Shelton Angus Farm, Shuffler Farm, and Windy Hill Farms. In total, 27 bred heifers sold for $93,500 to average $3,463.

Patriot 867, was a daughter of Deer Valley Patriot 3222 with GAR Prophet on her maternal side. The cow was bred to HPCA Veracious for a fall calf. She sold to Chris Dula of Dula Farms for $6,000. Her September heifer calf, LLF 867 Identified 270 sired by SS Identified 7551, sold to Bowman Family Farms for $5,000 for half interest. Another Fall pair standout was Lot 6, Fulcher Lady Ida 0138, consigned by Hi-Lo Farms. The cow sold to Seth Wilson for $4,500. Chapman Cattle Company selected the fancy heifer calf at side for $4,500. She is a daughter of Ankonian Paragon 0C4. The thirteen Fall cow/calf pairs sold for an average of $6,619. The nine spring cow/ calf pairs averaged $2,978.

The frozen lots also made a positive impact on the sale. Lot 43, the Biltmore Company heifer pregnancy by Poss Winchester and Biltmore Lucy 148J, generated lots of attention. Another exciting pregnancy was Lot 44B, a heifer pregnancy by Basin Jameson 1076 and WHS Home Town Burgess J6 consigned by Shelton Angus Farm in Gretna, Virginia. This pregnancy sold for $4,250 to Rowdey Collier of Knoxville, Tennessee.

Chessie Creek Farm of Walterboro, S.C.,

The fall pairs doing their job raising big, stout calves.

NCAA President, Callie Carson greets everyone and leads the prayer.

Zach Moffitt and Will Thompson ready to get things started.

The sun was shining on Friday as folks came early to inspect the cattle.

consigned one of the high selling embryo lots, offering three IVF embryos by Basin Jameson 1076 and Linz Lady Acclaim 4107-8809. These embryos sold to Carson Family Farms in Laurel Springs, N.C., for $1,200. The 12 embryos averaged $412.

The top selling open heifer was Hidden Hills - Cox Lucy 611K, consigned by Hidden Hills Farm and Cox Ranch. She is an October 2022 heifer sired by GAR Home Town. She sold to Katie Colin Farm in Cartersville, Ga., for $10,000. Another standout in the open heifer category was Lot 65, WB Rita K976, an HPCA Veracious daughter consigned by Walkers Branch Angus. Travis Bunch of Surrency, Ga., selected this heifer for $5,000. In total, 14 open heifers sold for an average of $2,978.

Volume buyers were Michael Jensen with 323 Ranch, Chapman Cattle Company, Jason Phillips, and Vinson York. CCi.LIVE hosted the sale online. Cattle and embryos sold into North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Georgia, Ohio, and Ontario. Thank you to all the buyers who bid and purchased from the sale.

North Carolina Angus Association

ANGUS MEANS BUSINESS

Backed by the world’s largest and most reliable genetic evaluation program.

Registered Angus genetics deliver better calving ease, more growth, and superior marbling.

455 GORE FAMILY ANGUS Mark & Lori Gore Tabor City

702-401-8005 • 455goreangus@gmail.com www.455farms.com

4K FARMS/TARHEEL ANGUS

Richard D. Kirkman, DVM Siler City 919-742-5500 • rdk.cefa@gmail.com

BACK CREEK

Joe & Robin Hampton Mt. Ulla

We had a great sale day crew again this year. Thanks to AAA Regional Manager Reese Tuckwiller, Joe Hampton, and Neil Bowman for serving as ringmen. A special thank you to Suzanne Brewer, Alicia Brenseke, and Teresa Swisher

704-880-2488 (Joe); 704-880-3572 (Robin) robinbackcreek@att.net

Facebook: Back Creek Angus BILTMORE ESTATE Kyle Mayberry - Manager Asheville

828-768-1956 • livestock@biltmore.com www.biltmorelivestock.com

CARSON FAMILY FARM, LLC

John, Callie, Isaac & J.R. Carson Laurel Springs 336-818-9087 • carsonfamilyfarm@gmail.com

CHAPMAN CATTLE COMPANY Bryant Chapman Taylorsville 828-514-0526

FOUR S FARMS

Kim & Connie and Jason & Robin Starnes Luther Lyerly - Manager Salisbury 704-640-5875 • kim-4sfarms@carolina.rr.com

for helping to clerk the sale. Also, thank you to the Spring Fever Sale Committee, especially Brent Scarlett and Daniel Wall, and to Colonel Will Thompson and Zach Moffitt for making the sale a success.

We look forward to seeing everyone again next spring for the 40 th Annual Spring Fever Sale.

GENTRY HOMEPLACE ANGUS Howard & Donna Gentry King 336-413-6698 • whgentry@windstream.net

GRAGG FARMS

Paul, Chris & David Gragg Boone 828-268-4136 (Paul); 828-268-4137 (Chris) 828-268-4135 (David) gragg_farms@hotmail.com

H&H FARMS

Buddy & Jennifer Hamrick - Owners Bly Hamrick - Manager Boiling Springs 704-472-1912 • jennham@bellsouth.net

HI-LO FARMS, LLC William & Kate Reichert Fuquay-Varina 919-812-0435 • hilofarmsblackangus.gmail.com

Cortney Holshouser NCAA Executive Secretary 919-796-2346 ncaa.sec@gmail.com www.ncangus.org

HILL ANGUS FARM

Dr. Gary M. Hill Hendersonville 229-848-3695 • gmhill@uga.edu

JACK KNOB FARMS

Karl, Janet & Logan Gillespie Franklin 828-371-2220 • karl@jackknobfarms.com www.jackknobfarms.com

JENKINS ANGUS FARM

Jaime & Christy Jenkins Marshall 828-206-1345 • jenkinsangusfarm@gmail.com

KNOLL CREST FARM

The Bennett Family Red House, VA 434-376-3567 • knollcrestfarm@knollcrestfarm.com www.knollcrestfarm.com

LANE ANGUS

Roger & Bundy Lane

Bundy Lane - Manager Gates

252-398-7705 (Bundy); 252-398-7719 (Miranda) 252-357-1279 (Office) bundylane@hughes.net; laneangusbeef@gmail.com www.laneangusbeef.com

PANTHER CREEK FARMS

John C. Smith, Jr. Pink Hill 252-526-1929 • johnsmith3982@embarqmail.com

S&J Farms

Steven & Julie Lung Nathan Lung - Manager Carthage 910-947-3414 • sandjfarms2013@gmail.com

SMITH CREEK ANGUS FARM

Marty & Lynne Rooker Norlina 252-213-1553 • mrooker@mrookerlaw.com

SPRINGFIELD ANGUS

Phil Goodson Louisburg 919-880-9062 • philgoodson2@gmail.com www.springfieldangus.com

TRIPLE LLL ANGUS Greg Little Monroe 704-219-1294 • greg.little@atimetals.com

VANDEMARK ANGUS

Keaton & Janie Vandemark Spring Hope 252-885-0210 • keaton@vandemarkfarms.com

WINDY HILL FARMS, LLC

Michael A. Moss Will Moss - Manager Ramseur 336-460-7451 • windyhillfarmsllc@gmail.com

WINSLOW GENETICS

Ben & Kathleen Winslow Halifax 252-578-5487 • bensbulls@gmail.com

WOOD ANGUS FARM, LLC

Russell Wood Willow Spring 919-275-4397 • rwood4400@gmail.com www.woodangus.com

Nothing better than black cows on green grass.

The clerking crew was a big help on sale day.

The barn was packed with bidders and buyers on sale day.

ANGUS NEWS

Madalyn Carpenter Earns Junior Bronze Award. Madalyn Carpenter, Wadesboro, N.C., has earned the National Junior Angus Association’s (NJAA) Bronze award, according to Caitlyn Brandt, events and junior activities director of the American Angus Association in Saint Joseph, Missouri.

Carpenter is the 14-year-old daughter of Nichole Carpenter and attends Anson High School. She is a member of the NJAA and the North Carolina Junior Angus Association, where she serves as royalty.

She has participated in local, state, and national shows. At the National Junior Angus Show (NJAS), Carpenter participated in the livestock judging and quiz bowl contests. She also participated in the mentoring program in 2022. She was a participant in the Raising the Bar conference in 2023.

Carpenter consigned cattle to the EBS Farms Select Sale.

The Bronze Award is the first level of the NJAA Recognition Program that began in 1972. Junior Angus breeders must apply for the award, then meet point requirements in many areas of participation before receiving the honor. Applicants are evaluated in areas of junior Angus association activities and leadership, participation in showmanship, contests, and shows, using performance testing to improve their herd, and their progress in producing and merchandising Angus cattle.

The NJAA promotes the involvement of young people in raising Angus cattle while also providing leadership and self development opportunities for the nearly 4,500 active members nationwide.

Cattlemen can soak up the sun and education together. Angus Convention offers Florida tour options. Combining business with pleasure usually makes everything more enjoyable. Make plans to attend the 2023 Angus Convention in Orlando, Fla., on November 3-6 at the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel. The convention features all the regular highlights, including beef industry education, networking, and American Angus Association business. But this year’s location makes the event the perfect place to bring along the family to enjoy the attractions of the Sunshine State. Plan now to include everyone on the trip and take in the fun of the tours.

• Kennedy Space Center -

Highlighting the journey of discovery and history making achievements, participants will travel to the headquarters of modern exploration at Cape Canaveral, the home of the Kennedy Space Center. A behindthe-gates bus tour to the Apollo/Saturn V Center showcases historic space exploration along with details of day-today Kennedy Space Center operations. This tour lasts approximately seven hours and includes admission, all films and shows, a meal voucher, and bus transportation from the headquarters hotel.

• Gatorland and Ziplining - No visit to Orlando is complete without a stop at this classic attraction. Still, instead of a leisurely stroll, participants will soar over the Floridian treetops while looking for reptiles gathered below. Take in a one-ofa-kind reptilian show and swamp walk to see Florida’s native creatures. This tour lasts five hours and includes admission to Gatorland, lunch, and transportation from the headquarters hotel.

• National Angus Tour - An annual tradition for many breeders, this year’s tour includes Deseret Ranch and Kempfer Cattle Company. Deseret uses a three way rotational breeding system with Angus, Brahman, Simmental, Red Poll, and South Devon to maximize the adaptability to Florida’s sub-tropical climate. Kempfer Cattle Company consists of three separate commercial herds of Brahman, Angus, and Shorthorn, but all with Brahman influence to fit in the environment. This tour lasts approximately seven hours and includes the tour, lunch, and bus transportation from the headquarters hotel.

• Beef Blitz - One of the most popular tours every year, the Beef Blitz provides attendees with a closer look at how beef makes its way to consumers. See how the quality of Angus beef that starts at the ranch adds value to users further down the supply chain. Get an inside look at Certified Angus Beef brand licensees and how they leverage the logo for more customer loyalty. The Beef Blitz lasts approximately seven hours and includes the tour, lunch, and bus transportation from the headquarters hotel.

• Wild Florida - Leave the horses at home and join this tour to take an hour long airboat ride through an undeveloped area, beginning with exploring a lush nature preserve. Following the airboat tour, where local inhabitants will be

visible from the shoreline, participants will get up close with a gator during an expert led Gator Demo. This tour lasts approximately six hours and includes the narrated airboat excursion, park admission, Gator Demo, souvenir photo with an alligator, lunch, and bus transportation from the headquarters hotel.

In addition to the organized tours, Disney World and Universal Studios are just minutes from the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel. Anyone attending can coordinate visits to the theme parks by visiting www.universalorlando.com/web/ en/us/tickets-packages/park-tickets

Spots on tours are limited, so those who wish to attend should book early when registration for the convention opens on July 1. All reservations for tours and hotels can be made through registration for the convention on the convention website. Attendees can visit AngusConvention.com and sign up for the Convention newsletter to stay up-todate as more details are released.

Angus Tackles Bovine Congestive Heart Failure on Recent Podcast Episode. A recent episode of The Angus Conversation explored bovine congestive heart failure. Biological challenges are rarely simple to solve. With a host of variables in real world scenarios, bovine congestive heart failure (BCHF) certainly falls into the “complicated” category.

Is it a management issue, a genetic problem, or a little bit of both?

A recent episode of The Angus Conversation explored the topic, with guests Randall Spare, Ashland Veterinary Center; Darrell Stevenson, Stevenson Angus Ranch; and Kelli Retallick-Riley, Angus Genetics Inc. (AGI).

“If there is an underlying genetic component, no matter how small it is or large it is, we want to find that out for American Angus Association members, because when they make a change, it’s a change for the beef industry,” RetallickRiley said.

If genetics are even partially to blame, breeding tools could allow cattlemen to mitigate the risk, she said.

“This isn’t 100 percent controlled by genetics, and so that means to us that obviously there [are] a lot of other environmental and management factors that are going to influence this,” Retallick-Riley explained.

At its core, BCHF is a noninfectious form of heart disease that causes the heart to stop as the condition progresses. Chronic high blood pressure damages tissues, causing inflammation that results in less elasticity — and that makes the heart work harder. While the definition seems straightforward enough, the challenge is finding out what causes it and

what cattlemen can do about it.

When trying to solve any health puzzle, clients will often ask Spare, “Why?”

“They generally want me to give them one specific answer. Well, because you have low vitamin A, or you’re not feeding them enough,” he noted. “I’m reminded about a gentleman at a diagnostic lab when I was first starting to practice, and I was wanting to give that one specific answer. And he said, ‘Well, Randall, oftentimes it’s not one thing that causes the problem; it’s a myriad of issues.’”

That’s proven true throughout his career, and early research on BCHF would show the same.

“We’ve changed the animals that we’re feeding today, and we’ve changed our practices…does that make a difference?” Spare asked.

Animals go on feed heavier, are fed longer, and are more profitable the more efficient they are, so that’s been the target for decades.

Labor challenges at the yard could contribute, too, he said.

“We’ve created systems to feed cattle according to what the computer says, and we don’t have those people who have been raised on ranches and farms that drive the feed truck and ride a horse in the feedyard,” Spare said, noting not all yards see the same pressure.

That leads him to believe there is a strong management component.

Have

Make

Kansas State University’s Beef Cattle Institute completed a retrospective analysis that also showed a wide range in BCHF incidence across yards of all sizes, types, and location.

“There is no bias,” Stevenson said, recapping the study. “There’s no significance towards sex, towards weight, towards breed of cattle — and the simple fact is that as of today, over 70 percent of the harvested cattle in the United States are black hided.”

BCHF happens in native beef, beefon-dairy, and straight dairy populations at nearly the same incidence, and that’s close to 0.07 percent of deaths across a population of 4.5 million. Yet, making hearts healthier is a hot topic because, in addition to curtailing feedyard deaths, it could help make the surviving population better, too.

“I think we will be overwhelmed with results in general cattle health and general feed efficiency if we can actually narrow this down,” Stevenson said.

Today, Angus is supporting research through the Angus Foundation, working on the Heart Health Initiative through AGI, and providing information through Angus Media and funding from Certified Angus Beef. It’s an across entity approach to helping find answers and solutions, Stevenson says.

Additionally, Cargill, Five Rivers Cattle Feeding, Colorado State University, and the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (USMARC) are collaborating to find answers.

To catch the entire conversation, find “Bovine Congestive Heart Failure: An Angus Issue, an Industry Issue, or No Issue At All?” on all major podcast platforms, or visit www. TheAngusConversation.com

Angus Foundation announces challenge to sustain breed’s 150 year legacy. Annual fund campaign encourages 1,000 donors to continue the Angus legacy in 2023. The Angus Foundation recently announced a new challenge for its supporters: 1,000 donations to the Legacy Built campaign by December 31. With 2023 marking 150 years since the arrival of the Angus breed in the United States, the Foundation launched the campaign to celebrate the significant milestone. The campaign asks donors to pledge $150 to sustain the breed’s legacy. The Foundation kicked off the challenge on May 17, the date of the breed’s arrival in 1873.

Since 2021, May 17 has been celebrated as Angus Day of Giving, commemorating the day Scottish Angus breeder George Grant brought the first Angus bulls to the prairies of Victoria, Kansas. Grant came to America with the dream to build a legacy — a legacy that

went on to make a lasting impression on the beef industry. When crossed with the Texas Longhorn cows native to the plains, the bulls sired calves well suited to the region. These results demonstrated the Angus breed’s initial value in the United States. The legacy is still being built 150 years later through the Angus Foundation. This year, Angus Day of Giving will mark the starting point of the Foundation’s goal of 1,000 Legacy Built campaign donations.

“We’re bringing this challenge to the Angus family because we know they understand the importance of sustaining the Angus legacy for the next 150 years,” said Jaclyn Boester, Angus Foundation executive director. “With a $150 gift, donors ensure we can continue building a bright future through the Foundation’s mission of advancing Angus education, youth, and research.”

Donations are earmarked to the Angus Fund, which uses unrestricted funds to support a multitude of American Angus Association programs.

“If we can rise to the challenge of 1,000 donations to the Legacy Built campaign in 2023, that’s $150,000 to support the Angus Fund,” Boester said. “Those dollars will sustain the Angus legacy our breeders have built for the past 150 years.”

To participate in the Legacy Built campaign, donations can be made online at bit.ly/ALegacyBuilt, mailed via check, or even pledged at Angus events like the National Junior Angus Show or Angus Convention. For more details, contact Jaclyn Boester at JBoester@Angus.org

To learn more about the Angus Foundation and its mission, visit www. AngusFoundation.org

About the Angus Foundation. Established as a 501(c)(3) organization in 1980, the Angus Foundation remains focused on its mission to support Angus education, youth, and research. The organization has distributed more than $3.9 million in youth scholarships since 1998 and has also invested more than $1.3 million in beef cattle research in the past decade. For more information, contact the Angus Foundation at 816-383-5100.

Angus Means Business. The American Angus Association is the nation’s largest beef breed organization, serving more than 22,000 members across the United States, Canada, and several other countries. It’s home to an extensive breed registry that grows by more than 300,000 animals each year. The Association also provides programs and services to farmers, ranchers, and others who rely on Angus to produce quality genetics for the beef industry and quality beef for consumers. For more information about Angus cattle and the American Angus Association, visit www.angus.org

Understanding the Real Costs of Drought

Plants wilting in the sun, dry, cracked earth, and herd liquidation are familiar signs during times of drought. Every cattle producer across the country has experienced these effects in one way or another over the last several years. While the impacts are evident, do we truly understand the real costs of drought? During a recent Cattlemen’s Webinar Series event, Ross Bronson, Ag Risk Consultant for Redd Summit Advisors, encouraged producers to look at drought from a different angle and develop a plan to prepare for future weather events.

According to Bronson, there is a difference between management and mitigation when it comes to drought. Management is dealing with it when it comes and handling the situation at hand, whereas mitigation is preparing in a way that minimizes effects on the operation. Preparing in advance helps create a sustainable future, giving operations the ability to continue profitably based on each producer’s vision for the path forward.

“My goal is not only to think outside the box, but look at the whole box,” said Bronson. “I want to prompt producers to be ahead of the curve and have plans in place before they need them.”

Bronson provided a case study as an example of evaluating actual costs during periods of drought. Using supplemental feed to provide 30 percent of nutritional needs for 200 head for 60 days can cost upward of $14,300, depending on feed, labor, and fuel costs. Combine that with potential interest if a loan is needed to cover the expense, and that total could rise to nearly $15,000. And that is just one expense to consider.

What about the effects on pasture and associated costs? If you assume forage production drops by 10 percent for the next three years, stocking rates drop, resulting in a potential decline in carrying capacity of 54 head over a three year period of drought. Assuming an 82 percent weaning rate, an average of 500 lbs./calf, and a $1.90/lb. price, it can lower revenue by $15,580 in the first year, $14,022 in the second year, and $12,619 in the third year, for a total three year loss of $42,221. This lost revenue is in addition to the cost of supplemental feeding.

Combine these examples with unforeseen costs such as restocking, selling cattle on the depreciation schedule, lost genetic improvement, reproduction concerns, and potential labor impacts, and revenue losses and excess costs continue to build.

There are ways to mitigate drought through planning, preparation, and implementing best management practices. Bronson encourages producers to create a drought plan and put it in action when needed based on rangeland conditions

and precipitation. Having a plan gives those involved in the operation a voice in decision making and helps everyone avoid reactive and emotional decisions during stressful situations.

Calculating accurate and conservative stocking rates and making sure you are accounting for your actual cow size, not basing on an arbitrary weight, are plan basics. Determine how much of the landscape is actually usable and accurately calculate how long cattle stay on, what cows will consume, wildlife consumption, and erosion, and document any forage that may not be available.

There are tools available to help determine forage trends on rangeland, including stocking rate calculators, with some tools providing historical trends in forage growth and precipitation. These tools, while helpful, should not take the place of producers getting out on the land to see what is happening, but they can help with determining an accurate stocking rate.

Next, Bronson recommends creating a tiered culling process to identify which classes of livestock are going to be sold at each stage of the plan. For ranches covering larger landscapes, it can be harder to reach animals, so knowing when cows go through pens makes culling at the appropriate time easier. Other areas of consideration when determining the culling plan include understanding the operation’s managed leases, stocked feed, and access to additional pastures.

Identifying risks and knowing how best to manage them is another critical part of the plan. Several government and insurance programs are available.

USDA’s Livestock Forage Program (LFP) covers loss due to drought on any rangeland or qualifying fire on federal rangeland if you are told you cannot graze. The program pays out based on certain drought condition parameters, and each level of drought (D2-D4) has different payouts if drought conditions exist for a certain period of time. However, Bronson cautions that these payments come much later than when the need arises.

Another USDA program, Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP), provides financial assistance to producers of non-insurable crops when low yields, loss of inventory, or prevented planting occur due to natural disasters. This is considered catastrophic coverage as the loss must exceed 50 percent of expected production at 55 percent of the average market price for the crop. While pasture is eligible for coverage, there is a service fee to consider.

Pasture, Rangeland, Forest (PRF) insurance provides coverage for moisture volatility on your operation and can be used

in conjunction with LFP and NAP. The coverage level is based on a 70 year average and placed in two month intervals. The key is to have access to good software to identify where and when to place coverage.

Bronson’s final advice when identifying risks and developing a plan is to build relationships with FSA and extension

agents. These experts can help producers make informed decisions and can provide the advice needed to build a plan that can mitigate drought impacts before they happen.

“Having a drought plan is a game changer in a rancher’s ability to be sustainable and to weather future climate conditions,” Bronson concluded.

Fight the Animal Rights Groups Infiltrating Our Industry

By TODD WILKINSON

Over the past few weeks, I have seen news articles and social media posts lying about our industry, attacking our association, and endangering the programs that generations of farmers and ranchers worked hard to establish — and I am fed up.

This week, a group of animal rights activists and those who do their bidding sent a letter to Congress in support of the deceptively named “Opportunities for Fairness in Farming” or OFF Act. Well, let’s call it what it really is: the Obliterating Family Farms Act. The bill is nothing but an attack on cattle producers who have worked hard to build a program that promotes our wholesome American beef while also strengthening our family farms and ranches. The unholy alliance that supported this letter is stunning: Animals Are Sentient Beings, Inc., a group that says because of animals’ feelings, we should no longer eat meat; Attorneys for Animals, a law firm that sues to treat animals as individuals; Four Paws, a group trying to end livestock hauling in Europe; Mercy for Animals, whose mission is ending “the exploitation of animals for food.” Also included are groups that claim to support producers but have turned their backs on our industry by hiring animal rights activists like former Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) staffers Joe Maxwell and Angela Huffman. R-CALF has even joined this dubious group, hoping again to use an alliance with animal rights activists to tear down the Checkoff. How can anyone who raises livestock or eats meat put their name on the same letter as groups that dream about seeing our farms and ranches shut down for good?

At the same time, we have seen animal rights activists infiltrating conservative organizations like FreedomWorks. The new Chief Operating Officer of FreedomWorks is Marty Irby. Before he took up his latest post, he worked for the disgraced leader of the Human Society of the United States, the animal rights activist group Animal Wellness Action, and the Center for a Humane Economy. Irby is no friend of animal agriculture, and he has turned FreedomWorks into a lobbying machine for the OFF Act and for ending our way of life.

Proponents of the OFF Act say it’s about reform, oversight, and saving family farms and ranches, but make no mistake, that’s completely false. One part of the OFF Act being about reform and oversight that really irritates me is that we’ve already been down this road. In 2021, cattle producers overwhelmingly denied a referendum to end the Checkoff, and the legality and implementation of this vital program have been upheld by multiple courts. The agenda behind passing the OFF Act is about undermining the producers who direct the Beef Checkoff program, stopping critical research, education, and promotion, and anti-meat animal rights activists using government regulation to kill our industry with a thousand cuts.

I want all cattle producers to know about this latest attempt at extremists trying to hijack our industry and livelihoods. Don’t align yourself with groups that say they have your future in mind, but back politicians and activists who think our way of life is morally wrong.

We need to reject the activist groups pushing for the OFF Act, and I hope you give your member of Congress an earful about why they should say no to activists and say NO to the OFF Act.

By RYAN BAPST, Crystalyx

Don’t Just Put Your Fall Breds Out to Pasture

Although some parts of the country are still reeling from the woes created by one of the worst winters in national history, spring has definitely sprung in most areas of the United States. Most of the ag related press published during this time of year is focused on newborn calves, their health, and the upcoming breeding season — which is not very relevant for those of us managing fall calving herds. Weaning calves as the temperatures rise and the grass grows can pose both unique challenges and opportunities for cows and calves as we navigate through the spring and summer months. Seasonal market swings in the spring often have fall calving producers

licking their chops at their upcoming sale barn check, while others may choose to manage these weanlings through the summer months with the goal of achieving heavier pay weights.

At this point, as long as the cows have grass, water, and shade, they are basically on cruise control. They’re good to go…right?

Let’s begin by addressing those fall born calves. Typically, spring is a great time to capitalize on a premium weaned calf market, with stocker operations looking to fill up rapidly flourishing acres of pasture with calves that are young, green, and ready to convert grass to pounds. Healthy calves hitting the

pasture — with a strong emphasis on the word “healthy” — can easily gain two pounds a day on good grass with minimal supplementation. However, the variations in the weather that we experience in the spring can be just as detrimental to an animal’s health status as those we experience in the fall. Hot, humid days and muddy conditions can challenge every animal’s immune system, even those with the best genetics, so prevention

is still the name of the game.

Ensuring that a calf’s immune system is operating at tip top shape starts with giving them access to a quality trace mineral package while they are still at the cow’s side. Providing calves with organic trace minerals (OTM) in a highly palatable form is the best way to check this simple box off the list. Crystalyx Blueprint products — which contain 100 percent organic trace minerals in the form of Bioplex — are an

easy and effective option for ensuring that calves are consuming trace minerals in the most bioavailable form and that those minerals will be efficiently utilized. A university trial evaluating supplementation with organic trace minerals in the form of Bioplex measured improvements in terms of several immune parameters. This improved immunity is correlated with healthier calves that grow better but also have a better vaccine response and, as a result, are better equipped to handle disease challenges as well.

When we move to the weaning pen, all bets are off. Here, calves are living without their mothers, are adjusting to a new social pecking order, and, oh yes, are moving onto stored forages and away from grazing — at least for a while, in most cases. Weaning is often a turbulent time of transition, but the process can be simplified by utilizing self fed stress products, such as Crystalyx Brigade or Crystalyx Blueprint Battalion. Brigade and Battalion combine the highly palatable, weatherproof advantages of Crystalyx in a formula that provides organic trace minerals in the form of Bioplex, as well as vitamins, electrolytes, and yeast cultures in the form of YeaSacc, to combat mineral and vitamin deficiencies and to prevent dehydration and digestive imbalances. Calves that are adequately hydrated, consume proper levels of dry matter, and possess a sufficient mineral status have been known to exhibit an improved vaccine response,

setting the stage for success and ultimately resulting in fewer headaches for the producers managing the weaning pen. To put it simply, calves that are prepared for weaning and have access to a supplement that supports the vital elements of their health and nutrition will be sick less often, will grow faster, and will help producers make more money — period.

Now that the calves are weaned, the cows are bred, and the grass is green, can we finally say, “See you next fall, girls”? Not so fast! Preparing for next fall starts now, as the five to six months ahead can influence your calf crop not just next year but for years to come. There may be plenty in the pasture to help cows to survive all on their own, but those cows are growing next year’s paycheck in their bodies, and we all know the importance of maximizing a paycheck. The nutritional status of the dam during gestation can impact the developing fetus as well. Fetal or developmental programming refers to the idea that maternal imprinting during a critical period of fetal development can have a long term impact on her offspring.

A cow’s trace mineral status has been proven to impact not only her calving rate and weaning weight but the reproductive efficiency of her offspring as well, highlighting the importance and long term impact of trace mineral strategies on overall herd profitability — especially for future heifer development. University research has shown that heifers supplemented with organic trace minerals,

such as those included in Bioplex, not only reached puberty earlier but were also confirmed pregnant eight days earlier in year one and 18 days earlier in year two, illustrating the importance of the trace mineral source in relation to fertility indicators. Crystalyx Blueprint products provide a complete mineral package that allows cows to pass on their optimal genetic potential to future generations.

Highly available Bioplex organic trace minerals not only help enhance future calf performance but aid in boosting the pregnant cow’s immune system to combat the inevitable pinkeye and foot rot outbreaks that are always on the horizon. Coupling Crystalyx Blueprint

mineral products with Clarifly or another fly control option can set a pregnant cow herd up for success by fostering a peak performing immune system, reducing fly pressure, and helping get calves ready to hit the ground running in the fall.

Utilizing organic trace minerals in your cow herd is not just a seasonal bandaid anymore. In reality, the full benefits of offering organic trace minerals are only recognized when they are utilized in a year round program for all facets of the herd. Crystalyx Blueprint products can help you maximize the genetic potential of your cows, their fetuses, and weaned calves while also minimizing your labor inputs and maximizing your return on investment

By JENNIE RUCKER Executive Secretary N.C. Simmental Association

Clover Classic. The Clover Classic Heifer Show was held on April 1 at the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds. Curtis Patton from Spraggs, Penn., judged this event. There were 15 purebred Simmental heifers in the show, shown by 13 different exhibitors. The judge selected JSUL Evies Rosie 2219K as his grand champion, Simmental heifer. This heifer was shown by Evie Jones of Shelby and is a daughter of JSUL Something About Mary 8421. The reserve champion Simmental was also shown by Evie Jones. This February yearling is JSUL Lola 2302K and is also sired by JSUL Something About Mary 8421. Other purebred Simmental class winners included Lucas Wilkins with PMW/LHW Dreams Come Red, Charlie Elsea with CTF Kalamity Jane J167, and Rylea Suddreth with STCC PPCC Nostalgia J2104.

For the Percentage Simmental Show, the judge picked 909J as his grand champion Percentage Simmental heifer

from the 13 heifers that participated in that show. This heifer was shown by Trey Davis of Iva, S.C., and is a daughter of W/C Bankroll 811D. She is a half blood Simmental. The reserve champion Percentage Simmental was shown by Grayson Blankenship of Castalia, North Carolina. This heifer, FGS Vera Lynn 7K, is a ¾ blood Simmental sired by FSCR Big Timber F294. The other juniors who exhibited class winners in the Percentage Simmental Show were Abigail Blankenship

with FGS Primrose 862K, Isaac Miller with K69, Lance Clark with Sam E Victoria, Clara Elsea with Miss Piper K25 ET, and Levi Morgan with Ellie Walker 21.

Trey Davis’s Percentage Simmental champion was selected as the supreme champion heifer, followed by Evie Jones’s purebred Simmental champion as the reserve supreme champion heifer.

WNC Spring Fling. The WNC Spring Fling was held on April 7-8 at the WNC Agricultural Center in Fletcher. The judge for this event was Miles Teonyes from Old Ripley, Illinois. There were nineteen purebred Simmental heifers, and the judge selected JS Dairy Queen 51J as his grand champion Simmental heifer. This heifer was shown by Samantha Roberts of Athens, Tenn., and is sired by WHF/JS/CCS Double Up G365. The reserve champion Simmental was HSCC Edna 131K, shown by Mattie Harward of Richfield, North Carolina. This heifer is a daughter of TL Ledger.

Other class winners in the purebred Simmental Show were Lucas Wilkins with PMW/LHW Dreams Come Red, Mattie Harward with AALB BOY Katie 207K, Ellie Harman with BSSM Lotsalove K2C1, Shane Kendall with CCLS J09, and Montana Boatwright with Right In Love.

make great dams!”

Shade Tree Simmentals

Ralph Blalock, Jr. Wilson, NC 252-289-6007

Fred Smith Company Ranch

Fred Smith Clayton, NC 919-422-4092

Nicholson Livestock

Clay & John Nicholson

East Bend, NC 336-699-4780

Langdon Red Angus & Simmental

John & Eileen Langdon

Benson, NC 919-796-5010

TX Enterprises

Charlie & Amy Thomas Winston-Salem, NC 336-575-5461

JBB Simmentals

Jeff Broadaway Monroe, NC 704-221-0997

~ Bill Pyle Cedar Creek Ranch

Reserve champion Simmental heifer.

Grand champion Simmental and reserve supreme champion heifer.

Grand champion Percentage Simmental and supreme champion heifer.

Reserve champion Percentage Simmental heifer.

There were 26 percentage Simmental shown in the percentage show. The grand champion Percentage was Pugh Something About Ava K27ET, shown by Shelby Candler of Weaverville, North Carolina. This half blood Simmental is a daughter of JSUL Something About Mary 8421. The reserve champion Percentage Simmental was MBF Rhianna 12J, shown by Samantha Roberts of Athens, Tennessee. This heifer is sired by JASS On The Mark 69D and is a ¾ blood Simmental.

These juniors were also class winners in the Percentage Simmental

Show: Dacey Abruzzino with Sugar Plum, Blaine Abruzzino with Cream and Sugar, Grace Williams with RS Kenley 882K, Trey Davis with 909J, and Hailee Campbell with WGSC All Jassed Up 089HJ.

In the Supreme Top 5, Shelby Candler’s grand champion Percentage, Pugh Something About Ava K27ET, was the fourth place supreme champion. Congratulations to all these juniors at both of these very competitive spring shows. Thanks also go to the people behind the scenes who work to put together such great youth events.

News

Introducing 701x’s Newest Autonomous Rancher Products. 701x is excited to announce the completion of another phase of 701x Autonomous Rancher technology. Their newest innovations seek to enhance data collection and health alerts for xTlite and xTpro tags in the pasture, as well as remotely monitoring water sources, offering a whole new perspective on managing your cattle.

In June of 2022, their engineers set out to design a product that would allow their smart ear tags to offload data more frequently, which quickly turned into developing a system that would act as a base station for their tags to check into. In addition to a base station, many producers expressed a need for an automated water trough sensor. 701x went to work in hopes of satisfying both needs; a checkin station and a water tank sensor in one. Over the next couple of months, they worked to sort out just what this device would feature and look like, and they once again delivered.

xBase and xWatSen are the newest additions to the already highly innovative Autonomous Rancher system.

xBase, a remote cattle check-in station, gives you the ability to know your cattle are coming to the areas that they are supposed to. xBase acts as a central hub for both xTpro and xTlite tag checkins. Placing xBase near water troughs and feed bunks with high animal activity ensures ranchers that their animals are where they’re supposed to be. Not to mention this unit is completely portable, allowing ranchers to move it from pasture

to pasture. The system also offers two different options for power sources. Each unit is solar powered and comes equipped with an optional plug-in for use in areas with limited sunlight.

This system can drastically cut labor and save time and effort. Users receive tag alerts faster and additional alerts such as No-Recent Check-In from the station. Let’s face it; no one can monitor their herd from afar. With xBase, that might truly be attainable!

In addition to xBase, 701x also designed an add-on to eliminate the need for countless water runs. xWatSen, a water tank sensor, aids ranchers in knowing that their cattle have access to water at all times. The add-on works in unison with xBase to relay alerts directly to users via the 701x Autonomous Rancher app.

Thanks to xWatSen, cattle producers are notified in real time when water levels get dangerously low and when the water supply gets too high, eliminating mud and ice around the trough and ensuring the herd stays hydrated and healthy. User defined high and low water temperatures can be set to trigger alerts via the app when water temperatures fall outside of the range.

701x has been developing these systems at their test ranch in the rural Badlands of North Dakota throughout the development process. Beta testing has also been conducted through a group of target users to evaluate the units’ performances. Stations have been deployed at several ranches across the Midwest to test the connectivity and

durability of the product in different weather and terrain conditions and to uncover any problems or bugs that may occur.

As a result of 701x’s Engineers, data scientists, and beta testers, their products are prepared for any terrain and climate thrown at them. All 701x products are currently for sale in the lower 48 of the continental United States. Their software works on mobile, tablet, and desktop devices. They also offer a 14 day free trial of the 701x Autonomous Rancher software to all new users.

For additional information regarding any 701x products, visit their website at

www.701x.com

About 701x® Inc. Since its inception in 2020, 701x has been hard at work designing innovations for the cattle industry. Their goal is to create a platform that can help automate the management of cattle herds, allowing ranchers to do more with less. With their current management system consisting of two electronic ear tags, a base station, a water sensor, and their Autonomous Rancher cattle management app, they are doing just that. 701x is actively improving animal records, animal health, and cattle management thanks to the features of their technologies.

Our advertisers are “Champions” too. For expert A.I., superior genetics, the best in purebreds and outstanding farm supplies, check the Classifieds in this issue!

Supreme Court upholding California’s Proposition 12 sets a dangerous precedent. Animal Agriculture Alliance statement on ruling. Recently, the Animal Agriculture Alliance released the following statement regarding the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on California’s Proposition 12:

“Animal rights extremist organizations have been pushing for state level legislation banning frequently used animal care practices, such as gestation stalls for pregnant sows or cages for laying hens, for years. The true motive of these changes is to make it less efficient and more expensive for farmers to raise animals for food, driving up the cost of meat, dairy, poultry, and eggs for consumers, forcing them to make tough choices about what they can afford to feed their families and forcing farmers to make costly changes that may make it

impossible to keep their business afloat.

“Today’s Supreme Court decision on California’s Proposition 12 sets a dangerous precedent for animal rights extremist groups to target other states with similar ballot initiatives. The Humane Society of the United States is a prime example of a group that focuses efforts on states that will be minimally impacted by the legislation, knowing they will receive less resistance within the state while setting a precedent. In California, specifically, farmers in the state raise less than 1 percent of pigs in the U.S. yet consume 13 percent of the pork. This means that a significant majority of California’s pork is produced in other states, which will now be expected to comply with regulations passed by voters outside of their own state.

“Other states should prepare for similar initiatives, particularly those

that allow for legislation to be passed via ballot measures. Ballot initiatives allow these extremist groups to bypass the traditional legislative process to go straight to voters on issues that the general public typically has little knowledge of and that tend to be oversimplified in ballot measure wording. This is particularly effective when it comes to emotional issues such as animal welfare. It’s extremely costly for the animal agriculture community to push back against ballot initiative campaigns, as the target audience is the state’s entire population rather than a limited number of state legislators. We need to be proactive in communicating and building trust with the public to reduce the effectiveness of these animal rights extremist led campaigns that attempt to capitalize on misinformation.

“Animal care is too important of a topic to be dictated by oversimplified legislation based on emotion. Rather, it needs to be based on science and research.

Animal Agriculture Alliance releases updated Sustainability Impact Report in advance of Earth Day. The Animal Agriculture Alliance released its

updated Sustainability Impact Report ahead of Earth Day on April 22. The U.S. farm and food community continues to be a global leader in sustainability efforts. The updated report highlights these advancements and includes a new section on the animal feed community’s role in environmental stewardship. View the full report at animalagalliance.org/issues/ sustainability

“Sustainability, including animal welfare, environmental stewardship, responsible antibiotic use, and other important concepts, is nothing new to the American farmer or the food supply chain at large,” said Hannah ThompsonWeeman, president and CEO of Animal Agriculture Alliance. “The food and farming communities have an incredible story to tell when it comes to progress made in reducing environmental impacts and ensuring the sustainability of food production. Everyone involved – from farm to table – should feel empowered to tell that story.”

The annual Sustainability Impact Report provides the latest data on the nutritional benefits of meat, dairy, poultry, eggs, and seafood and details U.S. animal agriculture’s achievements in modern

Contact these

HARDROCK BEEF CATTLE

Ronnie & Donna Holman 4613 Hickory Nut Ridge Road • Granite Falls, NC 828-302-8659 ronnie@hardrockbeefcattle.com

JK RED ANGUS

Jeff Banfield & Madison Adams 331 Tee Jay Farm Road • Aberdeen, NC 910-315-3821 jkredangus@gmail.com

LANGDON RED ANGUS & SIMMENTAL John & Eileen Langdon 7728 Raleigh Road • Benson, NC 919-796-5010 johnlangdon5@gmail.com

ROGERS CATTLE COMPANY

Johnny & Sharon Rogers 945 Woodsdale Road • Roxboro, NC 336-504-7268 rccbeef@gmail.com

PRESNELL RED ANGUS

Jonathan & Jacob Presnell 368 Whitaker Road • Shelby, NC 704-473-2627 (Jonathan) • 704-616-8775 (Jacob)

BULL HILL RANCH

Jim & Alvina Meeks • Raymond Prescott, Manager 1986 Trinity Church Road • Gray Court, SC 864-682-3900 • 864-682-2828 bullhill2@mindspring.com

COUNTRY BOY FARMS

David Miller 316 Key Road • Edgefield, SC 706-840-3709

environmental stewardship, animal care, judicious antibiotic use, and food safety. These achievements contribute to reaching the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Highlights include:

• The U.S. beef community has committed to reaching carbon neutrality by 2040, the U.S. pork community has set a goal to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 40 percent by 2030, and the U.S. dairy community has committed to achieving GHG neutrality by 2050.

• More than 40 percent of ingredients used in animal feed are byproducts from other industries, including almond hulls and brewer’s grains. Research has found that feeding byproducts to cows decreases greenhouse gas emissions by more than 4.5 times compared to composting and 49 times compared to landfill disposal.

• Animal feed ingredients have a smaller impact on the environment, thanks to enhancements made by farmers. Corn and soybeans, two of the most common animal feed ingredients, have reduced their GHG emissions by 31 percent and 43 percent, respectively, between 1980 and 2015.

The 2023 Summit keynote speakers discuss strategic attack on animal agriculture. Animal Agriculture Alliance’s 2023 Stakeholders Summit, themed “Partners in Progress: Building a Sustainable Future for Animal Ag,” was held in Arlington, Va., on May 4-5 and attracted nearly 320 attendees. A highlights report with key quotes and takeaways will be available soon.

The 2023 Summit featured a dynamic group of speakers across commodities and the food supply chain. It included an opening keynote from Ray Starling, former agriculture advisor to the president and general counsel of the North Carolina Chamber. Starling emphasized the theme of this year’s event by highlighting the need to make connections and reach those outside of our silos.

The premise of Starling’s “Farmers Versus Foodies” concept and the idea behind his book of the same name is that those of us involved in food production are proud of the current state of our food system. In contrast, those who are not involved or connected think the system is “broken.” According to Starling, this belief stems from investor influence, policymakers that are increasingly removed from the farm, and legal schools promulgating the notion. “What we are seeing happen on the other side is a strategic, targeted, well-funded, and coordinated attack,” said Starling. He added that we need to be more strategic in influencing the influencers. He concluded with the thought, “Most people actually still like farmers. They are grateful for the

system, and they don’t really think a lot about agriculture.”

Jack Hubbard, partner and owner of D.C.-area public affairs firm Berman, provided the closing keynote with an update on the current state of the animal rights movement and how extremist groups are exploiting animals and donors to bankroll their anti-animal agriculture campaigns. “They want this generation to be the last generation of people raising animals for food. And if they don’t do it this generation, they’re going to turn their focus to your children or your grandchildren,” said Hubbard. “The root of this movement is a very, very small group of people who have extreme, extreme radical points of view, trying to force it on the entire American public.”

According to Hubbard, animal rights groups have drastically increased funding for their campaigns over the last few years. Much of this increase in funding is attributed to the perceived connection of groups like the Humane Society of the United States and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) to local shelters. Hubbard shared that the ASPCA was recently criticized for only sharing 2 percent of its budget to support pet shelters while providing its CEO a $1 million salary and keeping $11 million in offshore Caribbean accounts.

Hubbard also discussed pressure campaigns on restaurant, retail, and food service groups to adopt certain practices and sourcing policies. “They’re trying to essentially get the food service community to dictate changes to you that will drive up costs and decrease demand. That’s their game,” said Hubbard. “The minute you raise your hand and invite any of these people to the table you are making yourself a target for the next campaign. It’s a move the goal post strategy.” The keynote session concluded with a call to action to flip the narrative and put animal rights groups on the defensive.

The 2023 Stakeholders Summit highlights benefits of partnering along the food supply chain. How can we create a sustainable future for animal agriculture? By building it together. This statement from the 2023 Summit theme rang true as speakers from varying points along the food supply chain came together to discuss how partnerships from farm to table have enabled them to build relationships and enhance sustainability efforts.

In a session titled “Supply Chain Sustainability: Practical Lessons from the Field to the Corporate Office,” a farmer, a food product company, and a multinational restaurant brand

came together to share how they have collaborated on sustainability initiatives by leveraging each others’ areas of expertise. Maryland dairy farmer Matt Fry stated, “The biggest hurdle is just getting started. When you’re getting started, it seems like it’s a monumental task, but once you’re in the system, it’s very easy to continue operating.”

Katherine Staiger with Danone added that two specific skill sets are needed when building a sustainability program: knowledge of greenhouse gas emissions, modeling and data analysis, and agricultural expertise. Staiger recommended, “Be very individualized with the farms that you’re working with. Respect that they’re the experts.”

Angela Anderson with Starbucks echoed Staiger’s comments saying, “We learned very quickly from some very vocal farmers what was working, what was not, and we listened, and so we would adapt and change and try to rethink this.” Each panelist agreed that communication along the supply chain was key to the success of these partnerships and programs.

Attendees dove deeper into corporate social responsibility (CSR) reporting during the session “Telling Your Story: Understanding Corporate Social Responsibility Reporting.”

According to panelists, the first step in CSR reporting is identifying how the organization defines “sustainability.”

Christina Lood of Zoetis said, “You have to define what does ‘sustainability’ mean for you because it can mean so many different things.” Cassie Jo Arend of Shift•ology Communication added, “If you’re doing social responsibility correctly, you should always be changing and making improvements because those are priorities for you when you’re setting goals.” Panelists agreed that each segment of the supply chain has to be willing to participate for CSR reporting to be successful. When it comes to getting farmers and ranchers on board, Sydney Reese, Ph.D., with Prime Pursuits, noted, “One thing I have learned is if you flip the word from ‘sustainability’ to ‘stewardship,’ we get… so much more reception.”

Registered dietitian nutritionist Nicole Rodriquez and author Michele Payn led a discussion on building “Partners Around the Plate: Shifting the Conversation About Food.” Payn said she sees untapped potential for the animal agriculture community to engage with registered dietitians to spread its message.

“The dietitian community has a unique lens in which we can connect with, and there are a lot of opportunities to build their interest in and engage them in the agriculture story,” said Payn. Rodriguez

echoed this and encouraged organizations to develop dietitian friendly toolkits that they can use to support our messaging and work. “Dietitians want a seat at your table... Please engage with us because we’re willing, we’re able, and genuinely want to help you get the messages out to those families.”

Save the date for the 2024 Summit, set for May 8-9 in Kansas City, Missouri. For general questions about Summit, please contact summit@animalagalliance. org or call 703-562-5160.

Thank you to our 2023 Summit sponsors: Farm Journal, MEAT + POULTRY, Meatingplace, National Pork Producers Council, Watt Global Media, American Feed Industry Association, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, National Pork Board, Smithfield, United Soybean Board, Dairy MAX, Elanco, Farm Credit, Mountaire Farms, United Egg Producers, American Farm Bureau Federation, American Veal Association, Bayer Crop Science, Cal-Maine Foods, Cobb-Vantress, Inc., Filament Marketing, Kemin, Aviagen Group, National Chicken Council, Progressive Dairy, Protect the Harvest, Trans Ova Genetics, Tyson Foods Inc., Vivayic, Agricultural Modeling and Training Systems, Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative, Eggland’s Best, Live Oak Bank, N.C. Farm Bureau, and Sustainable Environmental Consultants.

The Alliance also thanks the following members for their continued support of Summit and other Alliance programs: U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, Zoetis, Boehringer Ingelheim, Cargill, C.O.nxt, Dairy Farmers of America, Diamond V, Genus PLC – PIC/ABS, Hendrix Genetics, Hy-Line North America, LLC, Iowa Soybean Association, JBS, Kanas Soybean Commission, Merck Animal Health, Midwest Dairy, National Turkey Federation, Nutrien, Provimi North America, Inc., and Seaboard Foods.

About the Animal Agriculture Alliance. The Alliance safeguards the future of animal agriculture and its value to society by bridging the communication gap between the farm and food communities. We connect key food industry stakeholders to arm them with responses to emerging issues. We engage food chain influencers and promote consumer choice by helping them better understand modern animal agriculture. We protect by exposing those who threaten our nation’s food security with damaging misinformation.

New NCCA Members for 2023

In 2007, the NCCA Membership Committee passed a resolution to recognize all NEW members, defined as someone who has never been a member or has rejoined after a break in membership, in The Carolina Cattle Connection. Below are NCCA’s new members for the last month:

Alleghany County

Craig Williams

Bertie County

Coke White

Brunswick County

Jackson Boldt – TLB Corp.

Burke County

Anna Jackson – J4 Cattle Company

Cleveland County

Karel F. Rybnicek – River Bluff Farm

Davidson County

Ray Michael

Franklin County

James & Crystal Hobby

– The Family Bee’s-Ness

Guilford County

Sarah Paschall – Diamond P Farm

Walt Paschall – Diamond P Farm

Lincoln County

Joshua Bennett – Shiloh Farms

Alex Secrest – Keever Farms

Pitt County

Sarah Coltrain – Feet First Farms

Rockingham County

Angel Strader – Prestige Farm

Wayne County

Todd Grantham

Wilkes County

Michael Cothren

Wilson County

Anna Jane Murray – Nowell Family Farm

NCBA PresideNt’s rePort

By TODD WILKINSON National Cattlemen’s

Beef Association

The Fake Meat Narrative Doesn’t Add Up

Cell cultured meat, or, as I like to call it, “fake meat,” is having a moment in the media again as a lab grown chicken product is getting closer to restaurant menus and store shelves. The fact that I have to reference fake chicken in this column makes my stomach turn, but this is what we’re up against. These fake meat ventures receive significant investment up front and try to capitalize off of a narrative that they’re better than the real thing. We’ve seen fake meat products that sit on grocery store shelves untouched, like the Beyond Meat crap, and companies that have stock prices that spike initially and then plummet, leaving investors high and dry. It’s all because fake meat companies can’t seem to grasp that their environmental arguments are as fake as their product and ultimately because consumers prefer real beef. The continued high demand for our real beef products proves it. The cell cultured stuff is different than the fake meat we compare to dog food, but it’s still important to make sure we get ahead of the stories being spun by these fake meat ventures.

Cell cultured meat is grown in a lab from animal stem cells that are fed a mixture of vitamins, fats, sugars, and oxygen. Sounds really appetizing, doesn’t it? The people in lab coats growing this stuff say it’s a scientific quest to feed the world, protect animals, and cut down on greenhouse gas emissions. These companies can certainly pursue this lab grown goop, but it must be labeled for what it is – a lab grown, cultured product. I think it’s important to poke holes in their story, and, I’ll admit, I have fun doing it. A recent interview I did on this topic focused on two things: correcting the sustainability and welfare falsehoods that these companies spread and reinforcing our policy position on the matter.

How many ranchers have brought that calf into the house or shop to protect them from bad weather? Farmers and ranchers go to great lengths to keep livestock comfortable and cared for. Tell me you can get that from something

grown in a lab.

The sustainability story of our industry remains paramount in fighting false information. Cattle farmers and ranchers have been dedicated to environmental stewardship for generations. We are committed to continuous improvement and innovation and to producing high quality beef for generations to come. Lab grown products are not environmentally superior to cattle, and if cattle are removed and replaced with this stuff, a number of ecosystem services will be lost. Cattle play a key role in maintaining healthy soils, sequestering carbon, preventing wildfires, and preserving the habitats of hundreds of animals, insects, and plants. Do we really want to take cattle off the land and have it turned into housing developments? I don’t think so.

Our policy position is to make sure this cell cultured crap is clearly identified if it ever hits grocery store shelves or restaurant menus. We’re not afraid to compete with a new product, and I think this is hardly a competition when compared to real beef, but we want to make sure there’s a distinction. People have the right to expect truthful and accurate food product labels. The term “beef” should only be applicable to products derived from livestock raised through natural means by farmers and ranchers, not something that is artificially produced in a lab.

Pasture Management Systems, Inc.

MILE OF FENCE PROGRAM

New Members by County in 2023 (as of 5-17-23)

Grand Total 434

2024 Clemson University Extension Bull Test Call For Nominations

By STEVEN E. MEADOWS, Ph.D. Clemson University

This is to serve as an open call for nominations for the 2024 Clemson University Extension Bull Test. The deadline for all nominations is July 1, and priority will be given to those consignors who have participated within the past two years first, new in-state consignors second, and new out-of-state consignors third. You may find the due dates along with rules and regulations for the test at www.clemson.edu/extension/bulltest/ clemson. We had an outstanding 2023 test

and record breaking sale average. Without a doubt, we witnessed history being made as prices were strong with heavy repeat buyers across the board. Bulls were sold to seven different states showing quality genetics are in high demand. We look forward to what is to come in 2024!

We will again be utilizing our GrowSafe 6000 feed system to measure individual intake and calculate the relative feed efficiency of individual bulls. With the cost of feed and other

A Lifetime of Service and the Clemson University Bull Testing Program

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Dr. Steve Meadows, a beloved member of the Clemson University Extension family and cattle industry, on May 9. Dr. Meadows was a friend, coworker, advisor, and counselor to many, but most of all, he loved extension, cattle, and his family.

A graduate of Woodruff High School and Clemson University, Dr. Meadows was an animal geneticist dedicated to improving the quality and industry standard for beef cattle. He was a respected expert in the field of agriculture and dedicated his life to serving the farmers and residents of South Carolina. He was a valuable member of the Clemson University Extension team for 34 years, where he had a significant impact on the lives of many individuals through his work in extension, teaching, and outreach.

Dr. Meadows started his career with Clemson working as a county agent in Edgefield County. He served as Edisto REC Director and Extension COO but always advocated on behalf of the beef industry in South Carolina. Dr. Meadows was the director of the Clemson Bull Testing Program and is fondly remembered by cattle breeders, students, and constituents for spending a lifetime helping cattle farmers in South Carolina.

Dr. Meadows was known for his kindness, generosity, and passion for his work. He was deeply committed to improving the lives of those he served and was always willing to go above and beyond to help them achieve their goals.

We will remember him as someone who loved the Extension Service, was a dedicated extension educator, and was a true friend. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

You will find the announcement for this year’s Clemson Bull Test above. Dr. Meadows had already written this article before his passing, and we certainly wanted to honor his intent to publish it.

Clemson University Cooperative Extension is committed to the bull testing program and looks forward to continuing the upward trajectory that Dr. Meadows created.

inputs, buyers are now starting to pay attention to the more efficient bull that not only gains well but eats less to get the job done.

In deciding which bulls to nominate, please make sure you evaluate all consignments for structural correctness and screen for disposition on the farm. Please make sure that your consignments meet or surpass all requirements for performance and that their genetic profile is competitive within your perspective breed.

Some of the rules have been slightly updated, or new requirements have been

added. Please make sure you read all requirements before nominating your bulls (get your nominations in early). We look forward to another great year for sure, and the market is moving upward. If any questions, please let us know. We can’t emphasize enough that we anticipate interest in consignments will be high, so mark the deadline on your calendar and make sure to get them in. We are looking forward to the 2024 test and kicking it off in mid-August. Please feel free to reach out to Lee Van Vlake at rii@clemson.edu or Matthew Burns at burns5@clemson. edu with any questions.

Cow at South Carolina Processing Facility Tests Positive for BSE

A cow from Tennessee tested positive for atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), a neurologic disease of cattle, at a South Carolina beef processing plant.

The animal showed symptoms of the disease upon arrival at the plant and was euthanized. Samples were sent to a National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) lab for testing and returned suspect for BSE. The samples were then sent to USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s (APHIS) National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL), where they were confirmed positive for atypical L-type BSE.

“This was an isolated case that occurred. The United States has a robust system of safeguards designed to protect human and animal health against BSE. Those safeguards were successful and prevented entry into the public and animal food supply systems,” said South Carolina State Veterinarian Michael Neault, director of Clemson University Livestock Poultry Health.

BSE is not contagious and exists in two types — classical and atypical. Classical BSE is the form that occurred primarily in the United Kingdom, beginning in the late 1980s, and it has been linked to variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD) in people. The primary

source of infection for classical BSE is feed contaminated with the infectious prion agent, such as meat-and-bone meal containing protein derived from rendered infected cattle. Regulations from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have prohibited the inclusion of mammalian protein in feed for cattle and other ruminants since 1997 and have also prohibited high risk tissue materials in all animal feed since 2009.

This is the seventh case confirmed case of BSE in the United States. The first case of BSE was from an imported Canadian cow that was the only reported classical case in the U.S. The remaining five U.S. cases were atypical.

The United States has a longstanding system of interlocking safeguards against BSE that protects public and animal health in the United States, the most important of which is the removal of specified risk materials — or the parts of an animal that would contain BSE should an animal have the disease — from all animals presented for slaughter. The second safeguard is a strong feed ban that protects cattle from the disease. Another important component of our system — which led to this detection — is our ongoing BSE surveillance program that allows USDA to detect the disease if it exists at very low levels in the U.S. cattle population.

Beef Promotion and Research Program

PRIVATE TREATY SALES CHECKOFF INVESTMENT FORM

Information is required by (7 CRF 1260.201). Failure to report can result in a fine. Information is held confidential (7 CRF 1260.203).

Today’s Date: ________________

Seller’s Name: ____________________________

Buyer’s Name: ____________________________

Address: Address:

City: ________________ State: ____ Zip: City: ________________ State: ____ Zip: ______

Seller’s Signature: _________________________

Buyer’s Signature: _________________________

Both the seller & the buyer are responsible for making sure that the $1.50 per head assessment is collected and remitted to the Beef Promotion & Research Board.

Total Number of Cattle Sold: ___________________ x $1.50 Per Head = $

Date of Sale: __________________ Person remitting assessment form: Seller o Buyer o

* State of Origin of Cattle:

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

Send Report and Remittance to:

SOUTH CAROLINA BEEF COUNCIL

P.O. Box 11280

Columbia, SC 29211

According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, an agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number. The valid OMB control number for this information collection is 0581-0093. The time required to complete this information collection is estimated to average 1.8 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disbility, sexual orientation, marital or family status, political beliefs, parental status, or protected genetic information. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14 th and Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

NCBA News

NCBA Reiterates Importance of Food Safety, Opposes PRIME Act. Recently, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) once again announced opposition to the Processing Revival and Intrastate Meat Exemption (PRIME) Act introduced by Representatives Thomas Massie (R-Ken.) and Chellie Pingree (D-Maine). The legislation would allow beef processed in a non-U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspected facility to be distributed interstate, posing a threat to food safety and consumer trust in beef.

“NCBA is in favor of reducing regulatory burdens, but not at the expense of food safety,” said NCBA President Todd Wilkinson, a South Dakota cattle producer. “While the PRIME Act is well intentioned, allowing uninspected beef to enter the retail market is dangerous to consumers.”

NCBA is supportive of federal and state meat inspection efforts and has previously supported legislation like the DIRECT Act that would allow state inspected beef to be sold interstate in limited quantities, direct-to-consumer, and through e-commerce. Unlike the PRIME Act, these measures would create the necessary paper trail to trace and contain any potential food safety concerns.

NCBA Welcomes Senate Passage of Resolution to Negate Lesser Prairie Chicken Listing. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association welcomed Senate passage of the Congressional Review Act Resolution of Disapproval that would stop the implementation of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s listing of the lesser prairie chicken under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The resolution was led by Senator Roger Marshall (R-Kan.).

“The lesser prairie chicken listing will do little to benefit the bird, but it will succeed in shutting down the voluntary conservation work that is responsible for the species surviving today. NCBA thanks Senator Marshall for his leadership on this issue, and we appreciate the support of those in the Senate who are listening to the concerns of farmers, ranchers, and local officials,” said NCBA Policy Division Chair Gene Copenhaver. “This resolution puts flexible, locally led conservation efforts back at the forefront. The Biden administration’s actions to list the bird, micromanage grazing operations on private

lands, and implement a top-down approach will not benefit the bird or the land.”

Representative Tracey Mann (R-Kan.) is leading the companion House resolution to disapprove the lesser prairie chicken listing, which passed the House Natural Resources Committee recently.

NCBA is currently suing the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service over the listing of the lesser prairie chicken. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas in March. In addition to NCBA, the case is being brought by lead plaintiff Permian Basin Petroleum Association along with the Texas Cattle Feeders Association, Kansas Livestock Association, Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association, and New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association.

NCBA Backs DIRECT Act to Expand Opportunities for Small Meat Processors. Recently, NCBA reiterated support for the Direct Interstate Retail Exemption for Certain Transactions (DIRECT) Act, introduced by Senators Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) and Peter Welch (D-Ver.), to expand marketing opportunities for smaller meat processors.

“American consumers are buying beef in new ways, whether it is directly from local farms and ranches or online through e-commerce,” said NCBA President-Elect Mark Eisele, a Wyoming cattle producer. “The DIRECT Act allows smaller processors to sell beef in different and innovative ways, supporting cattle producers while also ensuring the safety of our product. NCBA is proud to support the DIRECT Act and we thank Sens. Marshall and Welch for their efforts to strengthen the cattle and beef industry.”

The DIRECT Act would allow state inspected meat processors to sell beef across state lines, in limited quantities, and through e-commerce direct to consumers. Many of these marketing methods increased in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic, and consumers have recognized the convenience of buying local beef online. Most importantly, the DIRECT Act protects food safety by ensuring a paper trail exists for tracing and containing potential food safety issues.

NCBA President Testifies Before Congress on State of the Livestock Industry. Wilkinson Optimistic for Industry’s Future Despite Challenges

from Regulation, Inflation. Recently, NCBA President Todd Wilkinson testified before the House Agriculture Committee Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry at a hearing titled “A Review of Animal Agriculture Stakeholder Priorities.” Wilkinson, a second generation cattle producer from South Dakota, highlighted stronger market conditions in the cattle industry and discussed new challenges facing farmers and ranchers from burdensome regulations and inflation.

“Many of you have said it before, and I wholeheartedly agree, food security is national security,” Wilkinson testified. “Working together, we can ensure the long term success and viability of those on the front lines providing said crucial food security. We owe it to the next generation to get it right.”

Wilkinson explained that the cattle industry faces challenges, including the threat of foreign animal disease, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s overreaching Packers and Stockyards rules, and activist attacks against the Beef Checkoff.

Wilkinson’s testimony also focused on key priorities for the cattle industry during the 118th Congress, including:

• Passing the 2023 Farm Bill with provisions to protect animal health, promote voluntary conservation programs, reinforce disaster programs, and support risk management programs.

• Nullifying the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s harmful Packers & Stockyards rule that injects heavy handed government mandates in cattle producers’ businesses.

• Defending the Beef Checkoff, which supports the cattle industry’s long term success and is supported by the majority of producers.

• Reauthorizing the Animal Drug User Fee Act to protect the efficient Food and Drug Administration review of animal drugs that keep livestock healthy.

• Recognizing that cattle producers are America’s original conservationists and that cattle play an important role in strengthening grasslands and upcycling forages that are inedible to humans into wholesome beef.

• Supporting new trade opportunities by reauthorizing Trade Promotion Authority and seeking a trade agreement with the United Kingdom.

• Reducing regulatory burdens producers face from the Endangered Species Act and National Environmental Policy Act.

• Reauthorizing Livestock Mandatory Reporting to provide cattle producers with consistent, timely, and transparent market information.

• Expanding beef processing capacity through legislation like the DIRECT Act

without jeopardizing food safety. NCBA Endorses Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Animal Health. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association recently announced support for H.R. 3419/S. 1666, the Foreign Animal Disease Prevention, Surveillance, and Rapid Response Act of 2023. This bipartisan and bicameral legislation would continue making critical investments in foreign animal disease response programs currently overseen by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The bill was introduced in the Senate by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), John Cornyn (R-Tex.), and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and in the House by Representative Ronny Jackson (R-Tex.), Angie Craig (D-Minn.), Jim Costa (D-Calif.), Don Bacon (R-Neb.), and Don Davis (D-N.C.).

“The threat of a foreign animal disease outbreak in the United States represents an existential threat to every cattle producer. It would also threaten this nation’s food and national security. We must act now to ensure we are prepared to combat a potential crisis before it happens,” said NCBA President Todd Wilkinson. “As a cattle producer, it is reassuring to see bipartisan support for legislation like the Foreign Animal Disease Prevention, Surveillance, and Rapid Response Act, which will help our industry prepare for and ultimately prevent a national crisis.”

The Foreign Animal Disease Prevention, Surveillance, and Rapid Response Act would provide additional funding for three important animal health programs established through the 2018 Farm Bill including the National Animal

Don’t put your cart before your horse...advertise that sale ahead of time! You’ll see positive results.

Vaccine and Veterinary Countermeasures Bank (NAVVCB), the National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program (NADPRP), and the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN).

“Together, the vaccine bank, NADPRP, and laboratory network form a ‘three legged stool’ that represents our strategy for protecting the cattle and beef industry from a foreign animal disease outbreak,” said Tom Portillo, D.V.M, chairman of NCBA’s Cattle Health and Well Being Committee. “To protect the cattle industry, Congress must provide adequate funding for each of these three important programs.”

In addition to NCBA, this legislation is supported by our state affiliates across the country.

Background - The NAVVCB was established thanks to NCBA’s advocacy efforts during the 2018 Farm Bill and currently houses foot-and-mouth disease vaccines and diagnostic test kits. The NADPRP supports programs like the Secure Beef Supply plan, which develops continuity of business resources to help farms, ranches, processors, and retailers continue to safely operate in the event of a foreign disease

outbreak. Finally, the NAHLN conducts essential research, disease monitoring, and testing. All three programs are strongly supported by NCBA and our affiliates.

NCBA Endorses Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Animal Health. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association recently announced support for H.R. 3419/S. 1666, the Foreign Animal Disease Prevention, Surveillance, and Rapid Response Act of 2023. This bipartisan and bicameral legislation would continue making critical investments in foreign animal disease response programs currently overseen by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The bill was introduced in the Senate by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), John Cornyn (R-Tex.), and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and in the House by Representative Ronny Jackson (R-Tex.), Angie Craig (D-Minn.), Jim Costa (D-Calif.), Don Bacon (R-Neb.), and Don Davis (D-N.C.).

“The threat of a foreign animal disease outbreak in the United States represents an existential threat to every cattle producer. It would also threaten this nation’s food and national security. We must act now to ensure we are prepared to combat a

potential crisis before it happens,” said NCBA President Todd Wilkinson. “As a cattle producer, it is reassuring to see bipartisan support for legislation like the Foreign Animal Disease Prevention, Surveillance, and Rapid Response Act, which will help our industry prepare for and ultimately prevent a national crisis.”

The Foreign Animal Disease Prevention, Surveillance, and Rapid Response Act would provide additional funding for three important animal health programs established through the 2018 Farm Bill including the National Animal Vaccine and Veterinary Countermeasures Bank (NAVVCB), the National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program (NADPRP), and the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN).

“Together, the vaccine bank, NADPRP, and laboratory network form a ‘three legged stool’ that represents our strategy for protecting the cattle and beef industry from a foreign animal disease outbreak,” said Tom Portillo, D.V.M, chairman of NCBA’s Cattle Health and Well Being Committee. “To protect the cattle industry, Congress must provide adequate funding for each of these three important programs.”

In addition to NCBA, this legislation is supported by our state affiliates across the country.

Background - The NAVVCB was established thanks to NCBA’s advocacy efforts during the 2018 Farm Bill and currently houses foot-and-mouth disease vaccines and diagnostic test kits. The NADPRP supports programs like the Secure Beef Supply plan, which develops continuity of business resources to help farms, ranches, processors, and retailers continue to safely operate in the event of a foreign disease outbreak. Finally, the NAHLN conducts essential research, disease monitoring, and testing. All three programs are strongly supported by NCBA and our affiliates.

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

A MessAge froM the Ceo

By COLIN WOODALL National Cattlemen’s Beef Association

We Won’t Rest Until We Win

On December 30 of last year, the Biden administration issued a final rule implementing their definition of Waters of the United States, or WOTUS, in hopes we would all be distracted by the holidays and not notice. Not only did we notice, but we immediately took legal action against them because they allowed radical environmental agendas to influence their definition rather than taking sound regulatory action that could have clarified the long standing issue of determining where the federal jurisdiction in regulating navigable waters begins and ends. We expected this to be the case, which is why we were ready to move forward with our request that the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas grant a preliminary injunction blocking the implementation of WOTUS.

The judge granted the preliminary injunction for Texas and Idaho, but that left the remaining 48 states subject to the new WOTUS rule. NCBA turned its efforts to the WOTUS case being considered by the U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota. In midApril, the judge in North Dakota issued a ruling blocking the implementation of WOTUS in 24 additional states. While both preliminary injunctions were wins for us, it still means almost half the country is subject to this EPA land grab. It is important to remember WOTUS is not really about clean water. The Biden

definition, much like the one we saw during the Obama administration, is about giving the EPA more control. If it were about clean water, then the EPA would have found no better ally than cattle producers since clean water is at the heart of our success. If it were about clean water, then EPA would be focusing its efforts and resources on the real navigable waters that carry barge and ship traffic. This is about taking more control over your land and your lives. EPA has the support of environmental activists, but did you know WOTUS is also supported by animal activists? Animal activists know this rule will make it harder on us, which is why they are lending their effort to this cause.

We are not done with the legal challenge to this Biden administration action against agriculture and all landowners, but we also must keep looking at other options. One option was getting Congress to use the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to review this rule.

The CRA is a tool Congress has to review any regulatory action taken by a federal department or agency. This is part of our system of checks and balances. Congress can then vote to block the rule and keep it from being implemented and enforced.

In March, the House of Representatives passed a joint resolution invalidating the Biden WOTUS rule. Given Republican control of the House, we knew we

would be successful in getting this done. However, the Democrat controlled Senate posed a significant challenge to us.

In the past, you have seen me talk and write about how we are in the friend making business in D.C. and that an R or D behind a Member of Congress’ name does not matter as much to us as how they decide to vote on the issues impacting your daily life. Our effort in the Senate is a great example of how that pays off. We covered Senate offices with our message and pushed them to use the CRA to invalidate the WOTUS rule. It was a tough battle, and in one instance, I was amused that the staffer for a Colorado Senator told me we had nothing to worry about because we had not read the rule well enough to understand that we were protected. Regardless, we convinced four Democrats and one Independent to support us as the Senate voted to pass the CRA joint resolution and join the House in telling Biden his rule is no good. Our Senate push illustrated how our

2023 South Carolina Sale Barn Cattle Receipts

team in D.C., along with your important grassroots engagement, came together to get Senator Jon Tester of Montana, Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Senator Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, Senator Jacky Rosen of Nevada, and Senator Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona to support their cattle producers and vote against the Biden WOTUS rule.

Ultimately, the President vetoed the CRA, but he now knows he does not enjoy the full support of all Democrats in this effort. That is valuable to us as we continue to find ways to fight back. It is also valuable as we expect the Supreme Court of the United States to issue their ruling in the Sackett vs. EPA case regarding the definition of WOTUS, and their decision could have a significant effect on the Biden rule. Our involvement in this case is yet another example of our never ending fight to protect you, your land, and your rights from onerous and ridiculous rules coming from the administration.

Federation oF

State BeeF CounCilS update

Federation Through the Decades

— 1990s. As the Federation of State Beef Councils celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, let’s step back in time and look at successful projects that have created a strong state/national partnership through the decades. This month, we’re merging into the ‘90s when change and adaptation moved the industry forward, and beef became what’s for dinner.

With a stable funding source secured through the National Beef Checkoff late in the ‘80s, the focus began to shift to addressing the loss of beef demand. Research made it clear that efficiency was an issue, and the fundamental flaw in the industry’s product was it was too expensive to produce. In 1991, the first National Beef Quality Audit found that carcass defects resulted in the loss of potential profits. The industry responded with education and research campaigns to reduce waste, create best management practices and improve quality.

Improving product quality was a critical part of producer profitability and success, and in the early ‘90s, the Checkoff began funding Beef Quality Assurance programs in states. BQA was developed to raise consumer confidence by offering proper management techniques and a commitment to quality within every segment of the beef industry. One of the early successes of the National Beef Quality Audit and BQA was the significant reduction of injection site lesions.

Improving efficiency became a theme to help the industry as a whole, and that also led to the idea of organization consolidation. Leaders of the National Cattlemen’s Association (NCA), Beef Industry Council (BIC), U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), and Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB) established a task force to study how the industry could achieve excellence and maximize resources. The task force’s discussions led to a paradigm shift transforming the industry from production driven to consumer driven with goals to focus on strategic areas such as product quality and consistency, domestic marketing, foreign marketing, public relations, issues management, and production efficiency.

The task force also suggested that consolidation was in the best interest of all involved and would save about $3.6 million a year. While the CBB remained autonomous to oversee its responsibilities of the Beef Checkoff, and USMEF voted to

remain independent, the Meat Board agreed to merge with NCA. Following dozens of planning meetings, the merger was finalized in 1996, creating the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, which assumed the duties of the former BIC, including becoming home to the Federation of State Beef Councils.

Throughout the decade, research continued to serve as the foundation for all Beef Checkoff funded programs. Nutrition, marketing, and product development research drove the development of consumer and industry facing campaigns.

Advertisements aimed at physicians and dietitians provided updates on nutrient data for beef, and a 1991 study showed that physicians had more positive attitudes about lean lbeef as part of a heart healthy diet when they were exposed to information about beef. Dietitians also found this information helpful when talking to clients about adding beef to healthy meal plans.

Launched in 1992, the well known Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. brand targeted active beef consumers and stressed the taste and versatility of beef. Television and print advertising were cornerstones of the campaign early on, and “30 Meals in 30 Minutes” brochures were used extensively by state beef councils. By August 1992, 79 percent of U.S. consumers were aware of beef advertising compared to 57 percent in March of that same year. Retail, food service, healthcare education, and school education materials also promoted beef throughout the decade.

For more information about the Federation of State Beef Councils, visit www.ncba.org/federation . Next month, the fear of Y2K doesn’t stop beef from being the center of the plate.

Driving Beef Sales Through E-Commerce. As consumers continue to turn to online ordering for their grocery shopping needs, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, a contractor of the Beef Checkoff, is partnering with national retailers and food service operators to encourage consumers to put more beef in their baskets and on their plates.

There are 64 percent of consumers saying they are ordering groceries online, with 44 percent of consumers including fresh beef in those grocery orders. When it comes to food service, online ordering has become overwhelmingly popular, with 80 percent of consumers saying they order meals online and 70 percent using online ordering for burgers.1

To ensure that beef’s positive message is reaching existing customers as well as new online buyers, NCBA and the Beef Checkoff partner with national grocery retailers for e-commerce efforts. Ads inspire consumers to purchase beef throughout the year. In addition, beef is front and center, with consumers ordering meals online through e-commerce campaigns with restaurants, food delivery services, and food service distributors.

Digital ads capture consumers’ attention through attractive beef photography showcasing seasonally relevant cuts and the Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. logo. Retail ads do not contain coupons but merely inspire consumers to add beef to their cart – either digitally or in-store. The ads are placed on the retailer’s website and app, as well as placed on popular lifestyle sites and occasionally a retailer’s social platforms such as Pinterest.

For food service campaigns, ads are created to highlight limited time beef offers. Beef Checkoff funds are utilized only for advertising, and any offers or discounts are 100 percent funded by the food service partner. The food delivery service and restaurant partners track sales data to show how beef sales increased over the course of the campaign.

One of the biggest advantages of e-commerce promotions is the ability to show actual sales and results. A recent “back to school” e-commerce campaign with a national mass merchandiser promoted beef through digital ads, both on the retailer’s website as well as popular consumer lifestyle sites, that led back to the retailer’s beef landing page. The nearly two month promotion resulted in $11.6 million in incremental beef sales, 30.5 million ad impressions, and a return on ad spend of $49. That means that for every one Checkoff dollar spent on the campaign,

$49 was returned in incremental beef sales.

In addition, a December 2022 holiday e-commerce campaign with a national mass merchandiser promoted beef through digital ads. The promotion resulted in $4 million in incremental beef sales, 37.8 million ad impressions, and a return on ad spend of $13.45. Twelve state beef councils and the Northeast Beef Promotion Initiative provided additional funding to increase ad exposure within their states.

A food service promotion with Uber Eats and a national burger chain resulted in a 200 percent increase in burger orders the week of the promotion, and an impressive 10 percent increase in beef sales. A partnership with a broadline foodservice distributor served consumers and food service operators beef ads online during their ordering process, and the two month campaign drove an increase of 32 percent in cases of beef sold.

E-commerce promotions go beyond national campaigns. State beef councils also have the opportunity to partner with NCBA to increase digital ad placements within their states or in major media markets. More than 20 states have contributed funds to participate in retail e-commerce efforts over the past year.

Overall, e-commerce efforts continue to drive beef sales. Partnerships with national supermarket chains, mass merchandisers, and club stores resulted in more than $30 million in incremental beef sales in the past year.

“We’re excited about the positive impact our e-commerce efforts have on beef sales,” said Jill Rittenberg, senior executive director of B2B engagement at NCBA. “We are looking forward to executing new and innovative campaigns in the coming months.”

Reference 1 State of the Consumer Survey, August 2022

By REAGAN BUSTABAD N.C. State University -- ANS 402 Beef Management

What if You Could Not Feed the Cattle Tomorrow?

Farm succession is one of the most avoided conversation topics for American farmers despite its imperative and critical nature. As of the most recent USDA Census of Agriculture released in 2017, 96 percent of all farms in the United States are family farms, with the average farmer over 57 years of age 5, and the average age for beef farmers being even slightly older at 58.3 years of age 11. If recent trends continue, the average farmer age will only increase, similarly increasing the need for farm succession plans for many operations. In a study of farmer retirement and succession, researchers found only 27 percent of farmers in North Carolina had a succession plan, with most of the individuals about 43 years of age9 Therefore, the imperative need for post retirement plans continues to loom over the heads of the older farming population as retirement and unexpected deaths, illnesses, and injuries impede upon this generation much more prevalently in comparison to younger farmers. Almost half of producers in North Carolina state they will never retire, while over 35 percent believe they will only semi-retire9 Although this “stick around” mindset is a positive representation of loyalty to the agricultural industry, it is also contributing to the continued lack of communication regarding farm succession until circumstances are often too late or out of control, resulting in farm liquidation6

Beef producers must be aware of industry risks and common planning mistakes, as well as understand future steps in order to ensure a future for their cattle operations. Although many farmers live with the mindset they will farm forever, injuries, illnesses, death, and forced retirements are inevitable. In 2020, almost 400 individuals died, and 11,400 were injured while working on a farm2. The average death age in the United States in 2021 was 76 years of age10. A large percentage of the farming population falls within ten years of this age, as can be seen in Figure 13. Many farmers feel pressured to retire once their body begins to lack functional movement or health. The stress of physically and mentally demanding labor rather than partnering with a future successor can cause negative health impacts to progress sooner. Whether tomorrow is met with health and well being or unexpected health complications or deaths, farm related or not, cattle producers should prepare their operation for the worst in order to protect what they have built.

In an interview with Dr. Ronald Hanson, the Harlan Agribusiness Professor Emeritus at the University of NebraskaLincoln as well as a keynote speaker on the topic of farm succession, he stated that one of the biggest mistakes he sees in cattle farms is, “Most farm owners lack a long term vision for their cattle production farming operation. They focus on the day

to day activities of their cattle operation and the busy duties of farming. The topic of succession planning is never discussed7.” No succession plans can be discussed without a team effort to ensure the thriving nature of the operation beyond the current season. There are few government policies in place to encourage farm succession plans, leading everyday focus to be on day to day or season to season production8. Dr. Hanson stated, “Farm succession planning is simply not viewed as an important priority. Farm families are notorious for procrastinating and often guilty of postponing their planning intentions to someday next year. But next year never happens7.” Another common mistake when approaching farm succession planning is the increasing prevalence of personal grudges, gossip, family fights, and treating successors in a childlike manner. Dr. Hanson states, “Farm families are very private and keep their affairs only to themselves. Some family members have secrets and refuse to share their real intentions. That attitude and approach often

spell disaster 6.” Senior operators do not treat potential successors as adult partners but as an untrustworthy child, increasing distrust in the relationship and the ability to put a farm succession plan in place.

In the next 15 years, an estimated 40 percent of agricultural lands in the United States will be entering a transition period3 In order to approach this phenomenon with success, there are steps producers can follow to build a trustworthy succession plan. Families and chosen successors should prioritize team effort and effective communication during this process. This will ensure effective planning, honesty, and active listening to the opinions and ideas of all parties involved. One of the most difficult barriers to cross is starting an open conversation with family members who may typically stay reserved or keep a strict, closed mindset. Implementing new and welcoming methods of communication can encourage pushing past comfort zones. Integrating a third party’s help can be an effective method to reaching a consensus and

Figure 1: Farmer Ages in the United States in the 2012 and 2017 Census of Agriculture3

Figure 2: Documents Needed for Farm Succession Planning Checklist1

separating business emotions from family relationships, whether this member is a lawyer, financial advisor, or other trusted individual that can assist in the matter needed. Written documentation is imperative in situations such as these. Land For Good, a farming promotion initiative, has created a checklist with documentation that could be necessary when creating a farm succession plan, which can be seen in Figure 21. Steve Hamilton with the Land as Your Legacy Program states, “The weakest writing is stronger than the best memory 4.” Many families believe their members have submitted legal written documentation regarding the future of their estate. Still, when death arises, there is no documentation, and land and farm disbursements can create an ugly mess for a family. Dave Dvorak, a Nebraska attorney, states these strategies as important – be engaged and committed to the process; consider placing the control but not the ownership of the operation in a descendant’s name; and consider possible exit strategies for family members not seeking to continue the farm. These practices ensure fair economic stake or ownership to those deserving 4. Finally,

learn to work around disagreements. Hanson stated, “The real trick to improving relationships in any type of family business or enterprise as well as improving communications with other family members is learning how to have your disagreements with another person without being disagreeable6.”

When asked for his most important piece of advice, Dr. Hanson stated, “Be decisive and take the initiative…Be sure all family voices are heard and respected. Build a culture of trust so that family members willingly share their input/ ideas for reaching decisions that achieve succession success. It is never too early to begin planning. Celebrate the planning success for keeping a farm in the family for future generations and the blessing of a continued family farming legacy6.” As agriculturists, it is our duty to society and our beloved cattle industry to ensure a smooth transition for the next generation in order to maintain our production flow needed to feed the mouths of our world. This can be accomplished through early and peaceful succession planning.

References

1Blum-Evitts, Shemariah, and Ruhf, Kathryn. (2022). WORKBOOK Farm

Succession Planning: Where Do I Start? Land For Good. Creative Commons Attribution. Retrieved April 1, 2023, from www.landforgood.org

2Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, August 2). Agricultural Safety. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved February 26, 2023, from www.cdc.gov

3 Chapter 1, Why succession planning? - University of Tennessee. (n.d.). Retrieved February 27, 2023, from www.extension.tennessee.edu

4 Freese, B. (2020, October 13). Passing down the farm: Strategies, ideas, and real life solutions. Successful Farming. Retrieved February 26, 2023, from www.agriculture.com.

5Halvorson, P. by J. (2023, February 22). 2022 census of agriculture impacts the next generations of farmers. USDA. Retrieved February 25, 2023, from www. usda.gov

6Hanson, Ronald. (2022, November

7). Empowering Stronger Family Dynamics in Agribusiness. Agriculture Future of America Leaders’ Conference. Kansas City, Mo. Lecture.

7Hanson, Ronald. (2023, February). Interview. Conducted By Reagan

Bustabad.

8 Leonard, B., Kinsella, A., O’Donoghue, C., Farrell, M., & Mahon, M. (2017). Policy drivers of farm succession and inheritance. Land Use Policy, 61, 147–159. https://doi. org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2016.09.006

9 Lobley, M., Baker, J., & Whitehead, I. (2010). Farm succession and retirement: Some international comparisons. Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development, 49–64. https://doi. org/10.5304/jafscd.2010.011.009

10Robert H. Shmerling, M.D. (2022, October 20). Why life expectancy in the U.S. is falling. Harvard Health. Retrieved February 26, 2023, from www.health. harvard.edu

11U.S. Beef Community - National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. NCBA. (n.d.). Retrieved February 27, 2023, from www.ncba.org

Have You Herd articles written as a portion of the ANS 402 Beef Management course requirement at N.C. State University Department of Animal Science. The opinions of Reagan Bustabad are not necessarily those of N.C. State University or Dr. Carrie Pickworth.

Progress is Constantly Evolving in Cow/Calf Business. Fifth in a Series based on 1980s Ads Featuring BioZyme Founder. Have you ever wondered why the windshield is significantly larger than a rearview mirror? The road in front of you has greater importance than where you came from. That is progress. You need to know where you are going, but you also need to be able to see what you left behind in order to make progress.

“In the cow/calf business, progress must be ahead of us, because it sure isn’t behind us,” the headline boldly states in a 1980s BioZyme advertisement that features founder Larry Ehlert. Those words still ring true today.

The cattle industry has evolved from where it was four decades ago, and with innovations in science and technology, it should continue to evolve well into the next four decades. Advances in reproductive technologies like A.I. and embryo transfer have improved. Genetics tools have been developed to help enhance selection criteria. Efficiency has increased. Progress is constantly evolving due in part to breed associations, land grant universities, and other entities working to provide producers and others in the supply chain with timely, useful information.

One thing that hasn’t changed in the cattle business is the need to provide cattle in all stages of life with quality nutrition. Ehlert elaborates on this in the ad.

“VitaFerm gives your cattle the vitamins, minerals, and protein they need to perform at their level best. It also has an ingredient you won’t find in any other nutritional package. Amaferm.”

Even Ehlert would be pleasantly surprised with the progress that BioZyme has made with its now family of brands. In addition to VitaFerm, a line of nutritional supplements for beef cattle that maximize energy and forage utilization for successful production, BioZyme also makes products for stocker cattle, sheep, goats, swine, poultry, horse, dogs, and cats.

Gain Smart is a line of vitamin and mineral supplements for stocker cattle that promotes healthy, economic pounds by maximizing the energy and protein available in the diet. Four formulas of Gain Smart exist, giving feeders the opportunity to select the formula that best fits their feeding scenario. All contain Amaferm, and one Gain Smart Stocker HEAT contains our HEAT technology, a combination of

essential oils and garlic, to support animals when heat and insects are a challenge.

The HEAT technology is another area of progress that Ehlert would be proud that BioZyme has made. This technology is found in the Gain Smart, VitaFerm, Vita Charge, and Sure Champ lines for cattle as well as the DuraFerm products for sheep. HEAT is designed to support overall health when temperatures are warmer than 70ºF or when livestock are grazing fescue. Progress. It’s not a one and done. Progress is constantly evolving. At a company like BioZyme, focused on research and results, you can bet that progress will continue to be made in the areas of animal health and nutrition for the next four decades and beyond. If you’re in the cattle business, you can make progress by feeding a BioZyme mineral that will help increase daily gain, get increased conception rates, and have better breed backs. Learn more about that at www.biozymeinc.com

Five Tips to Beat the Heat this Summer. The days are getting longer, and the sun is finally showing up, meaning temperatures are slowly rising. Youth are counting down the days until school’s out, and that can only mean one thing – the summer show season will soon be here!

Summer shows give the exhibitor the opportunity to showcase all their efforts, but that hard work can be for naught when heat stress sneaks up. Make sure your efforts to #PreptoWin aren’t overwhelmed by heat. Beat the heat with these five tips and multiple products from BioZyme Inc. that contain our HEAT technology, a combination of essential oils and garlic, as well as ClariFly to support animals when heat and insects are a challenge.

Give Them Extreme Care - Just like humans, when livestock are hot, they don’t feel like eating heavy meals. However, if they aren’t eating, show livestock likely aren’t performing either. Make Sure Champ Extreme with ClariFly part of their daily diet. This is a pelleted, daily supplement for show livestock with ClariFly designed to support hoof health, hair coat, and performance when temperatures are hotter than 70ºF.

Labeled for cattle, pigs, goats, and sheep, Sure Champ Extreme with ClariFly contains AO-Biotics Amaferm, a prebiotic research proven to enhance digestibility, MOS to help normalize gut microflora and support the immune system, and our HEAT technology.

Boost their Hydration - Did you

know that appetite is directly correlated to hydration? Make sure your animals never miss a beat by adding Vita Charge Liquid Boost to their water. Liquid Boost is a liquid for all livestock designed to provide immediate support to the animal’s digestive and immune systems. It also contains Amaferm and MOS, as well as flavoring to help drive the intake of feed or water. It is ideal to use on the show road when unfamiliar or heavily chlorinated water sources might prevent your animals from drinking.

Support Digestive Health - Show cattle can be finicky eaters, but licking a tub is a calming activity for them.

The 50 pound Vita Charge Stress Tub with HEAT is a tub for cattle designed to support digestive health and intake when temperatures are above 70ºF. It contains Amaferm to help restore the gut microbiome and our HEAT technology. It does come in both 200 and 50 pound sizes, but the smaller size is convenient to take to shows when you need rapid resilience.

Offer Quick Cooling Relief - If you are seeking a rapid response product that is easy to administer for all species, you are looking for Vita Charge Climate Control Gel. This gel for all livestock is designed to support digestive health and recovery when temperatures are above 70ºF. It contains Amaferm and our HEAT technology to promote feed and water intake. Its small size makes it easy to transport.

Provide the Best Care for Low Stress Situations - A little common sense and a lot of care can go a long way. To ensure your animals stay as stress free as possible, make sure they have plenty of shade and are in an area with good air circulation. If they are in an enclosed structure, be sure there are fans circulating air. If they are outside, be sure to provide them with plenty of shade and fresh water. If you are exercising animals, be sure to be cognizant of the temperature, and have water available to them, even spray them down if necessary. Rinse or wash them when you are finished to cool them down.

You can beat the heat and your competition this summer with a low stressed animal. Make sure your livestock stays healthy, eating, drinking, and performing with the help of Amaferm and the HEAT technology from BioZyme.

Give your Show Livestock an Added Boost. Showing livestock is thrilling yet challenging. It’s a game of high rewards and even higher risks. Exhibitors and their families put in countless hours feeding, exercising, rinsing, working hair and skin, often sacrificing their own mealtimes and routines to ensure their livestock are dialed in for the next show or event.

One thing livestock feeders can count on is that at some time during that show animal’s career, it is going to get sick and likely go off feed and/or water.

Be sure to give your show livestock the added boost they need and deserve with Vita Charge Liquid Boost to provide immediate support to the animal’s digestive and immune systems.

“We ask a lot from our show animals. Hauling them everywhere and introducing them to unknown environments are stressors that can wreck your plans quickly. Over 70 percent of your animal’s immune function resides in the gut, so making sure it’s healthy and operating efficiently is paramount in these situations. It’s easy to see how a product like Liquid Boost can provide the 1-2 punch needed to keep your livestock healthy, eating and drinking,” said Chris Cassady, Ph.D., BioZyme Inc. Beef Technical Sales Manager.

Vita Charge Liquid Boost is an ultimate show supplement for cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, poultry, and rabbits. It can be top dressed on feed, added to the water, given as a drench, or dispensed through a medicator. It is ideal for times of transition or high stress, such as hauling, treating sickness, weaning, or showing. It is recommended to start your animals on it 5-7 days prior to taking them to a show, or anytime you are treating them for sickness, through 5-7 days post show or 5-7 days post treatment. Some people keep their animals on Liquid Boost constantly to ensure a healthy gut and to encourage water intake since its palatable flavoring helps create consistency in the taste of any water source.

“Liquid Boost can be administered by a number of practical means and is available in a bottle that easily fits in any showbox. One key thing to mention is that Liquid Boost contains a cherry flavor. Animal feed and water intake is mostly driven by palatability, so Liquid Boost can help promote hydration by masking some of the off flavors and odors from different water sources,” Cassady said.

Vita Charge Liquid Boost is available in two sizes, 2.5 gallons, and 32 ounces, making it efficient to have a larger size in the barn and a more convenient size that easily fits in the show box.

Give your animals the extra boost in immunity, feed, and water intake they need and deserve. Give them the added advantage of Vita Charge Liquid Boost so they can maintain a healthy immune system and continue their feed and water intake on the road and at home.

To learn more about Vita Charge products or to discover how to purchase them near you, visit www.surechamp.com

Get Your Cows Ready for Breeding. Spring is a time of renewal.

Trees are budding, grass is greening up, and tractors are hitting the fields, planting that next crop. If you are in the cattle business, you’re likely planning a future calf crop, too. It’s almost breeding time for those spring calvers, so you’re probably analyzing data, asking others about sire groups, and deciding which bulls to use on your herd. Genetic selection is an important component; however, you also need to make sure your females are prepared nutritionally.

Reproduction is binary, resulting in a yes or no outcome at preg check time. The challenge for producers is understanding every factor that influences a successful pregnancy. There must be adequate health and nutritional status, a reproductively sound bull covering the herd, quality semen, a skilled A.I. technician, and so on. Since reproduction is not vital for life, it’s sensitive and is the first to fail if nutritional needs aren’t met. Basically, if a cow can’t sustain herself or her calf at side, mother nature decides she shouldn’t rebreed. The positive news is that health and nutrition play the biggest

role in annual reproductive success and are something the producer can influence.

To help ensure reproductive success, be precise with your nutritional program. Your cows need to work for you, but just like owning a business, your employees need the right tools to be successful. Understanding the needs of the individuals in the herd will pay dividends with your calf crop. Ideally, cows would be in a body condition score (BCS) of 5 or 6, and a visual assessment of body condition has proven successful for decades. It can be hard to keep cattle in the right shape, as we are asking a lot of our cattle to repair their reproductive tract, support lactation for their calf, and rebreed simultaneously. Not to mention those first timers are still growing, which adds another nutritional tax to their energy, protein, and vitamin and mineral demands. Consequently, thin cows happen to all of us, but don’t panic. Research has shown that cattle gaining weight heading into the breeding season have just as good of a chance of breeding successfully as their adequately fleshed herd mates. Getting the most out of your

forages and supplementing with a quality vitamin and mineral program can give these females the nutritional boost they need to successfully breed.

Peak nutritional requirements often coincide with the spring green up and immature, high quality lush forages. Keep in mind, the old saying, “the grass isn’t always greener on the other side,” holds true in many cow/calf systems. A spring green up after a severe drought may change the historic nutrient profile of your forages, as well as carry the potential for nitrate issues. One thing to consider in these lush pastures is elevated water content. Some of these “washy” grasses are only 20 percent dry matter, so animals can’t physically consume enough to meet their nutritional needs. Cows coming off a quality winter feeding program are now subject to a negative plane of nutrition. In several instances, this explains why cows in great shape may not breed as you’d expect. Knowing that your forages may carry a high water content means getting the most out of that dry matter will be critical for your reproductive success. The take home

message: getting a forage test is a valuable method of knowing exactly what is available to your herd. Next, you will want to maximize the use of what is there.

AO-Biotics Amaferm goes beyond stimulating the growth of beneficial rumen bacteria and can also promote rumen fungal growth and enzymatic activity. This results in an increase in fiber digestibility and volatile fatty acid (VFA) production by 17 percent and 16 percent, respectively. As such, more energy becomes available to your cows, leading to more performance. BioZyme products like VitaFerm Concept•Aid offer premium vitamin and mineral supplementation that delivers Amaferm to your herd daily. Additionally, Concept•Aid contains organic zinc, copper, and manganese and high levels of vitamin E for effective, easy breeding.

Concept•Aid comes in multiple formulas for various management

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scenarios. To discover the formula that would work best for your operation, visit the Concept•Aid Navigator.

Turning out that newly purchased herd bull or trying a new upcoming A.I. sire are some of the most exciting times of the production year. It’s easy to envision

next year’s calf crop through rose colored lenses, but don’t forget reproductive success is sensitive to many variables. Control what you can (nutrition) and let the positive outcome take care of itself.

To learn more about VitaFerm Concept•Aid or to locate your nearest

dealer, visit www.vitaferm.com

Set your Calves up for Grazing Success. There’s no better time of year than spring when the grass is turning green and you are getting ready to turn out cattle. Regardless of if you are weaning your own calves or buying stockers to turn out, you will want to make their transition away from a milk based diet and onto a forage based diet as seamless as possible. Set them up for success with BioZyme’s 3-3-1 approach: three products, three steps, one profitable result.

Three Products, Three Steps - Start by processing all calves, either at weaning or on delivery, with the Vita Charge Cattle Drench. Cattle Drench is designed to support digestive health before, during, and after challenges. With one easy dose, as they are going through the chute, Cattle Drench provides AO-Biotics Amaferm to help normalize gut microflora and support the immune system and enzymes to generate a more rapid digestive response.

Vita Charge Cattle Drench is available in a 5 liter jug that you can hang chute side for easy application of large groups or a smaller 32 ounce bottle for smaller groups of cattle.

Next, you will want to provide your group of calves with a Vita Charge Stress Tub or Vita Charge Stress Tub HEAT, depending on your climate or if you are grazing on fescue. The Stress Tub is designed to support digestive health and intake, and the Stress Tub HEAT is ideal when temperatures are above 70ºF. It contains BioZyme’s HEAT technology, a combination of essential oils and garlic, to support animals when heat and insects are a challenge. Both tubs contain Amaferm, MOS, and probiotics and should be fed for 14-21 days. The final step is feeding Gain Smart, a line of vitamin and mineral supplements for stocker cattle that promotes healthy, economic pounds by maximizing the energy and protein available in the diet. Available in four formulas, there is an option for you if you are grazing grass, wheat, feeding a grain diet, or dealing with summer heat. In addition to Amaferm to increase digestibility, Gain Smart also includes organic copper, iodine, and zinc for maximum bioavailability and hoof health. It provides nutritional support for a healthy immune system.

One Profitable Result - Research has shown that including Amaferm in the diet of feeder calves will increase the average daily gain by a quarter pound per day. Our customers say they have witnessed that to be true, in addition to having fewer sick calves to treat. More efficient gain

with less time and money invested in treatments equals more profits.

“After our third grazing season using the Gain Smart Wheat mineral, it seemed to me our gains were probably up between a quarter to a third pound a day compared to the past, since switching to the Gain Smart. We’ve run the same style of high risk cattle the past ten years. Our health seems to be substantially better. It seems like our sickness and death loss has been significantly less the last three years. The Gain Smart increases digestibility. If they are eating, they stay healthier,” said loyal Gain Smart customer Gregg Pickens, Oklahoma.

Another customer found similar results with grazing his calves on the Gain Smart Stocker HEAT mineral in Virginia.

“I believe in minerals. I believe the most problems you have with cattle is with mineral deficiency. I saw the Gain Smart Program on The American Rancher one night, and I thought I could use that. Since I started feeding Gain Smart, I’ve had less than one percent death loss. I have virtually no foot rot or pinkeye problems at all. I love the Gain Smart Stocker HEAT that has the garlic in it. It has good fly control, and Stocker HEAT does help with the fescue because we have a lot of fescue down here. The cattle are healthy, look good, and I think they are getting a premium,” said customer Tom Carter

From Virginia to Oklahoma and places in between, there is a combination of Vita Charge and Gain Smart products to help your calves gain healthy, efficient pounds. Set your calves up for grazing success with BioZyme’s 3-3-1 approach today! To learn more about these products or to locate a dealer near you, visit www. gainsmart.com

About BioZyme Inc. BioZyme Inc., founded in 1951, develops and manufactures natural, proprietary products focused on animal nutrition, health, and microbiology. With a continued commitment to research, BioZyme offers a complete line of feed additives and high density, highly available vitamin, mineral, trace mineral, and protein supplements for a variety of animals, including cattle, pigs, poultry, sheep, goats, horses, and dogs. BioZyme brands include AO-Biotics ® , VitaFerm®, Gain Smart®, Vita Charge®, Sure Champ®, Vitalize®, DuraFerm®, and Backyard Boost®. With headquarters in St. Joseph, Missouri, the company reaches a global market of customers that stretches into countries across five continents. For more information about BioZyme, visit www.biozymeinc.com

John Deere Property Center now available for consumers. A growing number of property owners of every type are looking for ways to manage their equipment and the work it does. Because of this, John Deere has created John Deere Property Center™, a mobile friendly, web based tool that allows you to plan and track maintenance for your equipment, buy parts, and learn how to do key jobs around your yard or acreage.

Property Center connects you with your equipment information anytime, from anywhere. This one stop equipment management tool provides easy access to operator manuals, warranties, product support, and a library of how-to videos to help you manage your weekend projects – all customized to your specific equipment. Property Center can also help you track and plan routine maintenance to ensure your equipment operates at peak performance.

“As a homeowner or simply an outdoor enthusiast responsible for maintaining a property, understanding how equipment operates and how it best does a job is critical to a good experience. Property Center provides a simplified way to connect to your equipment, your dealer, and your job,” said Kaylene Ballesteros, product marketing manager for John Deere. “You can use Property Center to look up and order specific parts with confidence, manage your John Deere Financial accounts, and even watch howto videos and review tips for common equipment jobs like maintaining your gravel driveway or building a fence.”

If your John Deere equipment is equipped with JDLink™ connectivity, additional features like tank levels and engine hours can be viewed on the Property Center website.

Property Center is free to use. You can sign up today at PropertyCenter. Deere.com

John Deere debuts new 4075R Compact Utility Tractor and MY2024 upgrades for 3R and 4 Series models. Offering premium power and versatility to its customers, John Deere debuts its 2024 model year upgrades on its lineup of 3R and 4 Series compact utility tractors. In addition, John Deere unveils its latest 4 Series model, the 4075R Compact Utility Tractor, equipped to tackle jobs for customers in the commercial snow removal and large property

owner markets. Highlighting increased reliability and technology readiness, the updated 4R, 4M, and 3R Series machines feature a variety of improvements to help elevate tractor performance and operator experience, especially in heavy duty work applications.

“Our customers are always seeking solutions to help get the job done faster and with more ease. Our MY24 compact utility tractors are equipped with game changing features to help do exactly that,” said Mark Davey, John Deere go-tomarket manager. “By taking our customer trusted models and elevating their comfort and performance features, we are setting our customers up for success year round, even in the most challenging conditions.”

Built with heavy duty applications in mind, the new 4075R Compact Utility Tractor boasts a 75 horsepower engine and heavy duty front axle for ideal power and endurance on the job. Building on operator comfort and convenience, the 4075R, along with the full lineup of MY24 4R cab machines, boasts an electrohydraulic (EH) rear hitch control, promoting simplified operation for precise control and repeatability during rear-implement applications. To further elevate performance, packages designed specifically for snow application are available on the 4R cab models to help ensure optimum operation and performance in even the most severe winter weather conditions.

Adding to the full suite of trusted John Deere technology solutions, the latest 4 Series models provide an ideal operator experience with the inclusion of technology ready capabilities, including integration into the already existing Tractor Plus application.

Keeping visibility in mind, all MY24 3R and 4R Series tractors, as well as heavy duty 4M models, feature lighting enhancements, including LED headlights, LED work lights, and an LED beacon light option for cab models. Also new for MY24, customers can benefit from elevated creature comforts, including Bluetooth Radio on the 3R and 4R-Series cab models.

To learn more, visit www.Deere.com or contact your local John Deere dealer.

John Deere Establishes Allied Agreement With PCT Agcloud. John Deere announced it has entered into an

allied agreement with PCT Agcloud to enable grain and cotton farmers to take John Deere Operations Center™ data and seamlessly share it with PCT Agcloud.

The allied agreement enables small grains, corn, and soybean growers that use HarvestLab™ 3000 Grain Sensing to generate insights and action through Protein Pro powered by PCT Agcloud. Protein Pro delivers automated cleaning, editing, multiple machine corrections, intersecting zone creation, nitrogen removal, and product replacement data (when soil test and application data is available) to Operations Center.

Customers who use Protein Pro can create immediate insights by combining protein and yield map layers that can drive better agronomic outcomes in subsequent crop years. Using the tool, farmers can also generate more accurate profit maps, nitrogen, or other nutrient application maps; combine and monitor plant health with in-season images for fertility top-up; and manage protein and yield to optimize yield to match soil capability.

The allied agreement also unlocks Linked Cotton™ for cotton farmers. Linked Cotton creates cotton quality layers from manual gin data imports and integrates with CottonHost (EWR), making it possible to automatically import bale quality data.

Linked Cotton automatically post calibrates yield once gin quality data is imported. If the data is not available, yield is automatically calibrated to weight from the module weighing system. If that data is not available, the yield can be manually post calibrated from ginned bale data. Farmers can link Harvest Identification, Cotton Pro data directly to the yield data

from Operations Center. The app lets farmers import gin data via API or CSV, linking all quality information to the module and yield points.

Linked Cotton gives farmers more accurate post harvest yield calibration, trial information results – and loss assessments from weather. It gives them the information to clearly understand the impact on cotton quality from operations, management, and agronomic influences and decision making. When connected to Operations Center, farmers can unlock advanced analytics for soil mapping, advanced cotton data features, and additional agronomic decisions for higher return on investment.

To fully benefit from these applications, farmers should visit www. Deere.com or their local John Deere dealers to discuss the necessary hardware and software installation and activation requirements on their machines. Visit pct. ag/protein-pro to learn more about Protein Pro or pct.ag/linked-cotton to learn more about Linked Cotton.

About John Deere. Deere & Company is a global leader in the delivery of agricultural, turf, construction, and forestry equipment. We help our customers push the boundaries of what’s possible in ways that are more productive and sustainable to help life leap forward. Our technology enabled products, including John Deere Autonomous 8R Tractor, See & Spray, and E-Power Backhoe, are just some of the ways we help meet the world’s increasing need for food, shelter, and infrastructure. Deere & Company also provides financial services through John Deere Financial. For more information on Deere & Company, visit us at www.deere.com

Alltech invites participation in its first global sustainability insights survey. Sustainability and the journey it entails have been described as the greatest challenge and opportunity of our time. In 2019, Alltech committed its team to a single, shared purpose of Working Together for a Planet of Plenty™, viewing it even more broadly as a vision for the global agri-food sector. As collaboration is essential for the achievement of shared goals, Alltech is inviting the global agriculture and agri-food industry to participate in the company’s inaugural Sustainability Insights Survey to gather insights on the issues that matter most to the agri-food value chain’s stakeholders.

“Given the evolving understanding of sustainability and the complexity of our industry, we believe that there is significant value in exploring and sharing perspectives across the value chain,” said Tara McCarthy, global vice president of ESG at Alltech. “This consultation will better enable us to develop a robust, future facing perspective and a collaboration strategy that is relevant, ambitious, and inclusive. Our aim is to identify tangible actions across the industry and across the value chain, as we seek to deliver a Planet of Plenty.”

The survey is now open to the global agri-food industry to provide input until June 12. The results of this global research will only be presented in aggregate form, and responses will not be personally identified in the report. However, the aggregate findings will be shared and available for the benefit of the agri-food industry and its partners later this year.

For more information and to complete the survey, visit www.alltech. com/sustainability-insights-survey

Alltech and Agolin partner to provide eco-friendly nutrition solutions for supporting cattle production and sustainability goals. As a global leader in animal nutrition, Alltech is proud to partner with companies that share its commitment to Working Together for a Planet of Plenty. Recently, Alltech announced it has acquired a majority interest in Agolin. Founded in 2006 in Switzerland, Agolin has developed and produced plant based nutrition solutions that improve herd performance, profitability, and sustainability, according to a 2020 meta-analysis* in the journal Animals

Agolin’s high quality essential

oil blends are scientifically proven to optimize feed intake and performance, including improved milk and meat production*. Furthermore, Agolin Ruminant was the first feed additive certified by The Carbon Trust for methane reduction in ruminants (2018). Today, organizations such as Verra and Gold Standard are including it in their major international climate protection projects.

“Agolin’s essential oil blends are a complement to Alltech’s proven nutritional technologies, such as Yea-Sacc and Optigen,” said Dr. Mark Lyons, Alltech’s president and CEO. “Governments, consumer brands, and retailers are making important commitments to reduce their environmental impact. These commitments rely upon farmers and ranchers, and we are dedicated to supporting them with the best available nutritional technologies to achieve more milk and meat while reducing their environmental footprint.”

The alliance between Alltech and Agolin will empower farmers and ranchers to reach their sustainability goals while also supporting the performance and profitability of the cattle in their herds and supply chains. The synergistic use of Alltech and Agolin nutritional technologies leads to benefits such as improved animal welfare, greater feed efficiency, and conversion, enhanced milk and meat production, increased profitability, and a reduced environmental footprint, including a boost in nitrogen efficiency. The partners will also be exploring opportunities to develop new technologies that bring together the best of Alltech’s proven nutrition and Agolin’s essential oil blends. Agolin has a presence in Europe, Asia, and North America. Alltech’s majority interest in the company will expand the availability of Agolin to additional markets.

“We at Agolin are delighted with this strategic alliance to grow synergistically through the added technical expertise and global reach of Alltech,” said Kurt Schaller, managing director of Agolin SA. “This represents a new era for our business, and we look forward to breaking new ground in our industry.”

Agolin focuses on research and development to produce and market innovative feed additives based on plant active ingredients which are effective and easy to use. Its essential oil blends are backed by a strong quality management

system (FAMI-QS), which ensures safety and guarantees traceability.

For more information, visit www. alltech.com/agolin and www.agolin.com

About Agolin. Agolin was founded in 2006 in Switzerland. We research, develop, produce, and market innovative feed additives based on plant active ingredients that are easy to use, safe, and proven through independent research to be effective. We are active across many markets, including Europe, Asia, and North America. Agolin’s quality management system (FAMI-QS) ensures safety and guarantees traceability. The company is a member of FEFANA, the EU Association of Specialty Feed Ingredients and their Mixtures.

About Alltech. Founded in 1980 by Irish entrepreneur and scientist Dr. Pearse Lyons, Alltech delivers smarter, more sustainable solutions for agriculture. Our diverse portfolio of products and services improves the health and performance of plants and animals, resulting in better nutrition for all and a decreased environmental impact.

We are a global leader in the

agriculture industry. Our team produces specialty ingredients, premix supplements, feed, and biologicals backed by science and an unparalleled platform of services.

Strengthened by more than 40 years of scientific research, we carry forward a legacy of innovation and a unique culture that views challenges through an entrepreneurial lens. As a private, family owned company, we adapt quickly to our customers’ needs and focus on advanced innovation.

We believe agriculture has the greatest potential to shape the future of our planet. Our more than 5,000 talented team members worldwide share our purpose of Working Together for a Planet of Plenty™. Together, we can provide nutrition for all, revitalize local economies, and replenish the planet’s natural resources.

Headquartered just outside of Lexington, Ken., Alltech serves customers in more than 120 countries, has five bioscience centers, and operates more than 80 manufacturing facilities across the globe. For more information, visit www.alltech.com

By DR. JEFF SARCHET, Zoetis

Thinking Beyond VL5 for Reproductive Vaccines

As cow/calf producers and veterinarians evaluate options for prebreeding vaccinations on heifers and cows, it is critical to think about the long term effects of the disease pathogens that you are protecting against. The immediate thought is protecting against vibriosis and leptospirosis; sometimes, that occurs at the sacrifice of not effectively protecting against the reproductive forms of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) types 1 and 2 and infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR), which may have larger effects on the overall health of the herd and greater financial implications for the producer.

In developing a vaccination plan for the cowherd, it’s important to understand the potential impact of each disease challenge.

• BVDV has the greatest long term impact if allowed to enter the herd. If cows or heifers are exposed to BVDV during pregnancy, those pregnancies are

at risk of early embryonic death, abortion, birth defects, or stillbirth. Or if exposed in the first 140 days of pregnancy, the unborn calf can become infected for life with BVDV, which is called BVD persistent infection (BVD-PI). A calf born as BVD-PI will shed the virus and be a carrier as long as it is alive. BVD-PI calves nursing their dams allows for BVD exposure to other nursing calves as well as other dams and their unborn calves in next year’s calf crop.

• IBR can cause an abortion storm in naïve cows that are exposed. Overall, IBR causes fetal losses and is costly to producers.

• Leptospirosis has five main strains: Leptospira canicola, L. grippotyphosa, L. hardjo, L. icterohaemorrhagiae, and L. pomona . The five most common strains of Leptospira can cause abortions or pregnancy loss or, less commonly, make animals sick with kidney disease.

Another less obvious but important strain is Leptospira borgpetersenii serovar Hardjo-type hardjo-bovis (HB). Most commonly, Lepto hardjo-bovis causes early embryonic death manifested as conception issues. Leptospirosis protection from the five most common strains only lasts six months, but some Lepto hardjo-bovis vaccines have a duration of immunity of 12 months, which needs to be considered when developing a vaccination program.

• Vibriosis (Campylobacter fetus) is a sexually transmitted disease that can cause infertility, irregular estrus cycles, delayed conception, and occasionally abortion.

When I designed vaccination programs for my clients, I asked a series of questions to help me give them a program that would be most effective in protecting the cowherd but also fit their management style. The first question I asked was if they could work the cows and calves prior to bull turnout. If this is the case, you have several options for the cows and calves because the cows are not pregnant at this time, so giving the calves a modified live virus (MLV) vaccination is safe even though the calves are nursing. It is also safe to give the cows a MLV vaccination, like the Bovi-Shield GOLD FP vaccine, because they are not pregnant. It is important to look for FP in the name of the vaccine because that means the product is indicated to protect against the reproductive consequences of BVDV and IBR.

If a producer doesn’t handle the cowherd at pre-breeding, vaccination history is unknown, or the client is uncomfortable with MLV vaccination, I would recommend using a product like CattleMaster Gold FP, a killed BVD reproductive vaccine that provides protection against BVD-PI and IBR abortions. Not every killed virus vaccine has reproductive protection, so make sure to read the label indications.

If Leptospira borgpetersenii serovar Hardjo-type hardjo-bovis (HB) is a potential challenge, then it is important to add a vaccine that protects against that type of Leptospira; otherwise, protection against the basic five Leptospira strains is adequate.

The final disease to consider is vibriosis. If vibriosis is a potential problem, then I recommend using a product that incorporates vibrio protection with BVD-PI and IBR abortion indications or a stand alone product for vibrio protection at pre-breeding. It is key that vibrio protection is given at pre-breeding to protect against early embryonic loss and reduced conception rates because, like the common 5-way

Lepto vaccines, vibrio vaccines typically only have a duration of immunity of 5-6 months.

Again, it is important to think beyond protecting just against vibrio and leptospirosis. BVD persistent infection and losses due to abortion storms caused by IBR exposure have greater financial impact on the cowherd and can have lasting consequences on herd health and sustainability.

Last of all, don’t forget to vaccinate your bulls. These diseases can be transmitted by the bulls either through direct contact or venerably during breeding. Bulls are also vulnerable to contracting these diseases from infected cows or calves, especially BVD-PI calves. BVDV has a predilection to reproduce in testicular tissue, which can then be transmitted through the semen during breeding. Some vaccines have the label indication for protection from BVD testicular infection.

Vaccination is one part of ensuring a healthy herd, but biosecurity and disease surveillance/testing are also important. Work with your veterinarian to help develop the most effective and comprehensive herd health program that will work for your management to help protect your whole herd and help set your future calf crops up for success.

Do not use in pregnant cattle (abortions can result) unless they were vaccinated, according to label directions, with any Bovi-Shield GOLD FP or PregGuard GOLD FP vaccine prebreeding initially and within 12 months thereafter. Do not use in calves nursing pregnant cows unless their dams were vaccinated within the past 12 months, as described above. To help ensure safety in pregnant cattle, heifers must receive at least two doses of any Bovi-Shield GOLD FP or PregGuard GOLD FP vaccine, with the second dose administered approximately 30 days pre-breeding.

About Zoetis. As the world’s leading animal health company, Zoetis is driven by a singular purpose: to nurture our world and humankind by advancing care for animals. After innovating ways to predict, prevent, detect, and treat animal illness for more than 70 years, Zoetis continues to stand by those raising and caring for animals worldwide — from veterinarians and pet owners to livestock farmers and ranchers. The company’s leading portfolio and pipeline of medicines, vaccines, diagnostics, and technologies make a difference in over 100 countries. A Fortune 500 company, Zoetis generated revenue of $8.1 billion in 2022 with approximately 13,800 employees. For more, visit www.zoetis. com

Worms Without Borders. Worm parasites are showing greater adaptability to both geographic movement and weather conditions. As the transport of beef cattle across geographies becomes more commonplace, so, too, does the prevalence of worm parasites. “Cattle movement has helped worms move into geographies where they may not have been previously,” explained David Shirbroun, DVM, Boehringer Ingelheim.

In addition, some worm species utilize a mechanism called inhibition to survive unfavorable weather conditions. Even in northern climates where it was thought the cold winter months could break the worm cycle, some species like Ostertagia, known as the brown stomach worm, burrow into the stomach lining and become dormant.

“Once the weather starts to warm up and cattle are back on green grass, then those worms erupt again,” Dr. Shirbroun said. “Treating those animals is important to break the cycle. For cattle grazing more than one month, an extended release dewormer is an ideal fit, as it provides up to 150 days of control.”

Building a deworming planBecause of these variables, it’s never too early to talk with a veterinarian about a deworming protocol. Taking fecal egg counts is a good first step to assessing current infection levels. It’s also important to ask a veterinarian about any potential resistance concerns in your area.

“We’re starting to see issues with resistance in certain worms in some pockets geographically, but it’s not a widespread issue, so a local veterinarian would be aware of which products to recommend in those situations,” Dr. Shirbroun noted.

Bleaux Johnson, DVM, West River Veterinary Clinic in Hettinger, N.D., is proactive in managing resistance. “We make sure we’re rotating different dewormer classes,” he said. “Or we may use an extended-release dewormer on certain groups of cattle, maybe just the calves and younger cows, so part of the herd serves as refugia.” Refugia (in which a percentage of the herd is selectively not dewormed) is recognized as a key practice in delaying the onset of parasite resistance.

Aligning the protocol to your operation - Another factor to discuss with your veterinarian is your operation’s grazing plan. Cattle are most susceptible

to picking up worms and internal parasites when they are on green grass. The longer they graze, the more likely they are to become infected with worms.

“We look at the type of operation — cow/calf, grazing yearlings, stocker — to determine risk factors for parasitic worms,” Dr. Johnson stressed. “Any animals that don’t graze on grass aren’t at risk for reinfection. Beef cattle that are grazed for longer periods of time are at higher risk because pastures can be continually reinfected with larvae.”

For operations that turn out cattle for several months, an extended release dewormer might be the right tool to keep the herd free of parasitic infections.

“One thing producers might not realize is that the peak level of larvae in the pasture is reached toward the middle to end of summer, months after cattle have been turned out,” Dr. Shirbroun said. “With a traditional dewormer that lasts maybe one month, the product has already worn off when we hit that peak infestation level, so cattle will be reinfected if they don’t receive another dose of dewormer. But with an extended release product, parasites are controlled for up to 150 days after administration.”

There are three categories of deworming products:

1. Benzimidazoles (oral dewormers), which are effective on current infestations of adult and some juvenile parasites. “These are known as purge dewormers and offer no residual activity,” Dr. Shirbroun pointed out

2. Imidazothiazoles are known for being quickly absorbed and distributed throughout the body but only control internal parasites. They can be delivered orally, topically, and by injection.

3. Macrocyclic lactones (endectocides) are available in different formulations that control existing populations and provide different levels of residual activity:

• Pour-on and injectable formulations typically provide residual activity of a few days to about 30 days.

• An extended release formulation can control parasite infections for up to 150 days, which is traditionally considered season long control.

“Oral dewormers and pour-ons are great for feedlot cattle because those animals aren’t on grass and susceptible to reinfection. They’re also a good option for cattle grazing a short amount of time,” Dr. Shirbroun explained. “For cattle with

a longer grazing period, an extended release dewormer is ideal. You get up to 150 days versus the more traditional 30 days, so five times the control of a traditional dewormer.”

Dr. Johnson agreed and added, “Producers benefit from the convenience of not having to re-treat the herd. Their herd is healthier, uses feed more efficiently, and gains weight better. As a result, we see less disease pressure, which means less antibiotic use.”

The science behind extended release deworming - So, what makes an extended release dewormer last all season long? Here’s how the technology works:

1. After the initial subcutaneous injection, the drug concentration reaches a high peak to control parasites right away.

2. Extended release technology enables the remaining drug concentration to encapsulate into a gel matrix. This matrix continues to release the dewormer above therapeutic levels in the animal.

3. The matrix breaks down approximately 70-100 days after the initial treatment and releases a second peak. After 150 days, the drug is eliminated from the body.

“The vast majority of worm infections are subclinical, which means we’re not seeing outward signs of infection, but they’re robbing cattle of performance,” Dr. Shirbroun said. “Extended release technology is a proven

investment. It can help animals grow better by decreasing the parasite strain on their system.

“If you can control parasites, cattle can put on weight faster, keep their immune system stronger, and develop more efficiently. If you’re developing heifers for breeding purposes, they can potentially be bred earlier and have higher conception rates, which means they’re likely to stay in the cow herd longer,” he concluded.

About Boehringer Ingelheim. Improving the health and quality of life of patients is the goal of the research driven pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim. The focus in doing so is on diseases for which no satisfactory treatment option exists to date. The company, therefore, concentrates on developing innovative therapies that can extend patients’ lives. In animal health, Boehringer Ingelheim stands for advanced prevention.

Boehringer Ingelheim is the second largest animal health business in the world. We are committed to creating animal well being through our large portfolio of advanced, preventive healthcare products and services. With net sales of $4.4 billion and around 10,000 employees worldwide, we are present in more than 150 markets. For more information, visit www.boehringeringelheim.com/animal-health/overview

Low Stress Cattle Handling’s Domino

Effect on Improved Health, Productivity, and More. Veterinarians share thoughts and three tips. Are you aiming to make the most of spring processing efforts this year? “Low stress handling presents a domino effect. By minimizing handling stress, you will see improvements in immune response, eating, and producing. Calves go back to eating and gaining weight. Cows go back to eating and growing their calf. And, cattle respond better to vaccines,” says Julia Herman, beef cattle specialist veterinarian with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA).

Defining Low Stress HandlingFor anyone unfamiliar with the term and practice, “Low stress handling is one part of stockmanship that incorporates the understanding of cattle’s natural behaviors and the handler using that knowledge to positively affect cattle movement and management. It’s responding to their movement, anticipating what the animal will do next,” says Dr. Herman. The Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program teaches about this principle in preventing stress and disease in cattle, which improves cattle welfare and productivity.

While the practice of excellent stockmanship may have been brought more to the forefront in recent years, the skills are something that has often been passed down through generations of family ranches.

Dr. Herman remembers watching her husband and his dad work cattle years ago. “It was like magic,” she said. “They could sort cattle without making a sound. I think there are families where this level of stockmanship has been passed down from generation to generation, and it’s taken a couple of high profile people, like Temple Grandin and Bud Williams, to really bring low stress handling and stockmanship to the forefront. They have been really good champions of that type of handling.”

The Benefits of Practicing It - When we are stressed, we’re more likely to succumb to a cold or change in behavior. The same rings true for cattle – they can experience health implications and even become moody – and the impacts can stem generations.

Tony Hawkins, Valley Vet Supply technical services veterinarian, shared how “Anything we could do to minimize stress in these animals is good – one, because of animal husbandry and two, because it will actually improve their

response to vaccines. Low stress handling is good for you, and it’s good for them.”

Long thought to be true, science has confirmed how cattle handling directly affects cattle behavior, in addition to health.

Interestingly, low stress handling methods impact mothering behavior of today, plus the growth and behavior of her future offspring. Dr. Herman explained more, saying, “We’re learning more about mothering behavior and how minimizing stress, such as practicing low stress handling with the dam, in addition to her genetics, can impact multiple generations of animals. That’s because stress hormones circulate throughout the blood system. If you’re following good stockmanship, the heifer will have a better attitude and be calmer in stressful situations, and that can follow down lines. Good behavior cows can pass that behavior on to multiple generations. I think people have known that, but we’re finally getting scientific proof of that.”

Three Tips to Implement When Working Cattle

1. Take advantage of their flight zones to move cattle. Picture an imaginary oval around a single animal; your placement encourages them to start or stop movement. Dr. Herman explained more, saying, “When you enter the animal’s (or group’s) flight zone, it encourages forward movement. When you retreat from the flight zone, it signals the animal to stop moving. These concepts can be used whether you are handling cattle on foot, horseback, in a vehicle, or when the cattle are in a chute. If we provide good directions to handlers and the cattle through low stress handling, we improve how the animals respond during handling events.”

2. When working cattle and you see a hiccup, it’s OK to pause, take a minute, and investigate. If you notice cattle are no longer moving smoothly through a specific part of the facility, pause and investigate the hold up. Dr. Hawkins stressed, “Really importantly, producers need to think about the design of their facility and overall quality of the facility because that plays a big role in how these animals move.”

3. Prioritize training, and have the right people for the right job. Dr. Herman says, “I think that a huge thing is making sure that our people are trained in the jobs that we are expecting them to do. Stockmanship training creates confidence

in our caretakers and improves human safety around cattle. Also, it’s important to be open to the changing roles of people during processing events so that they feel more comfortable and effective. Maybe someone is pushing cows but would rather give vaccines, or vice versa. And when they get tired, maybe we need to switch people out every couple of hours.” This will improve the human’s experience, which will also improve the cattle’s experience.

At the end of the day, Dr. Herman asks, “What can the producer control? They can control the products they’re using, the facility they’re running animals through, and they can control how they are handling the animals going through it – all to set that cow or calf up for a positive experience and the most productive life possible.”

Education, resources, and training are easily accessible for producers to help further steward the industry we’re all

passionate about.

“There’s a lot of training available online that covers stockmanship, cattle health and more, and I would recommend that everybody take advantage of that. It’s free and available at BQA.org,” says Dr Hawkins.

To help ensure your herd’s health and more, visit www.ValleyVet.com

About Valley Vet Supply. Valley Vet Supply was founded in 1985 by veterinarians to provide customers with the very best animal health solutions. Building on over half a century of experience in veterinary medicine, Valley Vet Supply serves equine, pet, and livestock owners with thousands of products and medications. With an in-house pharmacy that is licensed in all 50 states and verified through the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP), Valley Vet Supply is the dedicated source for all things horse, livestock, and pet. For more information, please visit www.ValleyVet.com.

NDEX OF DVERTISERS

ANGUS

Sep. 30 — Biltmore Angus Field Day & Fall Sale, Asheville, N.C.

Nov. 4 — Barnett Angus Ranches

4th Annual Bull Sale, Washington, Ga.

Nov. 4 — SimAngus Solution

15th Annual Sale, Burlington, N.C.

Nov. 18 — Southeast Bull Expo & Sale, Asheboro, N.C.

Dec. 1 — Knoll Crest Farm Total Performance Bull Sale, Red House, Va.

Dec. 23 — 48th Annual Union County

Performance Tested Bull Sale, Monroe, N.C.

2024

Jan. 6 — 15th Annual EBS Select

Bull & Female Sale, Monroe, N.C.

brahman

Jun. 3 — Carolinas Brahman Breeders

Association 43rd Annual Sale, Laurens, S.C.

VENTS

Charolais

Oct. 12 — JMar Genetics Quality Over

Quantity Charolais Bull & Heifer Sale, via DVAuctions

GELBVIEH

Dec. 1 — Knoll Crest Farm Total

Performance Bull Sale, Red House, Va.

Dec. 23 — 48th Annual Union County

Performance Tested Bull Sale, Monroe, N.C.

HEREFORD

Dec. 1 — Knoll Crest Farm Total

Performance Bull Sale, Red House, Va.

SIMMENTAL

Sep. 1 — N.C. Simmental Association

Social Event, Union Grove, N.C.

Sep. 2 — N.C. Simmental Association

Fall Harvest Sale, Union Grove, N.C.

Oct. 21 — Fred Smith Company Ranch

Extra Effort Fall Sale, Clayton, N.C.

Dec. 23 — 48th Annual Union County

Performance Tested Bull Sale, Monroe, N.C.

HE IDE

It was a baby mosquito’s first day to fly out from home.

When the mosquito came back home later that day, the father mosquito asked, “How was your journey?”

The baby mosquito replied, “It went great. Everyone was clapping for me!”

WAGYU

Sep. 21-29 — American Wagyu Association & World Wagyu Council Conference, San Antonio, Tex.

Nov. 4 — Wilders Wagyu Stay Wild ‘23

Production Sale, Turkey, N.C.

OTHER EVENTS

Jun. 3 — Chessie Creek Farm Commercial

Bred Heifer Sale, Walterboro, S.C.

Jun. 14 — Windy Hill Farms/In-Vitro

Fertilization Collection Events, Ramseur, N.C.

Jun. 22 — Graded Feeder Calf Sale, Norwood, N.C.

Jul. 3-5 — Beef Improvement Federation

Symposium, Calgary, Canada

Aug. 3 — Graded Feeder Calf Sale, Norwood, N.C.

Aug. 5-6 — S.C. Junior Beef Round-Up, Clemson, S.C.

Aug. 12-13 — N.C. Junior Beef Round-Up, Fletcher, N.C.

Sep.13 — Windy Hill Farms/In-Vitro

Fertilization Collection Events, Ramseur, N.C.

Sep. 28 — Graded Feeder Calf Sale, Norwood, N.C.

Nov. 16 — Graded Feeder Calf Sale, Norwood, N.C.

Livestock market sales

Jun. 5 — Harward Brothers Livestock

Market Weekly Sale, Statesville, N.C.

Jun. 6 — Mid-Atlantic Cattle Sales

Video Auction, via macsvideo.com

Jun. 7 — Stanly County Livestock

Jun. 14 — Wilkes Livestock Exchange

Weekly Sale, North Wilkesboro, N.C.

Jun. 19 — Harward Brothers Livestock

Market Weekly Sale, Statesville, N.C.

Jun. 20 — Mid-Atlantic Cattle Sales

Video Auction, via macsvideo.com

Jun. 21 — Stanly County Livestock

Market Weekly Sale, Norwood, N.C.

Jun. 21 — Wilkes Livestock Exchange

Weekly Sale, North Wilkesboro, N.C.

Jun. 26 — Harward Brothers Livestock

Market Weekly Sale, Statesville, N.C.

Jun. 28 — Stanly County Livestock

Market Weekly Sale, Norwood, N.C.

Jun. 28 — Wilkes Livestock Exchange

Weekly Sale, North Wilkesboro, N.C.

Jul. 3 — Harward Brothers Livestock

Market Weekly Sale, Statesville, N.C.

Jul. 5 — Stanly County Livestock

Market Weekly Sale, Norwood, N.C.

Jul. 5 — Wilkes Livestock Exchange

Weekly Sale, North Wilkesboro, N.C.

Jul. 10 — Harward Brothers Livestock

Market Weekly Sale, Statesville, N.C.

Jul. 12 — Stanly County Livestock

Market Weekly Sale, Norwood, N.C.

Jul. 12 — Wilkes Livestock Exchange

Weekly Sale, North Wilkesboro, N.C.

Jul. 17 — Harward Brothers Livestock

Market Weekly Sale, Statesville, N.C.

Jul. 18 — Mid-Atlantic Cattle Sales

Video Auction, via macsvideo.com

Jul. 19 — Stanly County Livestock

Market Weekly Sale, Norwood, N.C.

Jul. 19 — Wilkes Livestock Exchange

Weekly Sale, North Wilkesboro, N.C.

Jul. 24 — Harward Brothers Livestock

A farmer is walking with a prospective buyer when they see a beautiful pig in the yard, except it has a wooden leg.

The buyer asks, “Why the wooden leg?”

The farmer replies, “That pig is so smart, I let it drive the kids to school.”

“Great, but why the wooden leg?”

“The pig is so smart it has a degree in horticulture and philosophy.”

“Amazing! But why the bloody wooden leg?”

“Well when you have a pig that smart you don’t eat it all at once!”

the car, nearly hits a bus, goes up on the sidewalk, and stops inches from a shop window.

For a second, everything goes quiet in the cab, then the driver says, “Look buddy, don’t ever do that again. You scared the daylights out of me!”

The passenger apologizes and says, “I didn’t realize that a little tap would scare you so much.”

The driver replies, “Sorry, it’s not really your fault. Today is my first day as a cab driver. I’ve been driving a funeral van for the last 25 years.”

Market Weekly Sale, Norwood, N.C.

Jun. 7 — Wilkes Livestock Exchange

Weekly Sale, North Wilkesboro, N.C.

Jun. 12 — Harward Brothers Livestock

Market Weekly Sale, Statesville, N.C.

Jun. 14 — Stanly County Livestock

Market Weekly Sale, Norwood, N.C.

Market Weekly Sale, Statesville, N.C.

Jul. 26 — Stanly County Livestock

Market Weekly Sale, Norwood, N.C.

Jul. 26 — Wilkes Livestock Exchange

Weekly Sale, North Wilkesboro, N.C.

Jul. 31 — Harward Brothers Livestock

Market Weekly Sale, Statesville, N.C.

A taxi passenger taps the driver on the shoulder to ask him a question.

The driver screams, loses control of

A farmer wrote a letter to his son in jail for robbing a bank: “This year, I can’t plant potatoes because you are not here to plow the field.”

The son wrote back, “Papa, don’t dare plow the field. That is where I hid the money I stole.”

The police intercepted the letter and by the next day they’d dug up the entire field but found nothing.

The son wrote to his father, “Now you can plant your potatoes."