6 beef feed apps to make cattle feeding smarter



  Gone are the days of keeping penciled records on a dog-eared notebook in the pickup. Today’s cattle producers are embracing technology and bringing their laptops and smartphones into the dry lot, pasture, and barn. University researchers have responded by developing task-specific software for producers, including these six beef feed apps:   Feed Cost Cow-Q-Lator This University of Nebraska-developed Excel worksheet […]

Anticipating the 2018 Farm Bill



“I don’t need to tell any of you it’s a really interesting time to be living and working in Washington, D.C. right now,” says Bart Fischer. Fischer, who is chief economist for the House Agricultural Committee, provided remarks about the early groundwork being laid for the 2018 Farm Bill, while addressing attendees at the 2017 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA […]

Beef bill doesn’t pass in Colorado



Headlines this week swirl around beef origin legislation, trade and regulating checkoff programs.      Beef origin placards  in Colorado The Colorado General Assembly’s House Agriculture, Livestock & Natural Resources Committee considered reinstating country of origin information on the beef that Coloradans purchase at retail stores for themselves and their families this past Monday, April 3.  It failed to pass […]

BovaGen: New facility offers expanded technology for IVF



Skill and controlled temperature are critical factors in performing cutting-edge technology in cattle reproduction. At a new facility just north of Britton, S.D. a veterinarian from Pennsylvania is teaching those needed skills to the team at the BovaGen clinic.  And within the walls of the structure, Dr. Boyd Bien works with Lucas Cutler and Miles Morris to learn from Dr. […]

Congressional Beef Caucus re-established



The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association applauded the recently re-establishment of the bipartisan Congressional Beef Caucus. The Beef Caucus will organize and educate members of Congress and their staff on policy issues that impact America’s cattle and beef producers. The Congressional Beef Caucus will be co-chaired by U.S. Reps. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) and Kevin Yoder (R-Kansas). The Beef Caucus currently stands […]

May 1 deadline for brand rerecording or registration



Brand owners in South Dakota whose brand or brands were cancelled in May of 2015, have until May 1, 2017 to rerecord their brands.  The last renewal period was in 2015. Any brand registration in 2015 that was not renewed and paid for has been cancelled. The brand owner does have two years following the renewal period to rerecord their […]

The ranch plan: Evaluate records first



  Understanding the financial position of the ranching operation is crucial to staying in the game. Developing a balance sheet, and income and cash flow statements are all important tools producers can use to evaluate their operations. “As much as I hate bookwork, it is important to tackle jobs like this when you are at your best, not after you […]

Tied to agriculture: Neil and Katie Johnson have cultivated their own businesses in and around cattle



Neil and Katie Johnson of Pipestone, Minn., have been involved in raising cattle their whole lives. Katie grew up on her family’s Hereford operation, Delaney Herefords, of Lake Benton, Minn. Neil grew up on his family’s Angus operation, Dandy Acres near Pipestone, Minn. The two married in 2014. Today they live seven miles south of Neil’s homeplace with their two […]