Cory Schrag and his wife, Melissa, opened 605 Sires for business Feb. 1. The Schrags, who also operate Schrag Shorthorns near Marion, S.D., began dirtwork for 605 Sires, located one mile straight west of their farm, last spring. Construction on the lab and office began late last summer and was ready by December. However, due to a wet fall, they […]
2017-04-26
Julie Borlaug: Hunger Fighter
“I care, because people should not die from hunger in today’s world. Hunger causes 10,900,000 deaths annually. Today alone, 25,000 people died. If you want a stable population, you start with agriculture,” shares Julie Borlaug. Borlaug took the stage at the Performing Arts Center at South Dakota State University on Wednesday, April 12, where she discussed the importance of technology […]
United States Cattle on Feed Up Slightly
Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 10.9 million head on April 1, 2017. The inventory was slightly above April 1, 2016. The inventory included 7.23 million steers and steer calves, down 2 percent from the previous year. This group accounted for 66 […]
Trichomoniasis outbreak hits beef cattle herds in Kansas
The Kansas State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory recently reported an outbreak of Trichomoniasis (Trich) in beef cattle herds with five new cases reported in three counties – leading the state lab to recommend diagnostic testing to help keep the disease at bay. “Over the last six weeks, five herds across three counties in Kansas have been reported positive for Trichomoniasis, a […]
Three operations win environmental awards
South Dakota Winning the South Dakota Leopold Conservation award was the Blue Bell Ranch of Clear Lake, S.D., a cattle ranch owned and managed by Herb and Beverly Hamann. The ranch has an excellent diversity of native vegetation, and the grazing rotations consider ecological impacts to accommodate wildlife needs at critical times, such as nesting. Nebraska Kurt and Wayne Kaup […]
This week in Washington
From News Reports The president’s first 100 days in office wrap up this weekend on April 29. His administration has touted the number of bills and executive orders the new president has helped bring forward. Trump will have signed 30 executive orders in his first 100 days – the most any president has done since Franklin D. Roosevelt in the […]
Tapping genetic tools
By Kindra Gordon With the availability of more dependable genetic information for a broader range of traits, cow-calf producers have the tools to make more informed selection decisions that influence cattle productivity and profit. That was the message Kent Anderson emphasized as he addressed Cattlemen’s College attendees in Nashville, Tenn. this past January. To illustrate how genetic test data can […]
Rural mainstreet sinks: Farm loans rise to record level
The Creighton University Rural Mainstreet Index remained weak with a reading below growth neutral for the 20th straight month, according to the monthly survey of bank CEOs in rural areas of a 10-state region dependent on agriculture and/or energy. Overall: The index, which ranges between 0 and 100, slipped to 44.6 from 45.3 in March. The last time the overall […]
Rausch Herefords: 5 things we’ve learned in the last 10 years
Innovation and technology have unleased significant changes in the last decade. For Rausch Herefords of Hoven, S.D. the family-owned Hereford cattle operation, efforts to raise superior quality animals continues while embracing change. The Rausches set priorities and make decisions based on economics both for their herd and the animals they sell. At the annual Rausch bull sale in 2007, average […]
2017 WEATHER GUARD® PRCA World Standings – Unofficial through April 24, 2017
All-around 1. Josh Peek, Pueblo, Colo. $56,428 2. Tuf Cooper, Weatherford, Texas 55,636 3. Caleb Smidt, Bellville, Texas 53,679 4. Clayton Hass, Weatherford, Texas 44,097 5. Ryle Smith, Oakdale, Calif. 34,758 6. JoJo LeMond, Andrews, Texas 29,368 7. Trell Etbauer, Goodwell, Okla. 27,429 8. Seth Hall, Albuquerque, N.M. 23,877 9. Bart Brunson, Terry, Miss. 20,687 10. Marcus Theriot, Poplarville, Miss. […]