Ranching.com is your weekly dose of trending news, seasonal tips, and community content put together by our team of ranchers.

NEWS

🌽 Lessons on Land Loss

🌽 Lessons on Land Loss - Growing up near Madison, WI, Allison Lund often heard her dad lament the loss of fields to urban sprawl. Farming close to expanding cities presents challenges like rising land prices and frustrated new neighbors. In Indiana, while attending Purdue, the author saw firsthand the impact of urban development on farmland, with a recent report indicating a loss of about 350,000 acres between 2010-2022, mainly to residential use. To combat this, it is essential to understand and address local farmland loss data, advocate for responsible development, and educate officials on preserving agricultural land for future generations.

❓Farm Bill Unfamiliarity - The June 2024 Consumer Food Insights report shows that many Americans are unfamiliar with the 2024 Farm Bill, despite its impact on the food system. While the bill enjoys bipartisan support from consumers for farm subsidies and food assistance, Congress is struggling to advance the legislation before it expires on September 30, 2024, due to a tight schedule and political challenges.

📉 Shrinking Forecast - The USDA slightly reduced the 2024 U.S. meat and poultry production forecast to 107.54 billion pounds, with cuts in broiler and turkey production offset by increases in beef and pork. Beef production was raised to 26.66 billion pounds and pork to 28.14 billion pounds. Production forecasts for broilers and turkeys were reduced. Price forecasts for cattle and milk were increased, while those for hogs and poultry were lowered.

🧬 Environmental Efficiency - At the 2024 Beef Improvement Federation Symposium, Christine Baes from the University of Guelph explained how genomic research can enhance beef cattle efficiency and sustainability. She highlighted that genetic selection could significantly reduce methane emissions, improve fertility, and boost productivity. Baes emphasized the role of data collection and advanced technologies in breeding resilient cattle that adapt well to environmental changes. She also noted strong public support for using selective breeding to address environmental impacts.

♣️ Blackjack and Ranching? - In blackjack, splitting pairs and doubling down are strategies to improve odds. Splitting works well with low-value pairs against weak dealer cards, while doubling down is best with strong hands against weak dealer cards. Similarly, in agriculture, balancing risk and reward is crucial. With USDA forecasting 2024-2025 corn prices below production costs and volatile cattle-feeding margins, farmers may use cattle feeding to manage corn prices, but it demands resources and expertise.

💹 Fallout Fears - Cattle prices are currently high, prompting concerns about how long they will last. Reflecting on past cycles, such as the price surge in 2014-15 followed by a sharp decline in 2016, many are anticipating similar trends. Data suggests that significant expansion in cow numbers is likely by 2026, which could lead to lower prices. Historical patterns show that high prices often trigger rapid expansion, eventually causing prices to drop. While the current cycle may follow this trend, factors like technology, weather, and labor could alter the outcome. Producers are advised to consider current marketing opportunities amidst these uncertainties.

🐂 Byproduct Diet - An Arkansas study found that a high-energy diet with more dry soybean hulls was the most cost-effective and provided the best meat quality for finishing cattle on the farm. The research compared three diets: a conventional feedlot diet, a high-starch diet, and a high-byproduct diet. The high-byproduct diet, which used soybean hulls, produced the highest percentage of USDA Choice quality beef and offered the best economic return. All diets increased cattle weight similarly, but the high-byproduct diet also achieved the highest carcass value per head. The study offers a practical guide for beef producers to optimize finishing costs and beef quality.

RANCHING KNOW-HOW

Global Insights: Exploring Cattle Practices Around the World

On this episode of Casual Cattle Conversations, join Andrew Uden, whose early career in the beef industry took him from his family’s feedlot to the far corners of the globe. In this podcast, Andrew shares how his travels to Scotland, Australia, Russia, and Africa have shaped his deep respect for the U.S. beef industry and the entrepreneurial spirit worldwide. Discover how these diverse experiences influence his innovative approaches to pasture management and cattle production, and gain insights into the global beef industry and the importance of adaptability, quality, and continuous learning.

Protecting Ruminant Livestock From Heat Stress

Summer presents various challenges and stressors for beef cattle, potentially leading to bovine respiratory disease (BRD). Mitigating risk is essential in managing BRD, which includes building immunity and handling infection. Risks can arise from new cattle entering the herd and stressors related to handling, nutrition, and environment. Collaborate with a veterinarian to assess threats and develop a comprehensive plan is crucial and read this article to learn more!

WE WANT YOUR TESTIMONIAL!

Are you enjoying the weekly Ranching.com newsletter? So do Howard and Carolyn Davis of San Jacinto Ranch in Huntsville, Texas:

“I was pleased to see that the Cattlesoft organization has started a weekly publication for its customers and cattle producers in the US and all over the world. I was not surprised to observe the relevance and the content quality of the articles that this new publication contains. The articles examine current industry topics that every producer should read. These articles are meant to challenge and inform all sizes of producers. The survey questions and published responses have been quite informative. Another well-produced product from Cattlesoft.”

Please share a quote, as it will help us spread the word and continue to build the top digital ranching community for our industry.

RANCHING AROUND THE WORLD RECAP

🇨🇦 Beef experts share lessons learned from three years of drought [Canadian Cattlemen]

CATTLE COMMUNITY

terryn.drieling

View more on Instagram

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

READER POLL

LAST WEEK’S RESULTS

THOUGHTS FROM VOTERS

Yes

• “Our solar waterers include year round permanent setups, as well as water buggies which can be hooked to a two-inch ball and moved with pickup, side by side or tractor. This has allowed us to maximize the rotational grazing in our native pastures without the cattle having to wade into the mud or travel two miles for water.”

• “We use Premiere 1 solar panels and portable fencing for our four sheep. Keeps them moving and helps me target hard to mow areas with brush buildup. Works really well for my needs!”

No

• “Our only use for it is in winter to run tank heaters. With our long cold nights here in Montana, it would require a large battery backup. Our power co-op has such low kWh rates, custom built insulated panels have proven to be really effective.”

• “Some insurance companies don't understand how to insure solar assets.”

GIVE FEEDBACK & WIN!