March 2021 Missouri Beef Cattleman by Missouri Cattlemen's Association

CONTENTS

March 2021

FEATURES 40

Understanding Losses

Bull Shopping Tips

Managing Bulls Through the Seasons

Pregnancy Loss in Cattle Could Be Remedied with Further Investigation

MU Extension Expert Offers Guidance for Evaluating Bulls

Off-Season Bull Management Influences Breeding Season Success

MEMBER NEWS 6 Association Update 18 Beef Checkoff News 34 County News

54 Bull Shopping Tips

COLUMNS 8

Understanding Losses

MCA President’s Perspective Quest for Knowledge

CattleWomen’s Corner

Straight Talk: Mike Deering

What’s Cooking at the Beef House

The Cattlewomen’s Call

This Land is My Land

State Fair Beef House Committee

On the Edge of Common Sense: Baxter Black

MARCH 2021

Progress

Junior Spotlight

Capitol Update

Beef Advocacy

New Beginnings

The Missouri Beef Cattleman is an official publication of the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association.

MISSOURI

BEEF CATTLEMAN

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE MISSOURI CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION

Volume 50 - Issue 3 (USPS 890-240 • ISSN 0192-3056) Magazine Publishing Office 2306 Bluff Creek Drive, #100, Columbia, MO 65201 Phone: 573-499-9162 • Fax: 573-499-9167 Andy Atzenweiler: Editor/Production/Ad Sales P.O. Box 480977 • Kansas City, Missouri 64148 816-210-7713 • E-mail: mobeef@sbcglobal.net Macey Hurst • Ad Sales • 573-821-6982

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

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

Missouri’s Cattlemen Foundation www.mocattlemenfoundation.org

DEPARTMENTS 7

New MCA Members

NCBA News

MCA Cattleman of the Year Award Winner Profile

MCA Pioneer Award Winner Profile

MBC Bull Buyers’ Guide

Ad Index

2021 MCA Officers

Patty Wood, President 660-287-7701 • 16075 Wood Road, La Monte, MO 65337 Bruce Mershon, President-Elect 816-525-1954 • 31107 Lake City Buckner Rd., Buckner, MO 64016 David Dick, Vice President 660-826-0031 • 23529 Anderson School Rd., Sedalia, MO 65301 Matt Hardecke, Treasurer 573-846-6614 • 19102 Skymeadows Dr., Wildwood, MO 63069 Charlie Besher, Secretary 573-866-2846 • RR 5, Box 2402, Patton, MO 63662

2021 MCA Regional Vice Presidents

Region 1: Eric Greenley, 61998 Pleasant Valley Rd. Knox City, MO 63446 660-341-8750 Region 2: Chuck Miller, 393 Spring Garden Road Olean, MO 65064 • 573-881-3589 Region 3: Jeff Reed, PO Box 35 Williamsville, MO 63967 • 903-279-8360 Region 4: Deb Thummel, 12601 Hwy. 46 Sheridan, MO 64486 • 660-541-2606 Region 5: John Shipman, 34266 Hwy KK Mora, MO 65345 • 660-221-1013 Region 6: Warren Love, 8381 NE Hwy ZZ Osceola, MO 64776 • 417-830-1950 Region 7: Traves Merrick, 1956 Hwy 97 Miller, MO 65707 • 417-536-8080

MARCH 2021

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

Missouri’s CattleWomen

http://mocattle.com/missouricattlewomen.aspx

MARCH 2021

Adam Rainey, R & R Cattle Farms, Jackson, MO Addison Durnell, Weaubleau, MO B.J. Jordan, Across Jordan Cattle Co. LLC, Walden, MO Brian Houska, Houska Farms, Rhineland, MO Camryn Shepherd, JCS Livestock, Mtn. Vernon, MO Cash Honeycutt, Richmond, MO Chase Durnell, Weaubleau, MO Cherl Rucker, Rucker Ranch, Anderson, MO Clara Taylor, Eldon, MO Dale Borcherding, Bordering Farms, New Haven, MO Darren King, King Farms, Seneca, MO David Callis, Sedalia, MO Dustin & Christina VanMeter, Lewistown, MO Elliot & Leah McClure, 6120 Ranch, Stotts City, MO Erin Brockhaus, Warrensburg, MO Evan & Chandler Kleffner, Rockin’ K Farms, Brinktown, MO Glenda & Donnie Stoebe, Huntsville, MO Haley Dingfelder, Lee’s Summit, MO Hannah Melvin, Collins, MO Jack Stafford, Granby, MO James Burch, Burch Farm, Anderson, MO Janette Heinsz, Moscow Mills, MO Jared Menne, Lance & Jared Menne Farms, Troy, MO Jim Brinkley, Brinkley Angus Ranch, Milan, MO John Jones, Buffalo, MO John Tate, Tate Farm, Seneca, MO John Kunkel, Peaceful River Farm, Evening Shade, AR John & Teresa Broos, White Ridge Farms, Graff, MO Jonathan Davis, Davis Farm, Stark City, MO

Justin Dixon, Trenton, MO Kara Haupt, Oak Ridge, MO Kendall Taylor, Eldon, MO Kennith Gideon, Anderson, MO Kevin Hinkebein, Hinkebein Ranch LLC, Farmington, MO Lyndon & Cindy Mote, Iberia, MO Lynn & Paula Morehead, D & D Farm & Feed, Seneca, MO Madeline Payne, Bolivar, MO Madi Wall, King City, MO Matt & Sara Morgan, Spring Ridge Farms, Goodman, MO Micah Charles, Charles Farms, Clinton, MO Mike & Stacy Griffith, Rafter Bar G, Appleton City, MO Paul Hostetler, Bar H Ranch, El Dorado Springs, MO Randy Clark, Clark Farm, Goodman, MO Roger Burkemper, Old Monroe, MO Ryan Kassinger, Sedgewickville, MO Stephen Loesch, Loesch Farm, Jefferson City, MO Thomas Huhmann, Huhmann Farms, Tipton, MO Todd & Bonnie Linhardt, Redbud Lane Farm, Jefferson City, MO Travis Taylor, Taylor Farms, Lawson, MO Tyler Dixon, Trenton, MO Tyler Haerr, Haerr Farms, Taylor, MO Vinnie Clubb, Piedmont, MO Zane & Rachel Durnell, Weaubleau, MO

See the MCA Membership Form on page 93

MARCH 2021 7

MARCH 2021

Straight

Talk

with Mike Deering This Land is My Land “This land is your land, and this land is my land… This land was made for you and me.” These timeless lyrics penned by Woody Guthrie in 1940 mean something different to all of us. Some accuse the lyrics as being motivated by communism, but that is not what I hear. I hear freedom, the right to own property and turn otherwise unproductive land into food. I am also reminded of the Constitution and the Founding Fathers.

MARCH 2021

The framers of the Constitution undoubtedly treated private property as the corner-post of a free society. I believe one of the most important values of the Founding Fathers was their belief in the necessity of securing property rights. In fact, both federal and state courts were actively engaged in defending property rights from legislative abridgement until the New Deal era in the middle of the 20th century. It is saddening that we are still fighting against abridgment of those rights in Missouri.

This association is fighting against the pervasive invasion of private property rights in the state legislature. While I have personal issues with eminent domain in general, it was intended to be used as a last resort to provide critical needs to the general public. We are now in a situation where the eminent domain process is being used and abused by out-of-state big money in what appears to be an easy avenue to cheap land while providing little benefit to Missouri citizens. It is a way to avoid talking to landowners and negotiating a fair price for their land. It takes the choice away from landowners and tramples all over the vision of the Founding Fathers. That sounds a tad like communism, but I won’t go there quite yet.

Executive Vice President Much like the Constitution, this association’s grassroots policy book is rooted in the preservation of private property rights. I argue that the majority of our individual policies come back to this fundamental right. We must push back relentlessly on Invenergy’s so-called Grain Belt Express. The fix is in the hands of your elected leaders and is a priority of this association. We must pass Senate Bill 508 and House Bill 527, sponsored by Sen. Jason Bean and Rep. Mike Haffner respectively. This is truly our last chance to stop this land grab. This fight is bigger than one transmission line project. Blindly allowing this project to continue will send the dangerous message to the rest of the country that our land is up for grabs for those looking to transform rural Missouri into a super-energy-highway for the East Coast. Even Illinois refused this project, but the massive dollars spent on lawyers and lobbyists is certainly working in their favor. I refuse to believe this fight is not winnable. We need you to get loud. Actively call your legislators and attend Cowboys at the Capitol. This land is your land. This land is my land. Unfortunately, we have to fight like hell to keep it that way.

MARCH 2021

Kansas Cattleman and Veteran Jerry Bohn Becomes New NCBA President Source: NCBA DENVER (Feb. 4, 2021) – The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) today concluded its virtual Winter Business Meeting with the election of Jerry Bohn, a cattle producer from Wichita, Kansas as NCBA president. Bohn, a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves, has been a part of the cattle industry his entire life. Bohn has had an expansive career in the cattle industry since his early days of custom grazing cattle with his family in Flint Hills, to his time on Kansas State University’s award-winning livestock judging team, and eventually serving 34 years as the manager of Pratt Feeders, a commercial cattle feeding operation in his home state of Kansas. He has also dedicated his time as a leader for several state-level associations, using his expertise and experiences to mentor the next generation of industry advocates. “As I look forward to this year as NCBA president, I have immense pride for the cattle industry and our dues-paying members that help to make this the leading cattle organization representing U.S. producers,” said Bohn. “Becoming president is my greatest honor and opportunity to give back to the industry that made me who I am today and for that I am forever grateful.”

MARCH 2021

Bohn’s term as president along with a new officer team was approved by NCBA’s board of directors. Don Schiefelbein of Minnesota was named president-elect, Todd Wilkinson of South Dakota was elected vice president. Wyoming rancher Mark Eisele was elected chair of the NCBA Policy Division and Nebraska cattle producer Buck Wehrbein was elected policy vice chair. Clay Burtrum of Oklahoma and Brad Hastings of Texas were elected as chair and vice chair of the NCBA

Jerry Bohn, NCBA President.

Federation Division, respectively. “I have heard quite a few producers in the past year say if you want to get something done in Washington, D.C. in agriculture, you better do it with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, or it is not going to get done. This is the greatest testament to the grassroots power of our members and state affiliates. It is why I am so proud to represent NCBA as President and it is the reason I get up every day, ready to fight for the American producer.”

NCBA Works to Improve Business Climate for Cattle Producers with 2021 Policy Priorities WASHINGTON (Feb. 4, 2021) – Today, the executive committee of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) approved the organization’s top 2021 policy priorities with a continued focus on advocating for a business climate that increases opportunities for producer profitability. “There is no doubt the past year has been difficult for cattle producers and it’s crucial that we work to implement sound policy and focus our attention on the legislative and regulatory areas that will give U.S. cattle producers the most added value,” said NCBA President Jerry Bohn. “I am looking forward to collaborating with volunteer leadership, state affiliates and stakeholders across the country to tackle the most pressing issues facing our industry.” NCBA’s policy priorities for the coming year demonstrate several pressing issues facing farmers and ranchers, including: • Price discovery and transparency in cattle markets is a concern for NCBA members and is a priority for the organization along with ongoing COVID-19 recovery efforts. • NCBA will continue to ensure that all alternative plant-based or cell-grown protein products are labeled truthfully and their ingredients are fully represented.

• NCBA is committed to protecting those in the cattle industry while strengthening the beef supply chain to meet the growing demand for U.S. beef. The removal of non-tariff barriers to increase worldwide markets for U.S. beef will also remain a priority for the organization. • NCBA remains committed to working closely with Congress and the Biden Administration to emphasize the U.S. cattle industry is the global model for sustainable beef production and its commitment to environmental stewardship, along with engaging on the regulatory policies, including the Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), that promote stability and continuity for cattle producers that face uncertainty every day. “This framework of policy priorities is one of the most important documents approved each year. It provides direction to our staff guidance for meeting the needs of our members. The focus on improving the business climate for producers hits especially close to home for me, because I was born into the cattle business and I want to do my part, defending our industry and legacy – not just for the multi-generational producers but also newer producers that might only have a few calving seasons or sale barn trips under their belts.”

MARCH 2021 15

NCBA Delivers State of the Industry Address During Virtual Winter Reboot WASHINGTON (Feb. 22, 2021) – Today, during the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) virtual Winter Reboot conference, NCBA CEO Colin Woodall and NCBA Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane discussed the state of the industry and priority issues in Washington, D.C. that could affect cattlemen and women. Woodall and Lane discussed the availability of USDA programs to assist farmers and ranchers from the damage done by the frigid temperatures that were seen across the country last week, the impact COVID-19 has had on cattle markets, and the work NCBA has done to provide opportunities for increased profitability while ensuring a steady food supply chain.

MARCH 2021

They also shared the many wins that the NCBA policy team has had including, working to ensure the beef industry is eligible for pandemic relief programs including USDA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) and the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), two programs that farmers and ranchers across the country utilized during the market disruptions caused by COVID-19.

They went on to discuss the outlook for the Biden administration and the 117th Congress. When talking about the priorities of the Biden administration, Lane shared that NCBA has a robust relationship with senior level leadership across various agencies and that those individuals are willing to listen to NCBA’s perspective. “They really want to start these conversations at the ground level. They are making it clear that we have a seat at the table,” he said. “We can find some common ground and help them see the benefit of some of the things that have been propagated over the past couple years.” When referencing the work that NCBA is doing to ensure the beef industry’s success Woodall said, “What we’re doing is what we do best and that is being the most effective advocate for cattlemen and women in Washington, D.C.” The Virtual Winter Reboot, sponsored by Corteva Agriscience, is a two-day event that gives members the opportunity to hear an update on the work NCBA has been doing in D.C., participate in educational sessions with industry leaders, and interact virtually with other members.

MCA Executive Committee Welcomes New Members The Missouri Cattlemen’s Association Executive Committee recently elected Jeff Reed, Williamsville, to serve as Region 3 Vice President. Also new to the committee is appointee John Ridder, Marthasville, who will serve as At-Large Representative upon approval by the Board of Directors. Reed, along with his wife and her family, operate Rolling Shoals Farm, a beef and row crop operation in Southeast Missouri. He is a former ag teacher, a Marine veteran and, most recently, a father. He is currently completing his Ph.D. in Agricultural Education at the University of Missouri. He was selected by the Executive

Committee after an interview process on February 11, 2021. He will serve a two-year term as Region 3 Vice President Ridder and his family operate Falling Timber Farm in Warren County where they raise registered Angus and Hereford cattle, as well as row crops. In addition to the farm, he works as a sales representative for GENEX and VitaFerm, and is ranked nationally for his successes in the sales world. He was appointed by MCA President Patty Wood to serve a one-year term as At-Large Representative, which is up for approval by the Board of Directors on April 8, 2021.

MCA Kicks Off 2021 Cowboys at the Capitol Despite harsh winter weather conditions, more than 10 Missouri Cattlemen’s Association members from the Executive Committee and Regions 1 and 2 made the trip to Jefferson City to participate in this year’s first Cowboys at the Capitol event on January 27. Advocating for property rights and cattle market transparency, attendees visited with legislators and asked for their support in sustaining the agricultural way of life.

“This is one of the most important programs we host,” said MCA President Patty Wood, who is a cattle producer from Pettis County. “MCA members meet directly with elected leaders to discuss issues important to their family and the entire beef cattle sector.” To learn more about Cowboys at the Capitol or find out when your region will be in Jefferson City, see page 39.

MARCH 2021 17

Your

BEEF CHECKOFF NEWS Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner. Launches “MBA NextGen” The Masters of Beef Advocacy program managed by NCBA, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, has recently updated advocacy training modules titled – MBA NextGen. This update of the popular MBA training modules makes it easier than ever for a new generation of farmers and ranchers to share their story and advocate knowledgeably for the beef industry. Updated information and resources to help answer consumer questions are all accessible with the click of a mouse.

MARCH 2021

MBA NextGen consists of five self-guided, online lessons, open to everyone, and at no cost to participants.

To enroll or find out more about the latest Masters of Beef Advocacy Program, visit their website at BeefItsWhatsFor Dinner.com. Versatility was a strong driver for consumers making meal choices in 2020.

• Lesson 1 – The Beef Community Context of raising beef from pasture to plate focusing on the community of people involved throughout the beef life cycle. • Lesson 2 – Raising Cattle on Grass An introduction to the first step in the beef life cycle and the many benefits of raising cattle on our country’s vast grass pasture resources. • Lesson 3 – Life in the Feedyard A discussion on the role of feedyards, including animal care, nutrition and environmental stewardship, at this important step in the beef life cycle. • Lesson 4 – From Cattle to Beef An in-depth look at the slaughter process and the humane handling and safety measures in place at today’s beef processing facilities. • Lesson 5 – Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner A primer on choosing and cooking the right cuts of beef in a healthy diet.

“During 2020, with the COVID-19 pandemic, 84% of consumers were cooking at home, and 66% say they are going to continue to do that for the foreseeable future,” said Shawn Darcy, senior director of market research for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association.

Started in 2009, the MBA has graduated more than 15,000 from the program. Once lessons are completed, advocates gain access to a variety of continuing education resources ranging, from online courses that delve deeper into specific topics, such as beef sustainability and nutrition, to in-person top advocate training and more.

“People typically watch videos for 81 billion minutes per week, and that time jumped to 142 billion minutes during the pandemic because people are streaming more. These are the places we’re looking to be for promoting beef,” Darcy said. “The time people spent on apps and the web grew nearly 50 minutes from 2018 to 2019, and there was nearly another 50-minute increase

In a typical year, Darcy said, a 1% to 2% increase in chicken, pork or beef sales is a good year. “We were seeing months of 40% to 50% higher retail sales of beef, and we’re still seeing months of 10% to 15% higher than last year,” he said. “Beef consumption in 2020 was 59 pounds per person compared to 56.5 pounds in 2019,” Darcy said. “Food service typically represents 60% of the beef consumed, but it became more of a 50-50 split in 2020 with retail sales.” Online behavior by consumers also continues to grow.

in 2020,” he said. “Now, consumers are on their phones for 4.5 to 5 hours on a daily basis.” The growth of e-commerce occurring during 2020 is likely to continue. “Now, 67% of consumers are at least occasionally buying groceries, and 86% are ordering food service,” he said. “And 70% of consumers said that increased or just started because of the pandemic,” Darcy added. Prior to the onset of the pandemic, e-commerce was predicted to be 4% of sales. “E-commerce in 2020 increased to 10% of sales, and that’s projected to grow by 2% to 3% per year,” he said.

ground beef, continued to increase during the time prices increased,” Darcy said. “A lot of consumers were not spending as much on food service or activities out of the home, so they were willing to spend a little more on essentials for their household, whether it was buying more beef or trading up to a cut they might not typically buy.”

To reach consumers while shopping for groceries online, the Beef Checkoff did a case study with Kroger. “We placed online grocery advertising and gave customers recipe ideas to help entice them to put items in their cart,” Darcy said. “Through an app, we can give consumers a recipe and it puts the list of items directly in their cart, which is pretty cool technology.” A large majority of consumers eat beef weekly. “That number was at 67%, and it went up significantly to 72% in 2020. There were weeks above 75% during April,” Darcy said. Retail beef prices increased during the spring of 2020. MARCH 2021

“But consumers’ willingness to pay specifically for steak, even

Talking Ag with Chris Chinn Agriculture Resiliency This winter started out mild for most of Missouri. We saw rain in areas of the state that didn’t need it, while other areas were dry and would have welcomed the moisture. December and January came and went with mild temperatures and many farmers were growing concerned about the lack of moisture. Spring plantings were on the minds of many of our farmers because the success of the upcoming growing season depended on more moisture for our soil. It’s no secret our livestock farmers and ranchers depend on a successful growing season for quality feed products. Anxiety was growing in farm country and many prayers were being said for a successful 2021 after the challenges 2020 brought for many of our farms and ranches.

MARCH 2021

And then it was February. We’ve all heard the old saying, “its Missouri, if you don’t like the weather wait a day or two and it will change.” And that’s exactly what happened in the second week of February. The

Hwy 42 West • Vienna Missouri 65582 45 Miles South of Jefferson City Selling All classes of Cattle Wednesday • 10:00 a.m. Featuring ‘Star-Vac Program’ Cattle Weekly DVAuction Service for convenient online viewing & bidding For More Information Call… David Patton Office Ross Patton Bill Patton 573-308-6655 573-422-3305 573-308-6657 573-308-6658 Visit our website: www.scrsvienna.com or E-mail us: scrsvienna@gmail.com “Make South Central your Livestock Market”

Missouri Director of Agriculture groundhog predicted six more weeks of winter on Groundhog Day and his prediction did not disappoint. Winter fell upon us fast and furious, and once again Mother Nature reminded us we were at her mercy. Ice, drifting snow and temperatures below zero were the norm for Missouri for over two weeks and it wreaked havoc for our farms and ranches that raise livestock. Our farmers who had contracts to deliver grain were challenged to deliver their grain on time due to treacherous road conditions. Our winter weather once again reminded us that agriculture is hard. Some of our farmers and ranchers have modernized their facilities to be more resilient to the impacts of harsh winter weather like we saw in February. Modern livestock barns kept our poultry and pigs warm and dry with a continuous supply of dry feed. That was until the blowing snow closed roads and complicated feed deliveries for many of our farms and ranches. Rolling power outages also created challenges for our farms and ranches. Backup generators were on standby and many were needed to keep newborn pigs warm and alive. For our cattlemen and cattlewomen the challenges were plenty. Frozen waterers which needed thawed multiple times a day, chipping ice in water tanks and rolling out extra hay consumed a lot of their days and nights. For those who have started calving, they spent many hours monitoring cows and moving them to barns before they

calved. Drying off the newborn calves and keeping them warm required extra care in -10 degree weather with a wind-chill of -25 and beyond. I saw many pictures on social media of newborn calves being warmed up in laundry rooms of homes and the cabs of pick-up trucks. What normally takes 10-11 hours to accomplish now took 15 or 16 hours in the harsh weather. Unlike cattle, our farmers and ranchers do not have thick skin and hair to keep us warm. Bundling up in multiple layers presents many challenges, especially when it comes to being able to move swiftly and quickly. Bulky clothing is loathed by many when physical labor is required to complete tasks. You warm up quickly when chopping ice so you remove layers, only to get chilled once the ice is broken. Many of our farmers and ranchers experienced frostbite but they kept going because their animals depended on them. This is the norm in agriculture, the needs of our livestock are always our first priority. Living in rural America isn’t always picturesque with green grass and sunshine. The snow and wind we experienced created many challenges. We don’t have road crews with snow plows on standby to open up our farm drives and lanes. On our farm, our road crew on standby was my husband, Kevin. He wears many hats like all farmers do. He was up many mornings before 3 a.m. to start blading our driveways and county roads. Our county road crews could not keep up and several of our roads were impassable due to the blowing snow. And like many farmers, he didn’t just open up the county roads for our own use. We had neighbors who had been snowed in for days and were unable to get out of their driveways to go to town for supplies.

MARCH 2021

This story is not unique to my family farm, it happens all over Missouri because agriculture is resilient and we know the value of backup plans. We can’t wait for someone to come to our rescue, we are the emergency crew. Our livestock, our families and our neighbors depend on us to show up, even in the rain, snow and when the sun shines. This is what we do because this is who we are. This winter has reminded us that agriculture is resilient and this lesson in resilience and determination is what our ancestors prepared us for.

What’s Cookin’ at the

Missouri Beef House By Beef House Team

State Fair Beef House Committee

MARCH 2021

Your MCA Missouri State Fair Beef House, which was established in 1982 to promote Missouri’s beef cattle industry by serving premium beef to the crowds at the Missouri State Fair, is overseen by a standing committee according to MCA Policies and Procedures Article VI Committee Structures. Members of the committee shall be appointed to a three-year term. The President shall appoint the replacement of each retiring position after the annual convention. The terms of the organized committee members shall be staggered so that all terms do not end at the same time to allow continuity of the committee. The committee chair shall be appointed by the MCA President. The State Fair Beef House Committee has the awesome responsibility to serve as the advisory committee and monitor the operation of the Missouri Beef House, the Missouri Beef Showcase and other State Fair activities. The committee shall execute other responsibilities assigned by the Executive Committee or the Board of Directors.

In addition to specific roles required by membership, your State Fair and Beef House Committee is challenged to actively participate in the work of the committee, provide thoughtful input to committee deliberations, and focus on the best interest of the association and committee goals rather than on personal interests. THANK YOU to each of these individuals for their hours of commitment to the MCA mission “dedicated to advancing Missouri’s beef industry”. Your 2021 MCA State Fair and Beef House Committee is:

Term Expires Dec 2021 Merrel Breyer Mike Carter Suetta Carter, MCW Denny Dieckhaus Eric Kraus Russell & Donna Martin Patty Wood, MCA Pres Sydney Thummel, MCA**

Term Expires Dec 2022 Marvin Dieckman John Harris Mike Nance Jimmie Long Chuck Massengill Pat Wood*** Patty Wood, MCW Mike Deering, MCA Exec**

*one year term

***Chair

**no expiration date

Term Expires Dec 2023 David Dick Ed & Judy Ehrhardt Kathy Harris Alex Haun Mary Kay Lyle, MCW Kenny & Susan Smarr Barb Reynolds, MBIC*

Thought for the month: “May your blessings outnumber the cows that you grow, and may troubles avoid you wherever you go!”

MARCH 2021

MBCSept2014c.qxp_Layout 1 9/24/14 9:59 AM Page 62

Buffalo Livestock Market 1 mile west on Hwy 32 • Buffalo, MO 65622 Barn: 417-345-8122

Sale Every Saturday 12:00 Noon

MARCH 2021

• Selling 1200 to 1700 head Farm Fresh Cattle weekly • Special Stock Cow and Bull Sale 3rd Tuesday night of each month at 6:30 p.m. • Pre-Vac Feeder Calf Sales 2nd Saturday of every month in conjunction with Regular Sale (Pfizer Pre-Vac, BLM Pre-Vac, Bayer Program, Mo Quality Assurance. LMA-Vac and MFA Health Track)

Order Buying Service Available

Owners… Lyle Caselman Leon Caselman Howard Miller 417-345-7876 H 417-345-4514 H 417-345-8612 H 417-533-2944 cell 417-588-6185 cell

MARCH 2021

COUNTY NEWS

See What’s Happening in Your County

Mid-Missouri Cattlemen’s Association What a great time we had at the Missouri Cattlemen’s Convention. It’s always a pleasure to visit with likeminded cattlemen and catch up on all the current issues in our ever-changing industry. Our board members were in attendance, as well as several of our members. It is always a great time when we get together, whether it be for business or pleasure. We did take the time to gather as an individual association and have a business meeting. At that time, each member was re-elected for another term. Wendy Cantrell, Mid-Missouri Cattlemen’s Association President as well as owner of Miller County Regional Stockyards, donates a heifer each year to be entered into a drawing. This year it was to be drawn by a junior member so that a youth member would get a head start on growing their herd. This year, the winner was Kaitlin Salmon. She is the daughter of Josh and Lawanna Salmon of Appleton City. They are very active in the

MARCH 2021

Kaitlin was very excited and appreciative to Wendy and Miller County Regional Stockyards.

Scott Cape, Owner of Jim’s Motors in Cuba, Missouri. All I have ever done is sell and trade trailers. Give me a call for your next trailer 800-897-9840 www.Jimsmotors.com

Commodity Trades Welcome

The Salmon family from St. Clair County with Mid-Missouri Cattlemen president, Wendy Cantrell.

Wendy and Kaitlin with the donated heifer.

St. Clair County Cattlemen’s Association. Kaitlin was very excited and appreciative to Wendy and Miller County Regional Stockyards. Her plans are to put this heifer “out to pasture” with a bull so that she can have her first calf in the fall. We wish Kailin great success on her road to her future in agriculture. President – Wendy Cantrell Vice-President – Candy Stockton Sec/Treas- Tanya Gardner Director – Ralph Kliethermes Director – Brenton Fowler

Henry County

Newton McDonald County Cattlemen McDonald & Newton County Cattleman’s Association held a meeting in January. We would like to thank Superior Steel Sales for sponsoring the meeting. During our meeting, we were able to hear from Mark Harmon and Scynthia Schanke who are with the Beef Council. We also have newly elected officers: President, Randy Drake; Vice President, Andrew Sherman; Treasurer, John Hobbs; Secretary, Warren Townsend; Director/ State Representative, Dr. Ronnie Rogers, DVM; Director/Member at Large, Dr. Max Ruhl, Ed.D; and Immediate Past President, Nick Neece. We have also donated 14 calves to the Cash Moore Foundation.

Jacob Bathgate, Pres. Taylor Bush and -Tom Browning at the HCC meeting held February 18 at Dietz Family Buffet, with program topic Livestock Insurance presented by All American Agency Group from Urich.

Specializing in Land Equipment and Livestock

Editorial Note:

Please send County News items via email to: mobeef@sbcglobal.net • Andy Atzenweiler • Deadline for the April 2021 issue is March 15.

For Upcoming Sale Info: Contact: Mike Williams Higginsville, MO 816-797-5450 mwauctions@ctcis.net

www.wheelerauctions.com

MARCH 2021 35

St. Clair County Cattlemen’s Association St. Clair County Cattlemen’s Association met on Tuesday, February 9, at Farmhouse Kitchen with 37 members and guests present. Green’s Welding and Sales has been in business for 37 years and has 103 dealers in 11 states. Appleton City Feed and Lowry City Farmer’s Exchange are the two local dealers in the area. Green’s Welding manufactures both portable and stationary bulk feed bins. Their biggest bin is 5 tons. All bins have sight glass, rain guard, and bucket-height feed door. They also manufacture 150-bushel creep feeders with ABS plastic bottoms and a feed agitator. They manufacture 20-feet portable working alleys; 10-feet feed bunks that bolt together and can be stationary or portable. Green’s Welding keeps an inventory of steel and trailer parts, and install and service hydra beds. Green’s Welding also does repairs, custom work and gas bottle exchange. Green’s Welding and Sales can be found online at www.GreensWelding.com. Thank you, Green’s Welding and Sales, for speaking to our group and sponsoring our meeting! Thank you, Farmhouse Kitchen, for the warm, delicious meal!

Green’s Welding and Sales has been in business for 37 years and has 103 dealers in 11 states.

St. Clair County Cattlemen’s Association met on Tuesday, February 9, at Farmhouse Kitchen with 37 members and guests present.

MoBeef for MoKids donation dates for next school year are being planned. Any person or business interested in donating, please see Weston Shelby or Lawanna Salmon so they can get it marked down. Monetary donations are being taken to help the Cattlemen purchase cattle when no one has one ready to go at the scheduled time.

The next meeting is scheduled for March 9, at 7 p.m. at Landmark Restaurant.

Kingsville Livestock Auction Kingsville, Missouri Hwy. 58 • 45 Miles SE of Kansas City, MO

Special Cow & Bull Sale Saturday, March 20 • 11:00 a.m. MARCH 2021

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Visit our website kingsvillelivestock.com or E-mail us at: kingsville@earthlink.net

St. Clair County Cattlemen’s Scholarship application is now available and due to Susan Salmon by April 1, 2021. Any high school senior or college freshman pursing an agriculture degree that needs a scholarship application, please contact Susan Salmon at susansalmon74@gmail.com. The Cattlemen plan to award three scholarships of $2,000 each this year. The Cattlemen will be holding a ½ a Beef Raffle this year again. Tickets are $5 each. The winner will win ½ a beef and processing. The drawing will be held on September 4, 2021, and the beef will go to Buchen Beef on September 7, 2021. All proceeds from the Beef Raffle will go to support the Scholarship Fund. The next meeting is scheduled for March 9, 2021, at 7 p.m. at Landmark Restaurant. The sponsor is Wheeler Livestock Auction and the topic is What Data Says About Your Cattle - Wesley Tucker, University of Missouri Extension.

MARCH 2021

MBC Bull Buyers’ Guide Welcome to our 33rd Annual Bull Buyers’ Guide This special advertising section is designed to give you easy access to breeders who have bulls for sale this spring. Most of the advertisers in this section are placed according to breed.

A big thank you to all of our advertisers who participated in this 33rd Annual Bull Buyers’ Guide.

MARCH 2021 45

United States Cattle on Feed Up 1% Source: USDA Cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 12.1 million head on February 1, 2021. The inventory was 1% above February 1, 2020. This is the second highest February 1 inventory since the series began in 1996. Placements in feedlots during January totaled 2.02 million head, 3% above 2020. Net placements were 1.96 million head. During January, placements of cattle and calves weighing less than 600 pounds were 410,000 head, 600-699 pounds were 440,000 head, 700-799 pounds were 575,000 head, 800-899 pounds were 417,000 head, 900-999 pounds were 105,000 head, and 1,000 pounds and greater were 70,000 head.

Other disappearance totaled 56,000 head during January, 4% above 2020. Cattle on Feed and Annual Size Group Estimates Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head represented 81.4% of all cattle and calves on feed in the United States on January 1, 2021. This is comparable to the 81.6% on January 1, 2020. Marketings of fed cattle for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head during 2020 represented 87.1% of total cattle marketed from all feedlots in the United States, up slightly from 87.0% during 2019.

Marketings of fed cattle during January totaled 1.82 million head, 6% below 2020.

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MARCH 2021

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SLAYTON FARMS

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MARCH 2021

2020 Pork Exports Shatter Previous Records; December Beef Exports Outstanding Source: USMEF U.S. pork exports reached nearly 3 million metric tons (mt) in 2020, topping the 2019 record by 11%, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF). Pork export value also climbed 11% to a record $7.71 billion. Exports set new annual records in China/Hong Kong, Central America, Vietnam and Chile, and achieved strong fourth quarter growth in Japan and Mexico.

Diversifying export markets is a top priority for USMEF and the U.S. industry, and that strategy paid dividends especially in the fourth quarter, when exports to China/ Hong Kong were down 9% from 2019 but shipments to the rest of the world nearly offset that slowdown.” Beef exports were heavily impacted by foodservice restrictions in many major markets but trended higher late in the year, bolstered by very strong retail and holiday demand.

U.S. beef exports finished 2020 lower year-over-year, falling 5% in both volume (1.25 million mt) and value ($7.65 billion). But beef exports finished the year with very strong momentum, with fourth quarter volume up 4.5% from 2019 and posting one of the best months on record in December. Beef exports to China were record-large in 2020 and a new volume record was also achieved in Taiwan.

“Consumers across the world responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by seeking high-quality products they could enjoy at home, and U.S. beef and pork definitely met this need,” Halstrom said. “We expect these retail and home-delivery demand trends to continue even as sit-down restaurant dining recovers, creating robust opportunities for U.S. red meat export growth.”

“Obviously the surge in demand from China, especially in the first half of 2020, was a driving force behind the record performance for U.S. pork exports,” said USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom. “But China was not the only success story in 2020, as exports achieved growth in a broad range of markets.

December pork exports totaled 259,654 mt, down 8% from the very large year-ago volume, with value down 10% to $687.2 million. December muscle cut exports were also down 8% at 219,224 mt, valued at $590.2 million (down 11%). For the full year, pork muscle cut exports were record-large at 2.51 million mt, up 15% from 2019, valued at a record $6.67 billion (up 12%). December beef exports totaled 119,892 mt, up 8% from December 2019 and the largest in nearly 10 years. Export value was $744 million, up 9% from a year ago and the second highest total on record. December exports of beef muscle cuts were the second largest ever at 93,941 mt, climbing 11% year-over-year in both volume and value ($659.8 million). For 2020, beef muscle cut exports were down 2% year-over-year at 976,953 mt and fell 5% in value to $6.77 billion. U.S. lamb exports reached a record 20,045 mt in 2020, up 27% year-over-year, though export value fell 9% to $23.8 million. Export growth was led by leading market Mexico, where volume climbed to 18,927 mt (up 38%) valued at $17.4 million (up 25%).

MARCH 2021

A detailed summary of 2020 export results, including market-specific highlights, is available from the USMEF website.

For questions, please contact Joe Schuele or call 303547-0030.

MARCH 2021

Cattlemen’s Beef Board Elects New Officers at 2021 Winter Meetings DENVER, Colo. (Feb. 8, 2021)– Cattle producers Hugh Sanburg, Norman Voyles, Jr. and Jimmy Taylor are the new leaders of the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion & Research Board (CBB). This officer team is responsible for guiding the national Beef Checkoff throughout 2021. Sanburg, Voyles and Taylor were elected by their fellow Beef Board members during their 2021 Winter Meetings, held virtually this year. Sanburg, the 2020 vice chair, will now serve as the CBB’s chair, while Voyles will transition from his role as the 2020 secretarytreasurer to become the 2021 vice chair. Taylor is the newest member of the officer team, taking on Voyles’s former responsibilities as secretary-treasurer. 2021 Chair Hugh Sanburg hails from Eckert, Colo., where he and his brother are managing partners of their primarily horned Hereford cow-calf operation, accompanied by a Registered Hereford operation to complement the commercial herd. Sanburg graduated from Colorado School of Mines with a degree in mining engineering in 1983 before moving back to the home ranch in Western Colorado. For the past 30-plus years, Sanburg has been an active member of the Colorado Farm Bureau, serving on various boards. He is also a member of the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association and is a past chair of the Gunnison Basin Roundtable. In 2020, Sanburg received Colorado Farm Bureau’s Service to Ag Award.

MARCH 2021

“As I begin my tenure as CBB chair, the beef industry continues to face many challenges,” Sanburg said. “2020 was certainly a difficult year for many beef producers, but I’m optimistic 2021 holds better days for all of us. The CBB is a group of everyday producers who take time away from their operations, and in the coming year, we will do our absolute best to advance the beef industry, make informed decisions and encourage Checkoff contractors to execute programs and initiatives

that accomplish our primary goal – driving demand for beef.” Vice Chair Norman Voyles, Jr. owns and operates a seventh-generation grain and livestock farm near Martinsville, Ind. with his brother Jim and son Kyle. Voyles received a bachelor’s degree in animal science from Purdue University and a master’s degree in ruminant nutrition from the University of Nebraska. Voyles is a member of the Morgan County (Ind.) Beef Cattle Association and the Indiana Cattlemen’s Association. He’s a member of the Indiana Farm Bureau and a past member of the Farm Service Agency board of directors and the Morgan County Fair board. Secretary-Treasurer Jimmy Taylor and his wife Tracy run a commercial Angus herd near Cheyenne, Oklahoma consisting of approximately 600 females on 12,000 acres. Their ranching efforts have earned them the 2011 Certified Angus Beef Commitment to Excellence Award and the 2013 Oklahoma Angus Association Commercial Breeder of the Year. The use of artificial insemination, proper nutrition, genomics and other new technologies play a large role in obtaining the operation’s goal: to create a good eating experience for the consumer. Taylor has also served on several local and state boards. “We’re all very pleased to once again have such a strong leadership team to guide the CBB throughout the coming year,” said Greg Hanes, CEO of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board. “These gentlemen have given so much time and energy to the beef industry over the years, and their experience as both leaders and cattle producers will serve the CBB well. Hugh, Norm and Jimmy fully understand the beef industry’s current challenges, as well as the many opportunities, and I know they will use their knowledge and expertise to help the CBB and the Beef Checkoff reach new levels of success in 2021.”

MARCH 2021

Donald Douglas Gast

MARCH 2021

Donald Douglas Gast, 65, Nevada, MO passed away peacefully with his loving wife by his side on Sunday, February 21, 2021 at his home in Nevada. Donnie was born August 23, 1955 in Nevada, MO the son of Robert and Marjorie Gast. He married Lori Ann Jeffries on January 12, 2018 in Eureka Springs, AR and she survives of the home.

Donnie graduated from Nevada High School in 1973 and has been a resident of Vernon County all of his life. He was a self-employed cattleman with memberships in the Vernon County Cattleman’s Association, and in both the Missouri and American Charolais Association. He served on the Board of Directors of Missouri Charolais Association, Advisory Board for Missouri Cattleman’s Association, and the Missouri State Fair Livestock Building Committee. In addition, he was a sponsor of the American Royal, and an avid supporter of the Vernon County Youth Fair. Donnie was a member of the Elks #564 in Nevada. He played fast pitch softball in Nevada for a number years, and also enjoyed golfing with his buddies. During his youth, he was a member of the Moundville Methodist Church.

Lamar, Leah Cano (Eladio), Lamar; grandchildren, Giovanni Cano, Georgi Cano, Giuseppe Cano, Giada Cano; one brother, Howard Gast ( Judy), Nevada; numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother Warren Gast, and one sister, Linda Gast.

In addition to his wife Lori, he is survived by his children, Tyler M. Gast, Phillipe, VA, Nathan Jefferies,

There are some people in life that make you laugh a little louder and smile a little bigger.

Funeral services were held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, February 25, 2021 at Ferry Funeral Home in Nevada with Pastor Roger Beach officiating. Interment followed in Deerfield Cemetery in Deerfield, MO. Memorials are suggested in his memory to the Vernon County Youth Fair or St. Jude Children’s Hospital c/o Ferry Funeral Home.

MARCH 2021

Applications Open for Missouri Century Farms Source: University of Missouri Extension COLUMBIA, Mo. – If your farm has been in your family since Dec. 31, 1921, you can apply to have it recognized as a Missouri Century Farm. University of Missouri Extension, the MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, and Missouri Farm Bureau sponsor the program. To qualify, the same family must have owned the farm for 100 consecutive years. The line of ownership from the original settler or buyer may be through children, grandchildren, siblings, and nephews or nieces, including through marriage or adoption. The farm must be at least 40 acres of the original land acquisition and make a financial contribution to the overall farm income. “Family farms have been among our most vital partners since the founding of extension more than 100 years ago,” said MU Vice Chancellor for Extension and Engagement Marshall Stewart. “The Century Farm

program is one way we express our gratitude to those who have contributed so much to Missouri agriculture.” “Missouri Farm Bureau is a proud partner in the recognition of Century Farms,” said Garrett Hawkins, Missouri Farm Bureau president. “We applaud the hardworking farm families who have kept us fed and clothed for generations. They represent an important part of our heritage and laid a foundation for the bounty Americans enjoy every day.” Since the program began in 1976, more than 8,000 Missouri farms have received the Century Farm designation. A $120 fee covers the cost of a certificate, farm sign and booklet for approved applicants. County MU Extension centers present these items. Details and online application are at extension.missouri. edu/centuryfarm. Deadline is May 1. You can also contact your local MU Extension center with questions.

MARCH 2021 57

Missouri Leopold Conservation Award Seeks Nominees Know a Missouri farmer, rancher or forester who goes above and beyond in the care and management of natural resources? Nominate them for the 2021 Missouri Leopold Conservation Award®.

MARCH 2021

Sand County Foundation, national sponsor American Farmland Trust, and state partners present the Leopold Conservation Award to private landowners in 22 states for extraordinary achievement in voluntary conservation.

the land in better shape for the next generation.” Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the award recognizes those who inspire others with their dedication to land, water and wildlife habitat management on private, working land. In his influential 1949 book, “A Sand County Almanac,” Leopold called for an ethical relationship between people and the land they own and manage.

In Missouri, the $10,000 award is presented annually with state partners: Missouri Farmers Care Foundation, Missouri Soybean Merchandising Council, and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.

“Recipients of this award are real-life examples of conservation-minded agriculture,” said Kevin McAleese, Sand County Foundation President and Chief Executive Officer. “These hard-working families are essential to our environment, food system and rural economy.”

“The Leopold Conservation Award highlights the great work of Missouri farmers, ranchers and foresters,” said Gary Marshall, chairman of Missouri Farmers Care. “These efforts are firmly rooted in recognizing the enhanced stewardship of farming and ranching operations. This program highlights farmers’ best practices and purpose to meet an ultimate goal: leaving

Nominations may be submitted on behalf of a landowner, or landowners may nominate themselves. The application can be found here and submitted here. All applications must be submitted or postmarked by June 30, 2021. Finalists will be announced in September with plans to present the award in November 2021 at the Missouri Governor’s Conference on Agriculture.

MARCH 2021

USDA Ready to Assist Farmers, Ranchers and Communities Affected by Winter Storms The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is reminding rural communities, farmers and ranchers, families and small businesses affected by the recent winter storms that they have programs that provide assistance. USDA staff in the regional, state and county offices are prepared with a variety of program flexibilities and other assistance to residents, agricultural producers and impacted communities.

numbers by taking photos or videos of any losses.

USDA offers several risk management and disaster assistance options to help producers recover after they are impacted by severe weather, including those impacted by winter storms and extreme cold.

Additionally, USDA can provide financial resources through its Environmental Quality Incentives Program to help with immediate needs and long-term support to help recover from natural disasters and conserve water resources. Assistance may also be available for emergency animal mortality disposal from natural disasters and other causes.

This includes the Livestock Indemnity Program and the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybee and Farm-raised Fish Program that reimburses producers for a portion of the value of livestock, poultry and other animals that were killed or severely injured by a natural disaster or loss of feed.

MARCH 2021

USDA reminds producers that it’s critical to keep accurate records to document the losses and illnesses following this devastating cold weather event. Livestock producers are advised to document beginning livestock

Other common documentation options include: • Purchase records • Production records • Vaccination records • Bank or other loan documents • Third-party certification

The Farm Service Agency (FSA) also has a variety of loans available including emergency loans that are triggered by disaster declarations and operating loans that can assist producers with credit needs. Visit the USDA Disaster Resource Page for more details: https://www.usda.gov/topics/disaster-resource-center

MARCH 2021

Former U.S. Ambassador Gregg Doud Joins Aimpoint Research COLUMBUS, Ohio, Feb. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -Aimpoint Research®, a global, strategic intelligence firm, today welcomes former U.S. Ambassador Gregg Doud as Vice President of Global Situational Awareness & Chief Economist. Doud most recently served as Chief Agricultural Negotiator in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and is one of the primary architects of the U.S.-China “Phase One” trade agreement.

“We are thrilled to bring Gregg onto our team,” said Brett Sciotto, Aimpoint Research CEO. “His economics background, experience in trade and commodity markets and his global perspective will be an extraordinary addition as we serve our clients in the agri-food industry. Gregg will also bring tremendous insights to our thought leadership platforms and Executive Intelligence Network.”

Aimpoint Research specializes in providing superior intelligence to the agri-food value chain and Doud brings an unparalleled global perspective and economic expertise to the team. He will work closely with members of the Executive Intelligence Network (EIN) and play a major role as the organization tackles its thought leadership priorities, including Farmer of the Future, Next Gen Consumer, Mobility of the Future, and more.

Doud cited the company’s approach to intelligence and core values for his decision. “Aimpoint Research is built on the foundational principals of military intelligence and the core belief that food power is essential to national security,” said Doud. “I was drawn to those values, as well as to their distinctive approach to intelligence. They are doing fantastic things in the agri-food industry as they work to build resiliency and competitive advantage for their clients. I’m honored to join them in their mission.” Prior to his role with the U.S. Trade Representative Doud served as President of the Commodity Markets Council, the leading trade association for commodity futures exchanges and their industry counterparts, where he worked to lead the industry in addressing global market and risk management issues.

Custom Cattle Feeding • 12,000 Head Capacity Family owned & operated since 1917

MARCH 2021

Steve Sellers 620-257-2611

Kevin Dwyer 620-680-0404

(Continued on page 64)

Missouri Red Angus Breeders

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

Balancing Performance with Maternal

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

MAPLEWOOD ACRES FARM

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As a senior staff member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Doud helped craft the 2012 Senate Farm Bill working on international trade, food aid, livestock, and oversight of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Doud served as Chief Economist for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association for eight years and is a former market analyst for the U.S. Wheat Associates. Raised on a dry-land wheat, grain sorghum, soybean, swine, and cow-calf operation near Mankato in NorthCentral Kansas, Doud continues to be involved in his family’s 100-year-old farm and is a partner in a commercial cow-calf operation. He received a B.S. in Agriculture with an emphasis in animal science, as well as a M.S. in Agricultural Economics from Kansas State University. He currently resides with his family on their horse farm in Lothian, Maryland. Executive Intelligence Network EIN members have access to a suite of Aimpoint Research services, including its team of experienced analysts and researchers who continually monitor the disruptions, trends, and innovations occurring across the industry. These services include monthly WatchDesk reports, live Battlefield Intelligence briefings, the Annual Agri-Food Intelligence Assessment and more. In addition to unprecedented situational awareness and predictive insights, EIN members have opportunities to connect with other members, which include some of the most innovative and forward-thinking agri-food leaders in the country. To learn more, contact Sarah Tveidt at sarahtveidt@aimpointresearch.com. About Aimpoint Research® Aimpoint Research is a global, strategic intelligence firm serving the agri-food value chain. We offer organizations a competitive advantage by blending best practices from military intelligence disciplines with innovative research methodologies and superior analysis. Visit www.aimpointresearch.com to learn more about our capabilities.

MARCH 2021

Aimpoint Research is proud to be a certified Veteran Owned Small Business (VOSB) by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

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MARCH 2021

Hereford Thrives in an Uncertain Year Source: American Hereford Association KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Despite the challenges of 2020, the American Hereford Association reports breed growth. In a year that was anything but predictable, Hereford breeders and the American Hereford Association (AHA) continued to add value to Hereford genetics. Year-end reports shared during the Association’s recent annual meeting show their efforts paid off. “As the commercial industry has looked to add crossbreeding back into the programs to increase fertility, longevity, disposition — all the things that are known in Hereford cattle — it’s created a great opportunity for us,” says Jack Ward, AHA executive vice president. Ward reports the Association experienced increases in registrations and memberships this fiscal year, while sale averages climbed. “The real excitement within our breed and within our membership is in its growth,” Ward says.“It’s seen growth because the breeders have been committed to genetic improvement and providing the tools necessary to make the changes to produce the type of product that their customer’s need and then, ultimately, the consumer. It’s all encompassing.” A drive for genetic improvement includes a focus on the female. The Association incorporated genomic information into its suite of maternal traits, and female genotypes accounted for almost 60% of the 25,000 genotypes submitted to the organization during the fiscal year.“I really think that speaks highly to our

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MARCH 2021

J. D. Bellis Family Herefords

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breeders’ commitment to really get the most of the females that they’re keeping,” says Shane Bedwell, AHA chief operating officer and director of breed improvement. “You’ll find about a 20% to 25%, up to a 30%, increase in those maternal traits in the last three years.” The Association also reports tremendous strides in other economically relevant traits, including carcass. “We’ve made incredible improvements in postweaning growth and end product merit,” Bedwell adds. “That’s evident in the amount of cattle that are now grading well in the Hereford breed.” Benefits in conversion and cost of gain have more producers utilizing the Association’s commercial programs – like Hereford Advantage – to add value to Hereford and Hereford-influenced calves.Meanwhile, Certified Hereford Beef ® celebrated its 25th anniversary and another successful year. “No matter where you drive in the U.S., you find Hereford cattle. They’re adaptable, they work hard. They’re efficient,” Bedwell notes. “We need efficient cattle in these times and in our production system, and Hereford genetics thrive.” Ward adds, “Producers want it all and, with Herefords, you can ‘Come Home to Hereford,’ use good Hereford genetics and take advantage of those opportunities.” Learn more about additional AHA opportunities or news from AHA’s 2020 Annual Meeting at Hereford. org. You’ll find a series of highlights, including the presentation of more than $150,000 in scholarships, as well as breed honorees and other Hereford news. Virtual educational sessions covering topics from genomics to marketing are also available. Merck Animal Health, Neogen Corporation, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and National Corn Growers Association were among major sponsors of the AHA Annual Membership Meeting and Conference.

MARCH 2021

Fowler Joins AHA Source: AHA The American Hereford Association (AHA) is excited to welcome Chloé Fowler into the newly created position of associate director of youth marketing and education. Fowler started her post Jan. 20. This newly created position will work with the National Junior Hereford Association (NJHA) and Hereford Youth Foundation of America (HYFA) to increase marketing and promotion of junior programs including

the Junior National Hereford Expo, Faces of Leadership, and the NJHA Fed Steer Shootout. “I grew up on a generational beef cattle operation and have a passion for the members and youth involved,” says Fowler. “I am excited about this new role and the challenges that will come along with it as well as the ability to give back to an industry that has given me so much.” Fowler comes from Ono, Calif., and graduated from California Polytechnic State University – San Luis Obispo in 2020. There she majored in agricultural communications and minored in law and society. She was the marketing manager for the Cal Poly Western Bonanza Jr Livestock Show and has interned for the National Western Stock Show and Arizona National Livestock Show.

MARCH 2021

“We are excited about this new position and the addition to our team in the youth activities department,” says Amy Cowan, AHA director of youth cctivities and foundation. “Her background and experience are well suited for this new position we have created.”

MARCH 2021

Never Say Never to Nitrogen Source: University of Missouri Extension COLUMBIA, Mo. – Sometimes it pays to be late. Nitrogen application is one of those times, says University of Missouri Extension nutrient management specialist Peter Scharf. Scharf, who has researched nitrogen application in corn, wheat and other crops for 35 years, continues to favor spring nitrogen application over fall-applied application, especially during wet years, which are becoming more frequent. “Early nitrogen is not a big deal,” says Scharf. He knows this is controversial but says his years of research validate it. In 14 on-farm corn experiments, there was only a 1 bushel per acre difference between fields with zero preplant and 200 pounds single-shot side-dressed nitrogen and fields with an even split (100/100) between pre-plant and side-dress. “There was no payback for that extra trip,” Scharf says.

Similarly, in continuous no-till corn, eight-year total yield remained unchanged when comparing plots where pre-plant N rate was either zero or 50, followed by sidedress N. “That 50 pre gave us no benefit,” Scharf says. Early nitrogen has its place sometimes, but be prepared to replace it. Some worry about stressing corn even for short periods. “Do not worry about early stress in corn. Instead, worry about N stress when corn is going great guns,” he says. Springs in the Midwest continue to trend wetter, and this points to the need for late-applied nitrogen. Twenty-four of the last 39 years have had above-normal precipitation, according to MU Extension climatologist Pat Guinan. Additionally, heavy rains are happening more often. Missouri has seen a 35% increase in 3-inch daily rain events over the past couple decades. Scharf says these trends call for changes in application timing. In May of 2013, a wet year, Scharf applied 140 pounds per acre of nitrogen as anhydrous ammonia plus N-serve to test plots. He recorded a 60-bushel-peracre advantage compared to the same application in October or December. He also used urea and Agrotain, where a single July application beat a single April application, with a 75-bushel advantage.

MARCH 2021

The later the better in a wet year, he says.

Scharf looked at nitrogen timing in no-till corn over a decade. Side-dressed plots showed an advantage of 318 bushels over 10 years with 190 pounds less nitrogen, compared to plots with pre-plant N. Less nitrogen and more corn translate to more profits for the producer, says Scharf.

During six years when precipitation was above 15 inches from April to June, Scharf found a 20- to 100-bushel per acre advantage to side-dressing. Scharf has tested rescue treatments over six years in plots in four states. In wet years, yellow corn still has hope. “The worse it looks, the better it responds,” says Scharf. Scharf’s 2015 experiments showed an average 45-bushel per acre payback in the four worst fields when rescue nitrogen was applied at tassel stage. Crop color is the most accurate way to diagnose nitrogen needs, he says. Several tools exist to help corn growers know how much to apply in fields where the nitrogen supply varies, but crop color is the most accurate indicator. Corn crop sensors can show year-to-year variability. Aerial photos, reflectance sensors and hand-held meters also help. Soil tests are less accurate than assessing crop color. Spring application, especially in growing corn, comes with risks. Wet weather can hamper application. Scharf recommends that producers have a backup plan for aerial application or other means. Wheat needs fall nitrogen, but there is some in the soil already. In eight experiments, Scharf did a 40and 80-pound split application on some plots and a 120-pound spring application on other, nearby plots. There was a 1-bushel yield difference. Delaying nitrogen application to spring is not a problem in wheat, he says. This may not be the case on sandy soils and when tillers are thin, but neither case is common in Missouri. A single shot pre-jointing seemed to work best in Missouri fields with adequate tillers at green-up. With on-farm field-scale wheat experiments in 2020, shifting N from the green-up stage to the pre-jointing stage (about a month later) netted the farmer 5-10 extra bushels of wheat.

MARCH 2021 71

Missouri Angus Breeders The #1 State For Angus! Spring Sale March 15

The Pipkin Family

9770 W. State Hwy 266 • Springfield, MO 65802 j_pipkin@sbcglobal.net • clearwaterangus.com Jim (cell) 417-827-0623 • Joann (cell) 417-827-2756 WD & Bonita Bulls • Replacement Females for Sale

Kenny & Janyce Hinkle 14103 E. Summers Rd. • Nevada, MO 64773 Ph/Fax: 417-944-2219 • Cell: 417-448-4127 E-mail: hpca@centurytel.net

GERLOFF FARMS

Russel and Randy Miller 21146 400th Street Graham, MO 64455 660-254-0137 • 660-415-6339 E-mail: galaxybeef@hotmail.com

WEIKER

Angus Ranch

AHIR Bulls Semen Available Females

Connealy Power Surge

Bulls are our Business!

660-248-3640

Fred Weiker • Julia Weiker Fred: 660-248-3765

3154 Hwy A Bland, MO 65014 573-437-3751/2507 Charlie Cell: 573-680-9117 Kim Cell: 573-291-1091 khuebler@fidnet.com www.gerloffcattle.com

Dedicated to the Livestock Industry Since 1906

1339 Hwy 124, • Fayette, MO 65248 “Where the Extraordinary are Availible”

For All Your Angus Needs! March 19 Performance Tested Bull and Female Sale 22227 Saline 127 Hwy • Malta Bend, Mo 65359 Brian Marshall • (660) 641-4522 www.marshallandfennerfarms.com

Since 1942

Spring Sale March 6 2021

21658 Quarry Lane • Barnett, MO 65011 Office: 573-302-7011 • Fax: 573-348-8325 E-mail: meadangus@yahoo.com Website: www.meadfarms.com

MARCH 2021

Alan Mead, Owner 573-216-0210

Production Sale March 17 • 2021

Julie Conover, Gen. Manager 634 S.W. 1201 Rd • Holden, MO 64040

734-260-8635

E-mail: Julie@missouriangus.org

missouriangus.org

Doug & LaRee Frank 608-279-3172 Brent & Keri Hazelrigg 703-587-9959 Visit us online: FHCCbeef.com

334 Seth St. - Lincoln, MO 65338 www.RichardsonRanch.net adrrmd@mail.missouri.edu

Registered Angus Bulls & Females Available

Pete 660-281-0353

Ashlyn 660-281-1720

Russell & Susan Coon

1318 Shelby 169, Bethel, MO 63434 660-284-6518 h • 660-341-2705 c ruscatsol@gmail.com

Larry Coon

1284 Shelby 169, Bethel, MO 63434 660-284-6473 h • 660-342-3889 c

MARCH 2021

Differentiating the Value of Feeder Cattle Source: Whitney Whitaker, Angus Communications Latest Angus University webinar educates on revolutionary marketing opportunities. Traditionally, cow-calf producers have found themselves without a way to differentiate their product. Today, that’s not the case. A revolutionary shift from commodity-based marketing to value-based marketing is happening, and it is good news for cattlemen. “We consider this a revolution in marketing because every other sector of the business understood the value of genetics and differentiating their product based on those specifications,” says Troy Marshall, director of commercial industry relations at the American Angus Association. “Here is an opportunity for the cow-calf producer to participate in value-based marketing.”

MARCH 2021

During the Angus University “Revolutionary Marketing” webinar hosted Tuesday, Feb. 16, Marshall shared that cattleman have invested in good genetics and now is the time they can stand out in the marketplace. Commercial cattlemen can capture the value created by exceptional management and genetics they put into their cattle. For seedstock producers, he also shared how

the AngusLinkSM program can serve as a customer service tool that benefits their commercial customers. AngusLink is the umbrella program that covers the genetic merit scorecard, U.S. Department of Agriculture Process Verified Programs and the Global Animal Partnership (GAP) certification. Depending on operational goals, producers can get paid for the work they are already doing by enrolling and earning market access and market flexibility. As this revolution builds steam, the “network effect” will continue to be greater the more people get on board. Marshall believes that participating gives producers the opportunity to improve their operations and truly make a difference in the industry. Revolutionary Marketing was the latest in a series of Angus University webinars, conducted monthly by the Association, designed to sharpen the skills of cattle producers. Angus University provides education and resources to cattlemen in all segments of the beef industry, including American Angus Association members. To learn more visit www.angus.org/ university/. All past webinars are recorded and available to view at: http://bit.ly/auplaylist.

MARCH 2021

Fescue Renovation School Scheduled for March 23 in Mount Vernon Source: University of Missouri Extension MOUNT VERNON, Mo. – Forage producers can learn to improve pastures, beef herds and profits at upcoming schools hosted by University of Missouri Extension. MU Extension specialists will join other experts from across the country to tell how to renovate Kentucky 31 toxic tall fescue pastures at an in-person school in Mount Vernon. The one-day school is 8:45 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 23, at the MU Southwest Research Center at Mount Vernon. MU Extension state forage specialist Craig Roberts bills the Mount Vernon workshop as a “must attend” for Missouri beef and forage producers who are serious about ending losses in cows and calves. “Beef and forage producers will learn how to renovate pastures for healthier and more profitable herds,” says Roberts. “Renovation pays.” Participants will leave with an understanding of why they should renovate K-31 pastures and the knowledge to do it, he says.

MARCH 2021

The event is sponsored by the Alliance for Grassland

Renewal, whose partners include universities, government, industries and nonprofit groups. Sessions focus on toxic fescue, management of novel tall fescue, establishment techniques and a panel discussion on the economics of converting toxic tall fescue fields to nontoxic tall fescue. In addition to classroom training, there will be sessions on drill calibration and tours of Southwest Center’s research plots. Speakers include leading forage and beef experts from MU, Virginia Tech, Noble Research Institute, North Carolina State University, Clemson University, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and private industry. Participants will receive lunch and a notebook with information from presentations. Space is limited due to social distancing measures. For those who cannot attend, the Alliance for Grassland Renewal will offer a virtual school Feb. 23-25 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. CST. There also will be an in-person workshop March 25 in Lexington, Kentucky. Register for the in-person workshop in Mount Vernon at TallFescueMO2021.eventbrite.com by March 21. Register for the virtual school at www. GrasslandRenewal.org/workshops.

MARCH 2021

On the Edge of

Common Sense with Baxter Black Progress Imagine you were a livestock man in medieval England a thousand years ago. It’s early spring. Snow on the ground, mud in the cow lot. You walk the small pasture where the heavy heifers are kept. It’s hard to see much with just the moonlight. But you spot one that’s down in a swale. She’s on her side in the process of calving. One foot is showing. You check the rest of the cows the best you can and go back to the heifer. No progress. You wait a little longer, then resigned to your duty, you walk back to the cow lot and set the gates. On your way back to get the heifer the wind blows down your neck and you shiver. Using a long stick you got the heifer up and drive her into the cow lot. There’s some straw scattered behind the windbreak. She finds it and lays down. You walk to the earthen roofed shed to collect your tools. You manage to ease up on her and drop a homemade halter over her head and tie her loosely to a post on the windbreak. There is tepid water in your oaken bucket. After takin’ off your tunic you wash yer arms and kneel down behind her.

MARCH 2021

Taking a three-foot leather thong, you slip a noose around the protruding foot. Following yer father’s advice, you next slip a hand inside and search for the other foot. You attach a second thong to it, take a wrap around each hand and begin to pull.

By pulling when she pushes, resting when she rests, you and she finally deliver the calf two hours later.

You rub him down, get him under the flank to suck and get to bed at daybreak. Sound familiar? However, we have made some progress in a thousand years. We’ve traded the moonlight for a flashlight, a (grass-hemp) rope for a nylon, wool underwear for goose down, leather shoes for rubber boots, leather thongs for chrome plated O.B. chains and we’ve traded patience for a ratchet calf puller. But for the most part much of the process remains the same. Cold feet, bare arms, sweat in your eyes, small heifers and big calves, manual labor and dogged determination. Progress has mechanized, modernized and computerized much of our world from farming to pharmacy, from coal mining to dentistry, from astronomy to architecture. But those of us who practice the ancient art of birthing livestock could trade places with our counterparts a thousand years ago, or even two thousand years ago, and we’d be interchangeable almost immediately. Sorta like horseshoers, acupuncturists, dog trainers and herbal medicine salesmen. Makes ya think, doesn’t it?

Missouri Land Values Continue to Grow Source: University of Missouri Extension COLUMBIA, Mo. – All classes of Missouri land values grew steadily in the past year, according to the University of Missouri Extension’s annual survey of farmers, rural appraisers and agricultural lenders. Ray Massey, MU Extension agricultural economics professor, heads the survey efforts. No governmental or public agencies in Missouri require the reporting of land values, said Massey. Despite the limited number of respondes, the survey gives the best available estimates for tracts larger than 40 acres in Missouri. Low-interest rates and nonfarm recreational purchases pushed values upward in 2020. A couple of other factors brought new investors to the table. Buyers of farmland near metropolitan areas said that expansion of broadband internet made these properties more attractive to investors. COVID-19 also nudged some city dwellers to buy property in rural areas to build a house. Massey said this likely is a short-term phenomenon and should not factor into long-term land values in these areas. Respondents gave estimates of land values as of July 2020 for three classes of cropland and pasture (good, average and poor), irrigated cropland, timberland and hunting/recreational land. This year’s respondents reported the statewide average

CENTRAL MISSOURI SALES CO. 3503 S. Limit • Sedalia, MO

Your Reliable Market In Mid-Missouri Certified Special VACC Calf Sales the 1st and 3rd Mondays at 2:00 p.m.

660-826-8286

Jay Fowler Cary Brodersen E.H. Fowler 660-473-1562 660-473-6373 660-473-1048

The average statewide value for irrigated cropland came in at $6,335, up $186 from the year before. The greatest increases in average values were in pastureland and timber/hunting/recreation land. However, values varied greatly throughout the state, Massey said. “This underscores the need to use caution when valuing any one parcel of land or using individual districts.” Most respondents indicated that 60% of farmland buyers intend to farm the land themselves and 25% plan to rent the land to others. The remaining 12% bought the land for nonfarming purposes. USDA estimates of cropland value are $999 per acre lower than the MU Extension survey’s estimate for average cropland. For pastureland, the USDA estimate is $833 less than the survey’s estimate. Missouri farmland and building values have steadily appreciated 6% per year since 1950, Massey said. USDA reported Missouri land values have been slightly under trend for the past two years. Missouri timberland was up $251 to $2,561 per acre. Hunting/recreation land was up $125 to $2,581 per acre. “Missouri Farm Land Values Opinion Survey” (MU Extension publication G401) is available online and as a free PDF download at extension.missouri.edu/G401.

MARCH 2021

Sale Every Monday at 11:00 a.m.

value of good non-irrigated cropland at $5,555 per acre, $134 or 2 percent above the 2019 value.

Beef Is, and Always Will Be Sustainable Source: Jerry Bohn, NCBA President There is an ongoing conversation in consumer spaces about beef’s contribution to climate change. In many circles, beef is being painted as a villain that can be minimized and/or eliminated to help solve global climate issues. On the ground, as cattle producers, we know this isn’t accurate. In fact, we know it’s an outrageous lie that’s being used to sell consumers a fake meat product they don’t want or need and one that won’t do anything to solve climate problems. The reality is that we know cattle can be a part of the solution. We know that pasture and rangeland, through proper management, can actually reduce the amount of carbon and more than offset the short-lived methane emissions of our cattle. Climate and environmental stewardship matter to farmers and ranchers, we feel the impacts of our stewardship decisions every day and we are the first, and most affected portion of the population, when it rains too much or too little. We are the first to be impacted when the weather is too hot or too cold and we’ve seen time and again the consequences of a changing environment. Because of this, most of the

farmers and ranchers I speak with are committed to protecting the resources we manage and doing our part to make improvements. However, to make real change, Americans and decisionmakers around the world must recognize that cattle farmers and ranchers are part of the solution. Every food has an impact so simply swapping out beef for alternative proteins or lab-manipulated fake meat will never be an effective solution. The reality is that consumers in the United States and elsewhere are going to continue to consume meat and there is no nation better at raising cattle and beef in an efficient and environmentally friendly manner than we do right here at home. U.S. cattle producers don’t clear forests for pastures, we don’t plow up land that shouldn’t be farmed and we ensure that our animals are cared for through every phase of their life. On our feedlot in Kansas, we make certain that animals have fresh feed and clean water every day. We take pride in management practices that both care for our cattle and produce the best quality beef possible. By ensuring the beef we produce meets consumer demand we’re also helping to reduce food waste when our products reach the consumer.

MARCH 2021

On our farms and ranches, cattlemen and women are controlling invasive weeds and maintaining the pastures that feed our animals. Our farms and ranches provide open spaces that create habitat for wild animals that would otherwise be pushed out by housing developments and urbanization. We do these things because it makes our operations better but also because it is the right, sustainable thing to do. Our families depend on our lands year-after-year, generation-aftergeneration.

If consumers choose alternative proteins rather than beef, they should know the facts about those products and not just the sensationalized marketing that some activists are using to sell a product that has historically been ignored by consumers. In the past, consumers have largely

rejected these products as a highly processed, expensive and inferior alternative to real beef. There are people who have invested in fake meat companies seeking to profit from legitimate consumer concerns about climate change and the environment. The science disputes the claims of alternative protein companies. The fact is, even the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that U.S. beef production has a minimal footprint when it comes to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Beef production is responsible for only 2 percent of U.S. GHG emissions. Even when the production of animal feed, fuel and electricity necessary for beef production is factored into the equation, it is still responsible for just 3.7 percent of GHG in the United States, according to EPA. In contrast, emissions from electricity generation account for 28 percent of U.S. emissions and transportation accounts for 29 percent of U.S. emissions. It’s likely that you’ve heard individuals like Bill Gates claim that U.S. livestock’s contribution to climate change is immense. However, these claims are flat out wrong. Some activists and others like Gates often cited old claims made in the United Nation’s debunked report titled Livestock’s Long Shadow. They also use global numbers about U.S. cattle production to back their marketing claims and sell their products.

It’s critical that Americans understand that global GHG emissions are skewed higher because they include emissions from nations whose cattle and beef management systems are far less efficient than the those in the United States. Global numbers also include countries like India, which have large bovine populations but where harvest is very low or nonexistent because of cultural or religious practices. In global terms, U.S. beef cattle production counts for just .5 percent of global GHG emissions, so even if every American stopped eating beef in favor of fake meat substitutes, there would be virtually no discernable impact on our changing climate. The U.S. beef production system is among the most productive and efficient in the world and it continues to improve over time. Between 1975 and 2017, beef cattle emissions declined 30 percent. Today, the U.S. produces 18 percent of the world’s beef with just 6 percent of the world’s cattle numbers. This is possible through commitments to animal welfare, better animal nutrition and advancements in genetics. Those statistics are often overlooked or ignored by individuals like Bill Gates, the writers at OZY and others who are working to advance an agenda that drives people away from eating meat using scare tactics and unsound science to advance their cause and line their pockets with grocery money from well-meaning, concerned consumers who have been sold something they don’t want and never needed in the first place.

Spring Show-Me-Select Heifer Sales Set Source: University of Missouri Extension COLUMBIA, Mo. – Spring 2021 Show-Me-Select sale dates are set, says Erin Larimore, coordinator of the University of Missouri Extension program. The sales give beef herd owners from across the nation the opportunity to bid on top replacement heifers. Bidders get a guaranteed pregnant heifer and data on her genetics. They also receive a sales catalog that gives expected calving dates for the heifers. Locations, dates and coordinators SEMO Livestock Sales LLC, Fruitland, 7 p.m. Friday, May 7; Erin Larimore, 660-281-5518, larimoreE@ missouri.edu.

Joplin Regional Stockyards, Carthage, 7 p.m. Friday, May 21; Eldon Cole, 417-466-3102, ColeE@missouri. edu. South Central Regional Stockyards, Vienna, 6 p.m. Friday, May 21; Anita Ellis, 573-642-0755, snella@ missouri.edu. F&T Livestock Market, Palmyra, 6 p.m. Saturday, June 5; Daniel Mallory, 573-985-3911, MalloryD@missouri. edu. For past sales results and catalogs, go to extension. missouri.edu/programs/show-me-select-replacementheifer-program.

MARCH 2021

Farmington Regional Stockyards LLC, Farmington, 7 p.m. Friday, May 14; Kendra Graham, 573-756-4539, grahamKK@missouri.edu.

Kingsville Livestock Auction, Kingsville, 11 a.m. Saturday, May 15; David Hoffman, 816-380-8460, HoffmanD@missouri.edu.

MARCH 2021

SALE CALENDAR March 5 March 6 March 6 March 6 March 6 March 12 March 12 March 13 March 13 March 13 March 13 March 13 March 13 March 15 March 17 March 18 March 18

Express Ranches Spring Bull Sale, Yukon, OK Mead Farms Spring Sale, Versailles, MO Peterson Farms Bull Sale, Mountain Grove, MO Seedstock Plus Arkansas Bull & Female Sale, Hope, AR Hilltop Farms Gelbvieh & Balancer Bull & Female Sale, JRS, Carthage, MO Wall Street Cattle Co. Angus Bull & Female Sale, Lebanon, MO Schlager Angus Production Sale, Palmyra, MO Genetic Power Gelbvieh & Balancer Bull & Female Sale, Springfield, MO Sampson Annual Bull Sale, Kirksville, MO Wright Charolais Bull Sale, Kearney, MO Express Honor Roll Sale, Yukon, OK Heart of the Ozarks Angus Sale, West Plains, MO Seedstock Plus Red Reward Bull & Female Sale, Osceola, MO Hinkle’s Prime Cut Angus Sale, Nevada, MO Valley Oaks Spring Sale, Lone Jack, MO Henke Farms Bull & Female Sale, Salisbury, MO Benoit Angus Ranch Sale, Esbon, KS

Callaway Livestock Center, Inc.

On I-70, 4 miles east of Kingdom City, MO on outer road

573-642-7486 Every Monday:

Slaughter Cattle 12:00 p.m. Selling All Classes of Cattle 12:30 p.m.

MARCH 2021

1st Thursday Nite of Each Month:

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

John P. Harrison 573-386-5150 Jack Harrison 573-386-2186 David Bell 660-327-5633

March 19 March 19 March 19 March 20 March 20 March 20 March 20 March 20 March 21 March 21 March 22 March 22 March 23 March 27 March 27 March 27 March 27 March 27 March 27 March 27 March 27 March 27 March 28 March 29 March 29 April 1 April 2 April 3

Marshall & Fenner Farms Sale, Marshall, MO THM Land & Cattle Sale, Vienna, MO Sunflower Genetics Sale, Maple Hill, KS Pinegar Annual Herdbuilder XXVII Sale, Springfield, MO Falling Timber Farm Sale, Marthasville, MO Aschermann Charolais Bull Sale, Carthage, MO Brinkley Angus Ranch Sale, Green City, MO Mississippi Valley Angus Sale, Palmyra, MO Magness Southern Division Bull Sale, Miami, OK April Valley Farm Angus Sale, St. Joseph, MO Green Springs Bull Sale, Nevada MO Oleen Brothers Sale, Dwight, KS GenePlus Brangus Sale, Eureka, KS Worthington Angus Sale, Dadeville, MO Seedstock Plus South Missouri Bull Sale, Carthage, MO Maplewood Acres Sale, Sedalia, MO Northeast Missouri Performance Tested Bull Sale, Palmyra, MO 8 Story Farms Sale, Gallatin, MO Green Springs Cow Sale, Nevada, MO Sandhill Farms Sale, Haviland, KS Arkansas Multi-Breed Bull & Commercial Female Sale, Heber Springs, AR 3C Cattle Company Production Sale, Carrollton, MO Silver Genetics Salers Sale, Maryville, MO SouthWest Missouri Performance Tested Bull & Female Sale, Springfield, MO Live Wire Auction Foundational Female Sale, Springfield, MO Hunter Angus Sale, Fair Grove, MO Meyer Cattle Co. Sale Curryville, MO Ade Polled Hereford Sale, Amsterdam, MO

Four State Angus Association Sale Springfield, MO Show-Me Classic Bull & Female Sale, Windsor, MO B/F Cattle Co. Sale, Butler, MO Ridder Farms Bull & Female Sale, Hermann, MO Magness Western Slope Bull Sale, Loma, CO Gardiner Angus Ranch Sale, Ashland, KS Brockmere Farms Inc. Sale, New Cambria, MO Howard County Angus Association Sale, Fayette, MO Central Missouri Polled Hereford Sale, Cuba, MO Renaissance Sale, Strafford, MO Fink Beef Genetics Sale, Randolph, KS Sydenstricker Genetic Influence Sale New Cambria, MO McBee Spring Selection Day Sale, Fayette, MO East CentralMissouri Angus Association Sale, Cuba, MO New Day Genetics Sale, Salem, MO Valley View Angus Farm Online Female Sale, Republic, MO NextGen Cattle Co. Spring Event Sale, Paxico, KS Missouri Red Angus Sale, Springfield, MO Wild Indian Acres Charolais Bull Sale, DeSoto, MO Mead Angus Farms Spring Female Sale, Versailles, MO Gardiner Angus Ranch “Meating Demand” Bull Sale, Ashland, KS Soaring Eagle Production Sale, Springfield, MO Great American Pie Annual Limousin Sale, Lebanon, MO Spur Ranch “Back To Grass” Sale, Vinita, OK

MBC Classified The MBC Classified column appears monthly. Classified advertising is only 50¢ a word. Send your check with your ad to Missouri Beef Cattleman, 2306 Bluff Creek Drive, #100, Columbia, Mo 65201. Deadline 15th of month before an issue.

“REESE” DISC MOWERS, CADDY V-RAKES, “REESE” TUBE-LINE BALE WRAPPER, AITCHISON DRILLS, SELF-UNLOADING HAY TRAILERS, HEAVY DUTY BALE AND MINERAL FEEDERS, FEED BUNKS, BALE SPIKES, CONTINUOUS FENCING, COMPLETE CORRAL SYSTEMS, INSTALLATION AVAILABLE: Tigerco Distributing Co. 660-645-2212, 800-432-4020 or www.tigercoinc.com. BLACK SIMMENTAL BULLS SINCE 1993: Calving Ease, Attractive, Athletic, Sound Footed and Docile. We Deliver. Mike Williams, Higginsville, 816-797-5450

MARCH 2021

April 3 April 3 April 3 April 3 April 3 April 3 April 5 April 9 April 10 April 10 April 10 April 13 April 17 April 17 April 17 April 22 April 23 April 24 April 24 May 8 May 10 May 22 May 22 May 22

MARCH 2021

Advertiser Index

8 Story Farms Sale.......................... 52 Ade Polled Hereford Sale................ 71 Ag Power John Deere...................... 17 American Angus Association.......... 32 April Valley Sale............................. 74 B/F Cattle Co Sale.......................... 55 Bradley Cattle ................................ 63 Brickhouse Farms Red Angus........ 63 Brockmere Angus Sale.................... 76 Buffalo Livestock Market................ 28 Callaway Livestock Center Inc.......96 Central Missouri Polled Hereford Sale.............................. 70 Central Missouri Sales Co.............. 83 Classified Ads.................................. 97 Clearwater Farm............................. 72 Coon Angus Ranch........................ 72 Cotton Seed ...................................29 Double A Land & Cattle................. 63 Durham Simmental Farms.............46 Ellis Cattle Company Red Angus.......................................... 63 Ertell Cattle Company Civil War Bull............................56 F&T Livestock Market....................36 Falling Timber Farms Sale............. 67 Fink Beef Genetics Sale.................. 83 Frank and Hazelrigg Angus........... 72 Friday - Cartoon............................. 16 Galaxy Beef LLC............................ 72 Gardiner Sale.................................. 81 GenePlus Brangus...........................49 Gerloff Farms.................................. 72 Grassworks - Weed Wiper............... 21 Green Springs Bull Test Sale..........65 Green’s Welding & Sales...................7 Hinkle’s Prime Cut Angus.............. 72 HydraBed........................................ 25 J.D. Bellis Family Herefords...........66 Jim’s Motors.................................... 32 Joplin Regional Stockyards........... 100 Kingsville Livestock Auction..........36 KK Farms Red Angus.................... 63 KT Farms........................................46 Lacy’s Red Angus........................... 63

Lucas Cattle Co..............................46 Magness Sale..................................60 Maple Oaks Red Angus.................. 63 Maplewood Acres Farm.................. 63 Maplewood Acres Sale.................... 62 Marshall & Fenner Farms............... 72 Marshall & Fenner Farms Sale....... 73 MC Livestock Red Angus............... 63 MCA - Top Hand Award Program......................................86 MCA - Cowboys at the Capitol...... 39 MCA - MCLC................................ 87 MCA - Member Benefits ...............95 MCA - Membership Form.............. 93 MCA - Membership Signs..............94 MCA - MJCA Point Program........ 91 MCA - Policy Priorities...................38 MCA - Presidents Council..............89 MCA - Show-Me-Select Sale Credit..................................88 McBee Cattle Co. Sale.................... 45 MCF - CLS - Altosid ..................... 33 McPherson Concrete Products....... 97 Mead Cattle Co..............................44 Mead Farms.................................... 72 Merck Animal Health..................... 27 Merry Meadows Simmental...........46 Meyer Manufacturing.................... 15 MFA ............................................... 37 Mike Williams................................ 35 Missouri Angus Association............ 72 Missouri Angus Breeders................ 72 Missouri Beef Industry Council...... 19 Missouri Limousin Breeders Association...................................... 61 Missouri Red Angus Association.................................. 63 Missouri Red Angus Association Sale..........................64 Missouri Red Angus Breeders........ 63 Missouri Simmental Association....46 Missouri Simmental Breeders.........46 MLS Tubs....................................... 35 MultiMin USA................................ 13

NEMO BCIA Sale..........................48 NextGen Cattle Co. Sale................ 51 Oleen Brothers Sale........................69 Ory’s 07 Red Angus........................64 Oval F Ranch.................................46 Ozark Farm & Neighbor.................99 Ozark Hills Genetics....................... 63 P.H. White.......................................84 Pinegar Limousin............................ 59 Richardson Ranch.......................... 72 Ridder Farms Sale.......................... 53 RLE Simmental..............................46 Rogers Cattle Co. and Lile Farms Red Angus................ 63 Sampson Cattle Co......................... 72 Sandhill Farms Sale........................68 Seedstock Plus Sales........................ 57 Sellers Feedlot................................. 62 Shoal Creek Land & Cattle............ 63 Shoal Creek Land & Cattle............46 Silver Spur Sale .............................58 Slayton Farms.................................46 South Central Regional Stockyards..................................20 Square B Ranch/Quality Beef........ 72 Steaks Alive.....................................46 Sunflower Genetics Sale................. 47 Superior Steel Sales......................... 43 SW Missouri All Breed Performance Tested Bull & Female Sale.............................50 Sydenstricker Genetics.................... 72 Sydenstricker Genetics Influence Sale............................. 79 Touchstone Energy......................... 23 Valley Oaks Angus.......................... 72 Valley Oaks Angus Sale.................. 75 Weiker Angus Ranch...................... 72 Westway Feeds..................................9 Wheeler Auctions & Real Estate..... 35 Wheeler Livestock Market.............. 71 Windrush Farm Red Angus............ 63 Worthington Angus Sale................ 77 Y-Tex.............................................2, 3

March 2021 Missouri Beef Cattleman

Articles inside

Straight Talk: Mike Deering

Understanding Losses

Capitol Update

County News

Beef Checkoff News

Association Update