Cow Country News - January 2023

Some tasks seem like they take a long time to do, but if we break them down, they are a tiny percentage of the 24 hours a day or 168 hours a week we are given. A quick internet search tells me about 50% of the adult population has a chronic illness, and nearly 80% of the adult population doesn’t meet the minimal weekly physical activity guidelines. Of course, correlation doesn’t equal causation, but I feel like there is something there. People could meet the minimum physical activity guidelines with less than 2% of the hours in a week. If you couple that physical activity with a diet that is only fruits, vegetables, and meat, you will feel like a new person in three weeks. Cassie and I make it a point to attend a church service together once a week. Clinical Psychologist Dr. Jordan Peterson has a point he often makes about religion. A paraphrased version is that even if you don’t believe in God or practice religion, your life will be infinitely better if you act in a way that God does exist. Choosing not to murder, commit adultery, steal, bear false witness or covet will in no way reduce your quality of life. Like the gym, it is easy to convince yourself to skip church (or a similar spiritual introspection) because you are busy or tired and will go next time. However, I can’t recall when investing 0.5% of my time for the week didn’t give at least some tiny message I thought back on throughout the following week. These are two examples of a fractional amount of time in our day or week can yield a significant return to our physical and mental well-being, yet they are the first things we leave off when life gets in the way.

In commercial cow herds, producers are often so focused on the big picture and daily chores that it is easy to miss those minimal time investments that yield the greatest return. Feeding cattle takes the overwhelming majority of my daily hours right now, so I understand how things slip through the cracks in your own herd. However, it is not always the busy season. A managed breeding season is the number one thing you can do to increase profitability. A tight calving season also reduces labor requirements. All it takes is removing your bull once a year, and it is a task that should take no longer than 30 minutes from start to finish. Pregnancy checking is a job that identifies those animals that are not paying their way. One cow not producing takes the profit from at least four productive cows. We like to run groups of 25 pairs during the breeding season, and I can pregnancy-check the cows and vaccinate the calves in about two hours. That is a time investment and vet bill that will more than pay for itself. These are two minimal jobs with some of the highest returns on investment in a cow herd but seem to get left off in lower-performing herds. Seedstock producers would make better breeding decisions and certainly make their commercial customers better off if they also made some minimal time investments. Foot structure, heifer fertility, hair shed, and mature cow size are some of the most critical factors impacting the profitability of the commercial cow herd in the southeast, but some of the least collected data points in the Angus breed. We foot-score our yearlings upon exit from the

head gate and every year after to monitor for changes over time. It takes about 30 seconds per animal. Every seed stock producer should be pregnancy-checking their heifers each year, so there is no extra time to collect heifer pregnancy data. I utilize spreadsheet entry, and it takes me less than an hour to submit breeding records. Every seed stock producer should have a good inventory of their breeding groups each summer. I keep a printed inventory with me, and in mid-May each year, I check off each adult animal and give them a hair shed score when I feed mineral. My commercial customers put hair shed pretty high on their selection criteria, just behind optimal calving ease, weaning weight, and foot structure. Hair scoring is the simplest data we collect in the cow herd. Lastly, cow size is a considerable driver in the overall profitability of a cow herd. As a seed stock producer, you have scales under your chute to weigh your calves. Turn them on and weigh your cows. We have markings on the side to measure height, and body condition scores are just as easy to collect as hair scores.

All of these examples I just listed are fractional time investments when it comes to the big picture of our operations. In the commercial cow herd, those two jobs can be done in exactly one day. Pregnancy-checking your cows and establishing a calving season take 0.2% of the time of a commercial cattle producer in a year. Yet, I can’t drive anywhere in Kentucky (or anywhere else) without seeing someone calving 365. From a seed stock standpoint, the foot scores, heifer pregnancy data, hair shed, and cow size are so easy to collect, yet I rarely see all of them done when looking up an animal in the database. It takes more time to submit that data than it does to collect it. It would take me three days (or 0.8% of my time) to submit every bit of information we collect in a year. I am undoubtedly guilty of leaving a data set on my desk for too long before submitting it, but late submission is far better than no collection. We are all busy, and none of us have time, but fractional time investments can yield a significant return to our commercial cow herds and genetic base, yet they are the first things we leave off when time restraints get in the way. Every action is a vote for the type of person we want to be. Whenever we go to the gym when we don’t want to, we become the type of person who doesn’t skip workouts. In time, people that don’t miss workouts become a stronger and healthier version of themselves. Management in the cow herd is no different. Make small daily actions to build habits to become the type of cattleman that has a calving season, does their annual herd health work, and collects all the data. That is how you increase returns on your investment, especially in this time of high input costs. You don’t go from laying on the couch to running a marathon the next day, and don’t expect that of yourself in your cow herd. However, running a marathon starts with just a few small steps.

Contact joe.lowe@icloud.com for an additional monthly newsletter

Joe K. Lowe II

PRESIDENT

Cary King

250 Bright Leaf Drive Harrodsburg, KY 40330 (859) 613-3734

PRESIDENT ELECT

Andy Bishop

6135 High Grove Road Cox's Creek, KY 40013 (502) 350-7609

VICE PRESIDENT

Jeff Pettit 5745 US Highway 41 S Seebree, KY 42455 (270) 836-2963

TREASURER

Ken Adams

90 E Horseshoe Ave. Upton, KY 42784 (270) 734-1443

PAST PRESIDENT

Chris Cooper

2140 Tates Creek Road Richmond, KY 40475 (859) 200-7711

KCA PROGRAM CHAIRMAN

Daniel Hayden 6333 Herbert Road Whitesville, KY 42378 (270) 570-2815

KBC CHAIRMAN

Joe Lowe PO Box 205 Smith’s Grove, KY 42171 (270) 202-4399

KBN CHAIRMAN* Allan Bryant

BEEF SOLUTIONS CHAIRMAN* Jeff Pettit

KCA PAST PRESIDENTS:

1972-73 Jere Caldwell† - Boyle 2003 Mark Williams - Crittenden

1974-77 Smith T. Powell† - Lincoln 2004 Paul Napier - Lincoln

1978-79 Larry Lovell† - Union 2005 Eddie Young - Washington

1980-82 John Masters† - Mason 2006 Greg Ritter† - Barren

1983-85 Seldon Hail† - Laurel 2007 Don Pemberton - Christian 1986-87 Bob Vickery† - Wayne 2008 Billy Glenn Turpin - Madison

1988 Glenn Mackie - Bourbon 2009 Scotty Parsons - Christian

1989 Dale Lovell† - Muhlenberg 2010 Corinne Kephart - Shelby

1990 Steve Henshaw† - Union 2011 Greg Robey - Mercer

1991 Jerry Fraim - Grayson 2012 Mike Bach - Bath

1992 Glen Massengale† - Wayne 2013 Don Reynolds - Hart

1993 Dell King - Christian 2014 Steve Downs - Marion

1994 Kenneth Lowe - Warren 2015 Gary Woodall - Logan

1995 Dr. J.L.Cole - Monroe 2016 David Lemaster - Clark

1996 Harvey Mitchell - Mercer 2017 Chuck Crutcher - Hardin

1997 Jim Naive† - Spencer 2018 Bobby Foree - Henry

1998 Shelby Hughes - Logan 2019 Tim White - Fayette

1999 Hoppy Lovell - Barren 2020 Steve Dunning - Christian

2000 Charles Miller - Jessamine 2021 Chris Cooper - Madison

2001 Larry Clay - Perry 2022 Cary King

2002 Jack Kimbrough† - Shelby †(Deceased)

REGION 1

Bobby Bell*.................................270-547-8547

Buddy Cook.................................270-275-1274

Ashley Holloway.................................................

Leland Steely...............................270-339-3476

Don Pemberton...........................270-889-3855

Wayne Zoleman...........................270-315-7812

Mark Heimgartner........................270-875-2585

Jeremy Armstrong......................270-668-2056

Blake Munger..............................270-293-8830

Sara Roberson............................270-668-2428

REGION 2

Adam Maulden*..........................270-590-1005

Dennis Smith..............................270-590-2840

Trent Jones.................................270-590-5266

Chuck Crutcher...........................270-272-6269

Allison Nissley.............................270-403-3205

Steven Green...............................270-528-1720

Maggie Vaughn...........................270-590-8017

Mike Bullock................................270-792-9644

Corbin Cowles.............................270-991-2534

Kirk Cecil.....................................270-692-7698

Isaac Thompson.........................270-789-8712

Rayetta Boone.............................270-230-5488

Andy Joe Moore..........................270-590-0841

Brian Manion...............................270-868-0253

Phyllis Gentry..............................502-331-1146

REGION 3

Allan Bryant*..............................502-548-1379

Allen Phillips...............................502-220-0948

Wanda Hawkins..........................502-321-5602

Phillip Douglas............................502-552-0688

Larry Bryant................................502-845-4615

Amanda Hall................................859-333-5001

Nicole Goecke.............................606-782-2263

Maynard Stetten..........................502-609-4986

Kevin Perkins..............................502-269-7189

John Allison................................502-220-3170

Michelle Simon..................................................

REGION 4

Randy Warner*............................859-771-5280

Lisa Baesler................................859-509-5020

Tim White....................................859-509-5401

Amy White...................................859-227-2552

Donovan Pigg..............................502-229-9187

Bruce Witt...................................859-585-8889

Jodi Purvis..................................606-336-3540

Mike Ravencraft...........................606-584-0310

Brandon Sears...................................................

Danny Callahan...........................859-388-0910

REGION 5

Adam Chunglo*..........................859-613-2985

Herman Benge.............................606-862-6451

Tommy Spalding..........................270-402-9157

Dean Craft....................................606-634-0191

Brent Ware..................................606-305-8612

Rick Brewer.................................606-682-2352

Danny Ray Spalding....................859-336-0444

Gary Ford....................................270-402-2194

Aaron Burke................................859-265-1172

Ryan Miller..................................502-827-5027

C. Mike Spalding..........................270-699-6587

Jared Foley..................................270-585-1331

Dave Maples Executive Vice President

cover photo by Teresa Nix Pulaski County

Presidents Thoughts

Cary King KCA President

I hope everyone has had a great Christmas. It is a time we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and spending time with your family is so important. It helps us recharge.

I would like to thank every member of KCA for allowing me to serve as your President this year. I have traveled to a lot of county, state, and other organizational meetings. I have enjoyed every opportunity. Your leadership has a lot going on with great people working on so many different projects. You can rest assured that if you have 10 head or 10,000, every situation being addressed is leading to keeping more of the meat case dollar in your pocket.

If you will allow me to share my vision for Kentucky’s cattle industry, I realize it might just be a dream. We have come so far in the quality of our cattle. All of the programs over the years have really improved the genetics of the Kentucky cattle herd. And yet, for the most part, we continue sending our top-quality calf crop off to far away states to be finished and packaged.

I see great opportunities for us to change this. While we are seeing more producers finishing and direct marketing their beef to consumers in their communities, and others are joining together with likeminded cattlemen to sell their calves together in value added sales, these are paying dividends and are steps in the right direction.

But when you look where the big population centers are located, we are sitting in the perfect spot to ship finished product on a much larger scale directly to those metropolitan areas. God continues to bless our region with rain while so much of the country is dry with little ability to raise much grass. This allows us to produce a heavy, backgrounded calf pretty efficiently.

I realize that moisture is also the main reason that not many calves have been fed out here, we all fight mud in winter, but we have seen success in small finishing barns across the state and it makes me wonder if we could build large facilities under roof that would feed thousands of head of cattle much more efficiently. Producers could possibly retain ownership.

These finishing barns would be a lot more effective at providing the best nutritional programs to produce exactly what the retail markets demand while utilizing our Kentucky grain, and the many byproducts from our growing bourbon distillers.

We have developed a wonderful relationship with Kroger. They want more products along with our ground beef. We have product in their stores in several states and we must grow this relationship. It’s good for us, good for Kroger, and really good for the consumer. But we must improve the supply chain. Red meat is a very complicated business but if we can expand the feeding and packing portions then we can then send high quality beef directly to consumers all up and down the east coast.

In my opinion the partnership we have been working on with UK has huge potential and would give us a one stop shop for everything animal agriculture, especially as a workforce development center to assist in training those employees all along the meat supply chain, from those cutting to the marketing and management.

Your association has become a leader not only in Kentucky, but all across the nation. I said before that we are becoming the Denver

of the east and what I was saying is, we have the opportunity to be the “Center” of the eastern United States when it comes to animal protein.

The way I see it, the sky is the limit for agriculture in this state, but we must not hesitate to change how we do things to look for every opportunity, make our cattle better, and to always seek new opportunities to get our products directly to the consumer plate.

I sure plan to continue to help in any way I can to see our state become the beef capital of this nation.

Again, I say thank you for allowing me to serve.

I know you will be in good hands as my friend Andy Bishop leads as President.

May God bless your family with a prosperous and healthy 2023!

If I can help you in any way, please don’t hesitate to call, I’ll be here!

Cary King

Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association President 859-613-3734 cell • 859-278-0899 office

The Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association (KCA) has been a longtime supporter of youth across the state through FFA, 4-H and scholarships. KCA has a youth scholarship available funded by the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Foundation (KCF).

The KCF Youth Scholarship started in 1991 and has provided over $156,000 in scholarship funds to students across Kentucky. Five $1,500 scholarships will be awarded to graduating high school seniors from each of the five KCA regions who plan to major in Agriculture or an Agriculturally-related subject, with the possibility of two $1,500 additional scholarships from any region.

Deadline for submission of the KCF Youth Scholarship is March 31, 2023 to the KCA Office at 176 Pasadena Drive, Lexington, KY 40503. To download an application, view the requirements, or for more information, please visit KCA online at www.kycattle.org under Youth Activities.

The Mission of the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Foundation is to pursue opportunities that promote the profitability of the cattle industry in Kentucky through educational and philanthropic endeavors.

Vet Shortage Puts Animal Welfare in Jeopardy

Ryan Quarles Commissioner of Agriculture

Large animal veterinarians are essential to protect our nation’s food supply from foreign animal diseases, such as bird flu, African Swine Fever, and foot and mouth disease.

Of the 1,695 veterinarians in Kentucky, only 3 percent (54) are offering full-time service to our livestock, such as cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs. The impact of this shortage on farmers and our food system in Kentucky and throughout the country was the primary focus of two industry stakeholders meetings the Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA) hosted in the fall and summer of 2022. It’s our hope that by bringing industry stakeholders together, we can find solutions to the issues at hand and restore the service farmers need.

Nationwide, a shortage of large animal veterinarians is impacting farmers as they begin to experience veterinary care without the timely service they’ve had in the past. The numbers are a little better than Kentucky, but only 5 percent of the nation’s vets practice on large animals. The other 95 percent have turned to research or small animal practices.

There are a number of factors behind the shortage of large animal veterinarians, including:

• Salaries – They make less on average than those in private small animal practices. The average salary for a first-year small animal veterinarian is nearly $97,000, while an equine vet will average about $40,000 less.

• Debt load – The average debt for a graduating veterinarian is around $218,000. With a 10-year repayment schedule, that equates to around $3,000 a month.

• Burnout – Long work hours, strenuous work, and unpredictable schedules have driven many large animal veterinarians

from the field. Instead, many are opting to find work in small animal practices that offer a fixed schedule, less physically demanding environment, and more pay.

• Workplace injuries – Over a 30-year working life, an equine veterinarian can expect to sustain seven to eight workplace injuries. Forty-four percent require time off work to recover, and 23 percent require hospital treatment.

• Retirements – Almost 40 percent of the large animal veterinarians in Kentucky are within 10 years of retirement.

KDA identified four programs that may be beneficial in helping to resolve the vet shortage, including:

1. The Large Food Animal Veterinary Loan Program (VET), offered by the Kentucky Agricultural Finance Corp., helps individuals licensed to practice veterinary medicine in Kentucky to construct, expand, equip, or buy into a practice serving large/food animal producers, including goats, sheep, swine, and other smaller food animals.

2. The Large and Food Animal Veterinary Incentives Program, offered by the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board, provides funding for Kentucky veterinarians to increase service to large and food animals in the state. Applicants may receive up to 75 percent reimbursement for eligible expenditures not to exceed more than $100,000 in state and county funds as a lifetime limit.

3. The Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program is offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture for qualified veterinarians who are working in the food animal field. The program provides up to $75,000 in

loan repayment over a three-year period to help offset a significant portion of the debt incurred in pursuit of veterinary medical degrees in return for service in certain high-priority veterinary shortage situations. Kentucky identifies the area of the state where qualified applicants are needed.

4. In recent years, Auburn University’s preceptorship program was funded by a federal grant that placed veterinary students into a Kentucky rural practice. Of the 20 students who were placed in Kentucky practices during their studies, 15 are coming back to the state to begin their careers. Currently, there is a search to find a source of funding to continue this program.

The shortage of large animal veterinarians is a serious issue, not only in Kentucky but nationwide. Without the ability to get the adequate animal care that farmers need to keep their herds and flocks healthy, this shortage is putting their welfare in jeopardy.

“Always keep learning new skills. If there’s one way to improve your life drastically it’s always to be open to learning new things and improve the skills you already have.”

“Invest in yourself.”

“Sometimes you must hurt in order to grow, fail in order to know, lose in order to gain, because most of life’s greatest lessons come from pain.”

All of a sudden a post on my Instagram account called mindset.therapy started to appear and there are different quotes daily. It just seems ironic that these quotes just all at once appeared at a time that I needed them most. I have had challenges at work, home and with my cows that I needed some mindset therapy.

As most of you know KCA, along with most all of Kentucky’s Agriculture groups, is in the process of following many long-range plans, committee meetings and board meetings to build an Agriculture Education Center on the University of Kentucky C. Oran Little

Research Farm in Woodford county. As you would expect with a project of this magnitude, there would be questions and opposition to the project.

The one phrase that I hear as opposition that kind of knocks me back is that it (an Agriculture Education Center at our major land grant university) will never affect me, my children or grandkids. I would challenge you again to read my first paragraph. Always keep learning new skills. I know this next one is very true. “If there’s one way to improve your life drastically it’s always to be open to learning new things and improve the skills you already have”. I know on my farm when I learn a new tip, or especially when I improve the skills that I already have, things are better and my bottom line is better.

This project that KCA, the KCA Foundation and the Kentucky Livestock Coalition along with the University of Kentucky have undertaken will be generational. But it will take you getting engaged and supportive to make it work.

We all know, it is not a secret that higher education is changing. It costs a lot, and particularly young men, are making other choices than going to college. Our country has a shortage of rural veterinarians but I have challenged Kentucky’s Agriculture leaders that we have more than a shortage of just veterinarians, we have shortages in many other agriculture professions. Starting with farmers or cattlemen and the list goes on from there.

Dr. Gordon Jones was my major professor when I was a student at Western Kentucky University. He, by far, had the most impact in my education process. He was the best, hardest teacher I had from beginning to end. If you look at the many people that were his students and where they are in agriculture leadership, academia or industry you would be pleasantly surprised. The quote from him that has resonated in my mind often is that you have to be a “lifelong learner”. Today he still has a hand in my livestock education through his efforts and funding of the Beef Efficiency Conference during the KCA convention.

Dave

If you are in the cow business and you don’t take advantage of this educational opportunity, you are missing the boat. I am not an educator. My formal education was very limited. I attended a very rural elementary and high school and my first six teachers retired the year after my class finished. I don’t think we were a bad class, it was that the teachers were just tired and old and it was time for them to retire. I got a sound, solid education at WKU. My WKU livestock professors were Dr. Jones, Wilson Stone and Warren Beeler. They were young and energic at the time and remain excited about agriculture education. One of the ways that I feel like I can pass my passion for the cattle industry, that I care for, on to the next generation is by providing opportunities in the form of a facility like the public/private partnership that KCA is proposing (public being the University of Kentucky and Kentucky educational institutions and private being KCA, livestock industry, etc.). The educational business model is going to be different and we have to recognize that fact.

GRANT COUNTY NEWS

Submitted by Tim Henry

The Grant Co. Cattlemen Association held their annual membership drive. After a delicious meal we got to hear a great presentation from guest speaker Brent Toole of Merrill Pharmaceutical. It was good to see everyone enjoy themselves after a busy summer.

A collaboration between the Grant County Cattlemen, Dry Ridge Fire Department, Ky State Fire Rescue, Complete Towing and the Grant Co. Extension Office held a safety training day for local fire departments. The event gave fire personnel the opportunity to train when farm implements and vehicles are involved in accidents.

HARDIN COUNTY NEWS

Submitted by Chuck Crutcher

The Hardin County Cattlemens Association held their annual meeting on Tuesday, November 15. Cary King, president of the KCA, gave the group an update on what is going on at the state level with KCA . Dan Miller gave a presentation on the workings of Beef solutions and how it benefits the cattle people across the state. This program gives cattle producers an excellent way to capture added value for their cull cows. This product creates the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Ground Beef which is distributed in the Kroger stores across the state and also in Indiana, Illinois, Tennessee, and Ohio. The association was able to present to Doug Shepherd a parting gift for his many years of service to Hardin County as an extension agent and to the beef industry across Kentucky. Doug will be retiring December 31.

METCALFE COUNTY NEWS

Submitted by Moe Hensley

The Metcalfe County Cattlemen met on December 1st at the Metcalfe County Extension Office. There was a very large crowd on hand for the “Christmas Meeting”. Burkmann Feeds was the sponsor for the night’s meeting and Edmonton Store Manager, Russell Hernandez also brought along some very nice door prizes as did other businesses in and around Metcalfe and surrounding counties. As usual, a hearty ribeye steak supper was prepared by the Cooking Crew and I also noticed the Crew had recruited a few more younger cattle men and women to help.

After the meal, a new set of By-Laws had been given out and the vote was to adopt the new By-Laws. Harley McIntyre inquired about the interest in a Jr. Cattlemens for Metcalfe County and asked if anyone was interested, or knew someone interested, to get with her about the details. We were also advised that there is a new Facebook

page for the MCCA. Please, everyone go check it out and follow along. The floor was then opened up for officer nominees. The new slate of officers for the Metcalfe County Cattlemen will be:

Tom Hughes, President

Bart Branstetter, Vice President Sharna Acree, Secretary/Treasurer Moe Hensley, Reporter

Dr. Charles Townsend, DVM and animal Nutritionist for Burkmann Feed, spoke on the beef industry and gave valuable information for the producer and end user.

After several great prizes were given away, the motion was made to adjourn. Again, we want to thank Burkmann Feeds for sponsoring, and all who donated to this great organization.

Just so everyone knows, “In farming, there is no such thing as a snow day.”

BARREN COUNTY NEWS

Submitted by James W. Bailey

The Barren County Cattlemen’s meeting was held Thursday evening November 17th, 2022 at the Barren County High School Trojan Academy. During the meeting Mr. Jacob Davis of Wright Implement presented a program on the service update of Wright Implement Company. Pictured below from the left to right is; Jacob Davis, Eric Walton, Wyatt Lyles, and Kenny Arterburn, all representing Wright Implement. Pictured far right is Joe Moore, President of the Barren

County Cattlemen’s Association. A delicious steak dinner was served and sponsored by WRIGHT IMPLEMENT.

During the Barren County Cattlemen’s meeting which was held November 17th at Barren County School Trojan Academy, Mr. Joey Shives of Wright Implement is shown (below, right) introducing the program to a large audience of local cattlemen’s members.

Charles Townsend, DVM and Russell Hernandez

Harley McIntyre calling names for door prizes

Part of the nice crowd on hand

Bovine Venereal Diseases-Should You be Concerned?

Dr. Michelle Arnold UK Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory

“Reproductive failure” is an all-encompassing term if a cow loses a calf during pregnancy or if she fails to get pregnant. Causes of reproductive failure are frequently divided into infectious and non-infectious categories. Examples of “non-infectious” include poor cow nutrition (lack of energy and micronutrients such as selenium/ Vitamin E); bull infertility, disease and injury; breeding season management errors (shortened breeding season, insufficient bull-to-cow ratios); genetic and some congenital abnormalities that result in fetal death; and toxic agents such as nitrates, phytoestrogens, and drugs including steroids and prostaglandins. “Infectious” causes are bacteria, viruses, protozoal and fungal agents that directly or indirectly damage the placenta and/or the fetus. Examples include the BVD virus, IBR virus, the protozoan Neospora caninum, the bacterium Leptospira, and the venereal diseases trichomoniasis and vibriosis, among many others. This series of articles will explore the most common infectious causes of abortion and reproductive failure in cattle and available options for control and prevention. The most common venereal diseases of cattle are trichomoniasis and vibriosis, often referred to as “trich” and “vibrio”, respectively. Bovine trichomoniasis is caused by the protozoan Tritrichomonas foetus (T. foetus) while vibriosis is caused by the bacterium Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis (C. fetus) Although both are infrequently diagnosed, the results of infection on reproduction can be devastating. Both trich and vibrio are transmitted through physical contact when a bull breeds a cow. Once a cow is infected, she acts as a source of infection for other non-infected bulls within the herd which then spread disease to other cows. Infected bulls show no signs of disease, however, either pathogen in cows causes genital infection characterized by early abortions, low pregnancy rates, and prolonged calving seasons. In herds that do not check females for pregnancy, these diseases appear simply as cows coming up open that should be calving. Economic losses result due to the reduced size of the calf crop, reduced weaning weights because of late calves, and the costs associated with diagnosing, culling and replacing infected cattle. Diagnostic testing for venereal diseases is not necessarily easy or inexpensive, so prevalence and economic impact are likely underestimated. If a bull tests positive for either disease, he will most likely remain infected for life. There is no effective treatment, so the cornerstone of control is

based on identifying and culling infected bulls and replacement with virgin bulls. T. foetus, the protozoan parasite responsible for trich, lives deep within the folds of skin (crypts) on the bull’s penis and prepuce (Figure 1). Once infected, bulls are considered infected for life and there is no effective treatment available, although young bulls (1-2 years old) can occasionally clear the infection. Older bulls, ages 5 and above, have more mucosal folds and deeper crypts than younger bulls, creating the perfect environment for persistent survival of the organism. Infected bulls show no signs of disease and semen appears normal on a breeding soundness examination (BSE) but spread of the organism to cows often results in abortions early in the first trimester. These pregnancy losses are typically noticed as an increased number of repeat breeders, irregular heat cycles, longer calving intervals and reduced pregnancy rates. Newly infected cows may still conceive but the pregnancy is resorbed 40-70 days post-breeding. In some infected cows, the uterus may become filled with pus that can be observed on the tail of the infected cow or heifer. Affected cows can mount an immune response and clear the infection from the reproductive tract in as little as 90 days but usually 4-5 months are necessary before the cow can rebreed, conceive then carry a calf to term. Immunity in the cow does not last and cows can be re-infected with the organism. There is no treatment for bulls infected with trich.

Once diagnosed in a herd, recommendations include either culling all bulls or test and cull positive bulls and replacing them with virgin bulls that are satisfactory breeders based on breeding soundness examinations. A vaccine is available (TrichGuard® by BoehringerIngelheim Vetmedica) and considered a useful management tool for cows experiencing problems or at increased risk for exposure to the disease. In a herd outbreak, it is generally recommended for all females to be given two doses of the T. foetus vaccine to decrease the convalescent period. Females exposed to the bull and found open should be culled or segregated into a separate breeding group for breeding after immunity develops. Consult with your local veterinarian for vaccination recommendations and protocols tailored to your specific farm needs.

Diagnosis of trich is by identification of the organism either from a skin scraping of the penis or a sample of cervical mucus from an infected cow placed in special media (a “trich pouch”) and shipped at room temperature to a veterinary diagnostic laboratory. The UKVDL has a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test that accurately identifies this organism. Trichomoniasis diagnosis and control are coordinated at the state, not federal, level. Therefore, each state determines cattle entry requirements, the test to be used and whether positive results are required to be reported to state officials. Most states require bulls to have either one negative PCR test or three negative cultures taken at one week intervals

Figure 1. Tritrichomonas foetus is a protozoan parasite that can cause reproductive failure in cattle

to be considered test negative. Bulls must have a minimum of 4 days without sexual activity before they are sampled. Some states have adopted a new, more sensitive PCR that does not require a 24-hour incubation in the “trich pouch” and must be shipped cold or frozen. Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis (C. fetus), the cause of vibriosis, is also found on the skin of the prepuce and penis of bulls. As with trich, bulls do not show any signs of infection, no alteration of semen and bulls remain infected for life. Infected cows exhibit reproductive failure, irregular heat cycles, and embryonic or fetal death. The cow may remain infertile for 3-5 months before immunity develops. However, a major difference from trich is that there are effective vaccines for use in cows and bulls available against vibriosis, typically denoted by a “V” in the name of the vaccine. Consistent use according to label directions provides strong protection against genital infection. Testing for vibrio usually involves the collection and culture of a sample scraped from the sheath of a bull or vaginal fluids from a suspect cow. The bacterium responsible for vibrio is very temperature sensitive and commonly dies on the way to the diagnostic laboratory if transport of more than 24 hours is required. PCR tests have been developed and while not perfect, they are a vast improvement over previous diagnostic methods. Testing for vibriosis is only recommended for investigating poor reproductive performance when other causes have been ruled out.

Appropriate management of the breeding herd helps prevent introduction of venereal diseases. The most important step is to purchase only virgin or test negative bulls for herd sires and virgin heifers as replacements. Additional recommendations include:

• Maintain as young a bull battery as possible as older bulls are more likely to develop chronic infections;

• Do not borrow, rent, lease or buy untested bulls that have been used for breeding (see Figure 2). Test non-virgin bulls at least once by PCR before introducing them into the herd;

• For routine screening of larger bull batteries with a low risk of disease, many labs offer PCR on pooled samples of up to 5 bulls on one test;

• Breed purchased cows and heifers in a separate herd for at least one season;

• Control animal movement between farms by maintaining good fences to prevent infected bulls from mixing with uninfected animals;

• Utilize artificial insemination, when possible, to eliminate the risk of sexually transmitted diseases as well as improve the genetics of the calves;

• Cull all open cows and heifers and strongly consider culling those that conceived late in the breeding season; culture any cows with pus in the uterus found during pregnancy examination;

• Submit all aborted fetuses and placental tissue to a veterinary diagnostic laboratory

for determination of the cause of any reproductive failure.;

• A short, controlled breeding season and good records help identify a breeding problem quickly.

Reproductive failure can result from a wide variety of infectious and non-infectious causes. A sound herd health program, developed with your veterinarian, will help minimize the risk of this failure and the associated economic loss.

Figure 2. Graphic reprinted from https://www.bi-vetmedica.com/species/cattle/products/TrichGuard.html#trichonomics

USDA Invites Producers to Respond Online to the 2022 Census of Agriculture

United States Department of Agriculture

WASHINGTON, Nov. 22, 2022 – Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) mailed survey codes to all known agriculture producers across the 50 states with an invitation to respond online to the 2022 Census of Agriculture at agcounts. usda.gov. The ag census is the nation’s only comprehensive and impartial agriculture data for every state, county, and territory. By completing the survey, producers across the nation can tell their story and help generate impactful opportunities that better serve them and future generations of producers.

The 2022 Census of Agriculture will be mailed in phases, with paper questionnaires following in December. Producers need only respond once, whether securely online or by mail. The online option offers timesaving features ideal for busy producers. All responses are due Feb. 6, 2023. Farm operations of all sizes, urban and rural, which produced and sold, or normally would have sold, $1,000 or more of agricultural products in 2022, are included in the ag census. “The 2022 Census of Agriculture is a powerful voice for American agriculture. The information gathered through

the ag census influences policy decisions that will have a tremendous impact on ag producers and their communities for years to come,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “I strongly encourage all farmers, no matter how large or small their operation, to promptly complete and return their ag census. This is your opportunity to share your voice, uplift the value and showcase the uniqueness of American agriculture.”

Collected in service to American agriculture since 1840 and now conducted every five years by USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), the Census of Agriculture is a complete picture of American agriculture today. It highlights land use and ownership, producer characteristics, production practices, income and expenditures, among other topics.

“Our farmers and ranchers have an incredible impact on our nation and the world. I want to thank them in advance for responding to the ag census,” said NASS Administrator Hubert Hamer. “We recognize how valuable their time is, so we have made responding more convenient and modern than ever before.”

Between ag census years, NASS considers revisions to the questionnaire to document changes and emerging trends in the industry. Changes to the 2022 questionnaire include new questions about the use of precision agriculture, hemp production, hair sheep and updates to internet access questions.

Responding to the Census of Agriculture is required by law under Title 7 USC 2204(g) Public Law 105- 113. The same law requires NASS to keep all information confidential, to use the data only for statistical purposes, and only publish in aggregate form to prevent disclosing the identity of any individual producer or farm operation. NASS will release the results of the ag census in early 2024.

To learn more about the Census of Agriculture, visit www.nass.usda.gov/ agcensus. On the website, producers and other data users can access frequently asked questions, past ag census data, special study information, and more. For highlights of these and the latest information, follow USDA NASS on twitter @usda_nass.

NCBA PLEASED WITH CHANGES IN CATTLE CONTRACT

LIBRARY FINAL RULE

WASHINGTON (December 6, 2022) – Today, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) welcomed the release of a final rule from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to stand up the Cattle Contract Library Pilot Program. This program was authorized following NCBA’s engagement with Congress on the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022.

“We are pleased that USDA listened to feedback from stakeholders like NCBA while crafting the final rule on the Cattle Contract Library Pilot Program. We are hopeful that this pilot program will strike an appropriate balance between offering cattle producers additional insight into the market while also protecting their proprietary business information,” said NCBA Senior Director of Government Affairs Tanner Beymer. “A Cattle Contract Library is just one of many tools NCBA has advocated for to help producers make informed business decisions and capture the most value possible for their cattle.”

NCBA has long advocated for market transparency tools and worked closely with congressional leaders like Senator John Hoeven (R-ND) to secure congressional authorization to launch this pilot program. NCBA staff have worked closely with USDA to provide feedback throughout the testing phase of the program, and we look forward to continued engagement and evaluation as the pilot program launches.

NCBA STATEMENT ON THE SIGNING OF RESOLUTION TO AVOID RAIL DISRUPTIONS

WASHINGTON (December 2, 2022) – Today, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) CEO Colin Woodall released a statement following the signing of H.J. Res. 100 to avert disruptions in rail service: “America’s cattle producers are grateful for the bipartisan effort that prevented disruptions in critical rail service across the country. A rail shutdown would have been disastrous to our supply chain, and would have interrupted the essential feed, fuel, and fertilizer shipments cattle producers need. We are pleased that this joint resolution was swiftly passed by Congress and signed into law.”

NCBA PRAISES SENATE INTRODUCTION OF PROTECT FARMERS FROM THE SEC ACT

WASHINGTON (December 1, 2022) – Today, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) announced support for the Senate version of the Protect Farmers from the SEC Act, a companion bill to legislation that was previously introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Frank Lucas (R-OK).

“The Securities and Exchange Commission’s overly broad rulemaking has the potential to increase burdens on cattle producers by requiring data that is impossible to provide,” said NCBA Chief Counsel MaryThomas Hart. “NCBA is proud to support the Protect Farmers from the SEC Act because it ensures that federal regulators do not overstep their jurisdiction and it protects cattle producers from additional government red tape. We thank Senators Boozman and Braun for their focus on this issue.”

The Protect Farmers from the SEC Act excludes agriculture from reporting scope 3, or supply chain, greenhouse gas emissions under the Securities and Exchange Commission’s proposed climate disclosure rule. While the rule is aimed at large publicly traded companies, agricultural operations could be subjected to additional reporting as part of the supply chain for public restaurants and retailers.

Weaning Ourselves off the Nitrogen Fertilizer

Chris Teutsch UK Grain and Forage Center of Excellence, Princeton, Kentucky

Although nitrogen prices have moderated toward the end of 2022, they are still historically high (Figure 1). Currently urea is at $805/ton making the cost of one pound of actual nitrogen $0.87. If we fertilize our hay ground at recommended nitrogen rates (80 to 100 lb N/A), we will be spending 70 to 85/A on just nitrogen. If add in phosphorus and potassium removal for a 3 ton/A yield, the total fertilizer bill will likely exceed $200/A.

Figure 1. Nitrogen price trends over the last 24 months. Data are from DTN and available at https://www.dtnpf.com/agriculture/web/ag/crops/article/2022/11/16/fertilizer-prices-evenlymixed

Before we go any further with the discussion of reducing nitrogen fertilizer in grazing and hay production systems, it is critical to understand that the plant needs nitrogen to grow. Nitrogen is an important part of amino acids and proteins and dramatically impacts dry matter yield. So simply removing nitrogen from production systems is not an option. The process of replacing commercial nitrogen fertilizer with other sources is something that takes time and a well thought out strategy.

Nitrogen Cycling in Forage Production Systems

So here is some good news…in well managed forage systems a strong nitrogen cycle can be developed over time. Nitrogen enters these systems in the form atmospheric deposition (minor amounts), feed and supplements brought into the system, and nitrogen fixed by legumes. These cycles can reduce or in some cases even eliminate the need for nitrogen fertilizer. It is important to realize that these cycles take time to develop and require good grazing and feed management. A key component of these cycles is the use of legumes such as red and white clover and alfalfa (Figure 2). If your objective is to reduce the need for nitrogen fertilizer in hay production systems, legumes must be cornerstone species in your hayfields.

Legumes fix nitrogen in the air to a plant available form. The importance of legumes in grasslands has long been recognized. They bring nitrogen into grassland ecosystems via symbiotic nitrogen fixation, improve forage quality and animal performance, and dilute and in some cases reverse the toxic effects of the endophyte found in tall fescue. It is estimated that commonly used pasture legumes will fix between 50 and 250 lb of nitrogen per acre per year (Table 1). At current prices, the value of this nitrogen is between $40 and 200 per acre per year.

Legumes share nitrogen with grass indirectly. In pastures, nitrogen is transferred to grass grown in association with legumes through the

Figure 2. Strong nitrogen cycles can develop in well managed grassland ecosystems. Nitrogen enters the system via imported hay and supplements, nitrogen fixation in legumes and atmospheric deposition (minor amounts). Nitrogen leaves the system via volatilization, denitrification, leaching, runoff, and animal products removed. A cow-calf pair will consume approximately 280 lb N/year of which 200 lb is retained in the grassland ecosystem (Lory and Kallenbach, 1999).

ingestion of legumes and subsequent deposition of dung and urine by grazing animals, death and decomposition of above and below ground plant parts including roots, shoots, and nodules, and to a lesser extent direct legume to grass transfer. In hayfields, there is less nitrogen cycling since the grazing animal is not present and the above ground biomass is being removed. This means that you would likely need even more legumes than the commonly referenced 20 to 30% of the stand on a dry matter basis. In fact, some studies have shown that to achieve equivalent yields to grass + nitrogen fertilizer, 50% or more legumes were needed.

Overseeding legumes is not the same as applying commercial nitrogen fertilizer. Mixed stands of grasses and legumes may yield as much or more than grass monocultures fertilized with moderate rates of nitrogen, but a significant proportion of that yield will be made up of the legumes. In other words, legumes not only increase grass growth by supplying nitrogen, but also compensate for lower grass production in mixed swards. This is especially important in hayfields where nitrogen cycling will be limited.

Applying nitrogen fertilizer to mixed stands sifts botanical composition. The addition of nitrogen fertilizer to grass-legumes mixtures tends to sift the composition of the mixture toward grasses. Applying nitrogen fertilizer also reduces nitrogen fixation in the legumes since energetics favor uptake of nitrogen in the soil rather than biological fixation.

Improved legumes require good soil fertility to be productive and persistent. Improved legumes such as red and white clover and alfalfa require relatively high soil fertility and pH’s above 6.0 to be productive. This means that an initial investment in potash, phosphorus, and lime must be made. These applications need to be based on a recent soil test.

Legumes are most productive when rotationally stocked. Like other forages, legumes respond well to improved grazing management. Resting pastures allows leaf area to regrow and carbohydrate reserves to be stored up. In general, tall growing legumes like alfalfa and red clover are more dependent on stored energy for regrowth. This means that they need time to rest and replenish their stored carbohydrates between grazing events. That is the reason that alfalfa does not persist well in continuous grazing systems. Even white clover that tolerates close grazing very well benefits from rest.

Rotational stocking is a tool to manage botanical composition. How we graze our pastures has a profound impact on botanical composition. In grasses, energy for regrowth is dependent on leaf area remaining after grazing. The remaining leaf area is like a solar panel that captures

sunlight and converts it into energy (sugars and carbohydrates) that the plant can use to fuel regrowth. The more leaf area we leave, the larger the solar panel, the faster pastures will regrow, and the more competitive the grass will be the tall growing legumes. If we graze closely with a rest period between grazings, we will tend to favor tall growing legumes in the sward since they are more dependent on stored carbohydrates for regrowth.

Mixed stands can be stockpiled for winter grazing. Grass-legumes mixtures can be stockpiled for winter grazing, but they need to be used first since legumes tend to deteriorate before grasses. Save pure stands of grass that were fertilized with nitrogen for late winter grazing.

Overseed when needed to introduce and maintain improved legumes. Approximately 25 to 30% of the pasture on a dry matter basis should be made up of clover or other legumes. Even improved red clover varieties only last two to three years. Annual lespedeza will sometimes reseed itself, but as a rule this is not dependable. A good general mix for overseeding pastures in Kentucky is 6-8 lb medium red clover, 1-2 lb of ladino or grazing type white clover, and in some cases 10 lb of annual lespedeza per acre.

Always use improved clover varieties. Work done at the University of Kentucky shows that improved red clover varieties will last 1-2 years longer than common medium red clover. Using certified seed guarantees that you are getting the genetics that you are paying for. More information on the best adapted clover varieties can be found by going to the UK Forages Website and clicking on the “Variety Trial” icon.

Always inoculate or use pre-inoculated seed. Since legumes fix nitrogen from the air by forming a symbiotic relationship with Rhizobium bacteria, inoculating seed with the proper strain of nitrogen fixing bacteria prior to planting is the best way to ensure optimal fixation.

Maintain higher levels of legumes in hayfields. To maintain productivity in hayfields, you will likely need to maintain legume percentages at 50% or higher on a dry matter basis. This is because it is more difficult to develop strong nitrogen cycles due to biomass removal and the absence of the grazing animal.

Monitor phosphorus and potassium with regular soil testing. It is especially important to closely monitor hayfields since hay production removes large quantities of phosphorus and potassium. In general, one ton of hay will remove 15 and 50 lb P2O5 and K2O, respectively.

Sometimes we need to be reminded about the importance of legumes in forage production systems. There is no better reminder than $0.85 nitrogen! Red clover seed supply may be limited this spring and prices will likely be higher. So, it is probably a good idea to go ahead and source your seed now.

FORAGE MANAGEMENT TIPS

• Remove animals from wet pastures to limit pugging and soil compaction.

• Feed best quality hay to livestock groups with the highest nutritional requirements. Supplement poor quality hay as needed.

• Feed hay on your poorest pastures to improve soil fertility and organic matter.

• Move feeding points around the pasture to improve nutrient distribution.

• Consider bale grazing to improve nutrient distribution. See this month’s featured video.

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• Inspect and repair seeding equipment.

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UPCOMING EVENT

FEATURED

FEATURED VIDEO

Find Education, Entertainment and Inspiration in the Big Easy

CENTENNIAL, Colo. (Nov. 28, 2022) -- The Big Easy is ready to host the 2023 Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show, Feb. 1-3. New Orleans, famous for its world class cuisine, jazz music and lively nightlife, is a perfect venue to bring the cattle industry together for education, entertainment and engagement.

The annual convention will kick off on Feb. 1, with Buzz Brainard, host of Music Row Happy Hour, returning as emcee. The Opening General Session will include a casual conversation between “Yellowstone” creator Taylor Sheridan and NCBA President and Minnesota cattle producer, Don Schiefelbein. The two will discuss ranch life, today’s challenges and sharing the industry’s story in an authentic way. Sheridan is an Academy Award-nominated writer, actor, rancher as well as a member of the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame.

CattleFax’s outlook session will highlight demand and supplies for beef, cattle and competing proteins. Analysts will present a price and profitability outlook for 2023 and beyond for all classes of cattle and beef, explore export and import markets, and provide a grain outlook. Meteorologist Matt Makens will also give a 2023 weather forecast highlighting weather pattern changes for the United States and around the world.

Plan to attend the high-profile session on Friday morning and hear from government dignitaries as they provide an update on the beef business climate in the United States and around the globe, moderated by NCBA Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane.

The Closing General Session will celebrate the Beef Checkoff-funded Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Program and BQA award winners and will feature keynote speaker Chris Koch, who doesn’t let limitations or

obstacles stand in his way. Despite being born without arms and legs, Koch grew up like any other small-town kid — playing road hockey, causing mischief at school, and helping on his family farm. Today, Koch is a motivational speaker who inspires his audiences to continually challenge themselves and build the life they always wanted.

While the general sessions are packed with engaging speakers and information every producer can use, entertainment will also be around every corner. Franki Moscato, winner of the 10th annual National Anthem Contest, will perform at the Opening General Session and during the Friday night event. The country trio Chapel Hart will combine their Mississippi roots and Louisiana spice in a special performance during Closing General Session. Convention will wrap up Friday evening with “Party Gras” featuring the country music group Midland and special guest Neal McCoy.

If that isn’t enough, the 30th annual Cattlemen’s College, will feature live animal handling demonstrations and 18 educational sessions with industry leaders tackling innovative topics. The Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame banquet and Environmental Stewardship Award Program reception will recognize leaders for their achievements, and there will be more than eight acres of trade show exhibits to explore.

In addition, producers will be hard at work guiding both NCBA policy and Beef Checkoff programs. Annual meetings of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the Cattlemen’s Beef Board, American National CattleWomen, CattleFax and National Cattlemen’s Foundation will also take place.

“Get Jazzed” for convention by registering today at convention.ncba.org. A variety of registration and housing options are available.

March Through NCBA Trade Show in the Crescent City

Experience Eight Acres of Exhibitors, Displays and Education

CENTENNIAL, Colo. (Dec. 5, 2022) – New Orleans has a lot of nicknames, including The Big Easy, Crescent City, NOLA and Paris of the South, but no matter what you call it, the Birthplace of Jazz will host the NCBA Trade Show as part of the 2023 Cattle Industry Convention. More than eight acres of exhibitors, displays and educational experiences will welcome attendees, Feb. 1-3.

The NCBA Trade Show offers cattle producers opportunities to network, learn, shop, dine and connect with friends, both old and new. It is a solutions center featuring more than 350 exhibitors that can help producers with animal health products, equipment, irrigation technology, software, trailers and so much more. In addition to finding the right product or service to solve any problem, there are a variety of educational opportunities within the show.

New in 2023, Cattle Chats will feature 20-minute beef industry educational sessions, with special spotlight sessions focusing on sustainability. Attendees can also stop in the Learning Lounge to enjoy informal, face-to-face talks in an intimate setting right on the trade show floor. Industry leaders will tackle topics such as ranch succession, effective probiotics, deworming protocols, animal welfare and tax trends.

The popular Stockmanship & Stewardship Demonstration Arena returns with stockmanship experts Dr. Ron Gill and Curt Pate providing low-stress cattle handling demonstrations, Beef Quality Assurance educational sessions, industry updates and facility design sessions. Interactive discussions will show how producers can shape consumer perceptions of beef and how the principles presented have significant economic and “quality of life” benefits when applied in a cattle enterprise.

The Chutes and Scales Showdown offers a side-by-side comparison of equipment where producers can watch cattle run through chutes then get hands-on experience. This is an opportunity to get up close and personal with some of the top manufacturers in the industry, learn about new technology on both manual and hydraulic chutes and find the right piece of equipment to fit your ranch needs.

The trade show experience continues each afternoon with food and fun. Wednesday’s welcome reception will celebrate 125 years of NCBA, Thursday’s Sippin’ in the Big Easy reception will feature Louisianainspired whiskey and foods, and Friday’s Pups & Suds Yappy Hour will help attendees wind down with some furry friends.

Recognized by Trade Show Executive magazine as one of the top 100 trade shows in the United States, the NCBA Trade Show is the largest of its kind for the cattle industry. A variety of registration options are available including trade show only and single day tickets, which include show access, lunch, receptions and educational activities. For more information and to register and reserve housing, visit convention.ncba.org.

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) has represented America’s cattle producers since 1898, preserving the heritage and strength of the industry through education and public policy. As the largest association of cattle producers, NCBA works to create new markets and increase demand for beef. Efforts are made possible through membership contributions. To join, contact NCBA at 1-866-BEEF-USA or membership@beef.org.

For Hyatt reservations by phone, call 1-800-233-1234 and give Code G-CA23 or ask for Kentucky Cattlemen’s Block (Wednesday & Friday only)

For Hilton reservations by phone, call 1-800-445-8667 and give Code KCAT23 or ask for Kentucky Cattlemen’s Block (Wednesday - Friday)

Parking is available on a first-come first-serve basis. Effective August 2022, parking will be available in the High Street Lot for a nominal fee. Rates will be based on an automated hourly system for as low as $4 with a maximum daily rate of $12. On special event days, rates may increase to $20. This automated system only accepts credit cards – sorry no cash. Also note, any guest staying at the Hyatt Regency will not be subject to payment as one spot is included in their overnight room rate. 0-2 Hours = $4.00 • 2-3 Hours = $6.00 • 3-4 Hours = $8.00 • 4-5 Hours = $10.00 • 5-6 Hours = $12.00 • MAXIMUM $12 DAILY (except during special events where it may be up to $20) There will be FREE basic public internet to all attendees.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4

10:00 - 5:00 Trade Show Move-In Exhibition Hall A & B

THURSDAY, JANUARY 5

7:00 - 6:00 Registration Hours Exhibition Hall A & B

7:00 - 10:00 Trade Show Move-In Exhibition Hall A & B

9:00 - 11:30 Beef Efficiency Conference: Building a Better Cow for Tomorrow Meeting Room 7-8 Breeding for a More Efficient and Profitable Commercial Cow - Troy Rowan, University of Tennessee

Matching Genetics of Your Cowherd to Your Environment - Jared Decker, University of Missouri

From Wall Street to the Ranch: What I Learned - John Maddux, Maddux Cattle Company

10:00 Trade Show Opens

Exhibition Hall A & B

11:30 Welcome Lunch Exhibition Hall A & B

1:30 - 3:30 Opening General Business Session Meeting Room 7-8

Welcome 2023 Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association Convention - Cary King, 2022 KCA President University of Kentucky Update - Eli Capilouto, President, University of Kentucky Agriculture Education Center Update

KBC Annual Report

Beef Solutions Annual Report

KBN Annual Report

4:00 A Taste of Lexington Restaurant Sampling & Trivia Game Night Exhibition Hall A & B

6:00 Trade Show Closes Exhibition Hall A & B

FRIDAY, JANUARY 6

6:30 - 5:00 Registration Hours Registration Booth

7:00 - 9:00 County President Breakfast (Invitation Only)

Regency Ballroom-Hyatt* 8:00 Trade Show Opens Exhibition Hall A & B

10:00 - 11:00 Regional Meetings

Region 1 Meeting Room 1 Region 2 Meeting Room 2 Region 3 Meeting Room 3 Region 4 Meeting Room 4 Region 5 Meeting Room 5

10:00 - 12:30 KLMA Annual Meeting Kentucky Room*

11:00 KCA Concessions Lunch in the Trade Show Exhibition Hall A&B 12:00 KJCA Lunch Meeting Room 5

12:30 - 2:00 Closing Business Session Meeting Room 7 & 8 Kentucky Department of Agriculture Update - Ryan Quarles, Commissioner of Agriculture 2022 Financial Review - Ken Adams, KCA Treasurer 2022 Communications Review and Outlook A Year in Review and 2023 Outlook - Dave Maples, Executive Vice President Sustainable Food Systems - Danielle Beck, Invariant

1:00 KJCA Beef Leadership Town Hall Meeting Room 5

2:00 Trade Show Closes Exhibition Hall A & B

2:00 KJCA Officer Meeting (Current KJCA Board Members Only) Meeting Room 5

2:15 KJCA Annual Membership Meeting & KJCA Board of Director Elections Meeting Room 5

2:30 - 4:30 Forages at KCA - Recovering and Regrouping after a Tough Year Meeting Room 6 Welcome and Introduction - Chris Teutsch, University of Kentucky Strategies for Revitalizing Drought Stressed Pastures: Experiences from Southern Indiana Purdue Ag Center - Jason Tower, Purdue University Making Sure Cows are Getting What They Need - Katie VanValin, University of Kentucky Choosing the Best Forage Varieties for Repairing Drought Stressed Pastures - Ray Smith, University of Kentucky

2:30 - 4:30 Ladies Program Meeting Room 4

3:00 Commissioner of Agriculture Candidate Forum Meeting Room 7 & 8

4:00 KJCA Reception Meeting Room 5

5:00 - 6:00 KCA Leadership Alumni & Past President’s Reception (Invitation Only) Exhibit Hall Pre-function

6:00 Evening Banquet Ballroom 1 & 2 KCA & KBC Awards 2023 KCA Hall of Fame Inductions Foundation Auction *Events located in Hyatt Hotel

Tax Management is Still Important –Even in a Down Year

Jennifer Rogers KFBM Area Extension Specialist

With farm production being down, compared to recent years, it may come as a surprise to many that tax management is still vitally important. Kentucky producers were blessed in 2021 with record yields and good prices, resulting in high revenues. While some of the 2021 revenue may have been recognized last year, many bushels of crops were held over to sell in early 2022. Most farms are cash-based taxpayers, meaning that any crop sales held over to the following year will be taxed in the year they were received. This means that even this drought year, with reduced production, could still come with a big tax bill. The steps to tax management include knowing where your income currently stands, managing tax brackets, and adjusting your income.

Good, up-to-date records are the key to management. If you don’t know what is going on financially, there is no way to know that you are making sound decisions. At this point in the year, you should be able to calculate your revenue and expenditures to date. Using this information, you should also be able to make some projections about what additional income and expenses will take place before the end of the year. Being able to compare net income this year to last year or other previous years is also a good tool. This will provide some insight into how things are different and give you some inclination as to whether you expect your tax liability to be up or down. When considering expenses, don’t forget about

the non-cash expense of depreciation. An operation may or may not have depreciation available from the previous year’s purchases to use in the current year. It will depend on the expense elections and purchase history. An operation may also have capital purchases in the current year that may be available to depreciate.

While almost everyone wants to pay as few dollars in tax as possible, managing tax brackets, to take advantage of an entire lower bracket, may result in less tax paid over time. Tax liability is calculated based on the total taxable income and is calculated on the percentage rate of the tax bracket that income falls into. Everyone gets to take advantage of the lower brackets and only pays that lower rate on the income amounts that fill those brackets. As taxable income increases so does the tax rate for those additional dollars. Managing tax brackets may result in additional tax dollars paid this year as you fill up a lower bracket, but then save tax dollars in future years because you don’t have income flow over to the higher bracket. This year, with lower revenues expected from crop sales, may provide opportunities for the opposite. Producers may expect lower taxable income next year, so they may try to manage tax into a lower bracket this year, knowing that they can move some taxable income forward to next year and stay in the same bracket or at the same rate.

Adjusting taxable income sounds like it might be an issue of tax manipulation, however, cash-based taxpayers are allowed a lot of flexibility about when they recognize both income and expenses. Adjusting income can be as easy as delaying sales to the next year or prepaying expenses in the current year that won’t be used until the next year. If additional income is needed, a producer can sell more crop in this year, or take out a CCC loan and claim it as income. Accelerating depreciation or foregoing accelerated depreciation is another option. There are lots of ways to adjust income legally. If you have questions about what you can and cannot do, you should consult your tax professional. The flexibility of being able to adjust income is what allows producers to be able to manage tax brackets.

Tax management is one piece of total farm management. The key to almost all farm management issues starts with good records. Without complete, up-to-date, financial records, you can’t manage tax brackets or know which way to adjust taxable income. In a down year like this, stay aware and don’t get surprised by a sleeping tax liability that you have pushed forward. It may also be a year to “catch up” or slow the deferral of moving income forward. Review your records and have a discussion with your tax professional before the end of the year, while you can still adjust your taxable income.

The Agricultural Economics Department publishes the Economic and Policy Update towards the end of each month. Each issue features articles written by extension personnel within the department and other experts across the country.

Topics will vary greatly but regularly include marketing, management, policy, natural resources, and rural development issues. If you would like to recieve this newsletter by email, please contact Kenny Burdine at kburdine@uky.edu

You can also view current and past issues online at https://bit.ly/2PoHsZj

Co-editors: Kenny Burdine, Alison Davis, and Greg Halich

More with Less… Really?

Steve Isaacs Extension Professor

We’ve all heard it. Budgets are tight. Profits are down. Vacancies are not filled. People are laid off. So… those who are left have to do their own jobs… and the jobs of those who aren’t here… and we’re going to do MORE? REALLY?

It’s well-intentioned and probably said in an attempt to motivate those who are still around. Most bosses, managers, and administrators have probably said it at one time or another, “We have to do more with less.” The idea is to buckle down and do even better (and more) than we have before. REALLY?

Perhaps it’s a compliment to those who are left, an endorsement of the confidence of their managers. Perhaps it’s an insult to those who have left, that not only are we not going to miss you, but we’re going to do more than we did while you were here. REALLY?

If indeed we expect to accomplish “more with less,” then perhaps we weren’t operating very efficiently before. Economists would say we had slack resources, and maybe we really did need to reduce staffing. If we’re going to actually accomplish “more with less,” then we probably weren’t doing very well before.

If, however, an organization was operating efficiently, we should expect that the loss of valuable personnel will inevitably lead to a drop in productivity. An attempt to wring more out of fewer people is at best what Susan Fowler would refer to as an IMPOSED motivational outlook. Fowler describes an Imposed outlook as being driven by pressure, guilt, obligation, or expectations; and it is not an optimal outlook. It is not a motivational outlook that is sustainable.

So, now what? What’s the goal? Is it really to increase productivity? Or, is it to keep the train on the tracks till things improve? Or, is it an opportunity to prioritize, or to look for efficiencies beyond expecting people to work harder?

Prioritize. What’s the most important thing we

have to do? What’s the least important, or the least productive? It is usually easier to identify and focus on the most important or most valuable components. Deciding what should go is harder. We have to ask, “why are we doing this?” Does it fulfill our mission or are we doing it because we always have? Which, if that’s the only reason, is a terrible reason. Prioritize.

Look for efficiencies. While this should have always been a responsibility, never waste a crisis. Look for things that can be done cheaper, quicker, with fewer resources. Be careful. Don’t make a cut that leads to a loss in productivity that’s greater than the cost savings. Make sure a cut makes economic sense.

A pet peeve, “We’re going to cut all but essential travel.” Does that mean we were doing non-essential travel? Why? If it wasn’t essential, we shouldn’t have been doing it in the first place. Make sure a cut makes economic sense.

All this should be part of the organization’s predetermined strategy. While we should not plan for failure, we should plan for adversity. Know the mission. Know the goals. Prioritize the goals and the tactics. Run a contingency planning exercise occasionally. Start with, “What’ll we do if….”

We anticipate growth. We probably should anticipate contractions. Don’t wait till the opportunity arises to develop a plan to grow. Don’t wait till budgetary disaster strikes to figure out what to do.

Know what absolutely HAS to happen, what can be delayed, what can be cut. A good time to examine whether it should’ve been cut is before adversity strikes. But for sure when it does.

If you’re running a good organization, don’t expect “more with less.” Change “more with less” to “more of our best with less, and less of some of the other stuff.”

Kentucky Ag Economists Predict Record-High 2022 Cash Receipts

Aimee Nielson University of Kentucky

Kentucky farmers have been on a wild ride throughout 2022. Spiraling inflation, major weather events, supply chain and trade disruptions, soaring input prices, labor issues and other factors offered challenges to the state’s agriculture sector. Add to that the war between two major global markets, Russia and Ukraine, generated significant impacts on commodity prices, ag trade flow and availability of farm inputs and global food supplies.

During the Kentucky Farm Bureau’s annual meeting, University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment economists shared their predictions for the state’s agriculture and forest economies. Despite significant challenges, the economists predicted the state’s 2022 agricultural receipts will approach a record-high $8 billion, well surpassing the 2021 record-high of $6.9 billion.

“Adjusted for inflation, our 2022 estimate, if achieved, will be 19% higher than the inflation-adjusted average over the previous 10 years,” said Will Snell, UK agricultural economist. “Even with record increases in input expenses and considerably lower government payments, the U.S. Department of Agriculture predicts farm income will be higher in 2022.

Mother Nature dealt harsh blows to Kentucky farmers in 2022.

“Extensive periods of excessive rain early in the growing season, followed by drought conditions during the critical growing periods, led to lower crop yields and a poor curing season for tobacco,” Snell said.

The December 2021 tornado in Western Kentucky and the devastating July flooding in Eastern Kentucky destroyed agriculture infrastructure in both regions and likely affected farm income and marketing.

“While Kentucky benefitted from relatively high national commodity prices, low levels on the Mississippi River adversely impacted local grain prices during harvest season due to limited grain flow. Additionally, domestic and export markets induced a significant grain carryover into 2023,” Snell said. “Despite all those challenges, the Kentucky agricultural economy remained strong overall.”

Snell anticipates that Kentucky farm-level prices will more than offset the lower yields for most Kentucky agricultural enterprises.

Even with challenges from the tornado and avian influenza, economists expect poultry to

regain the top spot in Kentucky agriculture with a 20%-market share of receipts. The list continues with soybeans and corn, both with 18%, equine with 16% and cattle at 13%.

“While broiler production was down in Kentucky, wholesale broiler prices were up over 40%, year-over-year, mainly driven by record high wholesale breast meat prices,” said Jordan Shockley, UK agricultural economist. “High prices more than made up for the decrease in overall production, leading to poultry regaining the top spot in Kentucky agriculture.”

Equine markets continued to show strength during 2022, as annual Keeneland sales were 12% higher than 2021. Pursues continue to grow and this continues to support sale values and stud feeds.

UK agricultural economist Kenny Burdine said cattle prices were higher in 2022 for heavy feeders and calves, but increased production costs eroded most of that price improvement.

“Elevated feed prices continue to incentivize placement of heavier cattle into feeding programs, which has increased the value of gain for Kentucky producers and encouraged adding more pounds before sale,” he said.

Burdine added that drought in much of the United States has led to extremely high female slaughter and the industry will likely enter

2023 with a 3-4%-reduction in beef cow inventory.

“Those supply fundamentals should bode well for feeder cattle prices next year and we should see prices at levels that we have not seen since 2015,” he said.

UK agricultural economist Greg Halich said profitability for grain crops looks good for 2023, even considering the significant increase in input prices.

“For the upcoming 2023 crop season, prices are predicted to be around $5.50-6.00 per bushel for corn, $13-$14 per bushel for soybeans, and $7-8 per bushel for wheat,” he said.

Kentucky’s forest industry includes logging, primary wood manufacturing, secondary wood manufacturing, pulp and paper, paper converters and wood residue.

“While 2021 was a banner year for the price of many hardwood products, there has been a 53% percent collapse in lumber values across all species in the second half of 2022. This has resulted in a softening of prices for timber and logs cut for lumber,” said Jeff Stringer, chair of the UK Department of Forestry and Natural Resources. “While there should be bright spots in 2023, including white oak stave and railway tie logs, lumber log prices are hard to predict.”

Economists expect poultry to regain the top spot in Kentucky agriculture. Photo by Steve Patton

Stringer said there is a capacity issue for logging and sawmilling in some areas of the state, most notably eastern Kentucky, and a decrease in overall demand.

“These opposing supply and demand factors are creating significant uncertainty for timber, log and lumber prices in 2023,” he said.

Higher specialty crop prices and expanding market channels led to record fruit, vegetables, nursery and greenhouse levels in 2022. Labor, fertilizer, plastic and construction costs have substantially risen, especially for larger controlled environment greenhouses. Growing imports will also put increasing pressure on larger-scale production.

“Kentucky horticulture producers continue to benefit from strong demand locally and regionally with rapidly growing auctions and direct-to-consumer market opportunities,” said Tim Woods, extension professor for the UK Center for Crop Diversification. “This should continue into 2023.”

The average crop farm participating in the Kentucky Farm Business Management program realized $871,325 in net farm income in 2021. Even adjusted for inflation, this far exceeds the previous 2013 high.

“Based on what we have seen, commercial-sized crop farms entered the year with a very healthy balance sheet,” said Jerry Pierce, KFBM coordinator.” It provided cash to operate the farm, possibly reduce operating debt, and even loosen the belt on family living a bit. The additional profitability does mean more income taxes.”

Pierce said tax planning has been difficult this year because of high prices, limited supply of pre-pay inputs and the scarcity of equipment for depreciation.

“A lot of 2021 crops were carried over to be sold this year,” he said. “My guess is that there will be a lot of this year’s crops carried into next year.”

Snell said Kentucky will enter 2023 with continued tight global supplies of most agricultural commodities and, as such, continued high input prices.

“The upcoming year is filled with much uncertainty over issues such as war in Ukraine, South American crop production response, effects of inflation on interest rates and the cost and availability of ag inputs,” Snell said. “Most economists expect commodity prices and margins to moderate in 2023 but to maintain relatively high cash receipts and net income levels. Producers must continue to monitor changing conditions and be ready to adjust marketing strategies in an uncertain marketplace.”

Snell said that despite several adverse trade headwinds such as a much stronger U.S. dollar, up 10% in 2022, and global economic growth cut in half, U.S. agricultural exports’ value will end the year at record-high levels with gains across most commodities and major food products.

“China remains the U.S. largest foreign customer for U.S. agricultural products, but U.S. ag sales to other major foreign markets, including Canada, Mexico, Japan and the European Union, all experienced double-digit percentage increases through September 2022 compared to the same period last year,” Snell said. Snell added that while prices for some inputs, such as fuel and fertilizer, have moderated in recent months, they remain relatively high and volatile.

“Even with higher input prices, ag commodity prices have generally increased by a larger percentage as tight global supplies amidst strong export demand are keeping prices well above levels in recent years,” he said. “Interest rates have steadily increased in recent months, with operating and real estate loans now above 7% and rising. Higher interest rates and tightening profit margins may soften the surge in land values during the past years, but farm asset values remain strong.”

Helping Hands Provide Hope

Darrell Simpson Muhlenberg Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources

Kentucky has had its share of natural disasters. The tornadoes on March 2, 2012 in Northern and Eastern Kentucky and most recently the outbreak of tornadoes in December of 2021 and January of 2022 in Western and Central Kentucky and then the flooding in July of 2022 in Eastern Kentucky are reminders of that. The loss of life and property due to these natural disasters affected so many of us on a personal level. These were our family members, neighbors and our friends. Although I cannot speak to how others felt during the tornado outbreaks and the flooding disaster; a small sense of helplessness was an immediate feeling by many here in Muhlenberg County.

A few months after the EF4 tornado that occurred here in Muhlenberg County, I wrote a short article for Cow Country News regarding our experience and provided some photos of the devastation. I was able to express my gratitude for the help so many people provided. I am expressing that gratitude again in this article. I am also providing some more photos but these are photos of the rebuilding process. This is what hope looks like. I am not talking just about the new fences, barns, grain bins or whatever it was that we needed. I am talking about the number of people that volunteered their time to pick up, clean up, or do whatever needed doing.

Not long ago, I visited my friend and former coworker, retired Campbell County ANR Agent, Don Sorrell and some farmers in Campbell and Pendleton counties. Don and the farmers volunteered nearly two weeks of their time in March 2022 to rebuild fences here in Muhlenberg County. These same farmers had suffered the devastation of the March 2, 2012 EF 4 tornado. Like the farmers in Muhlenberg County, they too had been the recipients of help and ultimately hope. I spent the better part of the day visiting their farms, looking at photos that had been taken immediately after the tornado and then looking at the fences, barns, and homes that had been rebuilt. Hopefulness was on full display.

It has been a year since the tornado occurred here in Muhlenberg County and there has been an amazing amount of progress in the rebuilding process but we still have a ways to go. That feeling of helplessness has been replaced with a feeling of hopefulness. Thank you all for what you have done and what you do on a daily basis.

Friends and neighbors helping at Tim Bertram’s farm in Campbell County after the 2012 tornado. Photo Courtesy of Tim Bertram

Ten years after the 2012 tornado, a new house and fences have been rebuilt on the Tim Bertram farm in Campbell County but the remnants of the damaged trees are reminders of the tornado. Photo courtesy of Darrell Simpson, Muhlenberg County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources

Chris Miller, Lost Valley Farm in Muhlenberg County and Jimmy Roseberry of Pendleton County in the foreground along with other farmers from Campbell and Pendleton counties in the background helping to rebuild a fence in Muhlenberg County in March 2022. Photo courtesy of Don Sorrell

Tim Bertram of Campbell County, and Chris Miller, Muhlenberg County, rebuilding a fence. A new barn in the background is almost complete less than three months after the December 10, 2021 tornado. Photo courtesy of Don Sorrell.

(L-R) Campbell and Pendleton farmers Paul Reis, Bob Reis, Mark Dressman, Tim Bertram, Chris Reis, Kenny Smith, Muhlenberg County farmer, Jimmy Roseberry, and Don Sorrell take time for a photo before work begins on rebuilding fences for Kenny Smith. Photo courtesy of Don Sorrell

(L-R) Jerry Oates, Vice President of the Muhlenberg County Cattlemen’s Association presented Terry Bishop, Muhlenberg County beef cattle producer with a check made possible by a donation from the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association fundraising effort. In the background, a new barn was being constructed to replace the one lost in the December 10, 2021 tornado. Photo courtesy Darrell Simpson, Muhlenberg County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources

(L-R) Darrell Simpson, Don Sorrell, David Jarvis, Jimmy Roseberry, and ET Pendley, Secretary of the Muhlenberg County Cattlemen’s Association stand in front of a newly constructed fence on the Jarvis farm. The main impact of the tornado was approximately 200 yards south of this site yet the side winds caused substantial damage to structures and fencing. Photo courtesy of Darrell Simpson, Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources

ANGUS

Show: 10 AM, Friday Sale: 12 PM, Saturday

Wes Womack, 270-484-0556

BEEFALO

Show: 4 PM, Friday Sale: 9:30 AM, Saturday

Kyle Skidmore, 502-641-7878

BLACK HEREFORD Show: 12 PM, Saturday Sale: 4 PM, Saturday

Tim Tarter 606-305-2289

CHAROLAIS Show: 12 PM, Saturday Sale: 4 PM, Saturday

KY Charolais Assn.

Jeff Harrod - 502-330-6745

Kentucky Farm Bureau BEEF EXPO

Kentucky Fair & Expo Center • Louisville, KY • March 3-5, 2023

GELBVIEH

Show: 1 PM, Friday Sale: 11:30 AM, Saturday David Slaughter, 270-556-4259

HEREFORD

Show: 1 PM, Friday Sale: 1 PM, Saturday Suzanne Matheny 606-584-0572

LIMOUSIN

Show: 10 AM, Saturday Sale: 2:30 PM, Saturday Greg Blaydes - 859-338-9402

PEN HEIFER

Show: 2 PM, Friday Sale: 2 PM, Saturday JWC Marketing LLC 859-229-1767

Major Co-Sponsors:

Kentucky Farm Bureau and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture

RED ANGUS

Show: 10 AM, Friday Sale: 10 AM, Saturday Johnnie Cundiff, 606-871-7438 606-636-6896 (Work)

RED POLL Show: 2:30 PM, Friday Sale: 9:30 AM, Saturday Kyle Young, 502-321-9892 (Cell)

SHORTHORN Show: 10 AM, Saturday Sale: 1 PM, Saturday Cindy Cagwin Johnston - 217-370-6034

SIMMENTAL Show: 4 PM, Friday Sale: 11 AM, Saturday Doug Parke, 859-987-5758 859-421-6100 (Cell)

DON’T MISS THESE OTHER EXPO EVENTS!!

Junior Heifer, Steer, and Market Heifer Jackpot Shows More information available at www.kybeefexpo.com

OTHER EVENTS:

Kentucky Junior Heifer Show Saturday, Check In Show: 4:30 PM

Junior Steer Show Saturday, Check In Sunday, Show: 8:00 AM

Open Junior Heifer Show Saturday, Check In Sunday, Show: 8:00 AM

Trade Show Brandy Graves, 502-229-2747

*Kentucky heifer exhibitors will show separately Saturday, March 4 at 4:30 PM and may choose to show in the Open Junior Heifer Show, Sunday, March 5 at 8:00 AM.

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Happy New Year! How is that even possible? Where did 2022 go? I fondly remember folks telling me that the older you get the faster the time goes, and at that time, I thought no way. Well, they were right! What use to be afternoons and evenings filled with kids farming the house and attending meetings to further MY education, has now turned into running all over the state for sports games, 4-H programs, and whatever else my kids have planned for me. Of course, I love it all! Every stage of life has brought something new and exciting, but it has also made me be more intentional and focused in what I do.

As we move into the new year, I always try to revisit the essential goal setting skills I learned in one of the best classes I ever took in college a few years ago, Farm Business Management. First, a key take-away was that an unwritten goal is just a wish, so you must write them down! But the second thing I learned was that you can’t just write any old goal down. It must be a S.M.A.R.T. goal! S.M.A.R.T. stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely.

SPECIFIC: What are you focused on? We cannot do everything, so specific goals help us hone in on what we want to accomplish.

MEASURABLE: This provides us with a benchmark and an end in sight.

ATTAINABLE: I believe this is the most important component of goal setting. If the goal is not attainable when you start, then you will be discouraged from the beginning.

RELEVANT: I’m involved in a lot of good things, but if they are not relevant to the what I am working on then it could send me down a rabbit hole causing me to miss the goal.

TIMELY: This is so important because again it gives us another benchmark. In goal setting, there are short-term and long-term goals. This timeliness is necessary to encourage us to stay focused and intentional.

The great thing about these five goal-setting components is that they work for any area of your life whether it is on the farm, with our family, about our health, or in our programs we implement at the Beef Council. However, we cannot just set them and forget them. We must go back to our goals regularly, examine the progress, and if necessary, adjust them. Happy goal-setting!

Specifically, two of KBC’s goals this fiscal year focused on providing supply chain trainings and influencer farm immersion tours while sharing up-to-date, interactive, research-based resources and connecting them back to the beef farmer. Most recently, KBC partnered with Bluegrass Hospitality Group to present two different trainings where participants were able to experience the umami factor of beef, learn about the differences in taste versus flavor, and experience an auction market and further processing facility. Additionally, in the last month, KBC registered dietitian, Janine Faber, spoke with 50 EKU nursing students, 15 Xavier University health professional students, and 10 UK Hospital dietetic interns about working with Agriculture and the benefits of beef in a healthy diet. As a follow up to a summer farm tour, KBC staff were invited to present to 35 WKU hospitality management and dietetics students about beef and umami. Lastly, after a two-year hiatus, the KY Restaurant Association hosted its Day at the Races event for KY restaurants and restauranteurs at Churchill Downs. During the event, KBC hosted a table where staff provided helpful beef resources and promoted the BeeFoodservice app The event allowed staff to reconnect with industry professionals and show how KBC can support them in their business.

Alison Smith Retail & Foodservice, Kentucky Beef Council

Coming off the holidays, there is no doubt you are looking for something you can throw in a slower cooker or pressure cooker, walk away, and a few hours later, have a delicious and hearty meal. Here are a few tips that will ensure that you will have fork-tender dinners!

1. COVER THE BASICS

Double-check to make sure the gasket on your pressure cooker is clean and crack-free, and the vent tube isn’t clogged. Remember that pressure cookers require a minimum amount of liquid and a maximum amount of food to function properly. Depending on the model and recipe, your pressure cooker may take up to 20 minutes to build up pressure.

2. BROWN & DEGLAZE

Many modern pressure cookers have a “brown” setting, but you can always give your beef a quick sear on the stovetop. For extra flavor, add a small amount of liquid — such as beef broth, wine, juice or even water — to the hot pan and scrape up any crusty bits sticking to the bottom before transferring it to the pressure cooker.

3. SET & FORGET

Follow recipe guidelines and trust the timer. Keep in mind most pressure cookers include a safety feature that prevents the lid from being opened while the contents are under pressure.

4. RELEASE THE PRESSURE

There are two methods for releasing pressure from your pressure cooker: quick release and natural release. The quick release method involves manually opening the pressure release valve, while the natural release method involves turning off the heat and allowing the pressure to drop on its own. For best results, we recommend letting the pressure release naturally. Be sure to refer to your user manual for specific instructions.

5. SERVE & SAVOR

Many pressure cooker recipes are for onepot meals that can go straight to the table, while some recipes make ingredients to be used in other recipes. Either way, when you follow the guidelines for preparation and safe operation, you’re sure to get a great-tasting dish.

SWEET ONION & PEPPER BEEF SANDWICHES WITH AU JUS

Top your favorite French bread with the tasty flavors of slow cooked beef, sweet onions and bell peppers in this hearty and satisfying sandwich.

INGREDIENTS: 3 to 3-1/2 pounds beef Stew Meat, cut into 1 to 1-1/2 inch pieces • 2 medium sweet onions, cut into 1/2-inch wedges • 2 red bell pepper, cut lengthwise into 1-inch wide strips • 1 cup reduced-sodium beef broth • 1/3 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce • 1/2 cup no-salt added tomato paste 2 tablespoons minced garlic • 8 to 10 French bread rolls, split, warmed

TOPPINGS: Reduced-fat shredded Cheddar cheese, pepperoncini, pepper rings, assorted olives (optional)

COOKING: Place onions in 5-1/2 quart slow cooker; top with beef, then pepper slices. Combine beef broth, tomato paste, soy sauce and garlic; add to slow cooker. Cover and cook on HIGH 6 to 7 hours or LOW 8 to 9 hours or until beef is fork-tender. (No stirring is necessary during cooking.) Skim fat from cooking liquid, if necessary.

Serve beef and vegetables in rolls with toppings, as desired. Serve au jus for dipping, if desired.

ALTERNATE COOKING METHOD: This recipe can be made in a 6-quart electric pressure cooker. In small bowl add 1/2 cup broth, soy sauce and tomato paste; mix well. Place onions in pressure cooker; top with beef Stew Meat, onions, peppers, broth mixture and garlic. Close and lock pressure cooker lid. Use beef, stew or high-pressure setting on pressure cooker; program 25 minutes on pressure cooker timer. Use quick-release feature to release pressure; carefully remove lid. Continue as directed in step

(This recipe variation was tested in an electric pressure cooker at high altitude. Cooking at an altitude of less than 3000 feet may require slightly less cooking time. Refer to the manufacturer’s instructions.)

beefitswhatsfordinner.com

One of the greatest joys of my position is getting to see the growth of many youth beef cattle enthusiasts. Opportunities like the Nebraska Youth Beef Leadership Symposium (NYBLS), allow for that growth to occur. As a sponsor of the NYBLS, Kentucky was able to take 10 sophomores-seniors in high school to the symposium.

Attendees included Madison Frogue (Todd County), Ty Jones (Allen County), Kadence Mathers (Nelson County), Whitney Peck (Caldwell County), Maggie Sparks (Bourbon County), Mary Brooke Stith (Meade County), Emily Tabor (Breckinridge County), Macey Thompson (Breckinridge County), Mollie Webb (Barren County), and Jenna Wethington (Casey County).

Before the symposium began, we were able to make a few industry visits. These were designed to give our Kentucky youth an opportunity to make connections between Nebraska’s and Kentucky’s agricultural industries. Our first stop was at CLAAS of America, where they assemble their Lexion Combines. Mr. Mike Anderson led our tour, showcasing their facility. Mr. Anderson also talked about the dedication of our youth today being the driving force for the continuation of our agricultural industry.

Our next stop was at Nebraska Beef Packing Plant. Many of our youth had visited a local processing facility before, however they were truly amazed at the efficiency/scale of a bigger processer. Our tour guides were able to showcase information such as hanging times, quality grading, as well as safety equipment that the meat cutters wear during their shifts.

My favorite stop of the trip was at H-KO Land and Cattle. Mr. Jack Klosterman and Dr. Rick Stock gave us our tour of their 8,000 head feedyard. One of the greatest connections that was made during our visit at H-KO was how their operation is successful due to the cow calf operations that most of our attendees come from. I think it is easy for our youth to not see the “big picture” in how our thirty head cow calf operations make an impact, however both Mr. Klosterman and Dr. Stock put an emphasis on the importance of the operations we have in Kentucky, as they receive several cattle from Kentucky.

We also took time to visit the Nebraska Cattlemen’s Association where they discussed how their state association is advocating on their producers behalf, including lobbying for legislation, educational resources, and youth development. Many of our youth made connections between how we have very similar resources in our state as well. We greatly appreciate the time Mark Goes and Lee Weide spent showcasing the similarities and differences of our Cattlemen Association’s.

When the Symposium began, our Kentucky group was divided amongst 35 Nebraska youth who were given a task of creating a new innovative menu item with one of three assigned beef cuts: the flat iron steak, ground beef, and top round steak. Groups had to come up with the cost of input, marketing strategy, as well as how to present their idea. Participants worked with a chef who spent quality time with each group as they then prepared their newest beef menu creation. On the winning team, Ms. Jenna Wethington’s team created a beef chili cinnamon roll, perfect for a tailgate. We would also like to recognize Ms. Mollie Webb for receiving a $500 scholarship to University of Nebraska- Lincoln for her leadership abilities shown during the trip.

After spending a week with these youth, I can confidently say that the future of our Kentucky Beef Industry is so bright. We have innovative, passionate, and creative leaders who will do great things in the future. Thank you so much to this year’s attendees, applicants, and to Mrs. Meagen Bishop for serving as a Chaperone. If you are interested in applying for next year’s NYBLS, applications will be posted in September 2023.

Bradon Burks Director of Education, Kentucky Beef Council

Kentucky Beef Network Update

Becky Thompson Director, Kentucky Beef Network

HOLIDAY SEASON

December always proves to be a busy month of holiday preparation, convention planning, and attending county meetings. My family and I made the 14 hour journey back to Nebraska to visit my family and attend Christmas gatherings. It is great to have my girls Maelee (10) and Madelyn (8) back on the farm playing in the snow and helping my mom prepare Christmas dinner just like I did when I was growing up.

Through the fall I met with the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board (KADB) recipient review committee several times along with the Kentucky’s Office of Agricultural Policy (KOAP) staff to review our new KBN 12 application programs and benchmarks. The KBN 12 application will be presented to the KADB at their December 16th meeting. I appreciate the time the committee members and staff took to go through our KBN 11 reports as well as the KBN 12 application and listen to our updates to gain a better understanding of their impact for Kentucky farmers. The KADB and KOAP staff should be commended for their dedication toward the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund

making sure each applicant and program will somehow impact rural Kentucky agriculture. The board and staff show huge passion for the future of Kentucky agriculture.

WINTER CPH SALES

There were a little over 4,700 preconditioned feeder calves that sold through the Profit Through Performance Sale, Kentucky Certified Hereford Influence sale, and three CPH-45 sales across Kentucky during the first two weeks of December. If you have current questions on the requirements of the programs or historical market information, please visit the CPH website or the Kentucky Hereford Association website. The market reports can be viewed on the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s USDA market reports listing.

FACILITATORS

Have you met the Kentucky Beef Network’s boots on the ground yet? Do you know Ben, Charles, Jacob, Jeff, Ron, or Greg? These hardworking men are your Kentucky Beef Network facilitators. If you haven’t met your KBN facilitator I encourage you to reach out to them and ask them to visit your farm to see what KBN opportunities we could offer you.

KBN’s mission is to assist beef cattle producers, improve animal health, genetics, forages, and marketing opportunities by enhancing producer profitability. All 38,000 cattlemen in Kentucky have the opportunity to benefit from programs and services offered through the KBN.

KBN facilitators are spread throughout the state and all have different backgrounds and production experiences depending on their location in the state. They are equipped to draw from their own experiences and expertise to help you collect weaning weights on your calves, explain opportunities KBN has with its Integrate Reproductive Management Program, Master Education Series, or on farm environmental practices.

The staff and facilitators of the Kentucky Beef Network are here for you, the Kentucky beef producer. We can provide services to add value to your cattle and protect your livelihood as a beef producer, but most of all we can be your companion. If you ever have any ideas on how we can help you more, please call our office and give us your suggestions.

I hope to see you all at convention. Happy New Year!

KENTUCKY BEEF NETWORK FACILITATORS

Ben Lloyd Whitesville, KY (270) 993-1074 benlloyd0223@gmail.com

Ron Shrout Winchester, KY (606) 205-6143 ronshrout@bellsouth.net

Charles Embry Cave City, KY (270) 646-5939 dale.embry@yahoo.com

Jeff Stephens Ewing, KY (606) 782-7640 stephensbeef@gmail.com

Jacob Settles Springfield, KY (859) 805-0724 jacob.settles4@yahoo.com

Eden Shale Update

Dan Miller Industry Coordinator, Kentucky Beef Network

If you tend to livestock in the winter you undoubtedly face two time consuming chores: Feeding hay and keeping water sources thawed. Dr. Higgins has dedicated a lot of time and effort addressing these two issues for Kentucky producers, and I would like to highlight the later.

To date we have installed 16 tire water tanks at Eden Shale. They range from 4 ft to nearly 9 ft in size. These tire tanks are excellent at housing a large volume of water and allowing 12-14 mature cows to drink at once, which is a huge benefit during the warm grazing months when cattle’s water consumption is at the highest. But on the flip side, once the temperatures go below freezing the exposed water will turn to ice.

There are a lot of factors that determine how low the temperatures can go before a tire waterer will freeze. For instance, how many animals are drinking from it, is the sun hitting the tire, how much wind does the tire get, etc. We find that generally the tires will stay thawed down to about 28-25 degrees depending on conditions. Anything colder,

and ice will start to form.

Dr. Higgins has experimented with several methods that all help to keep the tires open. He has developed lids of varying shapes and applications that work well. He has also successfully used 12 volt pumps to keep the surface of the water moving to slow the creation of ice. Most recently he has borrowed an idea from the Arctic, where water is not presented to the cattle until they are standing at the water tank ready to drink.

The concept is simple, an 8 ft tire waterer is completely covered with a homemade insulated lid. The lid consists of basic lumber, insulation, and a water proof type paint. The lid has two bowls that the cattle can drink from. These bowls stay dry until the cattle are ready to drink. When the cattle walk up to the tank, they are detected by a motion sensor which turns on a 12 volt pump below the lid inside the tire. This pump (a boat bilge pump) fills up the bowl so the cattle can drink. The motion detector keeps the pump running while animals are present. Once the cattle leave the tank, the pump shuts off and the

water in the bowl drains back down into the tire through the pump and through two small holes drilled into the bottom of the bowl. This keeps the bowls dry so that there is no water exposed to the elements to freeze.

This system is powered by 12 volt marine batteries that are charged with both a solar panel and a wind turbine (pictured in the background). During the winter months there are very few days that it is not either sunny, or cloudy and windy. This allows the system to charge most every day, and also on windy nights. An electronic controller manages the charging load to the batteries, as well as operates the 12 volt pump when water is needed. The entire system is self sufficient and requires no user input to operate.

This fall we have had livestock using this water tank with the lid installed and it has functioned correctly. However, as we get into winter its design will be tested with the colder weather. Stay tuned for updates as we collect data this winter and evaluate the application of this design.

BLEVINS BLACK CATTLE

Gary, Nicole, & Ethan Blevins

59 Fieldstone Court Greenup, KY 4114 606.465.4040 blevinsblackcattle@gmail.com

BOYD BEEF CATTLE

6077 Helena Road Mayslick, KY 41055

Charlie Boyd II: (606) 584-5194 • Blake Boyd: (606) 375-3718 www.boydbeef.com • cboyd2@maysvilleky.net

BRANCH VIEW ANGUS

927 Old Liberty Pike • Hustonville, KY 40437 (859) 238-0771 • www.branchviewangus.com

James S. & LuAnn Coffey, Donald & Donna Coffey

Annual Production Sale- 2nd Saturday in April

BURKS CATTLE CO.

531 Rick Rd. Park City, KY 42160

Eddie Burks • (270) 991-6398 www.burkscattle.com

BURTON

&

SONS ANGUS

Joe D. or Karen Burton

480 Hominy Hill Rd. Nancy, KY 42544

Joe: (606) 305-3081

Located 15 miles West of Somerset • klburton01@windstream.net

Bulls & females sold private treaty. Inquiries Welcome. Sell only what we would buy. Data driven since 1981.

COFFEY ANGUS FARMS

661 Hopewell Road

Liberty, KY 42539

Matt Coffey: (270) 799-6288

Dewey Coffey: (606) 706-2699

Genetics for Maximum Profitability since 1984

JASON & KATIE CROWE

ELI HASKELL

10825 Red Lick Road Irvine, KY 40336 (859) 582-0761

DAVIS BEND FARMS

2315 Davis Bend Road Canmer, KY 42722

timmothyljeffries@gmail.com

HERITAGE FARM

Tom McGinnis

1024 Hinkle Lane • Shelbyville, KY (502) 633-1634, home • (502) 633-5100, work (502) 655-0164, cell

HILL VIEW FARMS

Jimmy Gilles

5160 Lee Rudy Road Owensboro, KY 42301 (270) 929-5370 jcgilles86@gmail.com

JOHNSON FARMS ANGUS

Angus Bulls & Females

Slaughters, KY

Keith: (270) 635-0723 Reese: (270) 635-1137

LYNN CREEK FARMS

Kris and Sara Lynn 2184 Bardstown Rd Springfield KY 40069 573-721-6663

MT.

MORIAH ANGUS FARMS

Bob, Kathy, and Rob Clark (859) 748-5558

1446 Kennedy Bridge Rd. Harrodsburg, KY 40330

Bob: (859)339-2610 • Rob: (859)612-1594 mtmoriahfarms1@gmail.com www.mtmoriahangus.com

FOUR KINGS ANGUS

250 Bright Leaf Dr. • Harrodsburg, KY 40330

Cary & Kim King Carymking@yahoo.com • fourkingsangus.com

Cary Cell: (859) 613-3734 • Colby Myers - Purebred Manager

OLD BARK FARM

370 Ferrill Hill, Buffalo, KY 42716

Kenley Conner 270/358-8057

Registered Angus Cattle

RAGS ANGUS FARM

Richard and Glenda Stallons

1240 Dogwood Kelly Road Hopkinsville, KY 42240

Home: (270) 885-4352 Cell: (270) 839-2442 rstallons@bellsouth.net

SHAW FAMILY ANGUS

Jim & Cathy Shaw

935 Miller Road • Hodgenville, KY 42748 (270) 769-8260 www.shawfamilyangus.com Quality Registered Angus Cattle since 1975

SMITHLAND

ANGUS FARM

5202 East Hwy 80, Russell Springs, KY 42642

Charles “Bud” & Pam Smith: (270) 866-3898 Henry & Melissa Smith: (270) 866-2311

ST.

CLAIR FARMS REGISTERED ANGUS

Eric & Sherry St. Clair

13433 Falls of Rough Road • Falls of Rough, KY 40119

Home: (270) 257-2965 • Cell: (270) 617-1079 www.stclairangus.com

Performance Tested Bull & Female Sale April 2020

TAMME VALLEY FARM

Jacob Tamme, Owner-Operator (859) 583-7134 jacob.tamme@gmail.com www.tammevalley.com & Find us on Facebook!

TRIPLE D ANGUS

Nathaniel & Darla Denham

Nathaniel(Bub), Sarah, Ashley Denham (606) 423-2457 • (606) 875-0780 tripledangus.com

TWIN CREEK FARM

Shawn, Melissa, Devin & Dylan Gibson (270) 337-3072 or (270) 692-5304 Dennis & Emily 270/337-2128 or 270/402-4338

Watch for us in Branch View Production Sale in April

KENTUCKY ANGUS ASSOCIATION

Junior Heifer Calf Champ

Div 3 ROV Show and Junior Heifer Calf Champ Div 2 Junior Show

BCII Henning Sandy 0122 won junior heifer calf champion - division 3 at the 2022 North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE) Super Point Roll of Victory (ROV) Angus Show, Nov. 14 in Louisville, Ky. Josie Phillips, Maysville, Ky., owns the winning heifer. Photo by Linde’s Livestock Photos LLC.

BCII Henning Sandy 0122 won owned junior heifer calf champion-division 2 at the 2022 North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE) Junior Angus Show, Nov. 13 in Louisville, Ky. Josie Phillips, Maysville, Ky., owns the winning heifer. Photo by Linde’s Livestock Photos LLC.

Rain has finally blessed many farmers across the commonwealth over the last few months bringing many opportunities in the future for the cattle industry. The green grass has allowed for excellent grazing, boosting those weaning weights as the feeder calf sale season begins. The rain also secured a good fall hay crop for many, which improves the stockpile of feed for the wintering months.

Rsv Jr Heifer Calf Champ Div 1

BF BCII Birdie 1822 won reserve junior heifer calf champion - division 1 at the 2022 North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE) Super Point Roll of Victory (ROV) Angus Show, Nov. 14 in Louisville, Ky. Josie Phillips, Maysville, Ky., owns the winning heifer. Photo by Linde’s Livestock Photos LLC.

BF BCII Birdie 1822 won owned reserve junior heifer calf champion-division 1 at the 2022 North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE) Junior Angus Show, Nov. 13 in Louisville, Ky. Josie Phillips, Maysville, Ky., owns the winning heifer. Photo by Linde’s Livestock Photos LLC.

As I write this letter the Fall Angus sale season is in full swing with many opportunities across Kentucky to purchase any seed stock needs you may have. In the early September sales, the price on females was outstanding and the interest in bulls continued to increase by the day. Please reach out to your local Angus breeder to purchase your highquality Angus bulls as the Fall breeding season comes near.

Senior Bull Champ

I encourage you to keep your animal health protocols up to date and continue a good mineral program to help Kentucky’s cow herd be productive as we anticipate strong cattle prices in the months ahead.

Two Bows Power chip 102 won senior champion bull at the 2022 North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE) Super Point Roll of Victory (ROV) Angus Show, Nov. 14 in Louisville, Ky. Sayde Lowe, Murray, Ky., owns the winning bull. Photo by Linde’s Livestock Photos LLC.

Reserve Junior Bull Calf Champ

The North American International Livestock Expo will be here before we know it and I encourage you to visit Louisville on November 13th and 14th for all Angus Events. If I or anyone else at the Kentucky Angus Association can assist you in any way, please feel free to reach out.

APS Walter Express won reserve junior bull calf champion at the 2022 North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE) Super Point Roll of Victory (ROV) Angus Show, Nov. 14 in Louisville, Ky. Anne Patton Schubert, Taylorsville, Ky., owns the winning bull. Photo by Linde’s Livestock Photos LLC

Thanks, Henry Bryan Smith

Anne Stewart DeMott, Secretary/Treasurer

R & K Bismarck 981 won intermediate champion bull at the 2022 Tennessee State Fair Roll of Victory (ROV) Angus Show, Aug. 21 in Lebanon, Tenn. Kalli Flanders, Buffalo, Ky., owns the winning bull. Photo by Alex

Greetings Fellow Cattlemen,

R & K Rainfall 1281 won senior bull calf champion at the 2022 Tennessee State Fair Roll of Victory (ROV) Angus Show, Aug. 21 in Lebanon, Tenn. Kalli Flanders, Buffalo, Ky., owns the winning bull. Photo by Alex Tolbert,

Anne Stewart DeMott, Secretary/Treasurer

@kyangusassoc

AA LAND & CATTLE

Registered

Cynthiana, KY

Luke Arthur (859) 298-8323

luke.arthur93@gmail.com

BAR IV LIVESTOCK

Barry, Beth & Ben Racke

• Brad Racke

7416 Tippenhauer Rd. • Cold Spring, KY 41076

Phone (859) 635-3832 • Barry cell (859) 991-1992

Brad cell (859) 393-3677 • Ben cell (859) 393-3730 Fax (859) 635-3832 • bar4@twc.com

BAR IV LIVESTOCK

BEE LICK GELBVIEHS

7416 Tippenhauer Rd.

Eddie Reynolds

277 Old Bee Lick Rd.

Cold Spring, KY 41076

LARRY CLARK & SONS LLC

Registered Gelbvieh Cattle

106 Clark Houk Road • Greensburg, KY 42743

Larry Clark, Owner & Operator (270) 299-5167 • (270) 405-6848

Lpclarkandsons@msn.com

BRIAN W. DYER, DVM

Owner/Manager

GELBVIEH/BALANCERS

CLIFFORD FARMS

3459 KY HWY 1284E

2050 Glasgow Road Burkesville, KY 42717

Cynthiana, KY 41031 Since 1937 (859) 234-6956

Brian, Lauren, Kristen Barry, Emily & Julia (270) 864-5909

FULL CIRCLE FARMS

BRIAN W. DYER, DVM

Owner/Manager

Registered Gelbvieh Cattle Brad Burke

GELBVIEH/BALANCERS

Phone (859) 635-3832

Crab Orchard, KY 40419 606-379-2281(H) 606-305-1972(C)

Barry cell (859) 991-1992 Brad cell (859) 393-3677 • Ben cell (859) 393-3730 Fax (859) 635-3832 • bar4@twc.com

Bulls & Females for sale

BEE LICK GELBVIEHS

Eddie Reynolds

277 Old Bee Lick Rd. Crab Orchard, KY 40419 606-379-2281(H) 606-305-1972(C) Bulls & Females

2050 Glasgow Road Burkesville, KY 42717

989 Metcalf Mill Road • Ewing KY 41039 (H) 606-267-5609 • (C) 606-782-1367 gbb789@windstream.net

Brian, Lauren, Kristen Barry, Emily & Julia (270) 864-5909

KILBOURNE GELBVIEH

FULL CIRCLE FARMS

Registered Gelbvieh Cattle

Brad Burke 989 Metcalf Mill Road • Ewing KY 41039 (H) 606-267-5609 • (C) 606-782-1367 gbb789@windstream.net CD FARMS

BRAY’S GELBVIEH CATTLE

Niles & Betty K Bray 1568 Bray Ridge Road Bedford, KY 40006 (502) 255-3584

817-2869 Taylor Bradbury (502) 817-4421

KILBOURNE GELBVIEH

MOCKINGBIRD HILL FARMS

East Bernstadt, KY 606-843-6583 cell 606-309-4662

Kentucky Hereford Association

KHA member dues for 2023 are $25 and KJHA member dues are $10. If you are not a member, but would like to join, contact Suzanne Matheny.

WELLS FARM

Polled Herefords

Toby & Debby Dulworth

2492 S. Kirkman Road LaCenter, KY 42056 (270) 224-2993 dogwood@brtc.net Herefords that thrive on forages. www.dogwoodherefords.com

439 Flatwoods Frozen Camp Rd, Corbin KY 40701 Bobby & Brenda Wells (606) 523-0569 or (606) 344-0417 wells_farm@yahoo.com Kevin, Angela, Kenlea & Kyler Murray (606) 528-1691 or (606) 682-8413

KHA OFFICERS

President: L.W. Beckley

Secretary/ Treasurer: Suzanne Matheny 606-584-0577 suzannebmatheny@gmail.com

NJB Limited

Dale Stith

5239 Old Sardis Pike Mays Lick, KY 41055 dalestith@yahoo.com (918) 760-1550

Home of Select Sires’ Boyd Fort Knox 17yxz54040

K3 CATTLE REGISTERED HEREFORDS

6077 Helena Road Mayslick, KY 41055 Charlie Boyd II 606-584-5194

Annual Bull Sale second Saturday in March Hereford and Angus Bulls

Chambliss

Hereford Farms

Brad, Carla, Clay & Clint Chambliss 1101 Driftwood Lane Elizabethtown, KY 42701 Home (270) 982-3905 Cell (270) 668-7126 fax 270-735-9922 www.chamblissherefordfarms.com

MPH Farms

Registered Polled Herefords PAUL L. HANCOCK 8559 KY 56 Owensboro, KY 42301 270-771-4194

KYLE BUSH K3CATTLE@YAHOO.COM 859-588-4531 198 HICKS PIKE CYNTHIANA, KY 41031

Polled Hereford and Gelbvieh Cattle 3459 KY Hwy. 1284 E. Cythiana, KY 41031 (859) 234-6956 Ben, Jane, Shelby and Lincoln

THOMAS FARM

Jackson Farms

Registered Polled Herefords PO Box 215 Cross Plains, TN 37049 615-478-4483 billymjackson@aol.com

“Farming the Same Land Since 1834”

Eric & Ronnie Thomas 2396 Union City Rd. Richmond, KY 40475 (859) 623-5734

Eric’s Cell (859) 314-8256

“Cattle for sale at all times”

Windy Hills Farm

Jackie D. Perkins II 367 Mt. Pisgah Rd. Bremen, KY 42325 (270) 543-3586

Breeding to produce good cows since 1981

HEREFORDS

Codee Guffey • 1815 Grassy Springs Road Versailles, Kentucky 40383 (502) 598-6355 rockridgeherefords@gmail.com www.rockridgeherefords.com

TK4 Herefords

Tony & Kathy Staples 992 Knotts Road Brandenburg, KY 40108 (270) 422-4220 tstaples@bbtel.com

PILE STOCK FARM

Registered Polled Herefords HANSELL PILE, JR. 12045 St. John Rd. Cecilia, KY 42724 270-735-5192 270-862-4462 12 miles West of Elizabethtown

WOLF FARM

WCN Polled Herefords

Since 1961

Bill Norris

2220 Celina Road Burkesville, KY 42717

Phone (270) 433-7256 Cell (270) 433-1525

“Every calf needs a white face”

Registered Polled Herefords Bulls & Females for sale

Tim

BECKLEY HEREFORDS

Tucker Stock Farms

John

FFA Alumni shares with current students

Superior Fence Systems welcomes Barren County FFA Students

Paula L. Ratliff

As the day concluded, Pedigo discussed some of the differences between his class and the current class. He was surprised that so few were interested in farming, an alarming trend as the interest in farming as a profession is declining and almost non-existent. This will change the face and the direction of Barren County and obviously the world as more farm land becomes residential and industrial.

“The elimination of a single farmer creates a void in the production unless someone is going to step in their shoes. That simply is not happening in many families and communities.”

Pedigo told the students that he believes that to be successful in farming, it must be generational and inherited, and you must own the land to make a profit. “A farmer cannot survive on crop and cattle income and pay for the equipment and the land. When a piece of equipment costs more than your home, it is really hard to make both payments and pay for repairs.”

This experience in life is what led Pedigo to pursue a career in fencing to supplement his farm income. As a young man, he started installing farm fence and quickly realized there was a demand for this service. He began ordering truck loads of posts and wire, storing them in his parents’ barns. This eventually led to him opening a store in Glasgow, Kentucky to sell fence and other farm supplies and managing 2-3 fence construction crews. The store continued to expand offering residential and commercial fence products, lumber and decking boards, agricultural products and farm and house paint.

Pedigo is a third generational farmer and he recalled that he was driving huge tractors on the road for miles before he turned 16. He milked cows before and after school in a cold milk house. He raised and sold pigs to earn income. He was given a lot of responsibility from his father and he excelled in following his footsteps.

GLASGOW, KY - Barren County farmer, local business owner and former FFA member, J. David Pedigo opened his agri-business to the Barren County FFA students to share his life experience as a student, farmer and business owner and to introduce them to the basics of fence systems.

“There are many types of farm fence: there is barb wire, high tensile, woven wire, electric, plank board and others. Each has specific purposes and it’s important to know your options so that you make a good decision when deciding what to install. There are differences in posts and wire and installation techniques. There are differences in the quality of products” said Pedigo.

In the group of over 40 students, only a few actually lived on a farm. Several expressed interest in working in agri-business.

Lewis Cahoe, age 15 came with specific questions.

Over the holiday weekend, he was planning to travel to Michigan to visit relatives and he has an uncle that is having trouble keeping a bull contained inside of the fence.

Jeff Chapman, store manager and former FFA student, demonstrated the power of an electric fence charger. He connected a sliced potato to the charger and let it sizzle. The power of the charge could almost be felt. Cahoe left with knowledge about the effectiveness of solar and electric fence chargers and how a single strand of wire connected to a charger will “probably take care of the issue.”

Kendall Crowe, age 16 currently lives on a farm and is planning a career with horses and sheep, hoping to expand into Brahma cattle. “I didn’t know the differences in fence posts and the stronger ones” she said. She edged pretty close to the potato demonstration, but did not choose to pick it up.

“The FFA students of today have so many new advancements in technology and equipment, they can skip many of the life lessons that many of us ‘old timers’ have struggled through. Society will promote job vacancies, but you never hear about a farm vacancy until the farm is for sale. Perhaps we can help guide more students into agriculture, both in production and in agribusiness.”

Superior Fence Systems has been in business since 1986 and provides all types of farm, residential and commercial fence. “In our construction division, we have evolved over the years, shifting from farm and residential fence to commercial. The demand for farm fence continues to decline as more farms are reducing production and many are shifting from cattle to grain and removing the fences.”

“However, we are excited for the future and are appreciative of the efforts of AG teacher, AJ Mitchell and his willingness to help students learn the practicality of fencing. Hopefully we offered something of encouragement and something that will help them in the future.”

John Buck: (606) 474-7451 • (606) 922-8174 2494 South St. Hwy. 7, Grayson, KY. 41143 johnbuck474@windstream.net

406-587-4531 • simmental.org

PRIVATE TREATY SALES CHECKOFF INVESTMENT FORM

State and National Beef Promotion and Research Programs Information is required by 7 CRF 1260.201. Failure to report can result in a fine. Information is held confidential per 7 CRF 1260.203.

marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

DATE EVENT LOCATION AD

JAN 5-6 KCA Convention and Trade Show Lexington, KY 24-25

JAN 7 Genetic Excellence Angus Bull Sale Cookeville, TN

JAN 12 UT Bull Development & Evaluation Program Bull Sale Spring Hill, TN

FEB 1-3 NCBA Cattle Industry Convention and Trade Show New Orleans, LA 22

FEB 15-18 National Farm Machinery Show Louisville, KY

FEB 18 Yon Family Farms Spring Sale Ridge Spring, SC 19

FEB 21 2023 Alfalfa & Stored Forage Conference Cave City, KY 21

FEB 25 North Missouri Bull Sale Kingsville, MO 29

FEB 25 Pleasant Hill Farms Early March Madness Bull & Heifer Sale Bowling Green, KY 3

FEB 27 Robert Elliott & Sons 88th Anniversary Production Sale Adams, TN 4

FEB 27 Woodall Angus 28th Annual Buyer’s Choice Bull Sale Quality, KY 2

MARCH 3-5 Kentucky Farm Bureau Beef Expo Louisville, KY 34

MARCH 4 Judd Ranch 45th Gelbvieh, Balancer & Red Angus Bull Sale Pomona, KS

MARCH 4 Arkansas Bull & Female Sale Hope, AR 29

MARCH 4 BoPat Farms Bradford, TN

MARCH 6 Stone Gate Farms Annual Production Sale Flemingsburg, KY 11

MARCH 10 27th Annual Smithland Angus Bull & Female Sale Russell Springs, KY 18

DATE EVENT

LOCATION AD

MARCH 11 Paternal Power Bull Sale Paris, KY 28

MARCH 11 Red Reward Bull & Female Sale Osceola, MO 29

MARCH 11 Boyd/Myers Bull Sale Mays Lick, KY

MARCH 18 Red Hill Farms More than a Bull Sale XVIII Lafayette, TN

MARCH 18 Profit Through Performance Bull Sale Lexington, KY 18

MARCH 25 South Missouri Bull & Female Sale Carthage, MO 29

MARCH 25 Candy Meadows Farm Lexington, TN

MARCH 27 Oak Hollow Angus 45th Annual First Choice Bull Sale Smiths Grove, KY 5

MARCH 27 Maplecrest Farms Spring Bull Sale Hillsboro, OH

MARCH 31 KCF Youth Scholarships Applications Due 7

APRIL 1 10th Annual Commercial Open Heifer Sale London, KY 34

APRIL 1 Angus Opportunity Sale Canmer, KY

APRIL 1 Grassy Valley Greeneville, TN

APRIL 1 West Tennessee Association Bull Test Sale Milan, TN

APRIL 8 Branch View Angus Sale Hustonville, KY 56

APRIL 8 Crazy K Ranch Michie, TN

APRIL 8 Knoll Crest Farm’s Spring Bull & Female Sale Red House, VA

APRIL 15 Central KY Angus Association Sale Danville, KY

MAY 29 White Hawk Ranch Beefmaker Female Sale Buchanan, GA 10

MAY 29 White Hawk Ranch Beefmaker Female Sale Buchanan, GA 10

DIAMOND J SALERS

Donald Johnson • 11660 N. Hwy 1247 • Eubank, KY 42564 606-379-1558

WILLIS FARMS

Danny Willis • 964 Johnson Rd • Frankfort, KY 40601 • 502-803-5011 drwc21@aol.com

DEL-SU FARM

Howard & Sue Edwards • 420 Rose Rd • Somerset, KY 42501 606-679-1675 • Jeriah Privett • 606-416-1154

KNOB LICK FARM - BULLS & HEIFERS FOR SALE

Larry Cox • Tina Cox-Lynch • Amanda Cox Gibson • 1315 Knob Lick Road • Irvine, KY 40336 • 606-723-3077 • 606-975-1716

BREEDING AGE HEREFORD BULLS FOR SALE AT ALL TIMES

Over 60 years of Line 1 Hereford Genetics. Groups of open and bred heifers available for sale at all times. Chambliss Hereford Farms. 270-668-7126

RED ANGUS, SIMANGUS, CHAROLAIS, ANGUS FOR SALE

Red Hill Farms, Lafayette, TN, 615-666-3098 Bart, Sarah and Ty Jones

Gordon and Susan Jones, 270-991-2663

Visit us online - www.RedHillFarms.net

Contact us for cattle and semen availability. Annual Production Sales: More Than a Bull Sale – 3rd Saturday in March

Maternal Monday – 3rd Monday in May Bulls & Females of Fall Sale – Last Saturday in October

SORTING POLES – PADDLES – FLAGS

Poles with your 8” decal, $6.70 each for 50 or $7.25 each per 25. Sorting flag, $13.00, Sorting paddles, $9.50. Ear tag cutters with print, quantities at $4.00 each. Kerndt Livestock Products, 800-207-3115

Product-Market Fit and Taking the Random Out of Production

Les Anderson Extension Professor, University of Kentucky

I received an email last week about receiving an award for 25 years of service to Extension. It seems like yesterday when I rolled down to Lexington to start this new career. One of my most vivid memories was the first UK Beef IRM Committee meetings. The IRM committee had just finished the analysis of a huge survey of beef producers. The only question that stuck in my mind was “Why do you own beef cows?”. I thought the answer would be easy; to make money. But the number one response was “because I like cows”. “To make money” was the number three reason of those surveyed.

At the time, honestly, I was stunned. Now, after 25 years, I understand a little better. The beef business may be one of the few where profit is likely not the driving factor of ownership. A romanticism exists in agriculture about beef production and/or ranching. But can’t we make money and “like cows” at the same time? Profit is possible in the beef industry if producers reorganize the way they think about their beef cattle operation.

The IRM survey suggests that most beef producers don’t think of their operations as a small business. Successful small businesses plan and analyze their business to control as many variables as possible. They avoid “random” because random is the opposite of predictable. Small businesses need a predictable product to help achieve productmarket fit. The phrase “product-market fit” is used routinely in the business world and it indicates when a business’s product addresses

and solves the needs of its buyers or the market. Perhaps in the beef industry, we can redefine this as “Does our product match how we are marketing our cattle?”

Random is the norm for production in the beef cattle industry. More than half of beef operations simply turn a bull out with a set of cows and let them calve whenever they want. These operations sell cattle a few at a time and normally sell singles. Selling singles can help pay some bills but it is not a marketing plan, and it does not help producers maximize the value to their product. It doesn’t help you profit.

How can we decrease the “randomness” of production? First, control the calving season. Limit your cows to calving over shorter periods of time to help assemble bigger marketing groups. Limiting the calving season also improves labor and production efficiency. Second, control genetics. The best method to control genetics is to AI because of its flexibility. Estrus synchronization and AI requires planning and a little labor but the short- and long-term impact on profitability are well established. Use of this technology also enables producers to control the gender of the calf. Steers typically are $150-200 more valuable at marketing than heifers so removing the randomness of gender can help improve profitability. Imagine managing a 30-cow herd and having 24 steers born within a 30-day period. Not only is this possible but beef producers in Kentucky are already doing this. One of them said “If I am going

to stick a straw in them, I may as well stick a straw in that will make me money!”. Very true. Reducing “random” suddenly makes marketing easier and profit more attainable.

Controlling the calving season and genetics sets the table. Profitable beef cattle small business owners also control the quality of the product (health and nutrition programs) and minimize the costs of production by implementing quality forage and grazing programs.

The last tool to use to reduce “randomness” of production is record keeping and using the data to help drive production decisions. Beef cattle producers are great note takers but not very good at producing reports and using this data to drive decisions. Collecting and using production data clinches the nail on predictability and, with these other tools, can reduce the randomness of production as much as possible.

Managing a cattle operation for profit is a challenge. One cooperator I had in the UK IRM Farm Program made a statement that really resonates with me. This producer went from a 340-day calving season with no plan to a well-oiled machine that profits even in difficult markets and/or high input costs. He said, “My time is worth more than money. Now I make twice as much and spend half the time!”. How did he do it? He removed randomness and improved his product-market fit. One last comment. This producer had cows because he liked cows. Now he likes them quite a bit more!

TIMELY TIPS FOR JANUARY

• Study the performance of last year’s calf crop and plan for improvement. Plan your breeding program and consider a better herd sire(s). Select herd sires which will allow you to meet your goals and be willing to pay for superior animals.

• Consider vaccinating the cows to help prevent calf scours.

• Keep replacement heifers gaining to increase the probability of puberty occurring before the start of the spring breeding season.

• Start cows on the high magnesium mineral supplement soon. Consider protein supplementation if hay is less than 10% crude protein. If cows are thin, begin energy (grain) supplementation now. Cows must reach a body condition score of 5 before calving to maximize their opportunity for reproductive success. Supplementation now allows adequate time for cows to calving in adequate body condition score.

• Get ready for the calving season! See that all equipment and materials are ready, including obstetrical equipment, record forms or booklets,

eartags, scales for obtaining birthweights, etc. Prepare a calving area where assistance can be provided easily if needed. Purchase ear tags for calves and number them ahead of time if possible. Plan for enough labor to watch/assist during the calving period.

• Move early calving heifers and cows to pastures that are relatively small and easily accessible to facilities in case calving assistance is needed. Keep them in good condition but don’t overfeed them at this time. Increase their nutrient intake after they calve.

Fall-Calving Cow Herd

• Provide clean windbreaks and shelter for young calves.

• Breeding season continues. Keep fall calving cows on accumulated pasture as long as possible, then start feeding hay/grain/supplement. Don’t let these cows lose body condition!

• Catch up on castrating, dehorning and implanting.

General

• Feed hay in areas where mud is less of a problem. Consider preparing a feeding area with gravel over geotextile fabric or maybe a concrete feeding pad. Bale grazing is an option for producers to help control mud while spreading nutrients across pastures.

• Increase feed as the temperature drops, especially when the weather is extremely cold and damp. When temperature drops to 15°F, cattle need access to windbreaks.

• Provide water at all times. Cattle need 5 to 11 gallons per head daily even in the coldest weather. Be aware of frozen pond hazards. Keep ice “broken” so that cattle won’t walk out on the pond trying to get water. Automatic waterers, even the “frost-free” or “energy-free” waterers can freeze up in extremely cold weather. Watch closely.

• Consider renovating and improving pastures with legumes, especially if they have poor stands of grass or if they contain high levels of the fescue endophyte. Purchase seed and get equipment ready this month.

Spring-Calving Cow Herd

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