F&R Livestock Resource Summer 2021

F&R LivestockResource

Summer 2021 | Volume 4, Issue 4

Your direct source for livestock news and information

Published by Farmers & Ranchers Livestock, Salina, Kansas

In this Issue: 1 Sifting Market Answers

For the past four decades, arguably, Wes Ishmael has written more about cattle markets and market trends than any ag journalist. Sifting Market Answers digs deep enough to report there are no easy answers but cautions that policy changes often result in unintended consequences.

8 Cattle Prices Gain Traction

The backlog of fed cattle combined with well documented processing challenges have negatively affected the cattle market for months on end. Shifting leverage back toward the producer appears to be the direction we’re headed into fall and early next spring.

11 Is Retaining Ownership on Calves Risky or Rewarding?

Paige Nelson offers tips on the decision-making process to sell or retain ownership. Almost nothing related to beef production comes risk free, yet, accessing a value-added market or a grid can be a risk management tool. All-natural, branded beef programs and knowing the genetics are key components to capturing more value.

Sifting

17 Northern Lights

Ageless Hooter McCormick recalls another humorous encounter with an old friend. Hooter is a priceless metaphor for someone we’ve all met and situations we’ve all experienced.

Market

21 Beef Improvement Federation Presents Awards at Annual Convention

Each year, beef producers and stakeholders are honored for outstanding service to the industry.

Sifting Market Answers Aiming at the correct target would be helpful.

By Wes Ishmael

Lots of people got interested in the relationship between cattle and beef prices during the last two years. Many wonder how it was possible for wholesale beef prices to rise to historically high levels, while cash fed cattle prices wobbled along at such low ones.

First, there was the fire that shuttered the Tyson plant in Finney County, Kansas, for five months or so. Then came the pandemic, followed by last winter’s widespread winter storm and the cyber-security attack on JBS. Each time, to varying degrees, beef packing and processing were disrupt-

ed, effectively decreasing operational beef packing capacity. Each time, markets responded as expected, rationing reduced available packing capacity via lower fed cattle prices, while also rationing reduced available beef supplies through higher prices.

USDA’s investigation said as much.

The Department of Justice investigation is ongoing, presumably.

In response, several legislative proposals were introduced, which sponsors say will help remedy market imbalance.

Besides encouraging reauthorization

Continued on page 4 ________________________________________

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F&R Livestock

From the Editor

Resource

Volume 4, Issue 4 Summer 2021 Published quarterly by

Farmers & Ranchers Livestock, Salina, Kansas 1500 W. Old Hwy 40 Salina, Kansas 67401 785-825-0211 • 785-826-1590 (fax) FandRLive.com

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Owner: Farmers & Ranchers Livestock, Mike Samples, Salina, Kansas (785) 826-7884 Editor: Deb Norton, Deb@CogentIdeasInc.com Production Coordinator: Julie Tucker Graphic Designer: Daric Wells Editorial Assistants: Dixie Russell, Dave Cumpton Contributing Editors: Wes Ishmael, Paige Nelson Contributing Artist: Ted Foulkes Sales Jay Carlson Carlson Media Group, LLC (913) 967-9085

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F&R Livestock Resource is published quarterly with mail dates of January 15, March 1, August 15 and October 1 by Farmers & Ranchers Livestock, Salina, Kansas.

Produced by www.CogentIdeasInc.com

By Deb Norton

Worn old shoes need a good cobbler to be repaired; but worn old thoughts, only a rubbish bin!

—Mehmet Murat ildan Unless your permanent dwelling is under a big rock or farther down toward Middle Earth, you’ve likely heard, read or spoken with someone involved in agriculture about the perceived inequities in livestock production or, more specifically, how cattle are marketed. The debate, like everything else these days, has deteriorated to rhetoric fueled by emotion and political divisiveness with an absence of fact and thoughtful, respectful, problem solving discussion.

Some have disingenuously wrapped themselves in a mantra of saving rural America.

Here’s a news flash. Fixing any disparities in a very complicated marketing system may help, but saving rural America is a gigantic, broad and deep discussion that should have started about a half century ago. Lack of the very basics such as reliable internet, sustainable retail business, healthcare, emergency services, schools, food security, living wages… the list is long, and the “fix” is costly and complicated.

Beth Ford, CEO, Land O’ Lakes, is one of America’s most outspoken executives currently challenging all of us to focus on, and develop, a plan to address the realities of the rural-urban divide in the U.S. Ford has

called on greater investment Markets Insider reports there are in broadband, education and more than 2 million farms across healthcare in rural America. the U.S., yet farmers and ranchers She estimates improving broadband access to rural make up 1.3% of the labor force.

America to cost approximately $150 billion and should be treated the same as rural electrification in the 1930s.

“Rural America is the new inner city,” she said. “It has not been invested in.

There’s lack of attention, and this is something that should concern all of us.”

“This is not a political issue. This is not red/blue…This is an American issue.

Connections matter,” Ford said. “We need to remind ourselves every day of the shared destiny of the population of America.”

BroadbandNow Research reports that at least 42 million Americans do not have access to broadband and the majority are in rural areas. The same report documents more than 341,000 Kansans, 184,000 Nebraskans, and 266,000 people in the Dakotas have no broadband access.

The past year of living through the pandemic left no social demographic or geographical area unaffected. But the lack of access to basic technology necessary to continue to communicate, educate and conduct commerce may be most visible in rural America. The importance of telemedicine, online learning and the home delivery of basic goods have become inordinately more complicated and critical.

Markets Insider reports there are more than 2 million farms across the U.S., yet farmers and ranchers make up 1.3% of the labor force. In 2017, agriculture contributed $1.05 trillion to the U.S. gross domestic product, making it the 16th largest economy in the world if treated as its own country. We have consumers’ attention. Most consumers care about where their food comes from, but don’t have a clue about the complexities of the calf to meat case supply system. The current populist thought is more local processing makes consumer connectivity easier. That may be true, but just a caution from someone that has spent nearly 50 years in livestock marketing: most producers have as little understanding or interest in marketing as the consumer does in the importance of castrating a calf!

Markets Insider states it well, “While farming alone contributed $132.8 billion to the U.S. economy, the industry’s reach extends far beyond the soil.

From the leather ottoman you recently acquired to the IPA calling your name at the bar, countless products and industries rely on agricultural inputs to Continued on page 19 _______________________________________

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Continued from page 1 ________________________________________

of Livestock Mandatory Reporting (LMR), which is set to expire at the end of September, much of the language focuses on cash market price discovery and transparency.

Before delving into some of the particular proposals, keep in mind that price discovery and price determination are starkly different.

“Price discovery is the process of buyers and sellers arriving at a transaction price for a given quality and quantity of a product at a given time and place,” explained Ted Schroeder, agricultural economist at Kansas State University and Clem Ward, professor emeritus at Oklahoma State University, in “Price Determination Versus Price Discovery.” This was during another time in cattle history when cattle prices were low.

“Price determination is the interaction of the broad forces of supply and demand that determine the market price level,” according to Ward and Schroeder. “It shows the interaction of a supply curve and a demand curve to determine the general price level.”

In other words, you can discover a transaction price with more confidence through increased price discovery, but it does nothing to change overall price levels—it alters neither product supply nor product demand.

Regulating Price Discovery With that in mind, one of the more talked about proposals is the Cattle Market Transparency Act, reintroduced in March by Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.). If enacted, it would direct the Secretary of Agriculture and the Office of the Chief Economist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish regional mandatory minimums for negotiated cash trade of fed cattle. It would also direct USDA to establish a library of cattle formula contracts, amend the definition of “cattle committed” to expand the delivery window from seven to 14 days, and clarify confidentiality rules for administering Livestock Mandatory Reporting (LMR).

Another is what is commonly referred to as the 50-14 legislative proposal introduced by Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa). It would mandate that a minimum of 50% of a covered packer’s weekly volume of livestock slaughter must be purchased through spot market sales from nonaffiliated producers, and slaughtered with 14 days of purchase.

There’s also the Price Reform in Cattle Economics (PRICE) Act, cosponsored by Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.). It differs from those previously mentioned. It encourages

establishment of a beef cattle contract library to aid price discovery, as well as directing USDA to provide Congress cost-benefit and feasibility of the various proposals to enhance price discovery through mandatory price reporting. However, it seems to aim mostly at aiding producer-owned beef processing facilities and supporting other legislation to open new markets for state-inspected beef products, such as the Direct Interstate Retail Exemption for Certain Transactions (DIRECT) Act.

Identify the Target “Perhaps no relationship is currently more central to economic discussions in the U.S. beef cattle industry than the relationship of fed cattle inventories to processor capacity,” said Glynn Tonsor, agricultural economist at Kansas State University, in testimony during a June hearing of the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee. “This relationship is ever-evolving, reflecting cattle cycles, drought-induced liquidation, investment interest and many other dynamic factors. To briefly summarize, prior to 2016, it was estimated for many years there was more processing capacity than fed cattle inventories. That relationship subsequently changed such that since 2016 fed cattle inventories have often exceeded operational capacity to process them.

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“The Holcomb plant event of 2019 and developments during the COVID-19 pandemic occurred with this backdrop of fed cattle inventories being large relative to operational processing capacity. Economists expect lower fed cattle prices and higher beef prices when a system is at or near operational capacity. On balance that is what we have observed in markets.”

In other words, too little packing capacity relative to fed cattle supplies was already an issue before the Tyson plant fire.

“What caused the most recent turmoil in our marketplace is not complicated. A processing plant fire, a pandemic and a ransomware attack caused an unusual and extraordinary disruption in the processing system resulting in a drop in processed beef supply and a bulging over supply of live cattle. The result was an unprecedented drop in cattle prices relative to an equally unprecedented rise in beef prices, all driven by pure economic market principles,” said Mark Gardiner of Gardiner Angus Ranch, Ashland, Kansas, in testimony before the same U.S. Agriculture Committee.

“We have a volatile marketplace created by outside, unavoidable factors, not any one market player,” Gardiner explained. “We are seeing similar market disruptions in lumber, automobiles, etc. Now, the solution is very

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complicated. The processing industry is adjusting by adding capacity. Processors are adding this capacity due to market demand for more high-quality beef. This additional capacity will take time, but mark my words, history tells us we will likely reach a point where there is ample processing capacity for a limited supply of cattle, and the marketplace will shift once more where the producer will garner increased price leverage. The question for us, in the meantime, is how much damage will regulations do to the marketplace by artificially manipulating the pricing mechanisms? History again tells us the unintended consequences of the actions taken here can create longer lasting havoc and even greater volatility in our industry.”

Besides the imbalance between packing and fed cattle supplies, magnified by supply chain disruptions, Derrell Peel, Extension livestock marketing specialist at Oklahoma State University says, “It’s not clear we have a problem. We have thinner cash markets, but there is no indication of a persistent price discovery problem at this point.”

As mentioned, price discovery is the focus of much industry and legislative discussion, increasing cash transactions, one way or the other.

Although the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) has member policy directing if and when to pursue regulatory options, those members continue to pursue the voluntary approach.

Termed the 75% Plan, the voluntary framework sets cash transaction levels by region. If 75% of the level isn’t met 75% of the time, then a page 6 Summer 2021

virtual trigger is tripped, inching the organization closer to pursuing a mandated approach.

At the beginning of July, the Texas Cattle Feeders Association (TCFA) released data indicating the voluntary approach was working in its region.

“TCFA members have surpassed levels established in the NCBA plan.

More specifically, our members averaged 13,681 head per week in Q2 2021; 10,893 head per week in Q1 2021 and 9,593 head per week in Q4 2020 compared to the TCFA goal of 9,750 head in the NCBA plan.

By any measure, we have proven that an industry solution to increasing negotiated trade will work,” explained TCFA chairman Scott Anderson in the July 2 TCFA newsletter. “We do not need a government mandate and all the unintended consequences that could result. Our members have clearly demonstrated their commitment to increasing negotiated trade and improving price discovery. We want the market to work and will continue to also focus on leverage and competition issues that are negatively impacting the market.”

Trading Value Opportunity Whether voluntary or mandated, attaining regional cash trade minimums also caps the level of trade outside the cash market.

Cattle traded outside of the cash market today are primarily sold through what are known as alternative marketing arrangements (AMAs).

Think here of grid and formula cattle, where a discovered cash price is typically used as a base price, before

previously agreed carcass premiums and discounts are applied.

It’s hard to argue against AMAs being behind the industry achieving increased levels of beef carcasses that more closely match consumer demand (see “AMAs Drive Consumer Alignment” in this issue).

It’s also hard to argue against the angst AMAs continue to create for some producers.

In fact, Congress mandated the Grain Inspection, Packers & Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) conduct an investigation more than a decade ago. Completed in 2007, it was the GIPSA Livestock and Meat Marketing Study (GLMMS).

“In aggregate, restrictions on the use of AMAs for sale of livestock to meat packers would have negative economic effects on livestock producers, meat packers and consumers,” according to the study.

Among the study conclusions: • Many meat packers and livestock producers obtain benefits through the use of AMAs, including management of costs, management of risk (market access and price risk), and assurance of quality and consistency of quality.

• The cost savings and quality improvements associated with the use of AMAs outweigh the effect of potential oligopsony market power that AMAs may provide packers.

• The producers surveyed that used AMAs identified the ability to buy/ sell higher quality cattle, improve supply management, and obtain better prices as the leading reasons for using AMAs. Stephen Koontz, an agricultural

economist at Colorado State University served as lead economist for the GIPSA effort. Subsequently, he conducted the pioneering Price Discovery Research Project (PDRP) completed a few years back.

According to Koontz’s PDRP and subsequent research, fed cattle forward contracts benefit those that use them $15-$25 per head. The use of formula arrangements benefits those that use them $25-$40 per head. That’s why AMAs overtook cash trade as the preferred marketing mechanism.

“The main beneficiaries of these relationships are the cow-calf producing sector and the U.S. consumer. We have known this for a long time and we have solid empirical evidence,” Koontz explained in a letter to NCBA last year.

Moreover, Koontz says there is strong evidence that further product differentiation and value-based marketing made possible by AMAs helped the industry build consumer satisfaction and turn the demand corner starting in 1998.

“Beef quality has a positive effect on beef demand,” according to the GLMMS. “The producers and packers interviewed and surveyed believe that AMAs are important for beef quality, and quantitative analyses suggest that AMAs are often associated with higher quality.”

“Legislating how we do business is a big step and I think we’d live to regret it,” Peel says.

“As economists, we are always sincerely concerned about unintended consequences,” Tonsor explains.

“We can’t pretend that we can make policy changes without unintended consequences.”

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Getting beyond backlogged fed cattle supplies took longer than most RELEASE: 7/8/21 thought, but heading into the fall INSERTION: 8/1/21 market, time appears to be the producer’s friend.

“I think all commodities will stay expensive. Being long a commodity will probably reward you,” says Glynn Tonsor, agricultural economist at Kansas State University. “I’m optimistic prices will be higher this fall for spring-born weaned calves.”

Tonsor used beefbasis.com to run numbers the second week of June. The estimated sale price of a six-weight steer at Salina, Kan. in mid-October was $174/cwt.

“That would be a strong price, reflecting strong demand for beef and feedlots getting current, slowly but surely,” Tonsor says.

Likewise, Derrell Peel, Extension livestock marketing specialist at Oklahoma State University says there appears to be potential for calf and feeder cattle prices to increase the longer producers wait this fall. “Be prepared to be flexible and have the ability to push marketing later,” he says.

USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) projected the annual average feeder steer price (basis Oklahoma City) this year at $139.33/cwt. That was in the June Livestock, Dairy and Poultry Outlook (LDPO). Average prices were forecast at $139 in the second quarter, $141 in the third quarter and $143 in the fourth quarter. ERS pegged the average annual price for next year at $144.25.

“Feed costs are and will be an issue, but much of that impact is already priced into the feeder cattle market, so when fed cattle prices improve, feeder cattle prices can move with them.” Peel says.

Even so, Tonsor notes feed costs remain a risk. Besides weather and drought, he points out money poured into commodity markets as a hedge against inflation and supply chain bottlenecks.

In the June World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE), USDA lowered projected beginning corn stocks (2021-22) by 150 million bu., compared to the previous month, and ending stocks by 150 million bu. to 1.357 billion bu. Even so, the projected season-average farm price for corn was unchanged at $5.70/bu.

In the June Acreage report, after

7/8/21 4:30 PM

the WASDE, USDA estimated corn planted area for all purposes this year at 92.7 million acres. That would be 1.87 million acres more (+2%) than last year, but was significantly less than the trade expected.

Of course, high feed prices also present opportunity to some producers.

“At the end of the day, feedlots would rather buy pounds than put them on in the feedlot with expensive corn,” Peel says.

“If you’re concerned, I’d think strongly about protecting the downside,” Tonsor says.

He mentions Livestock Risk Protection (LRP) insurance as one price risk management tool. Unlike hedging with a feeder cattle futures contract, Tonsor explains producers can choose any number of cattle to insure with LRP. Plus, the dollars returned for a claim, relative to the premium, are higher than they were previously.

“It’s more advantageous to sellers of feeder cattle today,” Tonsor explains.

“For instance, you could protect half of your herd with LRP and avoid a catastrophic outcome. Lock in singles and doubles. A lot of lenders like to hear you’re doing that, by the way.”

Fed Cattle Backlog Clearing This year is shaping up to be the tale of two halves Peel expected, but it’s taking longer to get to the other half. In this case, the point where cattle feeders are current in their marketings after being constricted by beef packing disruptions for going on two years.

“With any luck, we will work through the long tail of 2020’s cattle backlog in the third quarter of 2021.

As such, year-over-year cattle prices will rise in the second half of 2021 and beyond,” explained Dustin Aherin, RaboResearch animal protein analyst for Rabobank. This was during invited testimony to the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee in late June.

In the June WASDE, ERS forecast the annual average five-area direct fed steer price at $117/cwt. Average prices are projected at $120 in the second quarter, $115 in the third quarter and $120 in the fourth quarter. Next year’s forecast annual average price is $121.50.

That’s with estimated total beef production this year of 27.90 billion lbs.

Next year, WASDE projects beef

production to be 565 million lbs. less at 27.33 billion lbs. That would be the first year-over-year decline in seven years.

Drought Increases Beef Cow Slaughter Although total cattle slaughter in May was more than last year’s pandemic-ravaged pace, it was 1% less than in 2019, according to the May LDPO. Cow slaughter, though, was 6% more than last year and 7% more than in 2019.

“While there have been improvements in drought conditions in some regions, pasture and range conditions in areas like the Northwest and North Dakota remain very poor compared to last year,” said ERS analysts.

Total U.S. beef cow slaughter in federally inspected plants the first week of June was 10.1% more year to date, compared to the same period in 2020, according to the Livestock Marketing Information Center (LMIC). Analysts there pointed out the percentage change was amplified by below-average slaughter levels the previous year.

“The start of pasture and range conditions (this year) was the worst since the 2012 and 2013 growing seasons. These early weeks are showing a large portion of the U.S. was already requiring supplemental feed to maintain herds,” LMIC analysts explained in a June Livestock Monitor.

“For the West, this is a second year of continued hardship and will result in a second year of beef cow culling. As of this week ( June 4) about 25% of the beef cow herd was in areas where pasture and range conditions were assessed as poor and very poor. This is an improvement from a few weeks ago, when 40% of the cow herd was assessed to be in those conditions.

Still, pasture and range is not improving evenly.”

As of the middle of June, both Tonsor and Peel said it was too early to know how the current drought would impact Jan. 1 beef cow numbers.

“Drought impacts remain uncertain and the short-term and long-term impacts on cattle markets are unknown,” Peel says. “If enough herd liquidation is forced by the drought, short-term cattle slaughter and beef production will be higher than expected and beef production prospects beyond 2021 will be reduced.”

For that matter, USDA forecasts record-high levels of exports for other red meats and poultry, as well as for

U.S. agricultural products overall.

Total value of U.S. farm exports for fiscal year 2021 is projected to be $164

billion, which would be $28 billion more (+21%) than the previous year and the highest total on record. The

U.S. Beef Exports Shine USDA projects U.S. beef exports this year to be record large for both volume and value at $7.6 billion, according to the latest quarterly Outlook for U.S. Agricultural Trade.

That’s $200 million more than forecast three months earlier, based on both increased volume and unit values.

F&R Livestock Resource page 9

annual export record of $152.3 billion was set in 2014.

“U.S. agricultural trade has proven extraordinarily resilient in the face of a global pandemic and economic contraction,” says Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “Today’s estimate shows that our agricultural trading partners are responding to a return to certainty and reliability from the United States.”

U.S. beef exports set another new value record in April at $808.3 million (latest data available). That was 35% more than a year earlier, according to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF).

Export volume was 23% more year-over-year and the fifth largest on record at 121,050 metric tons.

“Looking back at April 2020, it was a difficult month for red meat exports as we began to see COVID-related supply chain interruptions, and foodservice demand took a major hit in many key markets,” says Dan Halstrom, USMEF President and CEO. “While it is no surprise that exports performed much better in April 2021, we are pleased to see that global demand continued to build on the broad-based growth achieved in March.”

Beef export value per head of fed slaughter reached a new monthly high in April at $367.45.

Halstrom cautioned that the

U.S. BEEF Exports

COVID-19 pandemic is still a major concern for the U.S. meat industry, adding uncertainty to the business climate in many export destinations.

Logistical challenges, including container shortages and ongoing vessel

congestion at many U.S. ports, also present significant obstacles for red meat exports.

“Perhaps the most egregious action perpetrated by ocean carriers is their growing proclivity to decline

to carry U.S. agricultural commodity exports, including meat and poultry exports, instead choosing to hasten empty containers to Asian markets to fill them with more lucrative consumer goods to export to the U.S.,” explained Julie Anna Potts, president and CEO of the North American Meat Institute. “In some instances, common carriers are collecting freight rates as high as $12,000 per container to carry cargo from Asia to the U.S., while containers carrying U.S. agriculture exports earn only $1,800.” That was part of the testimony she delivered in mid-June to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.

Further, Potts explained ocean carriers and marine terminal operators are charging excessive and unreasonable detention and demurrage fees.

“Beef exports represent a component of total beef demand in terms of quantity and value,” according to Peel.

“Moreover, beef exports represent a wide range of product types and qualities exported to various markets and augment domestic beef demand by providing markets for products less desired in the U.S.” He explains exporting products that have more value to international consumers than domestic ones enables maximizing domestic beef value.

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Is Retaining Ownership on Calves Risky or Rewarding?

Tips for deciding whether to retain ownership through finish.

By Paige Nelson

“Can I make more money owning my cattle through the finishing phase?” is a question contemplated by every cow-calf producer around weaning time. The answer varies, and true to cattle production, nothing is ever guaranteed.

Retaining ownership is a broad term defined by the beef industry as a cow-calf operator choosing to continue to own calves postweaning for any length of time. However, most often retaining ownership means owning calves through the finishing phase and selling them to a beef packing plant.

This is the definition that will be used throughout this article.

Feed Cost + Other Operating Cost

(daily fixed costs) + Interest + Overhead Cost Death Loss In Parsons’ opinion, whether or not to retain ownership is really dependent on the ranch’s relationship with risk.

“The tendency is, as your margin for error goes up, your willingness for

Because ranchers often make management decisions based on how their cattle perform in the lot and on the rail, Wood strives for ongoing communication with his customers.

Taking on Risk Often Means More Profit Jay Parsons, Ph.D. in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Department of Agricultural Economics, says, “In general, as you retain animals your likelihood of making money goes up but your risk goes up with it.”

Data compiled by Minfeng Tang et. al., 2016, in “Identifying Factors that Impact Returns to Retained Ownership of Cattle” found retained ownership returns were positive nine out of 11 years, with an average return of $47.80 per head.

Black swan events like a worldwide pandemic in 2020-21 are impossible to predict and change prices for cattle in the course of a few weeks, or even days. Though often volatile, the futures market is a starting place for making best-guessed decisions about the profitability of retaining ownership through finish. Watching the live cattle futures from month to month can indicate finished cattle value.

Parsons offers this profit equation as a place for producers to start.

Ending Value – Beginning Value – Cost – Death Loss Profit At the start, only the Beginning Value (what cattle are worth today on the cash market) is known.

Unknown is: Ending Weight x Ending Price Ending Value

F&R Livestock Resource page 11

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risk goes up. As margin for error goes down, willingness for risk also goes down,” he says. “Ask yourself, how risk-loving are you?”

More Paydays Risk isn’t novel to cattle producers.

But many depend on an annual check from the sale of calves to pay the last year’s or next year’s bills.

Getting paid for 2020’s spring calf crop in fall of 2021?

That might be tough on the checkbook.

If financing is needed to put cattle in a finish feedlot, a general rule of thumb is for the customer to put down 30% of the value of the cattle for equity.

Rick Miller, partner in White Sands Enterprises, in Parker, Idaho, manages a birth-to-finish commercial cattle operation.

“We really enjoy feeding our own cattle on our home place, and we learn a lot and make improvements with each year,” he says. “What we have found, though, is our cattle do better when we don’t push them too hard.”

For Miller, that means feeding his March and April born calves until they reach finished weight sometime in August through November the following year. The nearest packing plant is 200 miles away. When the cattle reach a finished weight of 1,300 to 1,400 lbs.

they are shipped a truck load at a time.

Instead of one or two big pay days a year, Miller gets a check each time he ships a load of cattle.

“This type of marketing cattle gives us a little more leverage,” says Miller.

“I watch the live cattle futures, and when they are going up, I schedule a load with the plant. It’s not perfect, but I can at least aim for the hills in the market rather than the valleys.”

Ted Blackstock, owner of Blackstock Ranch near Marsing, Idaho, finishes all of his commercial calves, a few that he buys, in a custom feeding lot. However, the transition from weaned-calf sales to 100% retained ownership through finish didn’t happen overnight.

It began with Blackstock feeling unsatisfied about the weighing conditions required of his calves when they were sold via video sale. In 2005, he decided to change things.

“We tried feeding our calves once and we really liked it. Now everything gets finished. It took us a while to get everything moved over to where everything gets fed,” says Blackstock.

As for the pay, he admits he wasn’t much of a cattle marketer to begin with. Retaining ownership and participating in an all-natural branded beef program has allowed Blackstock to manage his risk across several harvest days and prices.

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Retaining calves for any amount of time after weaning adds operating costs and death loss risk to the ranch’s bottom line. However, with the right facilities, management style and cost-of-gain, retaining ownership has proven to be profitable.

“I just don’t have to stress over the price that we’re going to get because we’re going to hit three or four different markets with them, so you’re getting what the cattle are exactly worth. There’s ups and downs, but it seems like all but a couple of times, we’ve made money doing it. It may have only been $20 a head, sometimes, but it’s always paid to do it. And even in this terribly unusual year, we are still profitable!”

West-central Alabama commercial cattle producer, Roscoe Harvell, pores over each closeout report on his finished cattle. He knows the genetic makeup of his herd inside and out and is concerned about the price of beef on harvest day but more interested

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in making sure his cattle are finished enough to grade exceptionally well.

He has bred for heavy muscle in his cattle. When trusted feedyard manager, Ken Burch, calls to say he thinks a pen is ready, Harvell tells him to feed the cattle another two weeks.

“The animals may look fat because of how heavily muscled they are and they can stand another two weeks,” explains Harvell. “We study these cattle.

We use all the tools that we can find on them. We use the U.S. Premium Beef data that has the complete carcass data that comes back on them.”

According to all three ranchers, the risk associated with raising and finishing their cattle is balanced with marketing flexibility and premiums

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for high quality beef. Building relationships with feedlot managers sure doesn’t hurt either.

Quality Control on Both Ends Picking the right feedyard for your calves is probably just as important as picking their sires.

JW Wood is the feedlot manager for Boise Valley Feeders in Parma, Idaho.

Seeing cattle succeed in his yard is the ultimate goal. He does that by being concerned about his customers.

Boise Valley, says Wood, was built for custom feeding cattle. Many of the pens are smaller than average to accommodate the smaller ranches that want to finish their cattle.

“Whether it’s a mixed lot or just a set of steers or just a set of heifers. We do try to cater to them as best as we can,” says Wood.

Size, age, weight, it doesn’t matter to Wood. He’ll take anything you send him.

“We don’t care if it’s an unweaned calf; if it’s a steer off of grass; if it’s a big heavy thing out of a grow yard. We’re happy to do whatever,” he says.

Wood’s feedyard isn’t unique in that regard. According to the Texas Cattle Feeders Association, most feedlots will partner with smaller operations to purchase enough extra cattle to fill the pen.

If a producer would like to finish some cattle but needs cash flow, feedlots will purchase a portion of the cattle and custom feed the retained number.

The goal, for Wood, is that his yard is agile enough to meet the demands of any of his customers. He recognizes that most ranches retain ownership for the closeout data they get back on their finished cattle. This helps them make management decisions on the ranch, he notes.

Because ranchers are most often looking for data that either validate their management decisions or cause changes to be made, Wood feels it is important to have ongoing communication. He visits with owners prior to any shipment of cattle to make sure they feel good about the cattle/ market. He’ll also call if he starts to see health challenges in the cattle.

After four years, at the same feedlot in a neighboring state, Blackstock only physically sees his feedlot cattle when he delivers additional calves. What’s more, Harvell sends his cattle to Kansas—three states away from home.

Both ranchers have complete trust in the decision making happening a long way from home.

The cattle industry is more about relationships with people than anything else. Burch is the manager of Beefland Feed Yard, where all of Harvell’s cattle are sent. Burch proved his dedication to customer success when he entered one of Harvell’s finished steers in the

Is the ranch’s margin for error great or small? Understanding the operation’s relationship with risk should be the first step in deciding whether to retain ownership on calves or sell at weaning.

2015 Beef Empire Days competition.

“He said, ‘If you don’t mind, we’ve got a calf here that we would like to enter into that competition,’” remembers Harvell of Burch’s phone call.

“I really didn’t know anything about

Empire Days. I didn’t understand any of the importance,” Harvell admits.

“I told him, ‘Ken as long as you feel comfortable with it and you think the steer is going to be presentable, that’d be fine.’ So, he entered the steer.”

The Harvell steer earned Grand Champion Carcass, the Cargill® Meat Solutions Award and became the overall 2015 Beef Empire Days Grand Champion Steer.

Facts to note: Miller, Blackstock and Harvell all use registered Angus bulls and maintain an all-but purebred Angus cow herd. Proven genetics matter when selling finished cattle in a grid-based pricing system. Retaining ownership adds risk to the profit equation, delays payment on calf crops, requires locating a feedlot and extends management beyond weaning. It provides marketing flexibility and feedback on genetics and management decisions within the cow herd. It is always an option for those willing to give it a go.

Editor’s note: Paige Nelson is a freelance writer and cattlewoman from Rigby, Idaho.

Why roll the dice?

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Invest wisely in a registered Angus bull.

LOOK FOR THE REGISTRATION NUMBER TO BRING THE POWER OF ANGUS TO YOUR HERD. FOLLOW THE DATA TO ANGUS.ORG/PBA

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F&R Livestock Resource page 15

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page 16 Summer 2021

Northern Lights

Humor

By Wes Ishmael

Boo Jacoby hated loud noises. Even calling him Boo instead of Zeke. his best to sweat out a noisy sale until some metal bleachers beside a typicalTo make matters worse, Boo had a when he could see it coming, a sudden his prospects had all seen the ring. ly somber and goosey Boo, shopping keen eye for cattle and the numbers surge in volume made him stiffen and Although there was something for clean-up bulls at the first annual shudder like a Yankee-bred horse stum- they wrought. He stopped working the almost comical about it, Boo’s Summer Sizzler Extravaganza. sale ring soon after the first explosion, bling across its first West Texas rattler. friends couldn’t help but feel sorry “How ya been, Boo?” Hooter asked. but a following of seedstock producers for him and his misery at having Noise never used to bother Ezekiel, “I haven’t seen you in quite a spell.” wouldn’t leave him alone. “He could then known as “Zeke” Jacoby. In fact, to sit through what used to be his “Same ol’, same ol’,” said Boo, wherever Zeke went, the cacophonous cross a horned toad with a porcupine favorite times of life. He’d hunker forcing a smile and glancing over his and come up with something worth sounds of a party always seemed to up his shoulders, white-knuckle the shoulder at an opening in the sale using,” they’d say. So, one by one, follow. He was young, more real than catalog and give a start every time tent. “I heard we might get some they’d pester Boo about helping select the gavel bounced on the block. He’d 18% interest, and more unattached weather today. You see anything on cattle and craft their mating schemes than a lost rein in a whirlwind. He even been known to go Justins over your way in?” until he’d give in. It made him good ran cows during the week and was a Wrangler patch if a bull unexpectedly “Yeah, I heard that, too,” said Hootmoney but it also meant that most crowd-pleasing ring man on the weekrattled the gate or panels. er, offering Boo a dip of Copenhagen. weekends he was on the road, trying ends. His was a carefree adventure.

So it was that Hooter was sitting on “It looks a little stormy to the north.

Then, about 12 years ago, Zeke Jacoby was out checking tanks on his favorite gelding, Skipper. It was one of those early spring days where the freshness in the air, the grass in its baby clothes and even the storm clouds dancing across the horizon promise the possibility of anything and everything good in the world.

Zeke had just put his foot in the stirrup from checking his last tank when every hair on his body stood at attention and there FIGURE was a dazzling, sudden flash of light. The next thing he rememTWO bered, he was coming to with old Doc Benson poking and prodding him on a steely cold table at the Rio Rojo CounEvidence ty Emergency Medical Center.

Supporting Biuret Hooter had found the dazed Zeke Jacoby, a longtime friend, trudging Effect of biuret supplementation Effect of biuret on Winter feeding study along Highway 316 inon nothing butdigestion a cellulose steers fed prairie hay Biuret supplemented cattle maintained body weight and wild rag, his underwear and scuffed Digested Forage condition score; whereas, cows boots, seemingly oblivious to the organic intake fed an 18% crude protein supple17.08% matter ment lost an average of 62 lbs body toad-strangling rain. over negative control weight per head and dropped 1/2 22% 52% (ADM research) When Hooter unloaded Zeke at the body condition score.

(Montana State University) (Loest et al., Kansas State University) clinic, he’d explained to Doc Benson, “I told him to climb in the pickup and all he did was look at me like he didn’t know me, or anybody else. And, he Release the hidden value of just kept muttering something about forages. Roughage Buster fire, big fire.” features Biuret, ADM’s exclusive Piecing the events together, it protein source of non-protein became obvious that a lightening bolt nitrogen for safe, cost-effective from the approaching storm had blastprotein supplementation. ed Zeke down to his knickers.

Since then, thunder and lightening courted Zeke like a jilted lover, popping up at the most unexpected times Effect of biuret on steers fed prairie hay and leaving internal destruction in its path. Zeke had been struck by lightenDigested Forage organic intake ing three more times. An old Apache matter woman he’d consulted about the 22% 52% matter convinced him he would con(Loest et al., Kansas State University) tinue to play tag with Mom Nature’s flashlight until he helped it find a new favorite son. Whatever that meant.

That’s why he always walked ADMAnimalNutrition.com/Beef around looking over his shoulder like 866-666-7626 • AN_BeefHelp@adm.com some prairie dog at a hawk’s convention. That’s why he didn’t like loud noises and why folks had taken to Logo technique for dark backgrounds:

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F&R Livestock Resource page 17

Just For Fun by Ted Foulkes

Who knows?”

The auctioneer was just starting into his welcome comments.

“Boo!” came a loud voice from behind Hooter and his jumpy friend.

“Well, ain’t this a surprise, I’ll be working this section today. You just let me know how I can help.”

Quick as the voice exploded behind them, Hooter instinctively thrust an

r e r e b e v i e B F

arm in front of Boo to keep him from cartwheeling over the first four rows of spectators.

They already knew whose voice it was before staring into the toothy,

manicured grin of Hunter Richardson, III. Hunter was able enough ring help, and he tried to look the part with his hat creased just so and wearing enough starch to open a Chinese laundry. Unlike most road agents Hooter knew, though, Hunter didn’t have much of a following. He just tended to rub folks wrong. Worst of all in the current situation, Boo and Hunter had a long-running feud, supposedly over some sweetheart who dumped both of them years ago.

“Yes sir!” shouted Hunter, trying to draw attention to himself, fully aware of the effect his presence and his volume were having on Boo, “Looks like a top offering today. What’ya say boys!”

Boo glared at the ring then started to get up, but Hooter still had his arm in front of him. “I don’t want to sit in his section,” said Boo through clenched teeth.

“Naaa. Sit down. He’d just follow you,” Hooter said with a grin. “Besides, it might be fun, never can tell. Now hush, the first lot is fixin’ to come in.”

Just as the first bull sauntered into the ring, a clap of thunder crashed around the tent, making everyone jump. Boo was whiter than a sick ghost, eyes wide.

“Easy does it,” said Hooter, putting a hand on Boo’s shoulder. “Just a little thunder.”

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The auctioneer was chuckling into the microphone, trying to calm the crowd and keep the buyers in their seats as rain began to bounce upon the tent canvas.

“Boys, it doesn’t get any better than this. Good bulls to put in your pasture and some rain to make pasture with.

Now what am I bid?”

The first bull brought $17,250 from someone sitting in Hunter’s section.

The tent could barely contain his ego, as if by taking the winning bid he had somehow made possible the bull, the crowd and the money.

“What did I tell you?” shouted Hunter, above the thickening rain. “I told you these were top genetics and that money will look like a bargain by this time next year. What’ya say boys?!

A little rain never hurt anybody!”

Thunder rolled in the distance and the whipping tent flaps gave periodic view to lightening playing hide and seek on the horizon. Boo was sweating like a pot bellied pig running a marathon.

So it went, the weather and Hunter playing havoc on Boo’s mind as the bulls brought solid money. Hooter had one in the bank. Boo had three he’d come for and two more to go.

“Ladies and gentleman,” said the auctioneer. “Now, you’re in for a special treat, something that wasn’t even mentioned in the catalog. Your hosts have generously agreed to sell the first daughter of their exciting Wind Walker bull and donate the proceeds to the county cattlemen’s association. Bring that outstanding heifer in here.”

Hunter was leaning casually on the ring, one foot perched on a rail, and one arm dangling inside the ring.

He glanced over his shoulder with a knowing smile: “Boys! Wait ‘till you see this!”

The heifer may have been news to the crowd, but her introduction had been planned for a long time. The lights were turned off, the Star Wars theme song began to play softly, then louder and louder. Suddenly, the lights came back on and the announcer shouted, “Here she is! Wind Walker’s Sunburst!”

At that moment, some kind of high-powered pyrotechnics were supposed to go off on either side of the auction block, introducing the next genetic revolution. There were no sparks and flames, though, just a deafening BOOM, followed quickly by one of Mother Nature’s own firecrackers with a bolt of lightening thrown in for good measure.

The crowd let out a terrified gasp and jumped to their feet in order to flee what sounded like the first few bars of World War III. Boo had already leaped over the people in front of him,

and in the process, accidentally or not, smashed Hunter flat into the panel where he received a wholesome green dowsing from the horrified heifer.

As spectators flooded from the tent, another flash of light, another crash of thunder and the sound of ripping canvas, smoke everywhere.

“Boo!” hollered Hooter through the smoke. “Boo, you all right?”

It was deathly silent, save for what sounded like a child whimpering.

Hooter moved toward the sound, waving at smoke as he went.

There, pulled up into a fetal position, buck naked, hair standing straight up, eyes glued open to saucer-size and covered in an odd blend of green and black, no starch to be found, was Hunter Richardson, III. The torch had been passed.

Editor’s message continued Continued from page 3 _____________________________________

contribute value to the economy.”

Let’s also not forget, the “reach far beyond the soil” is the result of years of progress and creating added value in an otherwise commodity product. The massive contribution to the GDP is the result of an incredibly complicated supply-demand, free market system that has proven to be sustainable long before sustainable was chic.

The resilience of rural America is well documented. Rural Americans

are the poster children for monumental multitaskers. We tackle multiple problems, some catastrophic, simultaneously. We make decisions based on the best, educated information available at the time.

Compromising the entrepreneurial spirit that has been a steady rudder in many a storm, or advocating artificial influences to a complex marketing system may well lead us to the “rubbish bin” along with lots of other “worn old thoughts.”

F&R Livestock Resource page 19

Debler Brings Ground Level Experience to Beef Council

Serving the Industry In his five years on KBC, Debler has seen how the beef checkoff dollar is spent, how it’s evaluated and how it has impacted our industry. He’s encouraged by checkoff funded projects which include supporting family and consumer science teachers using beef in the classroom, working with dietitians to promote the health benefits of beef, developing value-added cuts of beef from in-house development, as well as offering the Beef Quality Assurance program.

“The people on the executive com-

mittee are the same people who are paying the checkoff,” Debler said. It is in our best interest to see the dollars get handled in the best way.” Cow-calf producers, seedstock producers, stockers, sale barns and feedlots all have representation on the board.

Checking the Checkoff Checks and balances are an important part of the beef checkoff, which is overseen by USDA. The beef checkoff was created in 1985 as a producer-driven effort to increase beef demand. USDA remains the delegated authority to review all beef checkoff budgets, projects, contracts, and communications.

Prior to the beef checkoff, Kansas saw similar challenges in the industry and formed KBC within the Kansas Livestock Association (KLA). KBC is tasked with beef promotion, research, consumer information, producer communications and more. Unlike KLA, however, KBC is strictly prohibited from spending its funds on policy.

KBC must set and maintain firewalls from KLA to ensure checkoff dollars are managed separately, preserving the efficacy of the program.

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Maximizing Producer Impact

Debler likes to specifically mention the impact the checkoff has on the export market. “More than $300 for every finished steer is attributed to the export market,” he said. He points to a recent campaign funded by the Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB) in Japan to increase the growing demand for American cuts as a successful example.

While the dollar-per-head checkoff prioritizes promoting beef to consumers, Debler recognizes producers do not always realize the impact of their dollars.

To address producer communication, KBC created the Kansas Beef Producer Hub at KansasBeef.org, which offers continuing education, annual reporting, program updates and more. Debler said they also compile research about misconceptions of the beef industry producers can utilize in conversations with consumers. He recommends producers sign up for publications like CBB’s “The Drive” and KBC’s newsletter to see the impact of their dollars in Kansas and worldwide.

Participation is key for producers.

Debler encourages those interested to

Randall Debler

volunteer for leadership roles in any of the ag groups across the state and notes the highlight of his tenure has been the people. “Meeting producers all over the country, we see how so many of our problems are different, yet so many of them are the same.”

As a Flint Hills rancher raising the next generation of kids and calves, Debler firmly believes the beef checkoff, at both the national and state levels, is critical to our future. “It’s such a great industry and we are trying to move it forward the best we can,” Debler said.

“You just need to show up to have input and an impact.”

“MY CHECKOFF EDUCATES

DIETITIANS & TEACHERS.

I can’t do that from my ranch.

Jake Pannbacker, Kansas Rancher

“

“Decisions are made by the people who show up,” Randall Debler repeated.

As a full-time cattleman near Alma, Kansas, his personal philosophy of giving back and showing up for the important decisions means he wholeheartedly represents beef producers on the Kansas Beef Council (KBC) in his current role as vice chairman of the KBC Executive Committee.

Debler will take the reins as chairman in 2022. “I really wanted to sit with people who care as much about the beef industry and want to see it prosper as much as I do.”

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page 20 Summer 2021

Stay educated on demand-building activities in Kansas. Go to www.KansasBeef.org/BeefHub

Beef Improvement Federation Presents Awards at Annual Convention Cow Camp Ranch Named BIF Seedstock Producer of Year

W&S Ranch Named BIF Commercial Producer of the Year

W&S Ranch Inc., Smith Center, Kansas, was named the 2021 BIF Commercial Producer of the Year. Accepting the award from Joe Mushrush (right), BIF retiring president, are (from left) Philip, Kaylee and Jessica Weltmer.

Photo courtesy of Beef Improvement Federation.

Cow Camp Ranch, Lost Springs, Kansas, was recognized as the 2021 BIF Seedstock Producer of the Year Award.

Cow Camp Ranch is located on the western edge of the Flint Hills near Lost Springs, Kansas, just off the old Santa Fe Trail. The Brunner family has been farming and ranching since the early 1890s and now is in its fifth

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EFFECT OF SIRE BREED ON SALE PRICE OF BEEF STEER CALVES Superior Livestock Auction, Summer 2020c $157.55e

SimAngus -sired steer calves sold through Superior Livestock Auction in summer 2020 earned more at sale time than all other calves.ab TM

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The Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) presented W&S Ranch Inc. the BIF Commercial Producer of the Year Award during the group’s annual symposium and convention in Des Moines, Iowa. This national award is presented annually to a producer to recognize their dedication to improving the beef industry at the commercial level.

W&S Ranch Inc is a registered Angus and commercial ranch located in Smith Center, Kansas. After serving in the Korean War, Richard Weltmer and his wife, Avis (Sprague), put down roots southeast of Smith Center, Kansas, and founded Richard Weltmer Farms. They registered the W over S brand to represent Weltmer and Sprague and eventually Weltmer & Sons. By 1977, both of their sons, Kenton and Mike, had returned to the ranch full-time. In 1978, the operation’s name transitioned to W&S Ranch, Inc. Philip, Richard’s grandson, and his wife, Jessica, returned to the ranch full-time in 2003.

W&S Ranch encompasses more than 6,000 acres of owned and leased land on which the Weltmer family runs a commercial cow herd, a small, registered Angus herd, a feedyard and a farming operation, where they raise corn, soybeans and wheat. The commercial and registered cow herds consist of a total of 180 cows. All females are bred through artificial insemination (AI) using Angus or Sim-Angus genetics and are followed with Angus cleanup bulls raised by the Weltmers. Cows calve between January 20 and March 1. AI and a tight calving window allow calves to be finished in the family’s feedyard as a more uniform cohort, processed at 13 and a half months of age.

The cows rotationally graze on native and summer grasses from April 15 to October 1, then are placed on corn stalks. They have access to native grass during calving season and are provided supplemental feed from mid-January until breeding. W&S Ranch places an emphasis on improved genetics and profit-proven outcomes. With an openness to change, all segments of the business are continually evaluated to improve efficiency and effectiveness to maintain a viable operation for generations to come. W&S Ranch Inc. was nominated by the Kansas Livestock Association.

generation of operation on some of the same land.

The registered cow herd was founded in 1969 by Kent Brunner, using some of the original Simmental genetics that were imported into the U.S. Soon after, Cow Camp Ranch became an early member of the American Simmental Association (ASA). Today, the ranch is managed by Kent and his son, Nolan.

The cow herd consists of 800 registered Simmental, Sim-Angus and

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a For lots of 50 head or more. b Kansas State University, December 2020, Superior Livestock Auction data analysis of 3,280 lots, 394,900 head of beef calves marketed during summer 2020. (P<.0001) c Lots that qualified for breed-related programs were excluded from the model due to potential confounding effects with sire breed analysis and, for many, few lots in the data. d, e, f Means without a common superscript differ (P<0.05) Lots of calves in breed-identified groups were sired by bulls from the respective breeds and out of dams with no Brahman influence.

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Angus cows that are managed on native Flint Hills grass year-round. Crossbreeding is utilized to maximize the genetic potential of both the Simmental and Angus breeds. About 300 embryos are transferred every year, with the balance of the cow herd and replacement heifers artificially inseminated.

The Brunner family markets around 250 head of bulls each year, with the majority being sold through their annual spring bull sale held the first Friday in February. A select group of females are also marketed at the time, with the balance sold private treaty.

In addition to the seedstock operation, the Brunner family owns and operates a 9,000-head commercial feedyard, managed by Kent’s brothers, Mark and Tracy Brunner. The entire Brunner family operation consists of 15,000 owned and leased acres, a large portion of which is native Flint Hills grazing lands. The remaining acres are devoted to hay and crop production.

Cow Camp Ranch was nominated by the Kansas Livestock Association.

Kent and Jean Brunner (center) of Cow Camp Ranch, Lost Springs, Kansas, accept the 2021 BIF Seedstock Producer of the Year award from Greg Henderson (left), Drovers editorial director, and Joe Mushrush (right), BIF retiring president. Photo courtesy of Beef Improvement Federation.

Leachman Presented Continuing Service Award Lee Leachman, Fort Collins, Colorado, was presented a BIF Continuing Service Award.

Continuing Service Award winners have made major contributions to the BIF organization. This includes serving on the board of directors, speaking at BIF Symposium’s, working on BIF guidelines and other behind-thescenes activities. As BIF is a volunteer organization, it is this contribution of time and passion for the beef cattle industry that moves BIF forward.

Leachman is the managing partner of Leachman Cattle of Colorado (LCoC), headquartered near Fort Collins, Colorado. Additionally, Leachman served as the 2018-2019 BIF president.

He sells more than 2,500 bulls annually and works with a network of more than 40 cooperating herds. He has built a program based on improved feed efficiency, quality, productivity and carcass value that increase profit for the industry. He also started $Profit, a private genetic evaluation that calculates and provides EPDs and selection indexes on more than 1.5

million cattle in that database.

“Lee is a trailblazer and early adopter of advanced technologies,” says Donnell Brown, Throckmorton, Texas, who presented the award. “He continues working hard to make the beef industry the best it can be, you can bet he will continue to revolutionize the beef industry.”

Lee Leachman (center), Fort Collins, Colorado, receives the BIF Continuing Service Award from Donnell Brown, Throckmorton, Texas, presenting the award. Also pictured is Lee’s wife, Lisa.

Fink Receives Pioneer Award Galen Fink, Randolph, Kansas, was presented the BIF Pioneer Award June 24 during its annual research symposium in Des Moines, Iowa. Dr. David Nichols, Kansas State University Animal Sciences and Industry professor, presented the award.

The Pioneer Award recognizes individuals who have made lasting contributions to the improvement of beef cattle, honoring those who have had a major role in acceptance of performance reporting and documentation as the primary means to make genetic change in beef cattle.

A family operation, Fink Beef Genetics is one of the leading Angus and Charolais seedstock operations in the country. With extensive use of AI, a large embryo transplant program, sexed semen and widespread use of cooperative herds, the operation has been able to grow numbers with a limited land base and very little equipment or hired labor. Balance and cow sense are the hallmark of the Fink program. Fink was a pioneer offering a three-year guarantee on feet and semen checks.

“Galen is always looking ahead and focusing on the future needs of the beef industry,” Nichols says. “Galen’s customer service, dedication to his bull buyers, and willingness to help his community and the industry is second to none.”

Fink served as the 2000-01 BIF president and was recognized as the 2000 BIF Seedstock Producer of the Year.

Galen Fink, Randolph, Kansas, receives the Beef Improvement Federation Pioneer Award. Presenting the award are Joe Mushrush, 2020-21 BIF president, and Dr. David Nichols, Kansas State University Professor, Manhattan, Kansas.

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FLINT HILLS FALL CLASSIC SEPTEMBER 24-25, 2021