TM
The Largest Privately Owned Hereford Newspaper in North America
The one that’s read “from cover to cover.” • Visit us on the web at: www.herefordamerica.com Vol. 26, No. 6
Published by: Hereford America, Inc. • 13823 Beaver Creek Place • Reva, SD 57651 • Est. 1996
Editorial Comments... Jill Bayers Hotchkiss
Well, we’ve survived February! This is one of our craziest months for the newspaper and video company. We had over Jill Hotchkiss 30 sales to attend this month and consequently travelled thousands of miles just in February. There have been some tremendous Hereford sales so far this season. I think the quality of cattle offered is even better than last year. This combined with a number of other factors are bolstering demand for Hereford bulls and females across the country. Once again I think commercial producers are realizing the benefits of the Hereford cross. A number of sales I attended this month had quite a few new commercial customers, many of which were Angus breeders. I think registered Hereford breeders are improving in the areas of promotion, customer service and improved breeding programs. All of these factors are equally important — don’t underestimate customer service. I had one commercial breeder tell me they switched buying bulls from a breeder who was closer to them for one that was hundreds of miles away primarily because of customer service. It’s easy to overlook the value of customer service if you are the one that should be providing it. Of course with the dwindling cow numbers across the nation, females are in demand and selling well. USDA’s February 2nd Cattle on Feed report showed the lowest number of beef cows in the United States since it started keeping track some 50+ years ago. The report indicated cow (continued on page 12)
March 2023
War and cattle: How one Nebraskan made it from two tours in Ramadi to ranching in the Sandhills
By Leo Adam Biga Flatwater Free Press Garrett Dwyer runs about 500 head of Hereford and Angus cattle on his Bartlett, NE, ranch on the east edge of the Sandhills. The land he’s on today has been in his family since 1894, when
his great-great grandfather homesteaded the place. Dwyer, who grew up here with his three sisters, is now the fifth generation in his family to ranch this land. But Dwyer didn’t take over this ranch until he did something far from
home. For five years, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps, including two combat tours in Iraq. Now, he’s taking advantage of a national nonprofit initiative, the Farmer Veteran Coalition, that aims to re-energize small agriculture by supporting military veterans who want to work the land. Dwyer well knows that small family farming and ranching is increasingly rare. The centurylong trend of families abandoning or selling off farms has slowed, but not entirely halted, in recent years, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture census data. The Farmer Veteran Coalition is attempting to bend that trend line, while helping service members transition to a post-military career. Some veterans, like Dwyer, 36, grew up on a farm and left to enlist, always intending to come back. Other farmkids-turned-veterans have (continued on page 5)
Quality Counts When Developing or Purchasing Replacement Heifers by Ruth Wiechmann With the USDA reporting lower numbers of cows reproducing in the country, ranchers looking to build back their herds after reducing numbers due to drought may be considering whether to purchase bred heifers, or to purchase heifer calves to raise to build back their herds or offer for resale. Don Melcher says that figuring out what works in each individual situation and staying flexible should be key components in the decision making process.
Melchers develop and sell spring-calving females. The majority are purchased and developed but some are from their herd.
Don and Jean Melcher along with Kevin and Sherry, Matthew and Kristen and their families, raise registered Here ford cattle in northeastern Nebraska. Their ranch, near the town of Page, has been in Don’s family since 1911. Along with marketing the bulls they raise, for nearly 20 years Melchers have purchased heifers to breed and resell. “Most of our registered cows calve in (continued on page 8)