Cow/Calf Corner: Feedlot Numbers Continue to Dwindle

COW/CALF CORNER

The Newsletter

From the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service

January 28, 2013

Feedlot Numbers Continue to Dwindle

Derrell S. Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist 

The January Cattle on Feed report pegged January 1 feedlot inventories at 11.2 million head, down 5.6 percent from last year. December placements were down about 0.5 percent from year earlier levels.  This makes the seventh consecutive month of declining feedlot placements.  Marketings in December were down 1.7 percent from year ago levels.  December had one less business day compared to December 2011. 

Learn to identify the trees of Idaho

Learn to identify the trees in Idaho

 It is a cold wintery time and one wonders if spring will ever come.  But spring will come and soon the trees will be covered with leaves.  You can identify the different  trees that grow in Idaho with the help of the tree identification book.  There are descriptions of 175 trees that grow in Idaho.  Also in the book there is information on the tree size at maturity which can help you decide what type of tree you should plant in your yard.  There is also information on the common diseases that affect trees.

ATTRA Wraps Up a Productive Year

‘Catalog’ lists new publications, webinars, and videos

 

ATTRA celebrated its 25^th anniversary in 2012 by doing what it does best—being the nation’s leading resource on sustainable-agriculture information.   

ATTRA’s 2012 “catalog” includes more than 50 new and updated sustainable-agriculture publications, including eight Spanish-language publications. That brings the ATTRA publication total to well over 400, nearly all of which are available to be downloaded for free or ordered as a paper publication for a small processing fee at the ATTRA website. 

Farmers are Reminded of Upcoming Multi-Peril Crop Insurance Program Dates

SPOKANE, Wash., January 23, 2013 ― USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) reminds producers of the fast approaching spring sales closing dates for Multiple Peril Crop Insurance (MPCI) programs (March 15). This also includes the whole farm insurance programs Adjusted Gross Revenue Pilot (AGR) (Janaury 31) and Adjusted Gross Revenue-Lite (AGR-Lite). AGR and AGR-Lite cover most farm-raised crops, animals, and animal products.    

Answer the Census of Agriculture

The Census of Agriculture questionnaire was mail to farmers in the us on December 28.  Please help ensure vital programs by answering the census quickly, either by mail or on line at www.agcensus.usda.gov.

USDA Finalizes New Microloan Program

WASHINGTON, Jan. 15, 2013 — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack todayannounced a new microloan program from the U.S. Department of Agriculture(USDA) designed to help small and family operations, beginning and sociallydisadvantaged farmers secure loans under $35,000. The new microloan program is aimed at bolstering the progress of producers through their start-up years by providing needed resources and helping to increase equity so that farmers may eventually graduate to commercial credit and expand their operations. The microloan program will also provide a less burdensome, more simplified application process in comparison to traditional farm loans.

Cow/Calf Corner: Agricultural Data is More Important than Ever

From the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service
January 14, 2013
Agricultural Data
is More Important than Ever
Derrell S. Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist

U.S. agriculture has seen tremendous changes and challenges in recent years.  Unprecedented new demands for agricultural products have caused significant changes in crop production and have provoked huge impacts on livestock production.  Input market shocks, dynamic global markets and drought have all contributed to volatile short term market conditions.  The changes and impacts are not merely short term in nature.  There are long term structural implications to these changes that will impact what will be produced and where and how it will be produced.  These changes have implications, not only for agricultural producers but also for consumers.  Food price impacts of changes the last six years are just beginning to be manifest in the consumer marketplace.  All of these factors imply that much information will be needed to understand the changes and implications of those changes on the U.S. food and fiber system.  

Webinar answers pastured poultry questions Feb 7th

Montana-based presentation of interest to operations around the country

 An upcoming webinar, “Pastured Poultry Production and Profitability,” will cover the basics of pastured poultry production as well as common advantages and pitfalls of getting started in the business and keys to keeping operations profitable.  

Professional Positions in Range Management Open in Texas and Utah

Professional Postion Announcements in Range Science

Idaho Barley Commission: Grain Marketing Webinar Jan 17

WEBINAR on Thursday January 17, 2013 at 6 PM

Log on at:  http://connect.cals.uidaho.edu/barley (your computer will need a flash driver) "

How To Hedge Grain Prices Using Recurring Trens & Market Cy-cles"

Markets can only do three things, they can go up, they can go down, or they can go sideways. Mar-kets move through recurring patterns, such as 1-2-3 tops and bottoms, head and shoulders forma-tions, triangles, wedges, flags and pennants. These are very common formations that continually re-peat themselves throughout time; trading these patterns is considered a technical trading technique or approach.

Presented by Mr. Lan H. Turner, CEO Gecko Software, Inc.

Owyhee Extension Schedules AI School

The Owyhee Extension Office will be offering a Artificial Insemimnation School Februrary 25-28.  Participation is limited to 20 and the cost is $250.  Follow the link for more information and registraion information.

http://www.extension.uidaho.edu/owyhee/pdf/2013%20PDF%20Files/AI%20School%202013.pdf

Progressive Publishing Seeks Editor

Progressive Publishing in Jerome, Idaho, is seeking an experienced editor to help produce its Forage Grower and Progressive Dairyman magazines. He or she will join a successful, award-winning agriculture publishing team in our Idaho office.

2013 Custer County Winter Beef Schools

Red Books are in and will be available at the winter beef school.

 

Monday, December 17:

2:00 pm: Beef Cow Winter Feeding Strategies, Mackay (Fire Hall)
6:30 pm: Beef Cow Winter Feeding Strategies, Arco (BIC)
Monday, January 7:
2:00 pm: CANCELED, Mackay (Fire Hall)
6:30 pm: CANCELED, Challis (Y-Inn Dining Room)
Thursday – Friday, January 10-11:
Intermountain Range Livestock Symposium, Twin Falls

Cow Camp Chatter: Cow Tales

Ron Torell, Long-Standing Educator and Advocate of Agriculture      

                Many of the conversations those of us in the cattle business have around the branding fire or over the hood of a truck often center around the behavior and internal workings of the bovine.  When something out of the ordinary happens to spark our curiosity we may question if there actually might be a possible explanation. Consider the following thought provoking cow tales some of which have been substantiated by research.

Forage Use in the Beef Industry

COW/CALF CORNER

The Newsletter

From the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service

December 24, 2012

Forage Use in the Beef Industry

Derrell S. Peel, Oklahoma State University Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist

Higher grain prices, led by sharply increased demand for corn, have provoked a variety of adjustments in agricultural markets to restore a relative balance in crop and forage prices. Higher prices for all crops are needed to simultaneously ration demand and attract resources to maintain supply in the various markets. The beef industry has considerable flexibility to adjust production systems and substitute forage for grain.  These adjustments have several implications for forage use that are already occurring or may occur to a greater or lesser extent.