March 2020

The official newsletter of Kentucky's Beef Industry.
IS COVID-19 IMPACTING BEEF DEMAND?
Wholesale beef prices typically increase seasonally from February into March but have showed only scant improvement from the February low three weeks ago. Last week, the Choice boxed beef cutout was $206.94 per cwt., up $1.23 per cwt. from the February low, but 8.0 percent below the same time last year. Wholesale cutout values are increasingly lower in recent weeks compared to year ago levels.  
PERDUE NIXES REVIVAL OF mCOOL, SUGGESTS VOLUNTARY LABELS
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue made clear his position on mandatory country-of-origin labeling on beef in his  State of the Rural Economy  testimony before the House Agriculture Committee on Wednesday. Mandatory COOL “is not going to happen unless we want to do a billion-dollar litigation damage with Mexico and Canada,” he said.
USDA TO INVEST $56 MILLION IN 2020 TO HELP FARMERS IMPROVE WATER QUALITY
Locations have been identified for five events on the Stockmanship & Stewardship Regional Tour, with the next stop in Ontario, Ore. Dates for that session and sessions in Bowling Green, KY ., Durango, Colo., Danville, Ind., and Elko, Nev. have not yet been determined. Stockmanship & Stewardship is a unique two-day educational experience featuring low-stress cattle handling demonstrations, Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) educational sessions, facility design sessions to fit your operation and industry updates.
KCA & KJCA APPAREL NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE
You can now purchase KCA and KJCA apparel through our online store! Click the button below to visit the store. Online purchases can be paid with debit or credit card.
KY BILL LETS VETERINARIANS REPORT AUSE, BUT THEY'LL NEED A SECOND OPINION ON FARMED ANIMALS
A bill granting Kentucky veterinarians legal protections if they report suspected animal abuse to law enforcement has cleared committee, but not without one change. As it stands, veterinarians need a   waiver , subpoena, or court order   to alert authorities of possible animal abuse. Backers of  Senate Bill 21  hope to change that.
NCBA STATEMENT ON BEEF FROM BRAZIL
National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Senior Director, International Trade and Market Access, Kent Bacus today released the following statement in response to the U.S. Department of Agriculture restoring access to the U.S. for Brazilian beef:

“NCBA strongly supports science-based trade and the Trump Administration’s efforts to enforce science-based trade with all trade partners. But to be clear, NCBA has serious concerns about the re-entry of Brazilian beef to the U.S. market.
Checkin' on the Checkoff
KBC BEEF RESOURCES
The KBC team will be providing resources over the next few weeks consistently via Facebook, Instagram and on our website kybeef.com to help incorporate beef education into your students time at home. These sessions will include step by step cooking demos, production lessons and cooking tips for crowds. Additional resources can be find through Ag in the Classroom and Kentucky Farm Bureau. We are a resource for all things beef and would be happy to answer any questions or gather resources during the time.
Happening at Eden Shale Farm
UNDERSTANDING SOIL MECHANICS TO IMPROVE WINTER-FEEDING AREAS AND PRODUCTION
Soils directly affect beef and forage production, yet active soils management is limited. Understanding soil mechanics and management in winter-feeding areas could improve beef cattle production, with less effort on the producer and cattle. This publication is intended to guide evaluating soil strength for winter-feeding areas, the pollution potential of winter-feeding areas, and to provide solutions for correcting structural deficiencies and reducing mud on both the ground and on the cattle.
LANES FOR BEEF CATTLE OPERATIONS
Lanes are essential for moving cattle and creating efficiency on beef cattle operations. A good example of this can be seen in the layout of western feedlots (Figure 1). An examination of Figure 1 shows the intersection of two lanes, which can provide a route into four different lots. Along the path of a single lane, cattle can be lead into four different lots. Getting cattle from the lane into a lot is accomplished by flaring out the lane and closing a cross gate to funnel cattle into one of two available lots. 
Youth Activities
KJCA HOODIES
Get your KJCA hoodie to support junior programs! These popular hoodies will only be offered for a limited time.

Be sure to check out the online store for more KJCA apparel!
HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS NOW AVAILABLE
Five $1,500 Scholarships are available through the Kentucky Cattlemen's Association and funded by the Kentucky Cattlemen's Foundation. Visit the link below for scholarship requirements and to download the application. Deadline to apply is March 31, 2020
In The News
RETAIL INSIGHTS
What's happening with Beef at Retail? These monthly articles leverage scanner data and other sources to inform retailers and other channel audiences on key beef industry trends and measures at retail. The topics may vary by month. We welcome your feedback, and if you are interested in a specific topic, please let us know by contacting BeefNewsNow@beef.org
U.S. CATTLETRACE SEEKS AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND PROGRAM MANAGER
As U.S. CattleTrace (USCT) transitions from a pilot project to a fully operational business, the organization is expanding. Specifically, USCT is seeking two industry professionals who are passionate about the cattle industry and disease traceability to serve as the executive director and the program manager.
NCBA, AGRICULTURE GROUPS LAUNCH FARMERS FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE TO HIGHLIGHT ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) today joined 20 other national agricultural groups in kicking off Farmers for a Sustainable Future, a coalition of ag organizations committed to environmental and economic sustainability. The coalition was introduced at a news conference on Capitol Hill on February 19, 2020.
UK TO HOST FOUR REGIONAL FENCING SCHOOLS IN 2020
The University of Kentucky is hosting four regional fencing schools this spring to help livestock producers learn about the newest fencing techniques and sound fence construction. While the schools are open to producers of all types and breeds of livestock, the Frankfort school will have a special focus on fences for small ruminants.
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