September 2020
The official newsletter of Kentucky's Beef Industry.
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KNOW YOUR CHECKOFF
Behind every Beef Checkoff decision is a cattle producer. And, more often than not, it’s a neighbor down the road, a fellow member of the local cattle group or the cattleman or woman looking at a pen of bulls during a spring production sale. These producers and importers go through the same challenges and face the same adversities as their fellow cattle producers across the nation. With passion and steadfast dedication, Cattlemen’s Beef Board members from across the U.S. volunteer their valuable time to represent both the entire beef industry and producers in their state.
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BEEF BASH 2020 GOES VIRTUAL IN A COVID-19 WORLD
Beef Bash is a unique field day for Kentucky beef cattle producers, held annually since 2008. Due to concerns about COVID-19, the 2020 event will go online Oct. 1 at 9 a.m. CST. The University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, the Kentucky Beef Integrated Resource Management Program and the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association have traditionally hosted Beef Bash in person, however organizers say it’s another opportunity for producers to learn how to adapt and change.
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COMMISSIONER QUARLES ELECTED PRESIDENT OF NATIONAL AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION
Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Dr. Ryan Quarles was elected president of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) on September 3rd at its annual meeting.
Commissioner Quarles is the first Kentucky agriculture commissioner to be elected president or hold office in NASDA since Billy Ray Smith, who served as president of the national organization in 2001-2002. Commissioner Quarles previously served as vice-president, second vice president, and secretary-treasurer of NASDA. Last year, he was also elected 2019-2020 president of the Southern Association of State Departments of Agriculture (SASDA), a regional offshoot of NASDA.
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WEANING 101 WORKSHOP
Kentucky Beef Network and UK Beef IRM will be hosting a virtual Weaning Workshop from September 9 to October 21. Videos covering all aspects of weaning will be uploaded weekly.
This program has been approved by GOAP to fulfill the educational requirements for CAIP. However, contact your county Extension office to ensure your local county CAIP committee will accept the program.
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FORAGE TESTING CAN SAVE DOLLARS
As cow-calf producers strive to reduce feed costs by finding different avenues to increase grazing days, many still have to use harvested forages in their year-round feeding program. Sampling and testing forages for quality can make designing a feeding program easy and economical. Nutrient concentration can vary considerably in feeds especially forages.
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CONSUMER FINANCIAL STRAIN AFFECTS BEEF MARKETS
In the first eight months of 2020, three distinct periods have been observed in cattle and beef markets thanks to COVID-19. Understanding market dynamics within each of these periods is necessary before looking forward to potential industry outcomes for the rest of the year and into 2021.
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SHIFTING BVDV STRAINS PRESENT A CHALLENGE TO U.S. BEEF PRODUCERS
Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) spreads easily through livestock environments, including feed and water. It invades the animal’s respiratory and reproductive systems, moving between heifers, cows, calves, steers and bulls. Not only does it spread easily and often shows very few clinical signs, this complex virus continues to present new strains with shifting viral subtypes.
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LEXINGTON BURGER WEEK: SEPTEMBER 21-27
Join us for Lexington Burger Week from September 21st to September 27th! Enjoy $6 burgers from several restaurants throughout Lexington. Keep up to date with participating restaurants at lexingtonburgerweek.com
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NLPA PRODUCER VIDEOS
The National Livestock Producers Association (NLPA) and the Kentucky Beef Council will be releasing a series of producer videos that are designed to educate the consumer about the use of antibiotics within beef production operations. The first of three videos features Danielle Harmon, a producer from Bath County, Kentucky.
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Happening at Eden Shale Farm |
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EDEN SHALE FARM UPDATE - AUGUST 2020
Late July offered us some time to get our winter hay feeding facilities cleaned up and the manure spread. This means we finally cleaned out the bull barn and allowed us check out how the different flooring options held up over the winter. We housed 38 steers in the barn over the winter in total confinement. Now that the pens have been cleaned I want to share how each pen’s flooring performed.
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CALVING BARN FEEDER DESIGNS
The designs and materials for the Bo Renfro style feeder are now available to download. These designs are not the exact measurements for the feeder at the Calving Barn. That feeder was based off of these design plans.
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CHANGE OF LOCATION FOR KJCA FALL CLASSIC
The 2020 KJCA/KDA Fall Classic presented by KNS Inc. is moving locations!
We are making decisions on a new location as we speak, and will have a final decision soon. This year's event will remain on the original dates of Oct 2-4.
Location choices are in the central KY region. As details come together we will be making updates at www.kycattle.org under the Fall Classic tab.
NEW THIS YEAR, NOVICE HEIFER SHOW!
Details on that show will be released on the website later today. As always novice will still have their own division in all other contests including showmanship, and can participate in the prospect show as well.
Thank you for your continued support and understanding during this transition.
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2021 YOUTH BEEF HEIFER INITIATIVE
Applications for the 2021 Youth Beef Heifer Initiative, sponsored by the Kentucky Cattlemen's Foundation and Farm Credit Mid-America, are now open! Heifer Initiative provides youth in Kentucky with a scholarship to purchase a "Beef Heifer" to show or begin their own herd. Click on the button below to download the application.
Applications must be emailed or postmarked by October 31, 2020.
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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
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AGRICULTURE GROUPS JOIN LAWSUIT SUPPORTING EPA RULE ON AIR EMISSIONS
The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), U.S. Poultry and Egg Association, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and American Farm Bureau Federation filed a motion on Sept. 1 to side with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) against a lawsuit filed by Earthjustice in September 2018.
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AS FARMERS FACE GROWING STRESS, HOW TO NAVIGATE MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS
Farmers and ranchers continue to weather the extremes of 2020. From drought, derecho and wildfires, to a sudden loss in demand for dairy, 2020 is proving to be an obstacle course for agriculture.
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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.
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Read past Issues of The Kentucky Cattlemen Newsletter: |
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