My View From The Country

Start Your Fall Marketing Now

Fri, 18 May 2012 13:26:00 +0000

This is the time when cattlemen should be contacting the last 10 purchasers of their product to see how they performed for them. Customer feedback is often far less expensive than consultants, and the results often far more compelling. Hopefully, you’ll hear glowing reports, but it’s the criticisms that will allow you to improve.

My View From The Country

Marketing Undergoing Subtle But Major Shift

Fri, 18 May 2012 13:26:00 +0000

There have been a multitude of attempts to try to fix the problems created by a commodity system; everything from grids, to branded programs, to age and source verification, have created ways to recognize and capture value. While these programs have grown demand and increased total dollars available to purchase cattle and beef, they haven’t knocked down the barriers that keep the industry’s pricing systems based on commodity averages, rather than true value.

My View From The Country

From Here On Out, Everything’s Political

Fri, 18 May 2012 13:26:00 +0000

Agriculture has traditionally benefitted from a lack of the partisan wrangling that infects most other aspects of U.S. society. In fact, one could say that ag policy was one of the last bastions of bipartisanship and statesmanship, helped by the fact that the farm lobby and the farm coalition saw the necessity of working together. That fell apart with the more partisan nature of Washington, however, and such divisive issues as ethanol subsidies which benefited one farm sector at the expense of another.

My View From The Country

Europe Votes; Will U.S. Elections Fare The Same?

Fri, 11 May 2012 14:02:00 +0000

The reaction in the markets to the electoral results in Europe this week was probably well-founded, as the results, which tended to reject the austerity measures needed to rein in huge budget deficits, are likely a bad sign for a hoped-for economic recovery. It will be interesting, and telling, to watch if the U.S. electorate embarks on a similar course in the November elections.

My View From The Country

HSUS Releases Another Animal Abuse Video

Fri, 11 May 2012 13:59:00 +0000

If there is even some semblance of validity to the recently released HSUS video depicting animal abuse on a Wyoming hog operation, livestock producers should be abhorred. But while it makes sense to be skeptical about an organization that misleads the populace in fundraising regarding its operations and mission, a pork industry group concluded this week that the video is likely legitimate.

My View From The Country

Hype Trumps Science In LFTB Debacle

Fri, 11 May 2012 13:54:00 +0000

Lean finely textured beef (LFTB), a product resulting from a process approved by the Food and Drug Administration 20 years ago, and used in hundreds of foods, as well as ground beef, was at the center of a controversy initiated by consumer media and stoked by social media. The sensational attention, in the face of science totally to the contrary, led to a precipitous decline in its use. The result was that BPI, maker of LFTB, announced this week the permanent closure of three of its four manufacturing plants.

My View From The Country

Value Is In The Mind Of Seller & Buyer

Fri, 04 May 2012 12:45:00 +0000

I overhead a couple of people recently lament in a hotel lobby about the price of land. They were referring to a particular “trophy” ranch that had just sold at a price so inflated that it was irrational.

My View From The Country

Some Thoughts On The True Cost Of AI

Fri, 04 May 2012 12:13:00 +0000

My wife, who has worked in the cattle genetics industry for a decade, has closely documented the cost of an artificial insemination program. Problem is, she hasn’t accounted for many of our program’s “must have” requirements. For instance, you must have an expensive cutting horse to bring in the hot cows.

My View From The Country

Opportunists Jump To Leverage BSE Case

Fri, 04 May 2012 12:10:00 +0000

While the market effects of the latest case of BSE in the U.S. appear to be minimal thus far, there’s no shortage of traditional beef industry foes looking to take advantage of the situation to promote their own agendas.

My View From The Country

Are You On The Cutting Edge, Or Bleeding Edge?

Fri, 04 May 2012 12:08:00 +0000

The hard reality about the future is that it comes in its entirety with the good and the bad, and none of us are allowed to pick and choose. Short of death, we can’t choose not to participate, but we do have the capability to help shape what that future will be.

My View From The Country

Beef Demand, The Economy & The Checkoff

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 13:46:00 +0000

Even with a sluggish economy, the recent furor over lean finely textured beef and this week’s BSE case, to name a few events, beef demand continues to exceed low expectations domestically, while exceeding its lofty expectations for exports. Those results continue to have a big day-to-day impact on cattle prices and likely help explain why producer support for the checkoff is at an all-time high.

My View From The Country

The Myth Of Managing For Drought

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 13:43:00 +0000

Ranchers tend to be optimists by nature. You have to be, when two of the biggest drivers of your profitability are markets and weather – two factors that are largely out of your control. Hopes for spring and summer are shaping up in some quarters to be anxious ones, as some university specialists are already beginning to advise producers on preparing for drought.

My View From The Country

A Fourth Case of BSE – Ho Hum?

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 19:58:00 +0000

With Japan and South Korea weighing a loosening of age restrictions on U.S. beef imports, the cattle market recovering from the media flurry over lean finely textured beef, and the summer grilling season upon us, came the Tuesday revelation by USDA of a BSE-infected dairy cow in California. Just three days later, an effective reaction by government and industry appears to have greatly mitigated the negative effects of the news.

My View From The Country

We Can’t Forget The Nutrition Side Of Beef

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 13:25:00 +0000

The beef industry has made lots of progress in communicating an accurate message on nutrition, with scientists and nutritionists advocating a more balanced approach than ever in the past. That science hasn’t dissuaded those intent on eliminating meat consumption and animal production, however. Anything that can be used to negate demand serves their purpose.

My View From The Country

Are We Capable Of Fixing The Deficit?

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 13:25:00 +0000

As citizens, we deride politicians for lacking the statesmanship to make the hard decisions and do what is right for future generations. We demand that they live according to the rules that we all have to abide by, but the reality is that they lack the political will in the Beltway because we lack the will on Main Street to hold their feet to the fire.