Must Reads

“The Pew Commission assembled data in support of an agenda, rather than to drive a solution based on data.”

When “Vet's Opinion” columnist Mike Apley, DVM, opined on antibiotic resistance and junk science in his February issue column, “We still need you,” he ran afoul of the Pew Commission on Industrial Farm Animal Production. The Pew folks fired off a letter of protest to the BEEF article, to which Apley countered. You can read both in our “Reader's Viewpoint” column on page 8.

“There is probably more opportunity to buy a feedyard today than at any time since 1974.”

That's how feedyard broker Richard Bretz sizes up the feedyard situation to Larry Stalcup in the latter's page 20 article, “Wanted: Customers.” Stalcup says commercial feedyards, faced with fewer custom-fed cattle due to a host of reasons, are scrambling to stay full and to stay afloat, with Southern Plains lots particularly hard hit.

“It's probably impossible to overestimate the impact that ethanol subsidies have had on the cattle industry.”

Every segment of the cattle business is readjusting its marketing programs and management schemes to come in line with the new economic realities of ethanol, writes BEEF Contributing Editor Troy Marshall in his page 62 commentary, “The ethanol effect.” Ethanol subsidies appear to be here to stay, and they're leading to significant changes in economics, marketing and management. Those who adapt to this new environment will be in the driver's seat, he says.