Rouquette is optimistic about the chances of success for novice and experienced beef producers because of unusually high prices for weaned calves. Though production costs remain high, at current prices, it’s possible to gross $500 to $1,000 for a weaned calf, he said.

“While we cannot discuss the specifics of that draft rule, we can say that the draft rule proposes to modify the COOL labeling provisions for muscle cut meats, including beef (including veal), lamb (including mutton), pork, goat and chicken,” said Sam Jones-Ellard, AMS public affairs specialist.

Dr. Joe Outlaw, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service economist, predicts cuts will be forthcoming to federal farm programs in the future. But until then, farmers will operate under the 2008 Farm Bill this year, receiving a direct payment on eligible crops.

Twenty young livestock producers from across the state met in Topeka Feb. 18-19 for the first installment of the 2013 Kansas Livestock Association (KLA) Young Stockmen’s Academy (YSA). Merck Animal Health partnered with the association to host these members for an in-depth look into KLA and the beef industry.

The World Ag Expo is the largest farm and ranch and agricultural show with agricultural expositions that there is in the world. The show is held in February each year and has been held for the past 46 years. This year, over 89 countries were represented by their citizens and companies who traveled to America to attend and participate.

“Water is one of the critical natural resources needed for a livestock operation,” said Joe Zulovich, University of Missouri Extension agricultural engineer. “I’ve run into more cases than I care to think about where water was an afterthought rather than something built into the preplanning phases of putting an operation together.

That has resulted in the development of programs to facilitate and promote arrangements between retiring and aspiring young farmers. But even with such programs, including government-backed loans to new farmers, this is problematic because the competition from expanding farms for land can be fierce.

In addition to being the greatest cause of baby calf mortality, calving difficulty markedly reduces reproductive performance during the next breeding season. Cattle suffering from calving difficulty have been reported (Brinks, et al.

“As I drive around, I’d have to say that we’re not there yet,” said Kevin Bradley, who discussed waterhemp at the recent MU Crop Management Conference in Columbia. “I think we are doing better, but waterhemp is our driver weed. We pretty much make every decision on that one weed.

There is understandably a lot of concern in the beef industry about beef demand in the coming months. The expected decrease in beef production in 2013 will likely represent a 3.3 percent decrease in domestic per capita supplies.