Consumers trust beef producers more when they get BQA (Beef Quality Assurance) certified, which can be done online or in person in some states. Funded by NCBA, the program teaches techniques of sound animal care and resource management. BQA training certifies producers’ commitments to do things right when it comes to injections, pest protection, resource management and overall … [Read more...]
USDA hits pause on cattle tracking proposal
Reversing its position on phasing out metal and plastic identification ear tags, the USDA decided they can be used indefinitely on cattle that cross state borders, on cattle exhibited at fairs and on dairy cattle. all current APHIS-approved methods of identification may be used… until further notice” Source: Successful Farming, March 24, 2021. Link. “APHIS continues to … [Read more...]
USDA forecasting largest annual increase in grocery prices since 2011
Grocery prices will rise by a higher-than-average 3 percent this year, due largely to the coronavirus-propelled surge in the cost of meat, poultry and fish at the supermarket, according to the USDA forecast released June 25. At the same time that grocery prices are rising, the food insecurity rate has doubled since the coronavirus struck. Source: Successful Farming, June 26, … [Read more...]
Mental health resources for farmers and ranchers available. More on the way.
The holidays may add to everyday stress for some folks. Farmers and ranchers are no different. There is a great list of mental health and suicide prevention references with links. Keep it. It may come in handy one day. Source: Successful Farming, September 8, 2018. Link. If you need help or know someone who is contemplating suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention … [Read more...]
Call the vet! Rural America needs help
Betsy Freese, executive editor of Successful Farming and a veterinarian’s wife, writes about the dearth of veterinarians in rural areas came to be and how we can fix the situation. From documenting the realities of underserved communities to 16 unvarnished trends about veterinary medicine, she puts the names and faces and with the intestinal fortitude it takes to be a … [Read more...]
Rural infrastructures declining, negatively affecting agriculture (includes video)
Safe, efficient transportation methods are crucial to successful agriculture. Aging of roads, bridges, railroads, waterway technologies and ports challenges how we will move ag products around our country and the world. Natalina Sents investigates the decline in rural infrastructure and what can be done to fix it. Source: Successful Farming, May 6, 2019. Link. The … [Read more...]
Improve biosecurity to keep ASF at bay
Swine veterinarians are critical industry players to keep watch over deadly diseases. With the threat of African swine fever (ASF) looming large, keeping up to date on biosecurity protocols is important. Betsy Freese, executive editor of Successful Farming, and Paul Thomas, associate veterinarian for AMVC Management Services, share questions and answers about … [Read more...]
Don’t believe what China says about ASF
Betsy Freese, executive editor of Successful Farming, recently spent a week in China on a market study tour with U.S. farmers, swine and beef producers and other agricultural business people. She focuses on four points about African swine fever (AFS) shared, seven items a U.S.-based company she was not allowed to name stated and nine statements Chinese officials put … [Read more...]
High nitrate in hay can kill cows
More than 200 cows in Missouri died last month from nitrate poisoning, according to the University of Missouri Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory. Unusual weather the last couple years likely set up this problem with nitrogen entering plants as nitrate during wet periods and remaining as raw nitrate because of dry weather. This may result in too much raw nitrate in plants … [Read more...]
First the fires then snow: Kansas in distress
Recent blizzards have potentially devastated the western Kansas wheat crop. This is significant because Kansas grew one of every five bushels of U.S. wheat last year. Its farmers specialize in winter wheat, which is planted in the fall, goes dormant during the winter and sprouts again in the spring. Winter wheat accounts for two thirds, or more, of the U.S. crop each … [Read more...]