This is Julie Mais, Angus Journal editor, with the February 17, 2022, update from the AJ Daily. Today’s update includes an update on steer and heifer slaughter head counts, tips for having conversations about succession planning, an announcement from the Animal Agriculture Alliance about a session on sustainable meat at its upcoming Stakeholders Summit, and an announcement from Clemson University Extension about a field day to be hosted in March. 

CAB Insider: Market Update

Adapted from a release by Paul Dykstra, Certified Angus Beef LLC

The slaughter pace last week was the best we’ve seen in 2022, with an estimated federally inspected total of 659,000. Daily steer/heifer head counts Monday through Thursday were 96,000, 94,000, 93,000 and 94,000 head per day respectively, along the lines of 1,000 to 2,000 improvements more than the daily pace the week prior. Given the previous week’s disappointing pace due to weather-related issues in Texas, these are very promising daily totals.

Fed steers and heifers sold higher last week in a range of +$2 in the northern feeding region, to +$1 in the south. This put the top end of the market around $143 per hundredweight in Iowa and Minnesota, and the southern highs at $140 per hundredweight in Kansas and Texas, as of Feb. 10 afternoon.

To read more go to cabcattle.com and select CAB Insider under the news tab. 

Starting the Succession Planning Conversation 

Adapted from an article by Sara Gugelmeyer for Angus Journal

Communication isn’t exactly an ag economics professor’s area of expertise, but Rodney Jones has learned through hands-on experience. Here are some pointers the Oklahoma State University professor and extension specialist has learned about tough conversations from trial and error.

Pick the location to have these tough conversations, and pick the time. 

Holidays are when families get together. The worst thing you can do is start that conversation around the holiday dinner table. Schedule a time to talk. Don’t do it around the family dinner table, because we all know what the power structure is going to look like in those situations where we all grew up. 

To read more go to angusjournal.net. 

Author and Registered Dietitian Diana Rodgers to Dish on Sustainable Meat at 2022 Stakeholders Summit 

Adapted from a release by the Animal Agriculture Alliance

There is growing concern from experts that we need to preserve a true range of food options to reflect the diversity of our cultures, races, traditions and our degree of metabolic health. Diana Rodgers, registered dietitian and executive director of The Global Food Justice Alliance, will share how the animal agriculture community can help secure the right of all people to choose nutrient-dense foods such as meat, poultry, dairy and eggs, which are critical for nutritious, environmentally sustainable and equitable food systems that can sustain both human life and the planet at the Animal Agriculture Alliance’s 2022 Stakeholders Summit. Early-bird registration rates are available through March 9.

For more information or to register visit animalagalliance.org. 

Livestock & Forage Systems Field Day Edisto Research and Education Center 

Adapted from a release by Clemson University Extension

Clemson University Extension will host a livestock and forage systems field day at the Edisto Research and Education Center in Blackville, S.C. on March 12, 2022. Welcome and registration will begin at 9:30 a.m. Field day tour stops begin at 10 a.m. and focus on the following topics: 

• forage establishment and management,

• weed control,

• nutrient management on forage systems,

• overview of the Edisto Bull Test and Heifer Development Project, and

• noon — surveys and wrap up – adjourn.

For more information contact: Liliane da Silva at lseveri@clemson.edu or Scott Sell at gsell@clemson.edu, or click on the link in this episode’s description. 

The AJ Daily is compiled by Paige Nelson, field editor for theAngus Journal. For more Angus news, visit angusjournal.net.