Columnists → Southern Livestock Standard - The definitive news and information source for the beef cattle segment of the livestock industry

Not a member? Membership has its privileges— Register today!

Make SLS your homepage!

Note: login or register to personalize

Forecast

Maps

Radar

Reuters Top News:

Welcome to the beginning of the dog days of summer! But did you know that old saying doesn’t mean what most of us think it does? We usually think the dog days of summer refers to the fact that the summer heat is so hot that dogs lie around in the shade, panting and trying to find a cool spot, normally under a shade tree, but that’s not where the saying comes from....

Texas Tales

published: June 14th 2019 by: Mike Cox

When Mary Jane Wea-ver told her daughter-in-law her life story back in 1940, she was 85 years old, born six years before the Civil War. She had seen a lot during that long lifetime, but what happened one spring afternoon in Vega, the seat of Oldham County, was high on the list of the most memorable....

D.C. News...

published: June 14th 2019

A new era of cattle identification on the horizon Producer Traceability Council reaches consensus on key elements to increase cattle traceability DENVER — In meetings in May, the Producer Traceability Council reach-ed consensus on two major points to increase the number of cattle identified in the U....

Weighing The Market

published: June 14th 2019 by: Wes and Sharla Ishmael

Pricier corn weighs on calf and feeder markets Historically slow corn planting, courtesy of protracted cool, wet conditions and widespread flooding propelled grain prices higher last month, adding more pressure to already wheezing feeder cattle prices....

Just Your Standard Bull...

published: June 14th 2019 by: Michael Sturgess

I recently looked up the definition of crowdfunding on Wikipedia. In the old days, I used to keep three books handy on my desk--a Webster’s dictionary, a Rogets Thesaurus and a Vox Spanish and English Dictionary....

Texas Tales

published: June 14th 2019 by: Mike Cox

Even at the time it seemed bizarre, but the U.S. War Department had a logical enough idea: Why not mount horse soldiers on camels? After all, a camel could go a lot longer without water than a horse....

D.C. News...

published: June 14th 2019

NCBA, state affiliates urge Congress to ratify USMCA WASHINGTON (July 8, 2019) – The National Cattlemen’s Beef Associa-tion (NCBA) sent a letter signed by 39 of its state affiliates to U.S....

Executive Director’s Report

published: June 14th 2019 by: Bill Hyman

The 2019 Independent Cattlemen’s Association (ICA) State Convention is now over. We had a great time. A big thank you goes out to everyone who attended and especially for those who helped make it great....

Legislative Report...

published: June 14th 2019

The usual issue topped the list of activities for the Texas Legislature. This, of course, was the passage of Senate Bill 1- the state budget for the next two years. The total budget amount for the next two year period totaled $250....

President’s Address

published: June 14th 2019 by: Chloe Wilson

What a convention! Hats off to the hard working staff of Independent Cattlemen’s Association (ICA), Jo Ann, Sandie, and Bill, for putting on yet another successful event! We could not have been luckier to have such a remarkable group of vendors that covered a wide variety of industry specific businesses, Can-Am, Lewis Oilers, Silveus Insurance, Stay-Tuff Fencing, and Datamars to name a few....

Chapter Happenings Around The Lone Star State

published: June 14th 2019 source: ICA Of Texas

Colorado Valley ICA By Les Mallory CVICA Recognizes Trail Blazer Award Recipient Colorado Valley Inde-pendent Cattlemen’s Asso-ciation (CVICA) is pleased to announce their Trail Blazer Award recipient this year -- Tara Van Wart....

Just Your Standard Bull...

published: May 31st 2019 by: Michael Sturgess

The trade war between the US and China continues. Earlier this month, it was reported that Trump increased tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods, increasing the rate from 10% to 25%. He also increased the list of goods that are subject to tariffs to include a great deal more products classified as consumer goods....

Texas Tales

published: May 31st 2019 by: Mike Cox

Just about every day a reporter for the afternoon Austin Daily Statesman walked from the newspaper office to the Driskill Hotel to see if anyone of interest happened to be staying there. Whether the hotel manager routinely allowed the reporter to scan the guest register or whether the scribe merely hung around the lobby keeping his eyes open and ears alert would be conjecture at this late date....

D.C. News...

published: May 31st 2019

U.S. beef gains full access to Japan Washington, D.C.—U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced that the United States and Japan have agreed on new terms and conditions that eliminate Japan’s longstanding res-trictions on U....

Executive Director’s Report

published: May 31st 2019 by: Bill Hyman

As usual, the Texas Legislature is playing its cards close to the vest. With four days left in the session we don’t have a budget for the next two years and the education bill final text is still a mystery....

President’s Address

published: May 31st 2019 by: Chloe Wilson

In the current consumer driven world, I tend to wonder what kind of person wants to eat a lab grown product. With the fake meat bill sitting in the hands of our Texas lawmakers, I began to think about the target market and what they are already purchasing....

Chapter Happenings Around The Lone Star State

published: May 31st 2019 source: ICA Of Texas

Colorado Valley ICA By Les Mallory Directors, officers, wives and special guests recently attended CVICA’s Annual Potluck Dinner at Swiss Alp. This year’s scholarship recipients were invited and directors and special guests were able to meet them and discuss the student’s future college plans....

The Texas Side Of Things...

published: May 17th 2019 by: Jim Banner

In the last few months I’ve traveled a large portion of this great state going to numerous sales. Everywhere I’ve been, it’s green as a gourd and the cattle are standing in pastures with waist high lush grass and mud fat....

Texas Tales

published: May 17th 2019 by: Mike Cox

Long before the 20th century U.S. military made the geometric term “pentagon” a popular noun, Texas had its Hexagon—the Hexagon Hotel. Said to be a piece of architecture found no where else in the world, the hotel was built by an innovative South Plains rancher who decided to come home off the range to Mineral Wells....

D.C. News...

published: May 17th 2019

NCBA welcomes legislation aimed to help livestock haulers WASHINGTON—The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) welcomed the introduction of legislation in the U.S. Senate aimed at reforming federal Hours of Service (HOS) rules in a way that ensures animal welfare, highway safety, and the well-being of livestock haulers....