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Forecast

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Reuters Top News:

Cedar Fever's Nothing to Sneeze At As sure as the coming of a new year, every Decem-ber one biological process begets another when pol-len produced by the male juniper (incorrectly but far more commonly known as mountain cedar) starts making a lot of Texans sick with allergies....

DC News...Cattlemen Release 2018 Policy Priorities

published: February 23rd 2018

PHOENIX (Feb. 1, 2018) — The National Cattlemen’s Beef Associa-tion today unveiled its 2018 Policy Priorities, which will guide the group’s lobbying efforts in Washington over the coming year....

Weighing the Market... Cattle prices continue higher

published: February 23rd 2018 by: Wes and Sharla Ishmael

Cattle markets face plenty of headwinds, in-cluding increased beef production, but so far demand is helping lift cattle and beef prices higher than the unexpectedly stronger ones last year. “Demand is robust on all fronts....

Calving Book Technology: There’s an app for that

published: February 23rd 2018 by: Taylor Grussing

In today’s day and age, we rarely go anywhere without some kind of technology in our pocket or vehicle. Even in the livestock industry, there is an app for many of the tasks we conduct each day that can make our lives easier if we take the time to learn how to use them....

Gathering the family

published: February 9th 2018 by: Caitlin Richards

The family is getting together - that is the Houston Livestock Show and RodeoTM (HLSR) scholarship recipient family. Since the HLSR began in 1932, more than $450 million has been committed to the youth of Texas....

Just Your standard Bull

published: February 9th 2018 by: Michael Sturgess

Do numbers matter? Some would strongly argue yes—some are undecided—while others strongly say they don’t! In the case of utilizing Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs)—where do you stand? Many bull buyers place the most value in a bull’s physical appearance, i....

Texas Tales

published: February 9th 2018 by: Mike Cox

Except for the calendar, which said it was Decem-ber 25, that long-ago Christmas seemed more like a summer day than a morning in early winter. Kids in the Northeast might have been having a traditional chilly -- even snowy -- holiday, but in Austin it was already warm and soon would be just plain hot and dry....

DC News... New coalition advocates for North American Free Trade Agreement preservation and modernization

published: February 9th 2018

Food and agricultural sectors support 43 million American jobs and depend on trade with Canada and Mexico Source: Americans for Farmers & Families Washington, D.C.-A broad-based group of over 30 organizations representing growers, refiners, producers, transporters, retailers and consumers today announced the formation of Americans for Farmers & Families (AFF), a coalition that will work to ensure President Donald Trump and Congressional leaders understand the importance of preserving and modernizing the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to America’s agricultural and retail economies....

Executive Director’s Report...

published: February 9th 2018 by: Bill Hyman

Don’t let the recent Fever Tick Quarantine releases fool you. There are still plenty of tick infested premises in other areas waiting to explode this spring. Although ICA and other Texas organizations recently requested new tick eradication methods in the southern most areas of our state be implemented by USDA, the ticks remain there and all along our border with Mexico....

Hot Topics

published: February 9th 2018 by: Joe C. Paschal

I think the first person to discuss “Hot Topics” at the Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course several years ago was my good friend, Dr. Rick Machen. Rick was the longtime Texas A&M AgriLife Livestock Specialist in Uvalde before he “retired” and went to the King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management to fill the Paul Genho Endowed Chair in Ranch Manage-ment....

President’s Address...

published: February 9th 2018 by: Brian Malaer

Rancher, beef producer, cattlemen or cattlewomen, what is the difference? Some folks around the country think that because they are solely full-time ranchers they are the true cattlemen. They believe if you have a fulltime job or business off the ranch that you shouldn’t count when it comes to national beef issues....

Chapter Happenings... Around. the Lone Star State

published: February 9th 2018

Colorado Valley ICA By Les Mallory The Colorado Valley Independent Cattlemen’s Association (CVICA) elected officers at the chapter’s recent Christmas gathering. Officers include Les Mallory, president; Paul Janda, vice president, Lloyd Brunner, past president; Patrick Janda secretary; Bruce Dopslauf, trea-surer and Anna Karisch, scholarship chairman....

Texas Side of things

published: January 26th 2018 by: Jim Banner

I don’t know about you, but after the last two weeks, I’ve just about had enough of winter! Oh, I’m sure I’ll complain about it being too hot probably in July or August but for now, I just want something in between and I think it’s called springtime....

DC News... Livestock haulers need more clarity on Electronic Logging

published: January 26th 2018 by: Tim Pennell

It seems like everything having to do with information is going electronic. For the most part, that’s a good thing, but when it comes to hauling a load of cattle, allowing commercial livestock haulers to keep a record of their hours in a paper logbook — instead of by an electronic logging device (ELD) attached to their truck engine — may tell a more accurate story of actual driving time, and may allow the drivers to keep animal welfare as much of a priority as their own well-being and the safety of other drivers....

Weighing the Market... Fundamental market strength continues for now

published: January 26th 2018 by: Wes and Sharla Ishmael

Notwithstanding the stumbling start to 2018, cattle markets appear buoyed by the same fundamental strengths that pushed pri-ces higher than many expected last year. That includes currentness in feedlot marketing and ro-bust demand....

Just Your standard Bull

published: January 12th 2018 by: Michael Sturgess

2018. January 10—the beginning of a new year. There are numerous reasons to look forward to a year of prosperity. The economy is on the mend. The stock market has reached new highs. Available jobs are on the increase....

Texas Tales

published: January 12th 2018 by: Mike Cox

It wouldn't get much publicity at the time, but in 1893 a historian named Frederic Jackson Turner proffered a paper in Chicago at the annual meeting of the American Historical Society declaring that the U....

DC News...NCBA welcomes updates to beef standards

published: January 12th 2018

WASHINGTON-NCBA President Craig Uden released the following statement in response to the notice from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) that it is revising the United States Standards for Grades of Carcass Beef (beef standards): “The update to the beef standards will benefit U....

Executive Director’s Report...

published: January 12th 2018 by: Bill Hyman

Cattle Drive 2017 has passed and our heartfelt thanks go out to all of the ICA members who made a contribution. As you know, ICA uses these funds to finance our lobbying ef-forts in Austin and Wa-shington D....

Thoughts on replacement heifer selection and management

published: January 12th 2018 by: Joe C. Paschal

I was recently looking at the heifer calves I weaned and selected for replacements last fall. I was pleased to see that they were gaining well and will be ready for breeding this spring. I keep heifers that are out of productive cows based on their dam’s rebreeding and calving data and the heifer’s actual weaning weight....