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ICA News for May 2023

published: April 28th 2023
by: ICA
source: Southern Livestock Standard

 

From the EVP, Cooper Little

ICA’s 49^th Annual Convention & Tradeshow on July 7-9^Th is coming together nicely.

State and industry leaders are lining up to address our membership.

 

Headlining speakers like the host of RFDTV’s DocTalk, Dr. Dan Thomson; U.S. Cattlemen’s Association President, Justin Tupper; Corbitt Wall, host of Feeder Flash and many others will address the crowd.

 

At least four CEU opportunities will be made available, and the entertainment will be hard to beat. Comedian Kevin Farley (brother of the late Chris Farley) will be entertaining the crowd, as well as live music from Texas county music artist, Gunnar Latham. 

 

We will be hosting over 60 vendors at our world-class tradeshow and our hospitality suite will be serving complementary beer and cocktails sponsored by Alamo Distilling Co.

 

A 52-Card draw, silent auction, live auction and a draw down for a Can-Am side-by-side will all be part of the fun. Draw-Down Can-Am side-by side unit was donated by South East ICA Chapter and ICA’s official powersports dealer, Velocity Powersports, located in Victoria, Texas.

 

Register for the 49^th Annual Convention and purchase your draw-down tickets by contacting the ICA state office or register online at icatexasconvention.square.site

 

 

 

 

From the president Kerry Wiggins

Greetings,

 

It continues to be an everchanging weather environment.  But, this time, mostly for the good.  Pastures have greened up, there is water in the tanks and the calves are hitting the ground.  Sounds like spring! Now, if we can just afford the fertilizer to get the haying process started.  I don’t think it will be as difficult to justify as cattle prices are still good with prospects even better.

 

On April 19, 2023 we held our annual ICA Capitol Day.  This is was our chance to meet with legislators to let them know our concerns.  We also held an ICA Board of Directors’ Meeting, followed by a visit to the Capitol and ending the day with a reception for more informal visits with our elected officials.

 

As a banker (and borrower) it’s said that there is nothing that comes sooner than a 90 day note.  So, get your ICA Convention registrations in, it’ll be sooner than you think.  Plans are well on the way, and we’d love you to join us for the great programs, discussions, trade show and the hospitality with each other.

 

As always, the State ICA office is available to assist you.  Call, if we can help.

 

 

From Dr. Joe Paschal

Worldwide demand for U.S. genetics

 

 

Even before I became the American Brahman Breeders Association Executive Vice President, I travelled extensively internationally, not only for Texas A&M. but often for a beef breed association or a breeder as a speaker or judge. In the past 44 years of international travel, I have been to 27 countries on six continents. I guess when cattle are sent to Antarctica, I’ll visit there too.

 

Often conferences or seminars are held in conjunction with a cattle show, it seems the best way to ensure a crowd, and I am able to evaluate the beef and dairy genetics of other countries, as well as the impact of U.S. genetics on their herds. I think Texas and U.S. cattle producers would be amazed to know how important U.S. genetics are to world meat and dairy production. Not just Brahman and the eared breeds which have dominance in the tropics and subtropics, but the Bos taurus breeds too!

 

Most of the Brahman and eared breed genetics imported are used to create purebred herds of those breeds. However, most (but not all) the Bos taurus genetics imported are used in crossbreeding programs to create F-1 females. As we all know, the F-1 female, especially when a Bos indicus animal is one of the parents, exhibits very high levels of hybrid vigor for adaptability, fertility, milk production and longevity among other traits.  Some of these F-1 females are used in grading up to purebred, increasing the percentage of Bos taurus genetics in the native breeds, but reducing hybrid vigor at the same time.

 

Not only are U.S. beef genetics in high demand around the world but so are our dairy genetics. The U.S. Holstein is the number one livestock semen export. There is also a very strong demand for equines with Thoroughbreds, American Quarter Horses, and the colored breeds enjoy a strong export market. I do not get around the smaller ruminants or the swine barns much but they too enjoy the benefits of a strong export market.

 

It is interesting to remember that all of our livestock breeds (their ancestors anyway) were all imported at one point. U.S. breeders improved on them and even created several new breeds and now those genetics are in very high demand all over the world.

 

 

Chapter Happenings

South Central Texas ICA Chapter news

 

The South Central Texas ICA has chosen three young people to receive scholarships this year. They are Hudson Gardener, Jeffery Oltgendier and Luke Gonzalez. These scholarships were presented at the chapter meeting in Jourdanton, April 25^th .

 

SCTICA sponsored a 52-Card Draw Raffle to raise money for the chapter’s scholarships. Participants drew a card from the deck, tore it in half, kept one half and the other half went into the pot for the drawing to be held when all the cards are sold. The prize is a guided coastal fishing trip donated by Brenda Moore. Tickets for the raffle are available from Weldon Riggs for $20 each.

 

 

Guada-Coma ICA Chapter news

 

The Guada-Coma Chapter will meet May 15, 2023 at 6:30 p.m.at Seguin Cattle Company, Seguin, Texas. The speaker will be Guadalupe County Judge, Kyle Kutscher. The chapter’s scholarship winners will be introduced. Please rsvp by May 12^th to Allan Bode 830/305-1325; Leroy Muenich 830/660-3029 or email ica.guadacoma@gmail.com.

 

 

Mid Tex ICA Chapter news

 

Howdy folks! I hope this letter finds everyone doing better with green grass and full stock tanks after these last rains! Our Mid-Tex Chapter had a few members attend the ICA State Board Meeting in Austin and a few also attended Capitol Day. 

 

The cattle market has continued to be extremely, extremely good this past month. It’s been a really nice break for the producers considering the rising costs of everything. Hopefully things will continue to stay good as we head into the summer! 

Our next Mid-Tex ICA chapter meeting will be on May 23rd with more details to follow. We hope to see you there and as always, pray for rain and the USA! 

 

 

Gonzales ICA Chapter news

 

The Gonzales ICA Chapter conducted a board of directors meeting, a meal and general membership meeting on April 20th at the Gonzales VFW Hall. Agri-Life Extension Agent Dwight Sexton presented a program on brush management.

Chapter board members Rafe Jackson and S.H. Sucher reported on activities conducted on April 19th at the ICA Capitol Day in Austin. News that former Gonzales chapter member James Alford was leading efforts to establish a chapter in the Bryan-College Station area was especially well received.