Should We Sell Heifers Or Should We Keep Heifers, Beef Imports Updates & MCOOL

Ranch It Up Radio Show & Podcast

We find out whether to sell those heifer calves or keep them. Plus updates on beef imports, mandatory country of origin labeling, markets, sales and so much more on this all new episode of the Ranch It Up Radio Show. Be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcasting app or on the Ranch It Up Radio Show YouTube Channel.

EPISODE 203 DETAILS Keep or Sell Heifer Calves, Beef Imports & MCOOL Feeder Heifers: Sell Now or Hold Sell or Background Heifer Calves, The Pros & Cons

Feeder cattle prices have been outstanding all summer long. And many producers are faced with the dilemma of selling heifers and turning the cash or keeping heifers to go back into the cow herd. Mike Bolinger with Superior Livestock joins us discussing the pros and cons of both options, where we are at in the cowherd inventory and how beef imports could affect prices of beef.

Latest Beef Checkoff & Industry News Beef Producers Ask For Fed Support Of MCOOL

According to MeatingPlace.com, nearly three dozen groups associated with beef production, ranching and the environment signed on to a letter sent to the U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai, asking for her support to restore mandatory country of origin labeling (MCOOL) for beef.

Producer organizations, including Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund United Stockgrowers of America (R-CALF USA) regularly endeavor to keep MCOOL issues part of the national legislative conversation. This, although the World Trade Organization ruled in 2014 that such meat labeling law violates U.S. international trade obligations by discriminating against Canadian cattle and pigs and Mexican cattle.

Referencing a letter that Tai had published in the British newspaper Financial Times, in which she said she was committed to “meet working people where they are, redesigning the incentive structure so that communities are not pitted against each other,” the letter said, “This is precisely the help that ranchers and consumers need and consistent with your comments. We respectfully request that you issue a statement to lawmakers regarding your office’s position as to whether the United States has the authority to reinstate mandatory country of origin labeling for beef in the face of the substantive trade reforms you are seeking, including at the World Trade Organization.”

The letter and a list of the signing organizations are available HERE.

Drought Continues for Oklahoma

Drought conditions have increased rapidly in Oklahoma in recent weeks. The latest Drought Monitor shows that 78.58 percent of Oklahoma is abnormally dry or in some stage of drought.

Because of the dry conditions, very little wheat has been planted at this time or it has been “dusted in” to await hoped-for rain. Prospects for winter wheat grazing are decreasing with each passing week. Wheat planted after mid-September will have less time to grow sufficient forage for winter grazing — assuming moisture is forthcoming. The start of winter grazing will be pushed back, and stocking rates will likely be reduced due to less available forage through the winter.

Oklahoma range and pasture conditions have deteriorated rapidly in the last month, with the percentage of pastures rated poor to very poor increasing from 19% to 34% in the last four weeks. Going into the winter in drought is ominous and raises concerns about 2025 forage prospects. Fortunately, hay supplies are much improved this year, which will help with winter feed needs. The combination of this year’s hay production and very large carryover stocks (May 1) from last year, leaves Oklahoma with record large total hay supplies this year — over 20% larger than the 10-year average.

The lack of wheat stocker demand and the beginning of the fall run of calves is putting pressure on cattle auction prices. Many unweaned calves are beginning to show up at auctions. Unweaned calves take a bigger discount, especially in the fall as variable weather increases animal health challenges and risks. There is time to add value to calves to be marketed this fall. Weaning (minimum 45 days), vaccinations, castration and dehorning will add value to calves marketed 45-90 days from now. Even better is documenting these practices in a certified preconditioning program that provides additional assurance to buyers. Many years of data confirms that preconditioned calves will bring premiums over unweaned calves. The 45-day cut-off for most fall Oklahoma Quality Beef Network (OQBN) sales is rapidly approaching in late September. Producers can find the sale schedule, program and sign-up information at Oklahoma Quality Beef Network, Oklahoma State University.

RanchChannel.Com Now Has The Futures Markets Futures Markets

RanchChannel.com now has futures markets at your fingertips! Feeder Cattle, Live Cattle, Corn, Wheat, Soybeans, Soybean Oil, Milk Class IV, and Ethanol. Information is provided by DTN and market information may be delayed by as much as 10 minutes. Click Here for more information!

UPCOMING SALES & EVENTS

Jorgensen Land & Cattle Motherlode Sale: September 21, 2024, Ideal, South Dakota

ISA Beefmasters: October 5, 2024, San Angelo, Texas

JYJ Red Angus: November 9, 2024, Columbia, Alabama

Clear Springs Cattle Company: November, 20, 2024, Starbuck, MN

World Famous Miles City Bucking Horse Sale: May 15 - 18, 2025

BULL SALE REPORT & RESULTS

Churchill Cattle Company

Van Newkirk Herefords

Gardiner Angus Ranch

Cow Camp Ranch

Jungels Shorthorn Farms

Ellingson Angus

Edgar Brothers Angus

Schaff Angus Valley

Prairie Hills Gelbvieh

Clear Springs Cattle Company

CK Cattle

Mrnak Hereford Ranch

Frey Angus Ranch

Hoffmann Angus Farms

Topp Herefords

River Creek Farms

Upstream Ranch

Gustin’s Diamond D Gelbvieh

Schiefelbein Farms

Wasem Red Angus

Raven Angus

Krebs Ranch

Yon Family Farms

Chestnut Angus

Eichacker Simmentals & JK Angus

Windy Creek Cattle Company

Pedersen Broken Heart Ranch

Mar Mac Farms

Warner Beef Genetics

Arda Farms & Freeway Angus

Leland Red Angus & Koester Red Angus

Fast - Dohrmann - Strommen

RBM Livestock

Weber Land & Cattle

Sundsbak Farms

Hidden Angus

Wheatland Cattle Company

Miller Angus Farms

L 83 Ranch

U2 Ranch

Vollmer Angus Ranch

A & B Cattle

Carter Angus Farms

Roller Ranch

Montgomery Ranch

Jorgensen Farms

DLCC Ranch

Four Hill Farm North Country Angus Alliance

Spruce Hill Ranch

Wilson Angus

FEATURING

Mike Bolinger

Superior Livestock

https://superiorlivestock.com/

@SuperiorLivestockAuction

Kirk Donsbach: Stone X Financial

https://www.stonex.com/

@StoneXGroupInc

Mark Vanzee

Livestock Market, Equine Market, Auction Time

https://www.auctiontime.com/

https://www.livestockmarket.com/

https://www.equinemarket.com/

@LivestockMkt

@EquineMkt

@AuctionTime

Shaye Koester

Casual Cattle Conversation

https://www.casualcattleconversations.com/

@cattleconvos

Questions & Concerns From The Field?

Call or Text your questions, or comments to 707-RANCH20 or 707-726-2420

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Rural America is center-stage on this outfit.

AND how is that? Tigger & BEC Live This Western American Lifestyle.

Tigger & BEC represent the Working Ranch world and cattle industry by providing the cowboys, cowgirls, beef cattle producers & successful farmers the knowledge and education needed to bring high-quality beef & meat to your table for dinner.

Learn more about Jeff 'Tigger' Erhardt & Rebecca Wanner aka BEC here: TiggerandBEC.com

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References

https://www.stonex.com/

https://www.livestockmarket.com/

https://www.equinemarket.com/

https://www.auctiontime.com/

https://gelbvieh.org/

https://www.imogeneingredients.com/

https://alliedgeneticresources.com/

https://westwayfeed.com/

https://medoraboot.com/

http://www.gostockmens.com/

https://www.imiglobal.com/beef

https://www.tsln.com/

https://transova.com/

https://axiota.com/

https://axiota.com/multimin-90-product-label/

https://jorgensenfarms.com/

https://ranchchannel.com/

https://www.wrangler.com/

https://www.ruralradio147.com/

https://www.rfdtv.com/

https://www.meatingplace.com/Industry/News/Details/116024

https://www.meatingplace.com/Industry/News/Details/116075

https://www.r-calfusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/240909-Letter-to-Trade-Ambassader-re-MCOOL-w-Signatories.pdf

https://extension.okstate.edu/programs/oklahoma-quality-beef-network/