December 2016 -  Vol. 4  Issue 12
The official newsletter of the Kentucky Cattlemen's Association, Kentucky Beef Council and the Kentucky Beef Network.
Features
KCA held Town Hall Meetings to discuss Cattle Markets

The Kentucky Cattlemen's Association held two open meetings in November to discuss the current situation within the cattle markets.  Ed Greiman, from the feedlot industry, and Terry Ryan, from JBS, were our guest speakers for the meetings and both provided critical insight on the status of the cattle market. The meeting in Larue Country was broadcasted live on the KCA Facebook page and was watched by more than 1,000 viewers. 

If you missed the town hall held in Clark County, you can watch the full meeting below. For more info on how the KCA is currently working to represent Kentucky cattle growers, visit  bit.ly/KCALegislative  to view our Action Timeline.

Kentucky Cattlemen's Town Hall Meeting to Discuss Cattle Markets
Kentucky Cattlemen's Town Hall Meeting to Discuss Cattle Markets

Sign Up for KCA Membership to win Priefert Chute

Enter for a chance to be the owner of a brand new Squeeze Chute from  Priefert Ranch Equipment by signing up for a KCA membership before January 1, 2017.  Join online by clicking the image below, visit  bit.ly/joinKCA  or contact Nikki Whitaker at 859-278-0899. The winner will be announced at the 2017 KCA Convention in January. 


2017 KCA Convention Registration Now Open - BOOK HOTELS NOW

SAVE THE DATE: Join us for the 2017 KCA Annual Convention on January 19-20, 2017, at the Lexington Convention Center!  Members who pre-register before December 31 get a discounted registration fee of $50 and enter for a chance to win a $100 Cabela's Gift Card. Visit the  KCA website  to register online or download the registration form.

Hotels are booking fast, so secure your room as soon as you can. Hotel information and discount codes can also be found on the KCA website on the Convention page: 




We had a fantastic showing of participants for our 2016 Bovine Beauties Photo Contest! More than 80 photos from cattlemen and cattlewomen around the state were submitted to compete for a $100 prize pack from the KCA. The photo with the most likes by Friday, December 16 at noon was declared the winner. 

Coming in at more than 700 reactions,  Josie Phillips from Mason County was declared the winner with her photo titled "Best Buds"! See the winning photo to the left and view all the photos in the contest HERE.

KCA's Carey Brown named winner of Kentucky Farm Bureau award

Our very own Carey Brown, KCA Publication Coordinator, was named the winner of Kentucky Farm Bureau's (KFB) 2016 Communications Award. She was recognized on December 1 during the general session of KFB's annual meeting at the Galt House in Louisville.

The  Communications Award, which consists of a plaque and a $300 cash prize, has been presented by KFB annually since 1960. Media outlets, county Farm Bureaus and other agriculture-related agencies nominate candidates whose outstanding journalism work has created a better understanding of Kentucky's agriculture industry over the last year.  Read the full article on Carey's award  HERE


Check Your Mail for Annual Cattle Survey

The U.S Department of Agriculture's National Agriculture Statistics Service (NASS) will begin mailing out the Annual Cattle Survey in mid-December. The survey inventories all beef and dairy cattle, calf crop and cattle on feed.
 
"Having an accurate inventory report is critical during this period of lower prices to better understand the cattle market," said David Knopf, director of the NASS Eastern Mountain Regional Office in Kentucky. "Each producer response is important for achieving factual counts."
 
Nearly 1,300 Kentucky farmers will be surveyed. Data collection begins Jan. 1, 2017, and continues through Jan. 12. The results will be published in the Cattle Report due out Jan. 31, 2017.

Checkin' On the Checkoff

 
Is Your Ribeye to Die For? 

Does your County Cattlemen's Association have the best grilling team in the state of Kentucky? Prove it, at the Kentucky Cattlemen's Convention Fourth Annual Ribeye Cook-Off January 19th at the Lexington Convention Center! Rules and registration can be found at http://bit.ly/RibeyeCookOff. **Registration Deadline is January 13th

Heart of the Farm 2017 KCA Convention Ladies Program 
 
At the heart of each farm there is a reason why farmers keep pushing through the cold mornings, late nights, and tragic losses that plague the cattle industry. Family is the Heart of the Farm. KBC would love to see the heart of your farm and provide one lucky lady with a door prize during the Ladies Program at KCA Convention. 

Send a picture of your family on the farm with an explanation of why you farm to Katelyn via email khawkins@kycattle.org or mail to the KCA office to be eligible for the door prize drawing at the end of the ladies program. 

Register now for the 2017 Ladies Program in celebrating the Heart of Your Farm while painting a cow portrait with Wine and Canvas. There are only 60 spots available so register early to reserve your spot. Ladies Program registration can be found on the Convention Registration form at  bit.ly/KCA2017Convention.





Keep your eyes open for our Rural Consumer Campaign promoting delicious beef as we continue to plan for our new Consumer Launch set for grilling season next year!

Happening at Eden Shale Farm

New Installation Ready for Use at Eden Shale Farm



The new fence line feeding system designed by Dr. Steve Higgins is now complete and ready for use at Eden Shale. The last gates have been hung and the structures are waiting for colder weather and the need to feed hay. 

Now that the structures are complete, records will be kept on how many bales are fed through each feeder and how many cattle are fed using the structures. In the spring, the structures will be evaluated to determine how they performed overall, including cattle preference, hay waste, and required maintenance. Read the full blog post at edenshalefarm.com. Stay tuned to the blog and social media for a highlight video of the feeding systems. 

Annual Production Report 

Ever since KBN took over Eden Shale Farm in April of 2013 there has been continued improvement at the farm. The goal of Eden Shale has been to make cost effective, real world decisions that hopefully keep it representative of the average commercial cattle operation in Kentucky.

A report on the first three years of operation at the Farm has been compiled, highlighting data and trends in herd performance, forage growth and farm visits. Read the full report at edenshalefarm.com
 KJCA Activities & Opportunities 

Students Travel to Nebraska for a "Beef" of a Time


T hrough a partnership with the University of Nebraska- Lincoln, KJCA was fortunate to send a group of young beef enthusiasts to the Nebraska Youth Beef Leadership Symposium (NYBLS). 

Students chosen this year were: Isaac Carmon (Daviess), Matthew Demoss-Hale (Jessamine), Allison Paige Geer (Hardin), Jenna Gosney (Pendleton), Karli Graves (Boyle), and Taylor Graves (Boyle). 

 Prior to the symposium, the group made a couple of Nebraska beef industry stops. They toured two Cargill processing facilities, Cargill Meat Solutions: Schuyler and Cargill Turkey & Cooked Meats: Nebraska City.  These tours showed the students the beef cycle from hoof to sandwich. 

At the Symposium, students learned about industry hot topics, new beef innovations, and about the university itself. KJCA's attendees competed in group projects, winning several, and left NYBLS with invaluable experiences. Look for the full article on their trip in the January issue of Cow Country News. 
Apply for a Summer Internship with the KDA!

Are you an undergraduate or graduate student pursuing a career in agriculture or government? Then apply now for a position in the Kentucky Department of Agriculture's internship program for the summer of 2017!

To apply, students must download the application on the KDA's website at  www.kyagr.com/marketing/education-resources.html and fill it out. Applicants must provide a résumé, cover letter, and three references. The Applicant deadline is Friday,  January 6th at 4:30 EST. Interviews will be conducted  January 23- February 17th. 

In the News







Black Vulture Publication
Are black vultures a problem on your farm? They have the potential to feed on newborn livestock and cause damage to buildings and equipment while roosting. Check out the article below to learn how to deter these pests and follow the University of Kentucky Wildlife Extension for more!
Read here.




Resource for VFD Usage
The Antibiotics Resource Center, brought to you by the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, is your one-stop place to find information and resources about responsible antibiotic use for beef producers and industry stakeholders. This includes details about the new Veterinary Feed Directive and changes to antibiotics regulations that go into effect on Jan. 1, 2017. Use the resource HERE
Cattlemen's Webinar Series
Catch up on the free webinars provided by the NCBA. You can watch the pre-recorded webinars on these topics and more:
  -Don't Get Caught Off Guard - Preparing For Changing Antibiotic Regulations
-End of Year Policy Issues Update


Which comes first, calving or rebreeding?
"Calving and rebreeding ideally occur within a relatively short, but very critical, 85-day window," says Chad Zehnder, Ph.D. and cattle consultant with Purina Animal Nutrition. "How a heifer or cow calves out at the beginning of the window will impact her ability to get bred at the end of the window..." Read more HERE
Online  Registration Open for 2017 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show
Save the Date for the 2017 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show, Feb. 1-3, 2017, in Nashville, TN. Register online here.






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