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Farm & Ranch

Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch….

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By Rayford Pullen | [email protected]

It looks as though this winter will be a repeat of the past two winters regarding hay supplies. Several have asked me if we have enough hay to make it through the winter and my standard reply is, “Ask me again in the middle of March.” One of the biggest snows I’ve seen occurred the first week of March when we certainly needed to feed hay and cubes but were unable to get through the gates due to the large snow drifts. So, check back in with me about the hay situation around our place in the middle of March.

As of this writing, the cattle market appears to be holding its own this year. With the cost of running a cow year-round running about $930, and assuming you have a 90 percent calf crop, for every calf you sell, you have more than $1,000 in feeding costs alone, so the market needs to keep pace with our overhead plus room for a profit.

To read more, pick up a copy of the February 2024 issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.

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Farm & Ranch

Ag Elsewhere: Wyoming

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By Tressa Lawrence

Ranchers across northeast Wyoming and the surrounding areas saw record moisture levels in 2023. The year 2024 has seen significantly less moisture to date.

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Farm & Ranch

Ag Elsewhere: Montana

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By Lindsey Monk

People are finishing up brandings. Here, Danny Walter is shown getting it done.

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Farm & Ranch

Animal Disease Traceability

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By Barry Whitworth, DVM

On July 6, 2020, the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) posted in the Federal Register a proposal that radio frequency identification tags be used as official identification for cattle and bison. Following a period for public comment, the USDA APHIS released a statement on April 24, 2024, with the amended animal disease traceability (ADT) regulation for cattle and bison. The full press release may be found at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/news/agency-announcements/aphis-bolsters-animal-disease-traceability-united-states. Under the new rule, cattle and bison will need to be identified with tags that are both visual and electronic.

The USDA defines ADT as knowing where diseased and at-risk animals are, where they have been, and when the animal disease event took place. A system that allows for efficient traceability of livestock in the United States is essential for animal health and reducing the economic effect of a foreign animal disease outbreak and other diseases on livestock producers as well as others whose well-being depends on livestock production.

To read more, pick up a copy of the July issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.

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