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A Very Good Year

But farm exports could stumble in 2012.

Against a backdrop of economic uncertainty, American agriculture last year stood as a shining example of growth.

2011 set records, with net farm income topping $100 billion for the first time ever.

"Prices are up across the board for all the major crops, and while we've seen cost of production increases overall, they haven't increased as rapidly as the prices of crops people are selling," said Pat Westhoff, director of the University of Missouri (MU) Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI). "Even corrected for inflation, farm profits are at or near the highest levels since the 1970s. That is indeed a very good outcome overall."

U.S. farm income rose 28% in 2011 compared to the previous year, according to USDA reports. Record agricultural exports topped $137 billion, while crop receipts rose 16% and livestock sales receipts averaged 17% more than in 2010. Read more.

Tagging Techniques

Subscribers share their ideas for herd identification.

Last year, we posed a question to our Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA subscribers: What type of numbering system do you use to identify your calf crop?

For example, in Editor Shauna Hermel's family herd, they use a three-digit number with the first digit being the year and the last two digits being the sequence of the calf of that gender born that year. This means that 907 would be the seventh heifer or bull calf born in 2009. They put the dam's tag number small above the calf ID number and color-code the tags by sire. Of course, a herd expecting more than 99 bull and 99 heifer calves would need to go to a four-digit calf number to use a similar system. Read more.

Jared Murnin

Association Perspective

Added predictability

It is time once again for commercial producers to make one of the biggest decisions about their operation. It is time to purchase the next new herd sire for the upcoming breeding season. Bull selection is a very important decision for the direction of your cow herd. A bull can sire 15-30 calves per year, so they can have a huge effect on your genetic base and, ultimately, your profitability. This decision should not be taken lightly. Read more.

New EPD Sorting Tool Available to Angus Producers

The American Angus Association is giving breeders — large- and small-scale — another powerful tool to advance herd genetics. Through the Association's AAA Login, members can now access expected progeny difference (EPD) sorts, free of charge.

The new function allows users to sort any EPD or $Value for current sires, dams, or non-parent bulls and cows. Producers can focus searches on whatever criteria they are interested in viewing. Read more.

The Iowa Beef Center suggests resolutions for cattle producers to strive toward in 2012.

A recent publication listed the top New Year's resolutions for 2012. As you might guess, the most popular ones had to do with pushing away from the table; getting more exercise; getting more organized, including budgeting; and getting more out of life. By the time you read this, you have probably already broken one of them.

The following list is 10 resolutions for your beef operation that you can stick to in preparation for the challenges coming in 2012. Read more.

What’s Inside …

In this January edition of the Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA, you'll find valuable articles devoted to the management, marketing, and health and nutrition of your beef enterprise. Select from the tabs at the top of the page to access this month's entire offering by category. A few select features include:

News Briefs …

The American Angus Association and its subsidiaries generate a wealth of information to keep members and affiliates informed of what's happening within the industry as well as with the programs and services they offer. Click here for easy access to the newsrooms of the American Angus Association and Certified Angus Beef LLC and the Angus e-List archive.

Preventing Cancer

CASNR partners in project targeting cancer prevention in rural communities.

Texas Tech researchers are teaming up with United Supermarkets on a $295,000 project that aims to address some of today's most preventable sources of cancer — obesity, tobacco use and sunburn — in the Panhandle communities of Dalhart and Muleshoe. If successful, similar intervention programs could be replicated in other communities across the state.

"Rural areas often have limited services available to foster the prevention of cancer, and this project implements and tests the effectiveness of an accessible program designed to reduce cancer risks," said Conrad Lyford, the project's lead investigator and an associate professor with Tech's Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics. "Hopefully, we'll have a measurable and sustainable impact." Read more.

Test for Radon Gas

EPA says 21,000 Americans die from radon-related lung cancer each year.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is encouraging Americans this January, as part of National Radon Action Month, to take simple and affordable steps to test their homes for harmful levels of radon gas. Radon — a colorless, odorless gas — is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. Radon can seep into a home from underground. If left to accumulate, high levels of radon can cause lung cancer. Improving indoor air quality by increasing awareness of environmental health risks, such as radon gas, supports healthier homes and communities. Read more.

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