Let’s look at some of the stories making headlines in the cattle world.

Kristy Foster Seachrist, Digital editor

March 23, 2023

5 Min Read
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1. UNL is site of new cattle and carcass training center

University of Nebraska-Lincoln will be the site of a new regional Cattle and Carcass Grading Correlation Training Center. The USDA made the announcement on March 8. West Texas A&M University and Colorado State University will host the other two regional sites. Cattle producers, feeders and other stakeholders are invited to see the Nebraska training center on June 15-16. The event will showcase technology used in the meat and livestock industries and highlight factors that contribute to the market value of cattle. The two-day event is free but will be on a first-come, first-served basis, and limited to 75 participants. Those interested should pre-register online, at ams.usda.gov/event/meat-livestock-technology-and-cme-acceptance-training-university-nebraska. Speakers from the USDA, the university and the CME Group will address topics related to CME live cattle specifications and deliveries.

 

2. Dusty Johnson gets second nod as “most effective House Republican” on ag issues

South Dakota's lone congressman has been named the "most effective House Republican" on agriculture for the 117th Congress, according to the Center for Effective Lawmaking.  It's Dusty Johnson's second time in a row receiving the honor. CEL also ranked him 14th out of his 222 House Republican colleagues.  “Agriculture is the top industry in South Dakota. My focused efforts to represent our producers well have delivered results to the industry,” Johnson said. “I’m proud to be named the top House Republican in Agriculture policy and will continue to work hard for South Dakota.” During the 117th Congress, Johnson was the Republican lead on many bills passed, including the Ocean Shipping Reform Act and Strengthening the Agriculture and Food Supply Chain Act.  

Related:Missouri Supreme Court upholds state CAFO law

 

3.How did Texas longhorn cattle end up in Theodore Roosevelt National Park?

A dozen longhorn steers can be seen grazing leisurely in their favorite pasture on a sagebrush flat visible from the scenic drive in the north unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

The park keeps the longhorn cattle as a vestige of the thousands of longhorns that were driven from Texas to the open range in western Dakota Territory in the 1870s and 1880s after the once-enormous buffalo herds had been hunted to the brink of extinction.

Their presence — now in question in light of the park’s announced preference for removing all cattle and horses — is owed to a combination of history and politics.

The longhorns have grazed the north unit since 1967 to depict the “historical scene” of the open-range ranching era during the time Theodore Roosevelt ranched and hunted in the Little Missouri Badlands in the 1880s.

Roosevelt himself preferred shorthorn cattle, which he bought in Minnesota, but the longhorns, with their signature set of horns spanning up to seven feet wide, bony frames and spindly legs, were the area’s dominant cattle breed at the time.

A dozen longhorn steers can be seen grazing leisurely in their favorite pasture on a sagebrush flat visible from the scenic drive in the north unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

The park keeps the longhorn cattle as a vestige of the thousands of longhorns that were driven from Texas to the open range in western Dakota Territory in the 1870s and 1880s after the once-enormous buffalo herds had been hunted to the brink of extinction.

Their presence — now in question in light of the park’s announced preference for removing all cattle and horses — is owed to a combination of history and politics.

The longhorns have grazed the north unit since 1967 to depict the “historical scene” of the open-range ranching era during the time Theodore Roosevelt ranched and hunted in the Little Missouri Badlands in the 1880s.

Roosevelt himself preferred shorthorn cattle, which he bought in Minnesota, but the longhorns, with their signature set of horns spanning up to seven feet wide, bony frames and spindly legs, were the area’s dominant cattle breed at the time.

 

4. A Cattle Company Owner Is Sued By A Pilot Who Made An Emergency Landing Where Cattle Was Located

The pilot of the airplane that made an emergency landing near Easterwood Airport last December claims in a lawsuit that he was been blocked from removing the plane.

The pilot, who also owns the private aircraft, accuses Bryan mayor Bobby Gutierrez of blocking access since the emergency landing December 27.

The lawsuit seeks up to $250,000 dollars in damages and the return of the aircraft.

As of the afternoon of March 20, Gutierrez has not filed an answer to the lawsuit.

Last week, Gutierrez’s lawyer issued a statement (see the original story below for a link) saying that his client made several attempts to coordinate the removal of the plane.

Gutierrez, who had cattle on the land at the time of the landing, is seeking at least $269,000 dollars from the pilot because the landing prevented the collection of embryos from cattle that were artificially inseminated.

The land, owned by the Bryan Business Council, was leased by a company hired by Gutierrez to conduct the embryo procedure.

The pilot states that Gutierrez, quoting the lawsuit, “repeatedly represented that he owns or otherwise controls the subject property.”

Gutierrez’s lawyer claims the pilot could have landed at the airport but chose not to.

According to the business council, the pilot has until March 25 (2023)20 to remove the plane.

Click HERE to read and download the original lawsuit filed in Brazos County district court.

 

5. U.S. Drought Monitor

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The drought continues in the central portion of the United States. Parts of Texas have improved. However, the driest conditions remains in Oklahoma, Nebraska and Kansas.

However, adverse weather is pounding California. Crews continue to air drop hay to beef cattle in the snowpacked regions this week. While other parts are digging farm animals out of mud from another Atmospheric River striking the state. And dairy farms are being forced to evacuate in other parts of the state due to flooding.

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