This is Megan Silveira, assistant editor for the Angus Journal, with the April 3, 2023, update from the AJ Daily. Today’s update contains suggestions for preparing a cattle care tool kit, comments from the NCBA in support of Senate legislation to repeal the death tax, and a report on cull cow values.
It’s Better to Have a Cattle Care Tool Kit
Adapted from a release by Troy Smith, Angus Beef Bulletin
If you “Google” it, some results credit a German novelist; others claim it was an American mathematician who coined the phrase. Fans of the television miniseries Lonesome Dove aren’t buying either attribution. They are pretty sure it was the stoic trail boss and former Texas Ranger Woodrow F. Call who first said, “It’s better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.”
Captain Call offered that sage advice as he gave a pistol to the youngest cowboy in his charge. Foreseeing the dangers ahead, the mentor figured his protégé needed a proper tool for risk management. Sooner or later, the kid would have use for a working weapon, so he’d better have it handy.
To read more, visit angusbeefbulletin.com/extra and select the health and nutrition tab.
U.S. Cattle Producers Support Senate Legislation to Repeal Death Tax
Adapted from a release by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association strongly supports legislation introduced March 30 by Sen. John Thune to repeal the federal estate tax, commonly referred to as the Death Tax.
National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President and South Dakota cattle producer Todd Wilkinson said, “No cattle producer should ever be forced to sell their family’s farm or ranch to pay a tax bill due to the death of a family member. Repealing the Death Tax is a commonsense way to keep the farm or ranch in the family. As a land-based, capital-intensive industry, most cattle-producing families are asset-rich and cash-poor, with few options to pay off tax liabilities. It is unacceptable that some families are forced to sell off land, farm equipment, parts of the operation, or the entire ranch to pay the estate tax.”
For more information, visit ncba.org.
Cull Cow Numbers Down, Values Up
Adapted from a report by Len Steiner, Steiner Consulting Group
Cull cow values continue to add to already high levels as beef cow slaughter levels crater. National beef cow slaughter has been down more than 10% in the last three weeks as U.S. spring calving is underway.
Southern Plains slaughter cow prices have escalated substantially, increasing from below $55 per hundredweight at the start of 2023 to hitting $85 per cwt. last week. Southern Plains cull cow prices had been trailing the national cutter cow prices, but last week’s strong rally put these two prices on par with each other. The National Direct cutter cow prices have been above $80 per hundredweight for three weeks and show no signs of slowing down. Prices began the year in the high $60s and more than 25% above a year ago.
For the full report, go to dailylivestockreport.com.
The AJ Daily is compiled by Paige Nelson, field editor for theAngus Journal. For more Angus news, visit angusjournal.net.