This is Megan Silveira, assistant editor for the Angus Journal, with the September 13, 2023, update from the AJ Daily. Today’s update contains an opportunity to listen to the newest episode of The Angus Conversation that features discussion with Phil Trowbridge, reasons for DNA testing your herd, a report on fed-cattle slaughter, and news from the ESMC about support recently announced for its ecosystem services market program.
The Angus Conversation: ‘All I Could Think About Was Angus Cattle’
Phil Trowbridge joins The Angus Conversation, talks about the start, the future and everything in between.
It takes a heap of optimism to build an entire Angus program on just 77 acres of owned land, but Phil Trowbridge has that and a fair amount faith in the next generation, too.
He and his wife, Annie, built Trowbridge Angus Farm, near Ghent, N.Y., while working for Gallagher’s Angus Farm right out of college. They stayed in the area to make a name for themselves. With successes under their belt, now their two grown children and their families are involved in the operation.
They tend to farm land and relationships with the same vigor.
Trowbridge said, “We do a really good job at taking care of the land. We keep everything clean and neat.” He noted when the landowners come from New York City, they want a peaceful escape. He gives lots of credit to their son PJ, who manages nearly two dozen lease arrangements.
“That's a lot of people to keep happy, and he’s done a great job,” Trowbridge says. “I think it's very refreshing for our New York City folks to run across the young man who just says, ‘Yep, this is what we're going to do,’ and it happens.”
The fifth-generation breeder recently joined The Angus Conversation and shared stories that involve a cattle-buying trip for a honeymoon, a bull loose in a big city parking lot and what animal he said “good riddance” to in the show barn.
Listen to the entire episode, “Bringing Bulls to the City and Buyers to the Farm: Trowbridge on Angus in the Northeast,” or by searching for The Angus Conversation anywhere you get your podcasts, or follow this link.
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— Adapted from a release by Miranda Reiman, Angus Media.
Why DNA Test Cattle? (herd)
South Dakota breeder Lee Kopriva answers the big questions surrounding DNA sampling and testing. Learn more about what DNA testing has to offer and why many breeders use it as a tool for their herds.
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— Adapted from an article by Kindra Gordon for Angus Journal.
CAB Insider: Market Update (business)
Last week’s fed cattle slaughter was remarkably small, even considering that Labor Day shortened the production week for packers. The 559,000-head federally inspected total was 47,000 head smaller than the same week a year ago. On the other hand, fed steer and heifer slaughter Tuesday through Friday averaged 100,000 head per day.
Fed cattle prices remained essentailly unchanged last week at $181.82 per hundredweight (cwt.). The negotiated head count was quite small, and limited packer demand kept a lid on potential for upward price movement.
Live cattle futures, however, have been pricing notably higher with October 2023 moving to a $2-per-cwt. premium to last week’s cash trade early this week. Monday’s $184.22-per-cwt. close on the October contract was near the contract high, but it has settled closer to last week’s cash price by midweek.
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— Adapted from an article by Paul Dykstra, Certified Angus Beef.
FFAR Renews ESMC Partnership to Grow Ecosystem Services Market Program (business)
The agriculture sector contributes about 11% of U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which affects climate change. Adopting regenerative practices that are more conservation- and rehabilitation-focused, America’s farmers and ranchers can play a key role in reducing GHG emissions, as well as protecting our nation’s natural resources.
To facilitate this transition, the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) awarded $10.3 million in 2019 to the Ecosystem Services Market Consortium (ESMC) to support the Ecosystem Services Market Research Consortium (ESMRC), ESMC’s research arm. ESMC and its members matched FFAR’s grant for a total investment of $20.6 million in the research program.
On Sept. 12, FFAR announced an additional investment of $5.15 million in ESMRC for research that creates sound social, economic and environmental outcomes to benefit producers, local communities, supply chain companies and consumers through the scope and scale expansion of Eco-Harvest.
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— Adapted from a release by Ecosystem Services Market Consortium.
— Compiled by Paige Nelson, field editor,Angus Journal.