June 20, 2015 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Cattle on Feed Up 1 Percent, Montana Markets Week Ending June 20

Cattle on Feed – June 19

Cattle and calves on feed for slaughter market in the United States for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head totaled 10.6 million head on June 1, 2015. The inventory was 1 percent above June 1, 2014. Placements in feedlots during May totaled 1.71 million, 10 percent below 2014. Marketings of fed cattle during May totaled 1.71 million, 8 percent below 2014. May marketings are the lowest since the series began in 1996. Other disappearance totaled 82,000 during May, 19 percent below 2014.

Read more from the USDA’s June 20 Cattle on Feed report.

Montana Weekly Auction Summary for Week Ending June 20, 2015

Market: Billings Livestock Commission, Public Auction Yards

Receipts: 2,572; Last Week 2,924; Last Year NA

Compared to last week: Compared to last week: Feeder cattle were all too lightly tested for an accurate market trend. Feeder cattle were of mostly average quality, with many plain made offerings. Demand for feeder cattle was good to very good on all offerings. Limited feeder availability has many buyers fighting over offerings causing limited sales to inch higher.

CME futures contract prices struggled throughout the week. August contracts closed down 1.975 at 221.925 and September closed down 1.675 to close at 220.275 as of Thursday night’s settlement. This didn’t slow down buyers across the country as the 7 day running average CME feeder cattle index closed at 225.73 as of Wednesday’s sales (the latest available settlement), which is a premium to the August CME contract.

Weigh-up cows sold with moderate demand this week on moderate offerings. Quality this week was mostly average with a few small strings of attractive cows. Slaughter cows were too lightly tested again this week to develop an accurate market trend, however unevenly steady undertones abounded throughout the week. Order buyers continue to sustain the market this week as demand for feeding, breeding, and grass cows helped hold prices fully steady. Packer buyers bought cows on increased demand from last week, however slaughter cows continue to sell with light demand.

Buyers searching for breeding stock purchased 2 year olds to young age cows on light to moderate demand this week. Heiferettes and young age cows sold steady to lower with many buyers taking a step back and filling orders on an as need basis. Many buyers picked through offerings and bid on only higher quality cattle causing wide price spreads within age groups. Cow/calf pairs sold on very good demand this week, with Billings Livestock offering around 500 head of pairs. Quality was mostly attractive with many ranchers in the stands actively bidding on offerings.

Read more from USDA’s June 19 Montana Weekly Auction Summary.

National Feeder & Stocker Cattle Summary – Week Ending June 19, 2015

Receipts This Week: 176,700 Total – 118,900 (Auctions); 54,800 (Direct); 3,000 (Video/Internet)

Compared to last week: yearling feeder cattle sold steady to 3.00 higher with steer and heifer calves trading steady to instances 5.00 higher on a light test throughout the Midwest. Demand was good for all classes of feeder cattle, with the possible exception of fleshy/short weaned steer calves weighing between 600-700 lbs. Feeder cattle continue to hold up remarkably well despite these bearish fundamentals with many farmer/feeders in the market and no shortage of grass out in the country.

Boxed-beef values have strengthened this week with the 4th of July just around the corner this should have retailers looking to fill shelves with Father’s Day this weekend hopefully will be good test for beef demand. Will cut-out values hold up into the summer months of July and August is a concern as usually beef demand has a tendency to be lackluster during this time period? Packers continue to keep slaughter levels small to help stabilize cut-out values and increase their margins rather than dip into the red to bid higher on slaughter cattle.

Tropical Storm Bill is adding much unwanted heavy rains to already saturated fields from east Texas up through the Ohio River Valley.  Corn is likely looking at acres that will be lost or limited in production which has supported corn and soybean prices this week.  Monday’s progress report had corn 91 percent emerged and 73 percent rated good to excellent.  Soybeans roughly have around 11 million acres left to be panted with around 7 million of those acres in states that are very wet.

  • Auction Receipts: 118,900; Last Week: 168,500; Last Year: 142,700
    • Montana 2,600. 74 pct over 600 lbs. 68 pct heifers.
    • Steers: Medium and Large 1 650-700 lbs (676) 256.80; pkg 835 lbs 220.00.
    • Heifers: Medium and Large 1 550-600 lbs (569) 256.53; 600-650 lbs (617) 246.51; half load 645 lbs 243.00; 700-750 lbs (740) 220.11; part load 870 lbs 197.00.

Read more from the USDA’s June 20 National Feeder & Stocker Cattle Summary.

Weekly Montana Hay Report – June 19, 2015

Compared to last week: First cutting is under way as many farmers are trying to dodge rain showers in order to get first cutting down. Rain showers fell throughout much of the week in central and southern Montana, giving added moisture to pasture and range, but providing a slight nuisance to farmers trying to put up hay. Hay supplies are nearly depleted for all very high quality alfalfa hay. However, there remains some middle of the road old crop hay that continues to move at steady money. Demand for Alfalfa hay continues to be light.

This week the US drought monitor increased the land area in abnormally dry and moderate drought status. Most of this land is in the northwest and southwest corners of the state, where the western drought has inched its way east. Light demand was seen for grass hay marketed within the state as steady prices move hay on an as need basis. Good demand was seen for hay to ship to other areas of the country, particularly drier regions, both east and west.

  • Alfalfa:
    • Supreme: Small squares, 200.00
    • Good: Large squares, 120.00-130.00; Small squares, 138.00-150.00
    • Fair: Large squares, 90.00-130.00
  • Grass:
    • Good: Large Rounds, 90.00-100.00; New crop contract, 110.00-120.00; Large Squares, 100.00
  • Timothy Grass:
    • Premium: Small Squares, 240.00.
    • Good: Small Squares, 160.00-180.00.
  • Straw:
    • Large Squares and Rounds, 35.00-40.00

Read more from the USDA’s June 20 Weekly Montana Hay Report.

May 22, 2015 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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NILE Merit Heifer Introduces New Application Deadline

Northern International Livestock Exposition Merit HeiferThe Northern International Livestock Exposition (NILE) is once again taking applications for participants in the 2015 – 2016 NILE Merit Heifer Program.  The Merit Heifer program is a “live animal” scholarship that strives to help youth get a start in the beef cattle business by awarding heifer calves to participants chosen based on merit, future goals, and ability to care for the animal. Any youth ages 12-16, who is a 4-H or FFA member, may apply.

Due to the high volume of applicants in previous years, the NILE Merit Heifer Selection Committee has made the decision to change the deadline and give the application process a face lift. While the written application process will remain the same, this year’s applicants will have to submit a 3-5 minute YouTube video of themselves that includes but is not limited to the following: an introduction, facility tour, current 4-H/FFA projects, goals & objectives for the Merit Heifer, and the video must be voiced by the applicant. Applications and YouTube video must be received no later than 5 pm June 30th, 2015. An application is available online at www.thenile.org or by calling the NILE office. An example YouTube video can be seen here.

During the program duration, participants are responsible for raising the heifer, arranging for her to be bred, completing the record keeping procedure and bringing the animal back one year later as a bred replacement heifer for exhibit at the NILE Stock Show.

Bill Pelton, Merit Heifer Chairman, says, “This program would not be possible without the generous support of our donor ranchers and we are very grateful to them.” This year the NILE will select twenty-five recipients and match them up with donors from across the region.  In addition to application from eligible recipients, the NILE is also taking applications from ranches wishing to participate through the donation of a heifer calf.

For more information regarding the NILE Merit Heifer Program, please go to: www.thenile.org, email Shelby at [email protected] or call the NILE Office at 406.256.2495

May 5, 2015 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Branding on Montana Cattle Ranches | Video

With Spring comes one of our favorite times of year. As calving is wrapping up for many ranches across Montana, those who started calving earlier in the year will begin branding in preparation for turnout on Spring and Summer grass ranges. Often when we ask ranchers across the state what they love about ranching, branding is an event that will more than likely be included in their response. It’s a great time for community as several neighbors join in to help, with great food and many memorable experiences.

One of our ranchers near Sidney, Montana recently captured their family’s Spring branding in aerial video. It’s a very cool perspective to watch as the cattle are gathered, sorted and branded.

Why do Montana ranchers brand cattle?

Livestock branding has existed for centuries in European countries and eventually migrating to Central and North Americas. Since the earliest days on ranges, hot iron brands were used as a form of permanent identification to prevent rustling and served as a marker when sorting out mixed herds in common grazing areas.

Today, ranchers still brand cattle as a form of permanent identification to differentiate cattle from neighboring ranches and to prevent theft. Branding day is an opportunity for ranchers to give calves vaccinations and closely inspect their herds before turning cattle out on summer pastures. The branding events also serve as a strong tie to the heritage and culture of the American West.

During recent years, the cattle industry has recognized the significant contribution of cattle hides in leather markets and the negative impact excessive brand scarring can have on the value of that leather. Efforts have been made to reduce the number of brands, or relocate brands to reduce negative impacts on the hide value. Freeze branding has also become more popular in certain regions of the country as an alternative to hot iron branding.

We asked our current President, Gene Curry, a rancher from Valier, Montana why his family brands their cattle. Find out his perspective and watch branding day with his family in this video.

Who regulates cattle brands?

 

As a permanent form of identification, each brand, and its location on the animal must be different. Each state handles its registration and regulation of brands differently. In Montana, this is tracked and regulated by the Brands Enforcement Division of the Department of Livestock (DOL). Brands Inspectors must inspect cattle at the time of sale or when cattle are transported from one location to another to verify ownership or record change of ownership.

To ensure that all brands are different, the DOL records brands and their location on the animal, which are published in a Brand Book. Brands must be recorded every 10 years. Ranchers are keeping up with technology, as last year this database of brands was made available in a mobile application, which can search through the entire brands database to identify an owner or location of the brand.

Brands must be recorded as being on a specific location on the animal. These locations often include the hip, rib, shoulder, side or jaw. The image to the right shows several different locations for brands on cattle.

Read more about how brands are registered and tracked by visiting the Montana Department of Livestock.

How do I read cattle brands?

Brands on livestock come in many shapes and sizes, and are based on a characters consisting of letters, numbers, lines or symbols. The brands are read from left to right. top-down, or outside-in. The position of the character makes a difference in how it is read. If a letter or number is on its side, it is read as “lazy”. If it has a quarter/half circle underneath the main character, it is read as “rocking”. Other symbols include diamonds, circles, rafters, crosses and bars.

Learn more about reading cattle brands from the Texas Brand Registration.

Every brand has a story

What is the story behind your ranch’s brand? Has your brand been passed down through the generations? Is there a story to the characters included? Maybe its a new brand with a nod toward a bright future?

Share your story with us and share a photo of your brand. Email [email protected] or visit our Facebook page to join the conversation!

April 16, 2015 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Ladies And Livestock Book Makes The Perfect Gift For Mom

Ladies and Livestock cover

Mother’s Day is just around the corner – May 10. Have you selected your gift for mom yet? If you are like most of us, mom is a champion who takes care of everyone in the family and worries about herself later. This year, as you are trying to find that gift that will let mom take a few moments to enjoy herself, consider an iBook that she can appreciate with a good cup of coffee.

Released this past Fall, Ladies and Livestock: Life on the Ranch, is a multimedia exploration of the roles of Montana women on the ranch. This book features over 130 pages of stories, photographs and video features of the ladies who raise livestock, care for the land, and build their family’s legacy on Montana ranches. Not only are these Montana women working on the ranch, many have jobs in town, volunteer in their communities, and are involved in the legislation process of issues affecting agriculture.

By utilizing the digital format, Ladies and Livestock adds a new dimension to reading a book. Included on nearly 30 of the pages are video features that play with the touch of the finger. These videos show interviews of the ladies speaking about their ranch history, family life and how they feel about being part of Montana’s agriculture communities.

This book is an educational tool for anyone who wants to learn more about where their beef comes from and understand the lives of the people who raise cattle. Not only can a reader see photographs, but can hear the woman tell her own story and see the emotion on her face as she talks about how important her family is to her.

Purchase or gift your copy of Ladies and Livestock today. Available exclusively on iTunes or in the iBooks store for only $14.99, or go to bit.ly/LadiesAndLivestock.

Proceeds from sales of Ladies and Livestock benefit the Research & Education Endowment Foundation of the Montana Stockgrowers Association, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization established to ensure the future of Montana’s cattle industry through producer and public education, and promotion of MSGA programs. For more information, contact the Montana Stockgrowers Association at (406) 442-3420 or go to mtbeef.org.

April 15, 2015 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Calving Season Photos On Our Facebook Page

Have you been following our calving season photos on Facebook?

During the past few months, ranchers across Montana have been sending us photos from their ranches during calving season. Many of the photos feature the next generation of Montana ranchers had at work and learning about ranch life from their mentors and parents. We’d love to see these photos continue as the seasons and tasks change throughout the year!

Below are a few of our favorite posts from the season. Be sure to Like our Facebook page, share these posts with your friends and send us your photos and videos that document tasks during the changing seasons in Montana ranch life. This is a great way to share your hard work with folks who may not always have an opportunity to experience what it takes to bring beef to our plates.

Post your photos and video clips on our Facebook page or email them to [email protected]. Include some background on what’s happening in the photos so we can help others learn more about your work on the ranch. And be sure to follow our posts on Instagram and Twitter as well!





Do you have photos or video clips to share from #ranchlife this season? Be sure to send them our way so we can share Montana ranching with folks across the country to help them learn more about the families behind our beef supply!

April 14, 2015 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Proud to be a part of Montana ranching | Contest Winner

kayla lasalleLast month, we hosted a contest to find out why folks are proud to be a part of our Montana ranching communities and received some great feedback! We’re proud to announce that Kayla LaSalle, a Stockgrowers member and student at MSU-Northern in Havre, is our contest winner! Kayla will receive a copy of the first book in our Montana Family Ranching Series, Big Sky Boots.

Want to share why you’re proud to be a part of your Montana ranching communities? Send us an email or connect with us on social media!

Thank you Kayla for sharing why you’re proud to be a part of our Montana ranching communities and being an inspiration to many people!

I am proud to be a part of Montana ranching because I know it is something that will be carried on for generations with my family and to be farming and ranching is a way of life.

Another reason I am proud to be a part of ranching in Montana is that I get to experience a relationship with my horse that is difficult to explain, but she becomes my legs when I need her to help me see and go where I want to on the amazing land that we have. I have also come to understand what it means to work hard and what responsibility is.

A third reason that I am proud to be a part of Montana ranching is that I have an appreciation and understanding of where our food comes from being raised on a farm/ranch before it is sent out to the supermarkets for consumers to eat.

I am proud to be a part of Montana ranching is, even though times are changing with technology, farmers/ranchers are integrating it into their daily lives to continue to do their work efficiently and effectively! No matter what it is still a way of life!

Finally, I also am proud to be a part of Montana ranching because I love learning about the industry and I get to see amazing sunrises and sunsets without the views of city streetlights and skyscrapers blocking my view!

That is why I love Montana ranching!

By: Kayla LaSalle, Havre, MT

April 13, 2015 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Montana Ford Stores Continue Partnership with Stockgrowers for Seventh Year

2015 Ford Logo SquareHelena, Mont. – Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA) and Montana Ford Stores are excited to announce their seventh year as partners, designating Ford “The Official Truck of the Montana Stockgrowers Association.” MSGA and the Montana Ford Stores will give away a Ford Super Duty truck to one lucky MSGA member at the Montana Stockgrowers’ 2015 Annual Convention and Trade Show at the MetraPark in Billings on December 5.

“Montana Stockgrowers is thrilled to receive Montana Ford Stores’ continued support of our programs,” says Gene Curry, MSGA President and rancher from Valier. “Ford continues to be the number one    truck in livestock agriculture and MSGA looks forward to working once again with the great Ford dealers in our state.  I look forward to the trip around the state to thank each Ford store for their support!

Ford Truck Gary Paula Bischoff AlzadaLast year’s winner of the Ford Super Duty truck was Paula Bischoff. Paula and her husband, Gary, ranch at the 99 Bar Cattle Company near Alzada.

The 2015 Ford Super Duty truck will debut at MSGA’s MidYear Meeting in Bozeman, June 4-6, and will be featured at several events across Montana throughout the Summer and Fall.

MSGA Rancher, Young Stockgrower, and Feeder/Stocker members are eligible to win the truck. An entry form must be filled out and the member must be present at Annual Convention when the truck will be given away. To learn more about the MSGA/Ford partnership, please visit our Membership Benefits section or call (406) 442-3420.

April 6, 2015 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Grown in Montana Features State’s Top 10 Agriculture Products

Image via Grown in Montana

Image via Grown in Montana

Montana is definitely the beef state and that is confirmed by an article in Montana Department of Agriculture’s recent Grown in Montana publication.

Cattle and Calves make up the largest of agricultural commodities in Montana (based on 2013 cash receipts), with more than 2,550,000 cattle bringing over $1.5 billion to the state’s economy. Beaverhead and Fergus counties lead the state in the number of all calves and beef calves born in the state, respectively.

What about the state’s agricultural commodities? Here is a Top 10 list:

  1. Cattle and calves – Did you know, there are more than 2.5 cattle for every person living in Montana?
  2. Wheat – Montana ranks No. 3 in the nation for wheat production. This crop brings $1.4 billion in cash receipts to the state with more than 5,400,000 acres planted.
  3. Hay – Montana ranks as 4th in the nation for hay production with an economic impact of $753,480,000 in cash receipts. Alfalfa makes up a large portion of this crop valued at an average $141 per ton.
  4. Barley – In 2013, this cropped reached its highest production value in more than a century and is used for malting or feed. 990,000 acres bring in cash receipts of more than $283 million. Teton county leads the nation in barley production with 7,670,000 bushels. Montana leads the nation in number of barley acres planted.
  5. Image via Grown in Montana

    Image via Grown in Montana

    Dry Peas – This pulse crop hit records with 520,000 acres planted in 2014 and $96 million in cash receipts. Montana ranks number 1 in the nation for dry peas and lentils production.

  6. Sugar Beats – Montana ranks No.6 in the nation for sugar beet production. In 2013, 1,250,000 tons were harvested from 42,800 acres, drawing $92,895,000 in cash receipts.
  7. Hogs – Montana hogs recently hit prices not seen in more than a decade, with an average value of $145 per head. In 2012, the state had cash receipts of more than $64,109,000 from pig farming.
  8. Milk – The average milk produced from Montana dairy cows comes out to 21,286 pounds annually, consuming a total of 3 million pounds of feed. The dairy business brings $55,165,000 in cash receipts to the Montana economy.
  9. Potatoes – Idaho may be most famous as the potato state, but did you know Big Sky Country produces its fair share of seed potatoes? The crop tallies up to $44,389,000 for Montana farmers on 11,000 acres.
  10. Honey – This sweet treat lands Montana in the No. 2 slot nationally. Montana is home to 160,000 bee colonies, doubling production in 2013 with a value of over $31 million.

Learn more about Montana agriculture and read stories behind the state’s farmers and ranchers in Grown in Montana – “a guide to the state’s top crops, livestock, agribusiness, tourism, food safety and local products – by visiting this link from the Montana Department of Agriculture.

April 2, 2015 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Montana Stockgrowers Members among Top Seedstock Producers in U.S.

Image via BEEF Magazine

Image via BEEF Magazine

As an organization founded in 1884, the Montana Stockgrowers Association has worked with a fair number of ranchers through the years who are leaders in our industry. The values of excellence, leadership, collaboration, optimism and innovation certainly ring true within the organization and the ranchers who MSGA represents.

According to a list published by BEEF Magazine earlier this year, MSGA members continue to be an influential force in the ranching business. Among BEEF Magazine’s 2015 Seedstock 100 listing, thirteen are members of the Montana Stockgrowers Association.

These ranchers speak to not only the reputation and prominence of the organization, but also the Montana Seedstock business as a whole. Montana Stockgrowers is proud to have many of them as active members in the organization.

The Seedstock 100 listing ranks ranch operations across the country according to bull sales volume and is reflective of the operations’ influence on U.S. beef cattle herd genetics. Dedication to managing cattle herds with heavy emphasis on genetics that are in demand across the industry is certainly an attainment any Seedstock producer can be proud to claim.

According to BEEF Magazine, the ranking is “based on the number of bulls marketed annually, not the number of cattle, the number of cattle registered annually, or the number of cows listed in inventories with a breed association or other genetic organization.”

In the article prefacing the listing, BEEF Magazine recognizes the Seedstock 100 rankings as beneficial to:

  • Establish a benchmark for the level of Seedstock concentration,
  • Establish another benchmark other than annual registrations or purebred cow inventory to gauge breed genetic influence,
  • Recognize Seedstock producers who make all or a substantial portion of their cattle income from the Seedstock business.

Montana ranchers and MSGA members included in the Seedstock 100 rankings include:

Montana Stockgrowers wants to congratulate these influential ranchers for their accomplishments and leadership role in the cattle business today. MSGA also thanks these ranchers for their dedication and contributions to one of the most prominent cattlemen’s organizations in the nation.

April 1, 2015 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Now Available: Grown in Montana Magazine – Farming and Ranching under the Big Sky

grown in montana agricultureHelena, Mont., Last Friday, Governor Steve Bullock announced the publication of the first edition of the ‘Grown in Montana’ magazine at the Made in Montana Trade Show.  The announcement was made in conjunction with the Main Street Montana Project to promote Montana agricultural products to local, national, and international markets.

“This is part of our efforts with the Main Street Montana Project to promote agricultural products grown right here under the Big Sky. It covers some of the mainstays of Montana agriculture like beef, wheat, and barley, while featuring stories on agriculture innovation at Montana State University and the local food movement spurred by activities at University of Montana,” said Governor Steve Bullock.

The magazine highlights a few of the accomplishments of our agricultural sector including becoming the leading producer of dry peas and lentils. It also features the demand for Montana’s high quality wheat as improvement wheat, which is blended with wheat grown elsewhere in order to improve the overall quality.

“This is a great way to share Montana agriculture’s story with consumers, buyers, and trade partners. It is no secret that our farmers and ranchers produce some of the highest quality agricultural products in the world. People can now read about the demand our high quality beef and beef genetics garner in international markets among other great agricultural stories,” said Main Street Montana Food & Agriculture Key Industry Network Co-Chair and Rancher Jim Peterson.

The annual publication was made at no cost to the department through advertisement sales. It will be distributed to international trade partners, agriculture organizations, extension offices, state economic development offices, local libraries, and other interested parties. The publication can be viewed online at www.MTagriculture.com or hard copies of the magazine can be requested by contacting the department of agriculture at [email protected] or (406) 444- 3144.

The Montana Department of Agriculture’s mission is to protect producers and consumers, and to enhance and develop agriculture and allied industries. For more information on the Montana Department of Agriculture, visit www.agr.mt.gov.