John Maday

Calving calculations 

Ranch manager Joel Vaad shifted to later calving and made other adjustments after carefully analyzing his options for reducing feed costs and boosting returns at the Maxwell Ranch near Livermore, Colo. ... Full story.

Later calving, more profit 

Joel Vaad manages the Maxwell Ranch, a commercial cow-calf operation owned by the Colorado State University Research Foundation. Vaad recently moved the herd’s calving season from February to May, resulting in dramatically lower feed costs that more than make up for lighter weaning weights. ... Full story.

Beef prices remain strong through April

Wholesale and retail Choice beef prices have dropped off somewhat over the past few months, but remain at historically high levels, according to the latest report on meat price spreads from USDA’s Economic Research Service. The report lists the average retail price of Choice beef for April at $4.98 per pound, down from $5.05 in March. The high-water mark for retail beef prices was in January, with retail prices for Choice beef averaging $5.09. ... Full story.

Milk in moderation 

Rancher and Colorado State University professor George Seidel describes his breeding emphasis at Rabbit Creek Angus, including calving ease and moderate milk production for cows that will maintain body condition in semi-arid environments. ... Full story.

They’re not all food Luddites

We hear a lot from the people opposed to all sorts of technology in agriculture and food production. Their accusations, conspiracy theories and David-versus-Goliath posturing make good headlines. But according to a new edition of a long-running series of studies from the International Food Information Council (IFIC), most U.S. consumers are open-minded about modern tools such as biotechnology in food production. ... Full story.

Consumers feeling better, spending more

A consumer confidence index surprised analysts by climbing to its highest level in four years this month, and consumer spending is up, according to a pair of reports from Bloomberg News. Continued consumer optimism should be positive for domestic meat demand, especially beef as consumers often view it as a luxury meat item. ... Full story.

Texas ranchers cautiously begin restocking

Even in areas where pastures have sprung back from last-year’s drought, high cattle prices, cash shortages and general uncertainty will keep ranchers cautious and suggest a slow recovery of cattle numbers. ... Full story.

Stakeholders respond to USDA’s biofuels roadmap

By 2022, the U.S. renewable fuel standard (RFS) calls for annual production of 21 billion gallons of advanced biofuels, and the USDA is trying to figure out how to get there. ... Full story.

Authorities seek killer of white buffalo

Reward money has risen to $45,000 for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for killing a white bison on a ranch in Texas. Some Native American tribes consider white bison, which are exceedingly rare, a sacred and powerful religious icon. ... Full story.

LFTB fallout contributes to weaker Q2 cattle prices

U.S. cattle prices reached record levels during the first quarter of 2012, and the long-term outlook remains strong, but the market has hit a bit of a speed bump during the second quarter according to a new report from the Rabobank International Food & Agribusiness Research and Advisory group. ... Full story.

Breeding for premium heifers  

Wyoming rancher John Kinchen describes his commercial Red Angus operation, his selection priorities and plans for marketing premium heifer calves and bred replacement heifers. ... Full story.

Where does your state stand?

Beef cattle lead the pack of U.S. agricultural commodities, and California can boast the top-five agricultural counties in the United States. Those are just a couple of the facts included in a new set of state fact sheets from USDA, which provide national and state-by-state information on population, income, education, employment, federal funds, organic agriculture, farm characteristics, farm financial indicators, top commodities, and exports. ... Full story.