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Articles by Jared Wareham
Proposition 12: U.S. Pork Supply Chain Locked in Limbo, Rabobank Says
Proposition 12, California’s animal welfare rule, is slated to take effect in less than a year on Jan. 1, 2022. But with these new regulations still mired in a legal battle, the pork industry is left in limbo, Rabobank says in a special RaboResearch report.
Cash Cattle Steady To Firm, COF Up 1.6%
Cash cattle markets carried a firmer tone most of the week but hopes for solid price gains were dashed by two days of declining futures prices. The bulk of the week’s trade occurred again at $114 – the seventh consecutive week. Trade in the North was called light to moderate at $114 to $115, with a handful at $116 early. Dressed cattle sold from $180 to $182, steady to $2 higher. Trade in the South was light to moderate, with most selling at $114 with a few at $115.
Meat War Continues: Gov. Reynolds Proclaims “Meat on the Table Month”
The meat war continues. On Friday, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds proclaimed April as “Meat on the Table Month.” During this time, she encourages Iowans to support the livestock industry through meat consumption and purchases. “Iowa feeds the world with high-quality products,” Reynolds said in her proclamation. Pork, beef, lamb, poultry and fish products generated almost $29 billion in crop and livestock sales, making Iowa the second-leading agricultural state in the nation.
Iowa’s Governor Declares April “Meat on the Table Month”
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has declared April to be “Meat on the Table Month,” during which she encourages Iowans to support the livestock industry through meat consumption and purchases, according to a press release from the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association. The Iowa Cattlemen’s Association and Iowa State Beef Checkoff Program, alongside beef producers and other industry leaders, appreciate the state’s initiative to promote its meat products, the release continues.
Jared Wareham: Creating More Buyer Competition
Producers want to know, “How do I create more competition for my cattle?” There are several critical factors such as health, head count, evenness and flesh that always matter. Beyond those, I think it has become important to review Process Verified Programs, or PVPs, and their role in cultivating more value add. All signs point to PVPs as the way of the future. They will affect value as consumer-driven connections evolve.
Cash Fed Cattle Advance $1
Cattle feeders were thankful for last week’s $1 advance in cash prices while beef packers continue operating with Texas-size margins. Cash cattle prices were mostly at $111 in all regions, with a few cattle in the South at $112 on Friday. Dressed sales in the North were at $174, about $2 higher. Live cattle futures slipped lower Friday but still closed above support. February live cattle fell 92.5 cents to $113.25, up $2.60 for the week.
Derrell Peel: Feedlot Facts
The feedlot industry displays amazing dynamics over the course of a typical year…and of course, 2020 has been anything but a typical year. The November 1 cattle on feed inventory was 11.97 million head of cattle, up 1.3 percent from one year ago. Exactly what to expect in fed cattle markets in the coming months depends on numerous factors including: the demographics of the feedlot population (both size and gender), feed costs, the time of the year, weather conditions and regional impacts.
Stretching The Hay Supply this Winter
Drought and other weather events have ultimately caused a tight forage supply going into the winter-feeding period for multiple operations. Here are some tips to make the most of the forage resource you’re feeding this winter. 1. Calculate feed needs and compare to inventory. A basic calculation assumes intake to be 2.25-2.5% of body weight. Knowing this, a quick calculation for feeding 100 mature cows for five months would be: 100 cows X 1300 lb. X 2.5% = 3,250 lb. DM/day x 150 days = 487,500 lb.
CAB Insider: First Sales of CAB in China
Spot cattle and boxed beef prices were highly divergent last week. Support to the live cattle side had been built on positive COVID-19 vaccine news and resulting equity market upticks spilling over to CME Live Cattle contracts. But, that momentum deteriorated at week’s end, just in time to tamp down cattle feeder resolve and packer bids. There is, however, renewed optimism this week in the cattle markets because October feedlot placement data showed an 11% decline compared to a year ago.
Hulett: Feeder Finally Gains Ground
Fed cattle trading started early again last week, with packers trying to get business taken care of before the holiday break. Most of the trade in the South started in Kansas with packers pushing bids to $111 on Wednesday. There was some resistance by feeders, but most gave in by the end of the day. Texas feeders mostly held out until Friday, but still had to give in at $111 with a handful bringing a dollar more. The North stayed strong for most of the week.
The Battle of Burnout on the Farm
No matter the season, there is always some form of stress occurring on the farm. Whether it be planting season, harvest, or simply just your daily list of chores, stress can start to add up. If your workload on the farm is starting to reach its breaking point, you may be experiencing burnout. Burnout is a result from prolonged exposure to chronic emotional and interpersonal stressors on the job, according to Laura Hamill, Chief People Officer and Chief Science Officer at the Limeade Institute.
Jared Wareham: Are Balanced Trait Genetics a Long-Term Answer?
Genetic progress has helped drive our industry forward and each segment along the value chain has benefited from technological advancements in genetics followed by breeder integration. But, have we moved the needle far enough with regard to total beef system profitability? There are opportunities to take a step forward from the current “one size fits all” production models.
Nebraska’s AL Ranch Listed
Hall & Hall lists a 15,296-acre working cattle ranch in the heart of the Nebraska Sandhills. The AL Ranch, Halsey, NE, has been owned by one family since 1947 and supports a 700-head cow-calf operation and has a backgrounding facility for 2,500-head. The ranch consists of 7,052 deeded acres and the balance in National Forest grazing permits. The asking price is $8.4 million ($12,000/AU).
Drovers Photo Contest: How Do You Utilize Utility Vehicles on Your Ranch?
Your utility vehicle is an essential piece of equipment on the ranch. From transporting feed and supplies to making the rounds to check the fields go quicker, it has a myriad of uses. How do you use it? Send in your best photos for a chance to win 1 of 3 Drovers baseball hats. To enter, email your ATV or UTV action photos to kjames@farmjournal.com by November 30. We’ll post the collection on Drovers’ Facebook page the week of Dec. 1 for voting by your peers.
Election Guide: What The Election Means for Farmers and Ranchers
All Eyes on Georgia AgriTalk host Chip Flory, newsman Davis Michaelsen, Farm Journal news director John Herath, Pro Farmer policy analyst Jim Wiesemeyer, and Farm CPA Paul Neiffer discuss the presidential and senate runoff races and run through the list of potential Secretary of Agriculture candidates. Signal to Noise: Post Election Analysis In this week's DC Signal to Noise Podcast, Pro Farmers's Jim Wiesemeyer and John Herath of Farm Journal look at the key outcomes of the Nov.
Prepare Your Water Systems For Winter
There is nothing like a refreshing drink of water to hydrate one’s body, but what happens when the only available water is frozen? As beef producers manage the herd in dropping temperatures this winter, Kansas State University Beef Cattle Institute experts stress that now is the time to make sure the watering systems are set up for full time access to clean, drinkable water.
Jared Wareham: Selling Program Cattle Requires Right Ingredients
The fallout risk involved with feed¬ing natural cattle is substantial. ( FJ ) Simply participating in verified programs such as NHTC (Non-Hormone Treated Cattle), Verified Natural, GAP and a multitude of others, isn’t a guarantee of success or profit. Adding programming to your marketing strategies is similar to baking a decadent cake. It requires the precise combination of ingredients to create a world-class winner.
Teamwork Makes the Dream Work
First-generation producers Jared and Jill Wareham balance careers, family and farm When Jared Wareham is not at home on his ranch, near Lowery City, Mo., he can be found jet-setting across the country connecting genetically-verified cattle at every point on the supply chain. He spends most of his time traveling the lower 48 states and Canada, visiting ranches, evaluating feeder cattle, attending sales and speaking at events as the general manager at Top Dollar Angus.
Modern Reality of Crossbreeding
( ) What is crossbreeding’s place or role in the beef industry? What will it look like over the next several decades? I believe the big picture answers are quite simple. First, this article is strictly about crossbreeding. Therefore, it was written with the assumption that single-breed strategies are not an option. Also, for all my southern brothers and sisters, we will also assume some degree of Bos indicus influence might be important to your ranch’s profitability.
Wareham: King Ranch/NCBA Excellence In Ag Leadership Program
Participants in the 2019 King Ranch Institute / NCBA Excellence In Ag Leadership Program ( NCBA ) As a participant in the King Ranch Institute/NCBA Excellence in Ag Leadership Program and would like to briefly share about the experience. This program was created as that “next step” for cattlemen and cattlewomen who have participated in the NCBA’s Young Cattlemen's Conference or YCC.
Jared Wareham: The Rapidly Evolving Beef-On-Dairy Segment
The rapidly evolving beef-on-dairy segment has an opportunity to quickly accelerate beef production. ( Wyatt Bechtel ) Our industry, like all others, is rarely stifled and free from the constant forces of change. Most are hardly felt and tend to pass unnoticed. Occasionally, conditions exist for conceivable game-changing evolutions to be championed. The rapidly evolving beef-on-dairy segment has an opportunity to be the next major example our industry experiences.
Jared Wareham: The Rapidly Evolving Beef-On-Dairy Segment
The rapidly evolving beef-on-dairy segment has an opportunity to quickly accelerate beef production. ( Wyatt Bechtel ) Our industry, like all others, is rarely stifled and free from the constant forces of change. Most are hardly felt and tend to pass unnoticed. Occasionally, conditions exist for conceivable game-changing evolutions to be championed. The rapidly evolving beef-on-dairy segment has an opportunity to be the next major example our industry experiences.
Jared Wareham: The Rapidly Evolving Beef-On-Dairy
The rapidly evolving beef-on-dairy segment has an opportunity to quickly accelerate beef production. ( Wyatt Bechtel ) Our industry, like all others, is rarely stifled and free from the constant forces of change. Most are hardly felt and tend to pass unnoticed. Occasionally, conditions exist for conceivable game-changing evolutions to be championed. The rapidly evolving beef-on-dairy segment has an opportunity to be the next major example our industry experiences.
Jared Wareham: The Rapidly Evolving Beef-On-Dairy
The rapidly evolving beef-on-dairy segment has an opportunity to quickly accelerate beef production. ( Wyatt Bechtel ) Our industry, like all others, is rarely stifled and free from the constant forces of change. Most are hardly felt and tend to pass unnoticed. Occasionally, conditions exist for conceivable game-changing evolutions to be championed. The rapidly evolving beef-on-dairy segment has an opportunity to be the next major example our industry experiences.
Jared Wareham: The Rapidly Evolving Beef-On-Dairy Segment
The rapidly evolving beef-on-dairy segment has an opportunity to quickly accelerate beef production. ( Wyatt Bechtel ) Our industry, like all others, is rarely stifled and free from the constant forces of change. Most are hardly felt and tend to pass unnoticed. Occasionally, conditions exist for conceivable game-changing evolutions to be championed. The rapidly evolving beef-on-dairy segment has an opportunity to be the next major example our industry experiences.
Can ‘New Generation’ Insight Provide Relief?
Drovers columnist Jared Wareham: Marketing flexibility represents a growing part of feedyards’ feeder cattle buying strategy. ( Wyatt Bechtel ) Marketing flexibility represents a growing part of feedyards’ feeder cattle buying strategy. The ability to roll with the punches and adapt to volatility in markets, environments, labor and other variables is essential. Any level of additional precision that can be added to this process has value.
A Flexible Marketing Approach Can Pay Off
Sometimes, the slightest of differences between groups of feeder cattle can significantly affect their value when sold as fats. Understanding these subtle nuances can help you more effectively market your future calf crops. ( Wyatt Bechtel ) A common theme I hear from cattle feeders of all sizes and geographies is “marketing flexibility” represents a growing part of their feeder cattle buying strategy.
Krush Those Margins With Precision
Having the ability to do more with less adequately addresses those two, hard-to-manage business elements: time and labor ( iStock ) Time and labor resources tend to be some of the biggest challenges faced in production beef agriculture. It affects the rancher, the stocker, the feeder and more. No one is exempt. Technologies that can seamlessly address both of those key operational elements will draw substantial interest for their ability to close critical efficiency gaps.
Jared Wareham: Get With The Program
Whichever way you look at it, increasing the opportunity for profit or decreasing the risk for loss, having an advanced genetic “scouting report” on feeders has value. ( Sara Brown ) Working with the feeding and buying segments, I see a substantial price divide between conventional, non-program cattle and those with documented, program-driven value. It was easily observed through the hundreds of thousands of forward contract cattle that sold last summer.
Jared Wareham: Get With The Program
Whichever way you look at it, increasing the opportunity for profit or decreasing the risk for loss, having an advanced genetic “scouting report” on feeders has value. ( Sara Brown ) Working with the feeding and buying segments, I see a substantial price divide between conventional, non-program cattle and those with documented, program-driven value. It was easily observed through the hundreds of thousands of forward contract cattle that sold last summer.
Managing Millennial Employees Takes Leadership
By Jared Wareham, Top Dollar Angus Instead of continuing to point out what we view as the major millennial flaws, let’s take a quick step back and consider the following. Managing generations that have developed under rapidly evolving socioeconomic conditions creates an environment ripe with contempt and indifference. The ability to see beyond these obstacles and find ways to cultivate success through the employee talent that is there takes great leadership and tolerance.
Managing Millennial Employees Takes Leadership
By Jared Wareham, Top Dollar Angus Instead of continuing to point out what we view as the major millennial flaws, let’s take a quick step back and consider the following. Managing generations that have developed under rapidly evolving socioeconomic conditions creates an environment ripe with contempt and indifference. The ability to see beyond these obstacles and find ways to cultivate success through the employee talent that is there takes great leadership and tolerance.
We Live in a Discount World
What can I do to get more for my calves? I believe the best way to answer this question is to explain it from the perspective of the buyer. Recently, I spent a few days visiting with feedyard managers, cattle procurement specialists and fat-cattle buyers. I had the following ideology reiterated to me on many occasions: The beef industry is based on discounts more than anything else. Value-added programs don’t necessarily add value to a set baseline price.
Managing Millennial Employees Requires New Approach
If there is a topic that stands out above all else when discussing the management of employees and maintaining continuity within your workforce, it is the maligned millennial worker. They seem to be a bit of an enigma, and at times, a punching bag. No one can seem to figure them out or consistently connect with them.
Managing Millennials Require New Approach
If there is a topic that stands out above all else when discussing the management of employees and maintaining continuity within your workforce, it is the maligned millennial worker. They seem to be a bit of an enigma, and at times, a punching bag. No one can seem to figure them out or consistently connect with them.
Employees: Our Industry’s Most Discussed Topic
Falling into the depths of irrelevance is a real fear of mine. Therefore, I regularly bounce ideas off friends. Recently, I stumbled onto the most relevant topic to the industry I have found yet. It is something many of us have a connection to and is spoken about constantly. “I’d love to spend more time on strategic planning,” my friend said. “Unfortunately, I can’t seem to make time because I’m always stuck managing my labor force.
The Lost Liters: Rethinking Production Inefficiencies
My previous column ended with the phrase, “Don’t be bigger, be better.” I think it has additional relevance and application to this month’s topic. We often focus intently on increasing front-end performance that we ignore the factors that affect the total measure of performance as it relates to ranch profitability. Whether you measure ranch output by the animal unit or the acre, market weight is undeniably one of the primary factors in cattle profit/loss equations.
Wareham: The Ranch Horse is Not Obsolete
The cowboy is an iconic image of the American West. Epic scenes of dust-choked cattle drives with Gus and Captain Call or Jim Craig and his mountain horse racing after the wild horse mob, ignite the dreamer in all of us. As ole Gus put it, “Ain’t nothing better than ridin’ a fine horse through new country.” Cowboys and horses will forever be etched in Western lore and stir emotions deep within. The ranch horse was the bedrock that modern beef outfits and production systems were built upon.
Wareham: Use of Cattle Technology Can Propel You Forward
New technologies will never be in short supply. Some will be transcendent and forever change our operational dynamics, while others will litter the pathway to the future. The real challenge for us comes in the evaluation process: How can I use this technology? Can I afford to? When will it become an economically sustainable option for my farm or ranch? One area that deserves some exploration is truly defining what expansion really is.
Wareham: Valley Oaks Issue Requires Collaboration
COMMENTARY - The dust-up over Valley Oaks Steak Company’s proposed animal confinement feeding and packaging plant expansion has grabbed its share of headlines lately. After the permit hearing in Warrensburg, MO, where an army of advocates from both sides attended to voice their concerns, I wonder if there is a greater message that deserves our attention. In February I attended the Young Beef Leader’s Summit during the annual National Cattlemen’s Beef Association convention.
Go Green When Marketing That Next Set of Feeders
As price differentiation within the cattle markets continues to strengthen, some of the contributing factors that were covered up by the previous high price cycle are becoming more evident. True, value-added cattle are consistently topping markets, leaving those that think they have a premium product scratching their heads. Over the past decade, seedstock marketing has impacted the common definition of value-added by successfully tying it to carcass premiums and performance.
Wareham: Protecting the Harvest | Drovers
The anticipated increase in our global population will drive a steadily increasing demand for agricultural products. Over the next 50 years, it is estimated this generation of agriculturalists will need to match the output from the past 250 years if they are to keep up with the growth. Farmers and ranchers are transitioning more than ever from a way of life into true businesses. As we move forward, matching the rising demand for our products globally won’t be the only challenge we will face.
Wareham: Protecting the Harvest | Dairy Herd Management
The anticipated increase in our global population will drive a steadily increasing demand for agricultural products. Over the next 50 years, it is estimated this generation of agriculturalists will need to match the output from the past 250 years if they are to keep up with the growth. Farmers and ranchers are transitioning more than ever from a way of life into true businesses. As we move forward, matching the rising demand for our products globally won’t be the only challenge we will face.
Wareham: The Next Farm Bill Needs Your Attention | Drovers
Agriculture leaders in Congress are working on the 2018 farm bill. Major issues that could affect the economic health of agriculture over the next decade need adequate attention. Organizations like the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), State Farm Bureaus and Farm Credit Council have been working for some time to preserve and protect programs like crop insurance and stimulate awareness of our growing need to protect global commerce and provide equal access to technology.
Genetic Selection Requires Every Tool in the Bag | Drovers
Building a cowherd, like any other skilled trade, requires discipline, patience and a tool belt full of resources. Some of those resources will be used or relied on heavily. Others will play smaller roles; yet, they are no less important. There is no magic bullet, or single tool that can adequately address every aspect of genetic selection. You wouldn’t build a house with just a saw or a fence with just a pair of pliers. The job of assembling well-rounded beef cattle requires every tool in the bag.
Seedstock Producers: Don’t Bypass the Basics of Marketing
If you want to be in the seedstock business, there is one very basic process you must have dialed-in. Start by establishing the most basic marketing plan built around meeting your target customers’ needs. When building your marketing strategy, start with the end in mind. Establish who your customers really are. Where will the bulk of your genetics go and who will buy them? The most common pitfall breeders fall into is failing to accurately assess who this group is and what they really want.
A Drought Taught Me Grazing Management
Prolonged periods of dry weather and drought are one of the greatest challenges cattle producers face. However, hardships can create opportunities for strategies and techniques to be tested and lead to true value discovered. Implementation of managed grazing systems and practices might seem futile when discussing ways to survive a drought, but I think it might be one of the best tools available in such times. The benefits of intensive grazing management and related tools are well-documented.
Jared Wareham; The Genetic Paradox
Throughout human existence it has been our nature to push the envelope. More speed. More power. More performance. Ingenuity combined with trial and error spawn new peaks in technology. As we strive to stay ahead of the technological advancement curve, we sometimes forget about the interconnected systems that might need time and adjustment to catch up. Too much torque and the transmissions or drivelines wear out easily.
Wait for the Dust to Settle
As we ride a positive swell of good feelings, cinched to the promise of making America great again, I’d suggest remaining firmly grounded. Reality will eventually sink in once the hype runs out, and we will all be reminded that the cow-calf sector is steadfastly caught in a supply-demand sleeper hold. Consistently strong reports from boxed beef and retail aid in that confirmation like a lethal, tag team.
New Generation: When push comes to shove
Currently, a calf’s end product value resides atop the heap of highly marketed attributes. For good reason, both grade and yield significantly impact fed cattle values. Health, growth and maternal function fall a rung below on the marketing ladder, but find themselves equally, if not more, valuable to the ranch and vertical supply chain as end product.
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