On Jan. 12, 2013, more than 150 people journeyed to the UC Davis – School of Veterinary Medicine to attend the Second Beef Improvement and Low Stress Cattle Handling Seminar.

Denver Post reporter Joey Bunch interviewed a number of attendees at the National Western Stock Show & Rodeo about the effect that potential cuts to a five-year farm bill could have on the cattle business. The farmers and ranchers interviewed said that they fear Congress will do an across-the-board cut that could hobble crop insurance, research and loan programs they consider vital to their industries. Rancher Joe Freund, for instance, has often partnered with genetics researchers and veterinarians at Colorado State University, who depend on money in the federal farm bill.

Cargill Inc., the largest U.S. beef processor, will idle a Texas processing plant after the size of the cattle herd fell to a 60-year low, due to persistent drought, and cattle futures dropped. The Plainview plant will stop operations at the close of business on Feb. 1 to reduce the strain on the company’s beef business, John Keating, president of Cargill Beef, said in a statement.

Watching Congress and the White House fumble economic policy, Americans probably think they have the moral high ground to say, “we deserve better.” Fact is, no, you don’t. What’s happening in Washington is something we all helped create. Until we change ourselves, we deserve every bit of it. We invited this pox upon our house through years of overspending, by waging wars without revenue to support them, by growing addicted to convenient debt, by electing craven ambitious leaders who don’t care to lead and by ignoring industries that define our core.

We all know that livestock are most productive when the conditions around them are optimal – needed nutrients, favorable weather, free from disease and injury.

A year ago, Greg Peterson had no idea he’d be recognized while out Christmas shopping with his family. The ag communication major routinely made videos with his brothers depicting life on the family farm – but one video, posted over the summer, changed their lives.

During the winter months, spring-calving beef cows are in mid-gestation. This is the stage of production when cows have their lowest nutrient requirements. However, even though the cows’ requirements are relatively low during this time of year, there are still a few factors that demand special attention during winter.

The 2011 drought and continued lack of rain during 2012 in many regions of the country have caused cow-calf producers to scramble for sources of harvested forage. In areas where there is nothing in pastures to graze, feeding is required the entire year to maintain animal condition.