Livestock Grain Market News cattle report for Jan. 13.

Dr. H. Russell Cross has been named department head of animal science in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University in College Station.

A recent publication listed the top New Year’s resolutions for 2012. As you might guess the most popular ones had to do with pushing away from the table, getting more exercise, getting their lives more organized including budgeting and getting more out of life. By the time you read this you have probably already broken one of them.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) -- The U.S. Agriculture Department announced Jan. 9 it will close nearly 260 offices nationwide, a move that won praise for cutting costs but raised concerns about the possible effect on food safety.

For the fifth consecutive year, AgriLabs will donate $1500 to be awarded as scholarships to deserving youth by participating state cattle association affiliates.  Selection of the participating organizations will be made during the National Cattleman's Beef Association (NCBA) Convention in Nashville, Tennessee, being held from Feb. 1-3, 2012.

The Food and Drug Administration announced Jan. 4 it will prohibit certain uses of the antibiotic cephalosporin in food-producing cattle, swine and poultry. The order banned “extralabel” or unapproved use of the antibiotic based on the label instructions.

Seasonal price patterns are a fact of life in the cattle industry, and are usually the basis for good marketing plans. Under 650-pound calf prices usually decline seasonally into November from spring and summer highs. That pattern was intact again this year until October.

Shaw Cattle Company announces its acquisition of the entire cow herd of Oklahoma’s Turner Brothers registered Hereford cattle. Shaw Cattle Co. is excited to obtain the JET line of Turner Brothers’ cattle and believe they will complement their existing herd well.

SALINA, Kan. (AP) -- Salina-area advocates for agriculture are making an extra effort to teach young students about farming and ranching, saying that too many of today's youngsters don't know enough about how their food is produced.

Government is too big. Taxes are too high. And the private sector is the best resource for developing jobs and innovation. There, I said ’em. Three of the biggest assertions you’ll hear over the next several months while listening to candidates running for Congress and the White House in 2012. Truth be told, I can’t fault politicians and policy wonks for throwing out those haymakers. Heck, I’m probably one of the biggest advocates for keeping government excess in check.