Sometimes it’s good to stay inside the box and then other times, well, the box just doesn’t fit. It’s too small, too short or not long enough or … just too confining. For A.B. Cox, the recipient of the 2008 Leopold Conservation Award (see sidebar for more about this award), the box just didn’t seem to fit.

Quiet and unassuming, Kay Christen still gets a kick out of the cows she and her family produce. Born and raised in the industry, she’s spent time in the show ring, among the mama cows, tending to the records, on a tractor and out in the pastures. And it’s still the cattle, raised at the Christen Ranch near Steinauer, that she enjoys the most. “People say we ranch,” Christen explains, “but we say we run cattle.”

Do you want to hear some good news? Prices are down, unemployment is up, businesses are failing and it sounds like it will get worse in the coming months. We read these scary headlines every day. The good news is that, in the cattle-feeding business, we always make more money when we’re scared of the future and lose more when optimistic. To confirm this you only have to look back five months to last summer and remember how “good” it was and that it was only supposed to get better ahead.

(Dec. 22, 2008) LINCOLN, NE – Despite the Economy, the discussions, crowd and weather were all good for the NC Convention and Trade Show in Kearney. NC membership conducted the association’s business with over 500 attendees participating. Officers elected are President Todd Schroeder of Wisner, President-Elect Bill Rishel of North Platte, and Vice President Chuck Folken of Leigh. New NC Board members and leadership include Region 6 Director Rod Krab of Paxton, Region 8 Director Doug Ferguson of Blue Springs, Farmer-Stockman Council Chairman Greg Weidel of Hebron, Farmer-Stockman Council Vice Chairman Doug Parde of Sterling, Feedlot Council Chairman Buck Wehrbein of Mead, Feedlot Council Vice Chairman Ray Carr of Bassett, Seedstock Council Chairman Doug Keiser of Gothenburg, Seedstock Council Vice Chairman Lowell Minert of Dunning, Brand and Property Rights Committee Chairman Art Brownlee of Ashby, Natural Resources and Environment Committee Chairman John Young of Whitman, Taxation Committee Chairman John Greer of Edgar, Marketing and Commerce Committee Vice Chairman Craig Uden of Cozad, and Taxation Committee Vice Chairwoman Robin Coulter Lapaseotes of Bridgeport.

Audio Interview

(Dec. 19, 2008) LINCOLN, NE – Nebraska’s bitter cold weather puts a strain on most people, and an extra strain on those who must care for their animals out of doors. Barb Cooksley and her husband, George, have a cow/calf operation in the Sandhills of Nebraska. Barb says keeping the water to the cattle is a key concern. Windmills provide water, but are an ongoing reminder of trouble and a reminder that care of the cattle comes first.

Despite the Economy, the discussions, crowd, weather and food were all good for the NC Convention and Trade Show in Kearney Dec. 10 - 12. NC membership conducted the association’s business with over 500 attendees participating. Officers elected are President Todd Schroeder of Wisner, President-Elect Bill Rishel of North Platte, and Vice President Chuck Folken of Leigh.

(Nov. 25, 2008) LINCOLN, NE – Cattle producers who will attend the Nebraska Cattlemen Convention and Trade Show Dec. 10 – 12 in Kearney can hear publisher and fellow cattleman Troy Marshall’s presentation - The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly - A quick overview of the major drivers shaping our industry.

Here the entire audio commentary here

Senator Ben Nelson will give the keynote speech at the Nebraska Cattlemen’s Annual Business Meeting, scheduled for 10:00 a.m., Friday Dec. 12 at the Kearney Holiday Inn.

Nelson will address priority issues that include trade, estate taxes and environmental regulations.

Doing the Right Things. The NC Animal Health and Nutrition Committee’s BQA Technical Advisory Committee met Nov. 19 in Lexington and addressed several priority issues. Dee Griffin told the group that a webinar about how the national BQA program works and is progressing will be held in the near future, possibly on December 5. Anne Burkholder gave an update on issues involving animal welfare and how the cattle industry is responding. Anne also reported that the Feedyard Animal Care Self Assessment program will be presented during the NC Convention, Dec. 10 -12 in Kearney. She would like to see Nebraska set the trend for producers utilizing the program.

Ryan Loeske suggested that a task force be developed to monitor animal welfare issues in the state of Nebraska. The task force would report to the NC Board. This idea also will be discussed during the NC Convention. 

Gordon Brooks, UNK Nebraska Safety Center director, explained a DOT grant that the Safety Center has received and that he would like to work towards developing a Livestock Transport Endorsement for drivers hauling livestock. Gordon also discussed the new CDL program that was developed at the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture.

Audio Interview:

December Convention Attracts Cattlemen from Around State: Kelsey

LINCOLN, NE - (Audio with Michael Kelsey, Executive Vice President of the Nebraska Cattlemen)

Next month cattle producers from throughout the state will gather in Kearney for the Nebraska Cattlemen’s Annual Convention and Trade Show. To be held at the conveniently-located Holiday Inn Convention Center, the event will take place Dec. 10 through 12.

Michael Kelsey is the executive vice president of the Nebraska Cattlemen. He says Thursday Dec. 11 will be a key day for committee and council discussions of issues critical to cattlemen, such as the environment, taxes, animal health, private property rights and others. Events at the Cattlemen’s College the day before, however, will be more educational in nature.

Listen to the full interview here

Legislature Election Highlights. Many Nebraska Legislature races decided in the election have a large bearing on the state’s beef industry. Past NC Board member Ken Schilz of Ogallala will replace Sen. Phil Erdman in District 47. NC member and Chairman of the Natural Resources Committee, Sen. LeRoy Louden of Ellsworth won by a landslide. Sen. Lavon Heidemann of Elk Creek won decisively over a write-in challenger. NC member Sen. Deb Fischer of Valentine, Chairman of the Transportation & Telecommunications Committee, was unopposed in District 43. Not up for election this year, but integral in the Legislature process is past NC President, Sen. Tom Hansen of North Platte. Unfortunately, NC member Carl Lorenzen of Blair in the District 18 was just 206 votes short of beating appointed Sen. Scott Lautenbaugh.

NC Tailgate - Second Verse

Those who attended last year’s NC Tailgate can tell you about it being one of the best ever. Well, if it’s not broken, don’t fix it. So…Nebraska Cattlemen supporters are invited to the NC Tailgate Party on Nov. 8 before the Huskers vs. KU football game.

Serving of a beef-centered meal starts at 11:00 a.m. – well ahead of the 1:30 p.m. kickoff. Location - same as last year - The Apothecary building at 8th and P Streets (140 N. 8th ) in Lincoln’s historic Haymarket District. Enter the west side of the building off of 8th Street. If you don’t have tickets to attend the game, we will have the pay-per-view broadcast on a big screen TV.

The NC Tailgate and all the fix’ins will be sponsored again by Elanco Animal Health. 

Contact NC at (402) 475-2333 with questions.

Audio interview:

Beef Industry Issues Summit to Provide Economy, Financing Outlooks

Help Yourself. Mark Dec. 10 - 12 on your calendar and plan to attend the NC Convention & Trade Show in Kearney. You can help yourself to as little or as much business and socializing as you care for. The Welcome Reception at the Trade Show on Wednesday evening kicks off the Convention. It’s a fun place to socialize, eat, drink and mingle with Trade Show representatives. Also, Kearney band Sweetwater, sponsored by Ft. Dodge Animal Health, will perform.

Meet Now, Talk Later

The Ag Section of Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality has added some new faces to its inspector corps. So in the spirit of continued communication between NC and DEQ, we are providing an introduction of the new inspectors.

Michaele Oleson, Mark Henning and Waylon Hullinger are new program specialists with responsibilities for inspection of animal feeding operations for compliance with Title 130. Our article allows you to meet your inspector before you talk with them. Learn about the background and responsibilities of each inspector here:
Mark Henning
Waylon Hullinger
Michaele Oleson

Click map for larger image

Mark Henning

Mark Henning has been with the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality since 2001, but just recently changed positions to become a program specialist in the agency’s agriculture section.